Johann Franck – a Parlor Made for Experiencing the World
Fusion. Europe. Tradition. History. Multiculturalism. Endlessness. Progress. All these powerful words can’t leave my mind while sitting in the place where many sat before enjoying their cup of coffee. Croats' love for coffee is widely known and there is no need for further explanation. It simply permeated our culture centuries ago, and, as it seems, it plans to stick around for many more to come.
Image credit: Johann Franck Facebook page
But, nobody seems to mind. Just like Otis Redding likes sitting on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away, we use this hot beverage as a reason for jolly chit chats or quiet contemplation that can go on for hours. And Johann Franck is a really eclectic place to perfectly blend it all in. The thoughtfulness that only solitude can give us while thinking about all the customs that created this magical place, the laughter that comes from sharing a good joke with a friend or a hidden look given to us when we think no one is watching. This place is big and diverse enough for everyone to feel welcomed.
Image credit: Johann Franck Facebook page
When I say Europe, I firstly think of Johann Franck, the founding father of coffee culture in the world as we know and enjoy it today. Our Johann was a German entrepreneur who shared our fascination with this drink of the gods. Even though he was posh, he loved to hang out with the common folk and they taught him the art of making coffee. He drank it with French plowmen that worked on the estate he was managing. Dazed by the taste, he decided to manufacture it because he wanted to share this discovery with the rest of the Europe. And the refreshing effect of the caffeine didn’t hinder this idea! In 1892, he opened a company here in Zagreb that manufactured and spread this beautiful beverage throughout the continent, and so it remains to this very day.
Image credit: Johann Franck Facebook page
Coffee is the leitmotiv of this magnificent place, but certainly not the only one. But I am sure that all of you coffee lovers will be pleased to hear that latte art, single-origin specialty and Turkish coffee are not an enigma in this place. Except for the name, the café and the man share the love for tradition. Even though Johann is not with us anymore, the interior reminds us of his contemporaries as well as of some notable events that made Zagreb what it is today. At the same time, you can stroll around the first apothecary in Zagreb, ‘K crnom orlu’, which literary means ‘At the Black Eagle’. Besides, if you want to know more about Zagreb’s history, I am sure that you will find everything in the library that comprises more than 2000 titles.
Image credit: Johann Franck Facebook page
But, this is not the only extra feature you can get whilst sipping your coffee or enjoying some rather fine cuisine. Many of Zagrebians don’t know that Johann Franck café holds one really old motorcycle that honors Ferdinand Budicki, a person responsible for popularizing driving culture in Zagreb. The motorcycle is as old as the café itself, almost 100 years, which reminds the guests how old Ferdo was when he brought Zagreb its first motorcycle in 1902. And this is not nearly the end of these joyful little titbits that made this café’s concept so tempting.
Image credit: Johann Franck Facebook page
But one of the things that makes me always come back here is not the exquisite Bauhaus interior, but the vibe of the past times so vividly presented not only in the style that mimics the café culture of the thirties but in the way this interior impregnates in Zagreb's zeitgeist. Indeed, everyone can find something for them here, whether a tasteful bite, a smell of freshly brewed coffee, an endless inspiration for the imagination to go wild or just a good dose of a friendly conversation. Johann Franck really has it all.
Oh, I saved the best thing for last. It is funny how once posh central square café became an urban meeting point and is not only a place reserved for occasions when you need to impress someone. Didn't I mention that Johann Franck was once (and still kind of is) the main city café? Well it is, but from now on, you don’t need a tuxedo to feel welcomed, but you can still wear one if that is your thing. With that kind of lovely attitude, how can you not love Zagreb?
Header image credit: Johann Franck Facebook page
Author: Lana Suša