Let's have a coffee
The first thing everyone notices when visiting Zagreb is the amount of cafes and bars and the fact that they are almost always full with people regardless of the time of the day.
It is a lifestyle
What you have to understand is that drinking coffee in Zagreb is not just drinking a cup of coffee - it is a lifestyle. It is where everything gets done, whether you want to meet a friend, go on a date or break up with someone, have a casual or serious talk, hear the latest gossip, have a business meeting or close a business deal.
Image credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak
Hence, it comes as no surprise that, according to the latest IKEA research, the morning habit for more than 60% of Zagreb citizens is drinking coffee or tea. You see, when you are asked to have a coffee with someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to drink coffee. In fact, it is quite normal to order tea, juice or some other beverage if you don’t feel like drinking coffee. However, if you do want to drink coffee, the most popular choice would be macchiato or coffee with milk, cappuccino and finally the classic, black coffee.
In order to truly understand the coffee culture in Zagreb, one has to be aware that when someone asks you to have coffee together, it is not going to last for 5 -10 minutes, which is how long it takes to drink a cup of coffee. It generally takes approximately an hour to have a coffee with someone, but it can go on for hours, depending on how many topics you have to go through. Foreigners might find this a bit strange, but drinking a cup of coffee or some other drink for a longer time while enjoying someone’s company is a part of everyday life in Zagreb.
Image credit: Pixabay
Špica - a true social event
While there is at least one cafe in practically every neighborhood in the city, the biggest crowds are on the streets around the Flower Square and in Tkalčićeva Street, also known as the street of cafes and party street. If you want to act like a true local, Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm is the time to be in the centre and go for a coffee with friends. Due to its popularity, it even has its own name: Špica, meaning the peak, and representing the highlight of the week. During these hours there is the biggest crowd in the city centre, and don’t get surprised if you see many people dressed up as this time period is a true social event for locals when they can see people and be seen.
Image credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak
Header image source: Pixabay
Author: Lucija Mamić