Zagreb's Retro Places With Soul
This is exactly what I thought when I walked into Zagreb's cafe 'Finjak'. This cafe is different from others not only for its Art Nouveau style decoration from around 1920 but it is also special for its size. Cafe occupies an area of only 23 square meters but it is still so cute and adorable, and much more important. It is so homely for a cup of coffee with a friend.
Credit image: Caffe bar Finjak Facebook page
To be more precise, every object and a piece of furniture in this cafe have a long, rich history. Nothing is false or even invented. The terrace is actually the former terrace of Hotel Esplanade. The wall clock Zenith - Chronometrie, owned by the Zagreb old watchmaker and jeweler Vasić, used to be placed in Octagon. Candy making apparatus are actually from 1925 and they stood at the main railway station, and advertisements are old Zagreb advertisements that were placed on the facades of streets.
Most artifacts date from World War II
But the story does not stop here. While I am enjoying my coffee which is made from the coffee machine bought in 1992 at the public auction of all items from the ship Galeb-Faema President from 1952, I saw a shelf for candies 'Josip Kraš' from the 50's. At 'Finjak', believe it or not, you can find spittoon from the 'NDH' (Independent State of Croatia, 1941-1945), which once stood in all public places, and famous Christian Dell – industrial lamps, as well as an original warrant for Tito. All this objects were from the Second World War.
Credit image: Caffe bar Finjak Facebook page
However, all of these items are not only the evidence of the past but also creative ideas. As a proof of creativity, you can see pillows sewn from postal bags and flour bags…
Retro burgers in Zagreb? Yes, it is possible...
After checking every corner of this interesting cafe, I became hungry. And if you love burgers like I do, then you can't miss the best snack bar in Zagreb. Burgers and retro style? Yes, it is certainly possible at Mek Per's. :)
But here we have a little more modern style of the 50's and the 60's: leather armchairs in burgundy red, booths, stripes, funny pictures with crazy descriptions, big and old TV ... All of this and much more can be seen while enjoying fries and 'evil burgers' (nickname for big burgers). But what captured my attention was a beautiful jukebox that is more than 40 years old. Did I forget to mention that a person who eats the most 'evil burgers' gets all burgers for free and a photography of that person goes on a wall? Well, now you know. :) So, to conclude, except for the fact that you can eat excellent burgers here, you will also have a good time.
Credit image: Mek Per's Facebook page
After we ate burgers, my friend had a problem with a greasy beard and mustache. As we decided to have a little adventure in the retro style, I thought that our idea stops here. Why? Well, barbershops in Zagreb? You would say no way, right? But, guess again.
First vintage barbershop in the center
While he was cutting his mustache, I just had to admire the Zagreb hair salon, called the 'Salon'. It was an interior which you can only see in your dreams. The connection of interior, music and atmosphere definitely brought me back to the 30's, 40's, and 50's of the 20th century.
Credit image: Barber shop SALON Facebook page
There you can see the interesting mixture of old commodes and chairs for shaving, retro refrigerators, old equipment for combing, shaving or cutting, books, artistic photos, lamps, radios, posters or armchairs, and along with the usual beauty services, "Salon" offers shaving with a razor, something that completely disappeared in Zagreb in the last few years.
Credit image: Barber shop SALON Facebook page
But girls, don't worry. This salon is not just for men. Looking around this beautiful area, I came across one corner that offers the atmosphere of the 30's glamor, and it is reserved only for ladies. :) If you are thirsty, hungry or if you need a beauty treatments, you will never be bored in a place like this, believe me. :)
Header image credit: Caffe bar Finjak Facebook page
Author: Nikolina Jozanović