12 of the Best Cafés You Can't Miss in Zagreb, Croatia (updated for 2023)

This is a definitive guide to the best cafés in Zagreb. From small, smoky haunts to modern, specialty roasters, Zagreb has a café for every caffeine fiend. I’ve rounded up the 12 best cafés in the Croatian capital.

Zagreb goes on the list of capital cities that were pleasant surprises during my European summer travels. A major part of the good impression Zagreb left on me was thanks to the cool cafés used to escape the summer heat. Sprinkled throughout the Croatian capital’s historic buildings and crowdfunded museums were a slew of funky coffee joints you simply can’t miss if you’re heading to Zagreb.

There’s plenty to see and do in Zagreb, and coffee lovers will be pleased to know that the coffee scene won’t leave you wanting. Whether you’re looking for a spot to get some remote work done or you’re hoping for a unique place to sip your cold brew, Zagreb will not disappoint you. I’m a café connoisseur of sorts, seeking the best cafés and coffee in nearly every city I travel to, so my week in Zagreb was a real treat. I bounced around eating brunch, sipping lattes, and savoring pour-overs throughout the city. Read on for my favorite cafés in Zagreb!

Botaničar

Website | Botanicar

If you’re looking for a bohemian atmosphere to enjoy your coffee; somewhere filled with greenery and velvet furnishings, then Botaničar is the café for you. The café has large windows that let the sunlight illuminate the leafy plants and locally-sourced artwork. Jazz music is the soundtrack to the café and bar, which sets the mood of the place. Coffee is replaced by cocktails to wet the whistles of the after-work crowd. Outdoor seating overlooks the National Archives and is the perfect spot for people-watching. Overall, it was my favorite coffee shop in Zagreb and I highly recommend it for visitors to the city.

Caffé Bar Finjak

Instagram | @caffebarfinjak

Caffé Bar Finjak is known by many as the most “Instagrammable café in Zagreb. With pastel pink cushions and decadent chandeliers, the café’s decor is exactly the kind you see slathered across social media. There’s a courtyard that gives a quiet comfort to city dwellers and the delicate china cups used to serve up coffees make an afternoon in Finjak feel like a taste of luxury. The coffee is good, but the croissant I had was average at best. Maybe save this place for a coffee date with your gal pals. I found the decorations a bit over-the-top, but the coffee and setting overall were lovely.

Divas Café Bar

Website | Divas Café Bar

Elegant chandeliers hang from the ceiling and art fills the walls of this funky little café in Zagreb. The coffee here is good and the bohemian atmosphere makes it a great place to write your novel or sketch a design. What I mean to say is, Dias Café Bar lends itself to the artistic.

Café u Dvoristu

Website | Café u Dvoristu

This arty café serves delicious Cogito Coffee, but its main feature is its courtyard seating. With mismatched chairs, art hung on the white walls, and a gorgeous espresso machine, Café u Dvoristu is an aesthetic café choice. It also has vegan “milk” options (soy, almond, and soy). Cogito Coffee roasts are served to perfection, and the cafés “hidden” courtyard seating makes it feel like a quiet escape from the buzzing city center.

Booksa

Website | Booksa

Booksa is a literary club, which doubles as a café in Zagreb. There is a membership fee, which allows patrons to enjoy unlimited WiFi and the laid-back atmosphere of Booksa. The café hosts regular community events that include poetry readings and open mic nights. There is plenty of good coffee and loose-leaf tea for patrons to enjoy. Booksa is only a 10-minute walk from the city center or you can opt to get there by public transport via tram. This is the café for bookworms to hit up.

Cogito Coffee Shop

Website | Cogito Coffee Shop

Zagreb’s Cogito is the Croatian coffee chain’s flagship café. It’s located just off the main street down an “alley” of sorts that makes it feel a bit hidden away. The space is decorated quite minimally, with a few vintage maps pinned to the wall and wooden chairs scattered around tables. The outdoor seating is extra enjoyable on a summer evening, like the one we spent at Cogito. On top of coffee, Cogito serves freshly-squeezed juices, loose-leaf teas, and light pantry food to keep your hunger at bay (think muffins, cookies, and ready-made sandwiches).

Dežman Bar

Website | Dežman Bar

Dežman Bar is definitely more bar than coffee shop, especially the later you visit. However, if you venture there during the day, you’ll find yummy pantry food and barista-brewed coffee. The bar, covered in chalkboard paint, is primarily made up of outdoor seating, so it’s a summertime hot spot. While the atmosphere isn’t nearly as unique or cosy as others in Zagreb, it offers a sophisticated vibe and coffee worth the money.

Otto + Frank

Website | Otto + Frank

Otto + Frank was our first stop in Zagreb. We had an early morning coffee before hitting the market at Otto + Frank, while the staff were still setting up the outdoor seating. The staff were friendly and pop music filled the airwaves, so there were no complaints from either of us whatsoever as we nommed on our Nutella and banana french toast.

Amelie

Website | Amelie

What really makes Amelie feel like something special is how well their coffee pairs with their delicious artisanal cakes and pastries. Amelie has outdoor seating, a staple at most Croatian cafés and eateries, but with the added bonus of a private courtyard. This is a great place to head if you like coffee but you love cake.

8 of the best cafés you can't miss Zagreb, Croatia

Brokenships Bistro

Website | Brokenships Bistro

Zagreb’s most infamous museum will probably have you in tears {I know it did me}, so it’s nice to know you can exit the Museum of Broken Relationships and find solace in the form of coffee at the adjoining café. Brokenships Bistro is known for its rich, creamy hot chocolates {chocolate soothes a broken heart, right?}, but they also serve teas and coffees. There’s free WiFi and comfortable seating, so Brokenships makes for a decent workspace.

Velvet

Instagram | @velvetzagreb

Known more for its cakes than for its coffee, Velvet is an upscale café with a quiet courtyard, decent coffee, and mouthwatering baked goods. The interiors are decorated with vintage photos and “glass” chandeliers, but there’s seemingly no pretense here. The pancakes I had here were delicious, and the coffee completed my morning.

Monocycle Specialty Coffee

Instagram | @monocyclecoffee

The door to Monocycle is the gateway to the best coffee in Zagreb. The people who own and operate Monocycle care about the culture of coffee. Monocycle is for coffee enthusiasts keen on manual brews, pour-overs, and barista-style coffee. They serve up South American and African roasts in their quaint café space. They also have outdoor seating that’s set along the path near the Croatian Society of Fine Artists where six streets intersect.