Archives for “Shopping” tag

This is a gallery you’ll probably find in any guidebook to Zagreb, but I love it so much, I couldn’t resist to include it in this insiders’ guide. It’s called Klovićevi dvori – a palace of Klović; the gallery was named after Julije Klović who was a Renaissance illuminator and painter born in Croatia. It’s situated in an 18th century building in the Upper town.

The gallery is known for its impressive exhibitions of European art, including Croatian. To name a few: a collection of expressionist masterpieces; a great retrospective of Chagall; Van Gogh, Mondrian and other well-known Dutch artists; Dora Maar and Picasso…

It just might just be the case that you’ll be lucky and get the chance to see another amazing exhibition at the time you find yourself in Zagreb. So don’t hesitate – take a walk to the Upper town and drop by the Klović gallery.

Current exhibitions:

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Picasso Museum, 23/03 – 07/07

Coming from the German word “shpitze” meaning “tip”, the Zagreb “špica” is a peculiar social phenomenon that doesn’t happen that often in other European cities, at least based on the feedback from my international friends.

It happens on Saturday mornings, more precisely between 10:00 a.m. and 14:00. It makes sense to get around to doing everything you didn’t have time throughout the week on Saturday morning – going to the market, doing some shopping around town, meeting friends for a coffee and catching up etc. But what is specific about “špica” is that everyone tends to do that in the range of a couple of streets downtown, looking their best.

So, if you take a walk around Bogovićeva, “Cvjetni trg” area, Tkalčićeva and the main square, you’ll see women in their fur coats looking as if they just came out of the hairdressers, pushing their strollers around in the highest imaginable heels just being their everyday fabulous selves. And the men don’t lack behind much.

Although for this one Saturday mornings are reserved for sleeping; sunny weather, a friend or some choir may get me up and about downtown where I end up amazed once again by the ingenuity and pure energy put into getting your amazing self there to the “tip”. So, if you want to see the best of the best in Zagreb, meet celebrities and celebrity wannabes, witness the latest trends, or bump into almost everyone you know in Zagreb, špica is the place to go.

If you happen to stay in Zagreb during Sunday, you should definitely visit the Antique and collectibles fair on British square. It is one of the Zagreb’s vivid symbols, always busy and full of people in search for a nice antique or a thoughtful present with a peculiar charm.

On rather sleepy Zagreb Sundays visiting this fair is a good way to experience a lively local gathering. Although the fair works until 14:00 hours, the best time for a visit is in the morning or around noon. After you look for some interesting and unique souvenirs, having a cup of coffee in the area of the Square is essential.

Personally, I love antique fairs and flea markets because, to me, it is a perfect way to experience local culture and traditions. A visit to such place gets you involved in a world of colour, antiques, kitsch, dusty books, shiny porcelain and scratched tin cups. Every item has a story and it’s hard not to feel fanciful in a surrounding like this.

Prostor (Space, in English) is one of a kind store. In fact, it is not just a store, it is also a gallery. Its concept is to promote upcoming independent designers and artists. In this beautiful space, while you check out a selection of clothing and accessories that are made by Croatian craftsmen, as well as foreign, you can browse through cool art, comics, magazines and music.

The exhibitions change very often and are always accompanied by fun social events that expand to the store’s courtyard. Those gatherings are a boost to young and often anonymous people who want to share their creative ideas.

So, if you are interested in finding a unique store where you could learn and experience something new, inspiring and urban, drop in Mesnička street. The prices aren’t cheap but I guess that is what you could expect out of unique products. The staff is really nice and whether you are interested in buying something for you or your child or just picking up ideas for a new style this season you will have a pleasant time.

Café Velvet was a former meeting point with a cult status. But several years ago it closed its doors, leaving Zagreb without one more bustling and colorful café. That is, until last year, when the new owners reopened it with a significant touch of an artsy flare. Now Velvet is constituted of a beautifully decorated café, where you can treat yourself with a tasty coffee, freshly made juices, toasts, cakes, pies and soups, and an art-gallery situated right next to the café.

Personally I find Velvet as one of the ideal places for a relaxing chit-chat with your friends. After a hard-day work, when all the lights in Velvet come up, having a pleasant conversation in a smoke-free environment and a nice cup of coffee with all those tasty delights on the menu feels right to me. Even if you don’t have a friend to keep you company, this place is relaxing enough for you to read newspapers or a book, watching locals and movie buffs from Cinema Tuškanac pass by.

Of course, if you are in a very chatty mood, you can make friends with the co-owner Saša Šekoranja, an acclaimed florist and artist, who is there very often. In fact, if one of the customers in some way inspires the artist, he will personally draw the costumer’s portrait and hang it on the wall along with the numerous pictures, mostly blank and waiting for future models.