HIDDEN GUEST: art’otel Zagreb

Heritage hotels have permeated the Croatian hospitality industry in recent years, as they stand out from the crowd of generic chain hotels. The renovation of the storied Jewish palace in Zagreb took tremendous effort and know-how to preserve Art Deco architectural details. Designed by Freudenreich & Deutsch architects in 1928, the investors, Arena Hospitality Group, revamped the building and passed the test with flying colours. The hotel captivated the public upon opening its doors this autumn in the heart of Zagreb. The hotel marks the fifth art’otel in Europe, with two more slated to open next year in London and Rome. Exuding fresh energy and unique philosophy, the hotel soon ascended the throne of Zagreb’s most popular meeting hub. One of the reasons why the hotel has become the talk of the town is the exceptional YEZI Restaurant & Bar, which has become a new social epicentre, or as the locals say, the new “place to be”. The hotel’s trump card is its fantastic location, catering to tourists and business guests attending an event in the urban heart of the Croatian capital.

According to data regarding air accessibility, Zagreb ranks second among countries of Former Yugoslavia. That is largely thanks to its national airline, Croatia Airlines, which seems constantly on the up – set to expand its connections and revamp its fleet next year. In addition, several low-cost airlines fly to Zagreb, including Ryanair. Reaching the city centre from the airport with a hotel transfer is straightforward. Visitors can even book an Uber and Bolt. Still, traffic jams are impossible to avoid, prolonging the otherwise short journey to the hotel. Guests arriving by car will be disappointed that the hotel does not offer a parking garage. Still, the hotel has valet parking. Alternatively, guests can park in one of the numerous parking houses near the hotel. Considering the city is relatively friendly to cyclists and pedestrians, our advice to the management would be to offer bike and scooter rental promptly, thus spreading awareness and inviting guests to opt for sustainable mobility. Slowly but surely, public transport is improving, too. When considering whether or not to hop into one of the omnipresent taxis, you may find the local buses and trams a better option.

The former palace of the Jewish community in Zagreb once served as a social meeting place and venue for cultural events at the crossroads of two diagonal alleys. Its external architecture was emblematic of historicism in Zagreb. It features a neoclassicist style with elements of Secession and the signature rounded edges with bouquet statues atop, one of the hotel’s instantly recognisable features. Two areas continue the tradition of meetings once hosted by the palace – the bar with the restaurant facing Milan Ambruš Street and the lobby, reminiscent of a living room, turned towards Petrinjska Street. The architects created a new public space that appears warm and welcoming. A refined minimalist interior follows the original idea of the architects and offers space for the pictures and graphics of artist Boris Bučan to shine. We recommend you take the meticulously renovated stairs to reach the top floors instead of entering the lift. Your eyes will likely catch a glimpse of sway furniture adorning the interior. When you can almost reach out and touch the bells of the Zagreb Cathedral from the terrace, you realise what an exceptional palace this was. Kudos to the architects for renovating it with such attention to detail and respect for heritage.

In brand-new hotels, the staff shines differently. It seems every staff member is exceptionally proud to work here. Although the youthful and enthusiastic staff may falter here and there, they still function well. Once guests enter the YEZI Restaurant & Bar, it becomes apparent why the hotel became one of the city’s culinary hotspots almost immediately. We can only wish every restaurant had such a head of service and sommelier as Dražen. The waitress, Tatjana, exuded passion for her job, and we would have no second thoughts when hiring her. Pan-Asian cuisine is extraordinary and based on the concept of food-sharing. The creativeness of the dishes was Michelin-level, with the dumplings and desserts in a league of their own. Indeed, colleagues, hospitality and professionalism never go out of fashion and have a price. What is most surprising about the hotel’s resounding success is the concept itself. At times, we were unsure whether art’otel Zagreb opened as a world-class restaurant and bar with some rooms or the other way around.

