Botaničar Cafe Bar/Galerija

When you come to Zagreb, you are probably the first to think about Ban Jelacic Square, the Zagreb Cathedral, the building of the Croatian National Theatre or the Upper Town, full of sights and historical curiosities. Zagreb is loaded with many beautiful parks and squares that are neglected by the tourist community.

Often this is the reason why tourists never see a hidden jewel of Zagreb and, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful squares of the city of Zagreb, Marko Marulić Square. This is the square where the Botaničar cafe bar/gallery is located, a cafe with a quiet and pleasant atmosphere and a stylish interior.

Not far away from the Botanical garden and right next to the secession building of the State Archives, hidden from the busy traffic streets and close to the city center, Botaničar makes a pleasant place to sip very good coffee or some other drink from a really rich offer. The cafe is, according to its name Botaničar (English: The Botanist), a plant-loving cafe full of different species of plants which can be seen in every part of the space. Botaničar is also an art gallery and culture venue where they host musicians, festivals, book promotions, and exhibitions. Botaničar can be considered a “nursery garden” where “sprout” ideas and diverse cultural events meet and grow into a work of art.

Most of the interior is designed from recycled materials and discarded and repurposed pieces of furniture. The vintage chairs and tables have been restored as well as many other details, including lampshades and vessels which used to be part of a nearby colleges' lab equipment. The ceiling itself is designed in the form of a network that is also part of their logo itself, and it symbolizes the desire to cooperate with other institutions to make entertainment and educational arrangements easier to implement. One of the details that definitely dominates the space is a seed drawer, which dated back to the Austro-Hungarian times when it served as store shelves. This lovely art cafe should definitely be on your “must see” list if you want to experience the local art scene and enjoy a very good coffee.

Photography: Luka Radek

Writer: Dorotea Sabljak Štibohar