Swanky Monkey Garden is located inside the yard of entrance number 50 on Ilica street. The building itself used to be a dry cleaning and textile dye factory and has still retained some of its original rough, industrial charm. "Swanky" has been beloved by locals in Zagreb from the beginning. To be honest, I've always heard more people speaking in Croatian there than in any other language, which is curious given it's a bar that belongs to a very sharp boutique hostel.
Hostels have had a magical attraction on me ever since I first started travelling by myself; so much so that I've always enjoyed stopping in one place for a little longer during a trip and working or volunteering in one. Having a "local-friendly" hostel in Zagreb to sip your drink in on a lazy Saturday afternoon means being able to pretend a little that you're not actually in your hometown when you're having itchy feet but can't pack your bags and leave that same moment.
A funny thing about Swanky is that they're constantly making changes to its looks and new areas are appearing and disappearing so it ends up looking like a completely different place each time I stop by. Although its closed bar downstairs is enjoyable, the real fun is the so-called garden, a terrace looking at the not-so-shiny backsides of Zagreb's old-town buildings, which is heated in winter and has a pool in summer.
Find your way with 135 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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The "Charlie Chaplin" statue in Zagreb is a symbol of how my city has always been keeping pace with cinema and the film industry since the early days...
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"Sjeverni kampus Sveučilišta" in Zagreb hosts several faculties of the university, and it's generally for a relaxed walk around the modern campus vibe...
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"Torte i To" in Zagreb offers a wide variety of pastry and desserts. The cheesecake is an obvious choice, as well as the Čokovišnja, or chococherry cake!
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"Hrvatsko Narodno Kazalište HNK" (the National Theater in Zagreb) is Croatia's highest artistic institution. I especially like the view from the balcony...
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Zagreb is supposed to have been founded in the Middle Ages, but just to the south there used to be Roman Andautonia. These three relics are so fascinating!
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"Reljef Seljaci" on Zagreb's main square is often overshadowed by the square's namesake statue, but this big relief has also been here for a century...
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The "Museum of Broken Relationships" in Zagreb exhibits items left behind from broken relationships and the stories behind them. It's so original and fun!
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"Uspinjača" is one of the symbols of Zagreb. It's the first and oldest public transport and the world's shortest funicular ride. So nostalgic & romantic!
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"Strossmayerovo šetalište" in Zagreb is probably the city's most romantic promenade. Each season, this place has something unique to offer...
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135 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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