The breakfast pairs a buffet-style brunch with a la carte dishes that bear the chef’s signature. We warmly recommend the crunchy eggs and avocado toast. In any case, you can always count on the kind staff, who will suggest the daily specials with an ever-present smile.

Hotel rooms

We stayed in the basic room with a courtyard view, which could do with a few additional square metres. The hotel also offers larger rooms and suites. Our first impression of the room was positive, most notably because of the massive wooden floor and compact, minimalist, leather-padded bed. A grey-hued wardrobe pairs beautifully with the rest of the furniture and the welcome Illy coffee machine. We also found the TV stand stylish, upholding two incredible graphic pictures. We only have praise for the work desk in semi-industrial style. It featured all the amenities a guest could wish for, complemented by a comfy chair. The bathroom hides behind a mirrored moveable door, behind which guests will find an incredible grey-coloured bathroom with a walk-in shower. The classy Kevin Murphy cosmetics befit such a superb brand-new hotel. Guests can manage all electronic devices and lights in the hotel room with the help of a touch screen next to the bed. Despite the slightly smaller space, the room is strewn with ornate details, making guests feel incredibly welcome.

Meetings centre

The smaller conference halls are named Creative Rooms. Set on the fifth floor, artworks by Boris Bučan make them truly unique. These artistic details give a creative spin to the halls. Each can accommodate up to 20 attendees. Corporate event organisers will like them most. The hotel’s crown jewel is the terrace with an imposing view, accommodating up to 100 guests. It is, in fact, an outlandish, exclusive venue. In addition, event organisers can reserve and privatise the restaurant, a space that seems perfect for any event. We can imagine future weddings and receptions for business partners taking place here.

DESSERT – The extras

Although not formally inaugurated yet, we managed to take a sneak peek at the Rooftop Bar. The venue is incredible but will face fierce competition as Zagreb boasts many similar venues. However, with its central location, guests will appreciate that they can almost touch the roofs of Zagreb’s most iconic buildings. Once the venue opens, we believe it will become one of Zagreb’s event hotspots. If you wish to organise your next event here, we suggest making a reservation soon.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

The hotel hardly has any drawbacks, apart from the typical flops when a hotel opens. They are reflected most in the inconsistency of the staff at the reception desk. Notwithstanding, the staff will undoubtedly provide valuable tips to guests in the future and confidently direct them to the exceptional hotel restaurant or spa. Some work to do, it seems.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

The boutique, intimate spa with a heated pool is outstanding, with a pleasant ambience for relaxing after a long day. We wish we had received some guidelines on using high-tech gadgets in the spa, though.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES

Arena Hospitality Group is proactive in sustainability, but this hotel of theirs does not yet advocate sustainable initiatives. In line with the policy of the hotel group, we suggest they acquire the Green Key certificate and further enhance the local, ecological and sustainable aspects of their otherwise spectacular cuisine.

The hotel is, indeed, a timeless and elegant urban hideout. Or, as Giorgio Armani said of high fashion – perfectly enough and not too much. In our opinion, the new kid on the block embodies high fashion. The hotel staff further elevates the experience, adding a touch of hospitality to timeless elegance.

Hedonists who were among the first to discover the hotel cherish that. The essence of the hotel is its story, reviving an age-old concept. Hotels were once the heart of urban social life, and their cafes were urban agoras. Rooms served more or less to connect these two hallmarks of urban life. In the past decades, though, the hospitality industry turned that concept upside down. Luckily, art’otel Zagreb is again putting things in their rightful place. The soul of the hotel is on the ground floor, in Zagreb’s living room, right next to the reception and in the superb restaurant and bar. Both areas invite guests to walk out onto the lively streets and return. We hope more hotels follow suit and this concept becomes a trend. One last thing: the hotel offers everything larger hotels do, and an impressive rooftop on top of that! That seems like the winning formula for a memorable stay. Fantastic!

FINAL GRADE: 4.94 GOLD City Meeting Hotel 

GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60