PAYING HOMAGE TO CROATIAN DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
LOCATION
Met Boutique Hotel is nestled in the heart of Zagreb, a few steps from Ban Josip Jelačić Square. This hotel is centrally located, within spitting distance of all landmarks. Praška Street is one of the main arteries connecting the central square with other landmarks. Thanks to its location, the hotel is the ideal gateway to explore and venture out into the city and discover its secrets. Everything is conveniently close and accessible on foot, from the impressive cathedral to the charming medieval upper town dominated by the famous Lotrščak Tower and dotted with countless museums, galleries, boutique stores, cafes and restaurants. Even the central train station and the city’s green heart, the Zrinjevac Park, are only a few minutes away on foot. If you are a morning type, we suggest a walk around the city that evokes memories. The investor in the hotel is the Albanian company Gener 2, helmed by one of Albania’s most affluent entrepreneurs, Bashkim Ulaj. We must admit that he has a nose for selecting a superb location. The location is the hotel’s competitive advantage.
ACCESSIBILITY
Without exaggeration, Zagreb’s public transport is superb. Met Boutique Hotel is set amidst the tram crossroads of Zagreb, enabling easy access to various parts of town. The city’s public transport is perpetually improving, now catching up with other European capitals. Zagreb’s central train station is ten minutes away on foot, convenient for guests arriving by train. The hotel offers guests the chance to park on-site with valet parking. Although parking must be booked in advance, its advantage is affordability. Compared to the costly prices in nearby parking garages, averaging 35 EUR per night, the hotel’s parking is an obvious choice. We have outlined Zagreb’s superb accessibility before. The airport is one of the region’s leading. Reaching the hotel from the airport is straightforward; Uber, Wolt and classic taxis abound, but check the prices in advance. Zagreb’s only disadvantage in accessibility is unfriendliness for cyclists – the city has much room for improvement in this field.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
Met Boutique Hotel is an architectural gem that blends glamour with industrial elegance, enriched with the warmth of wood and unique illumination. This hotel is a paradise for all design-savvy travellers.
The hotel’s revamp was led by the architectural bureau Ivanišin Kabashi Arhitekti. The esteemed group of architects approached the project holistically, carefully considering both the exterior architecture and interior design. They blurred the lines between exterior and interior. The interior is on display through the glass facade, while the surrounding details of the facades are visible from within. You will be in awe of the ornaments and statues embellishing the nearby edifices. During breakfast, you may glimpse the allegorical sculptures adorning the building housing “Croatia osiguranje” (a Croatian insurance company) across the street. The hotel’s interior embellishments are equally impressive, including the elegant, Instagrammable, velvet-hued corridors leading to rooms overlooking the bustling Praška Street. Just as eye-catching are the concrete wave-like walls that pair seamlessly with the built-to-last stone flooring and oakwood walls, not to mention the atrium that organically connects the hotel with the city. In this hotel, all lovers of classic European architectural design who have a penchant for concrete, aluminium, stone and elementary colours – red, white and all hues of blue – will be delighted. Met Boutique Hotel is an architectural gem that blends glamour with industrial elegance, enriched with the warmth of wood and unique illumination. This hotel is a paradise for all design-savvy travellers.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
The staff at Met Boutique Hotel in Zagreb regularly receive praise for their outstanding kindness, professionalism and readiness to help guests. That was exactly how we experienced their service, from the utmost kind receptionist to the courteous waiter who added a touch of elegance to the breakfast experience. Authentic, professional service is an elementary aspect of staying in a boutique hotel. We were impressed by the tidiness of the well-maintained spaces, especially in the lift and other public spaces.
Due to our late arrival, we could not taste the gastronomy at Valmarie Restaurant. From what we gathered from online comments and ratings, the cuisine is superb. Breakfast, served in a hall with a view, was telling of the quality. We relished the selection of à la carte dishes, particularly the Eggs Benedict, served with freshly squeezed orange juice and delicious coffee. The buffet breakfast included a handpicked selection of dishes – something for every taste, as well as vegans and vegetarians. A breakfast with a view, quality dishes and attention to detail will leave you full and content. The hotel deserves another visit just because of the breakfast.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
All twenty-six rooms in the hotel are original, each paying homage to Croatian design and architecture. The rooms are also technologically advanced, featuring intuitive panels for managing the lights, curtains and air-conditioning. Everything functioned flawlessly. The centrepiece is a spacious bed with premium bed linen that ensures a good night’s sleep. The room we stayed in was spacious and comfortable, partially thanks to the panoramic window overlooking the hotel atrium.
The room is imbued with a minimalist elegance that stems from the use of natural materials such as wood and pleasant, warm colours that pair with design furniture pieces daubed in grey, red, blue and white. We must commend the spacious writing desk with all the power outlets you may need. Even the bright wallpaper, perhaps going out of fashion, is pleasant and quality-made. The bathroom features a shower with an overhead shower head, luxury cosmetics Molton Brown and super soft towels and bathrobes. One more thing: although trams whizzed by Prague Street every two minutes, we did not hear any rattle or hum in the room. The rooms are soundproof and offer an oasis of intimacy, as the slogan “Home away from home” suggests.
Meetings centre
Met Boutique Hotel in Zagreb houses a boutique conference room on the fifth floor, abutting Valmarie Restaurant. Event organisers can combine smaller events with superb cuisine. We warmly suggest booking both spaces in a joint package. The space is ideal for business brunches or press conferences in a daring new way. For private events of a more funky character, we recommend Pen22, the hotel bar, which seems ideal for after-parties and other boutique business meetings.
DESSERT – The extras
As far as we are concerned, the interior design is a wonderland. Designer chairs in the restaurant, created by the esteemed Croatian designer Bernardo Bernardi, were astonishing, a nod to the designer’s legendary design. You can even find pieces made by the Italian designer Vico Magistretti and the Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld. Wow!
FLOP – UNPLEASANT SURPRISES
Beauty sometimes comes with a downside. The Marmara marble, with signature white colours and bright grey lines, crowned the bathroom with stunning elegance. Yet, it exuded coldness, too, and somehow reminded us of a tomb. Our hairsplitting remark, of course, does not concern the sublime aesthetic, but we did feel the bathroom was somewhat cold.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
Bar Pen22, named after its inventor, Slavoljub Penkala, is tucked away on the ground floor. Its relaxed ambience is the ideal place to sip cocktails and refreshing beverages. The elegant interior and pleasant ambience render it perfect for socialising after exploring the town.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
Alas, this hotel disappointed us with its lack of sustainability. Apart from generic messages, they have not implemented any serious, sustainable initiatives yet. The otherwise exceptional Molton Brown cosmetics seemed incredibly “retro” in tiny plastic bottles. The hotel has plenty of room for improvement to advance its sustainability.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
One of Zagreb’s newest boutique hotels is an incredibly pleasant and, in many ways, outstanding hotel. It has convincing boutique features, emphasised by the architectural details and interior design that render the ambience unique, urban, minimalistic, yet intriguing with a generous measure of retro-inspired elements. The hotel seems ideal for the central part of Zagreb. If you seek a unique five-star boutique space for your event, look no further. Met Hotel Zagreb punches well above its weight, offering more than many large hotels in the city thanks to a holistic and compelling package. This international hotel, spiced up with Croatian elements, awaits your visit and invites you to discover one of the most impressive rooftop terraces in the region.
FINAL GRADE: 4.92 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ Boutique Meeting Hotel
3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60
