The Esplanade Zagreb Hotel is the most famous and most luxurious hotel in Zagreb and the region, and April marked the 90 th year of its existence. Its timeless elegance, sophistication and charm, which back in attracted passengers of the famous Orient Express, today is considered an elite venue and cultural historic icon of Zagreb.
At the beginning of the 20 th century, the two best-known inns of the time became too small for the increasing number of travelers arriving in Zagreb on the famous Orient Express train. As the recently opened hotel, on Zrinjevac Square, could not satisfy the needs of a growing town, the building of a new luxurious hotel became a necessity. The hotel was to be built on a large field, near the railway station β at that time the only link with Europe and the rest of the world.
In the international tender was opened, with participation of many outstanding architects of that time, including the famous Swiss Alfred Loos , who however did not win the contest. The building of the hotel was completed in only 26 months. Nearly guests were at the gala opening on the 22 nd of April It reminds one of the famous international hotels. Private lounges for smoking, conversation, music and business meetings are there to meet all the needs of business travelers.
The intimate ambience of some of these rooms is ideal for a dinner for two. The big ballroom, decorated with ionic columns and sculptures is the most impressive. The importance of the Esplanade hotel for the development of tourism in Zagreb has been pointed out, as well as the importance of its location near the Zagreb railway station.
A few days after this, the hotel opened its doors to receive its first guests β amongst them was a certain Mr. Indeed, those first visitors had nothing to complain about. Two hundred rooms with hot and cold running water, one hundred bathrooms, a telephone in each room, numerous suites and lounges, a dining room offering delicious Viennese and Hungarian cuisine, were at their disposal.
