The Cult Café Shines with a New Splendor
If you wish to taste one of Zagreb’s traditional specialties, have breakfast or simply have a cup of coffee, the new-old City Café has reopened its door in the very center of Zagreb. Zagreb’s citizens of older generations remember the atmosphere of this cult place with nostalgia. It is now there for them and also for many new visitors who will find its ambience an excellent match to its impressive offer.
After the complete reconstruction project, worth 12 million kuna, the City Café in the very heart of Zagreb, at Ban Josip Jelačić Square, reopened its doors in mid-May and now shines in full splendor. For a number of years it defied the trends and remained standing as a classical Viennese-style café in the face of strong competition by small cafés and bars, but now it has been refurbished and its menu expanded to include a range of food and beverages. Once again the City Café has something to support its role as a serious and successful contestant for the preservation of Zagreb’s culture and tradition.
White dominates the color scheme with some mauve to highlight the elegance of the space. Every effort was made to reveal the original art deco elements that once prevailed in the café. The columns, which were always the most recognizable architectural element of this exceptional space, are now coated in strips of white lacquer glass. The impressive staircase is basked in light coming from chandeliers with Swarovski crystals.
In addition to the staple beverages, such as a fresh fruit juice, water and coffee, guests can now choose from a food menu featuring desserts or tasty meals which will be served on the first floor. Breakfast is an elegant and classy affair, and very handy for all those who find themselves in town on an empty stomach, having missed breakfast in their hotel or at home. There are ten different breakfast choices, which take into consideration different tastes and dietary habits, and they include local flavors and have colorful names, such as Breakfast of our Elders, The Šestine Umbrella or The Golden Ear of Corn. The restaurant uses locally produced ingredients for the preparation of tasty and traditional meals.
The City Café continues, not only as a custodian of Zagreb’s cafe tradition, but also as a custodian of its culture as evenings of dance, music and literature will be held here. The cafe with a soul will continue to safeguard the good spirit of Zagreb and foster the unbreakable traditional bond between the citizens of Zagreb and its numerous cafes.