October 30, 2025 – The impressive expansion of the Croatian capital continues with a focus of Foodie Zagreb – meet All the Flavours of Zagreb and the Delicious Zagreb platform.
When I first moved to Croatia in 2003, there was a joke running around the small expat community. There was a factory somewhere in Croatia which printed all the menus for all the restaurants in the country. All the restaurants had to do was write in their name and prices. That was how similar restaurant menus were back then.
And if you were looking for any international food scene, the only options were in Zagreb – a bad Chinese and even worse Indian. The first sushi restaurant opened in the Kaptol Centre in 2006.
How times have changed, not only in Croatia in general, but very much in Zagreb itself. The foodie Zagreb scene is now a joy, both for its expanded offer of quality international food, as well as a lot more innovation in the local menus, from street food and food festivals to dedicated foodie guides to the city and Michelin Star restaurants.
As someone with a body that cannot hide my desire to eat, I have been privileged to have tried more Zagreb restaurants than perhaps most over the last five years since the city became my home. It has been a pleasure to see the constant innovation and new ideas coming to the Zagreb gourmet scene, and it is definitely one of the attractions of visiting the city these days.
Five years ago, I was involved in a project with the Zagreb Tourist Board to try and make the city a digital nomad hub. The project was so successful, that within a year Nomad List, the go to website for nomads, listed Zagreb in the top 5 cities for nomads in Europe.
And it was interesting to observe their findings. A new breed of visitor, including the remote workers who came later, not quite a resident, and not quite a tourist, but one committed to spended an extended period in the destination.
Their impressions made a deep impression on me. This underrated capital was attractive for three of Croatia’s finest quality – safely, lifestyle and authentic experiences. But also for its nature, food and wine, culture, accessibility and affordability. A city still under the radar for many. Over the last few years, the Zagreb Tourist Board has focused on some of these areas with its campaigns – nature and culture in particular. And yesterday, at Restaurant Tac, it turned its attentions to food, with a press conference featuring All the Tastes of Zagreb and the Delicious Zagreb platform – full details of which are below from the press release.
I was very honoured to be invited to take part in the project. There is a video teaser below, and our full video tour of the Zagreb restaurant scene will be published in the coming days.
Below the press release with more details on the initiative:
The Zagreb Tourist Board (TZGZ) presented current projects and initiatives that actively position Zagreb’s gastronomy as an important segment of the capital’s tourism offer and identity.
Namely, global trends show the increasing importance of culinary experiences – in the annual report of the Virtuoso travel agency network, trips dedicated to food, wine and premium drinks are among the most sought-after experiences, which confirms the importance of gastronomy for choosing a destination, and according to UN Tourism data, tourists spend up to 30% of their budget on food and drinks on average, making gastronomy an important factor of recognition and a motive for coming to a destination.
Speaking about the strategic importance of gastronomy in the development of the city’s tourism offer, the director of the Zagreb Tourist Board, Martina Bienenfeld, emphasized that it occupies a prominent place in the promotion of Zagreb as an attractive and holistic destination: “According to data from the World Food Travel Association (WFTA), 53% of holidaymakers actively seek gastronomic experiences, while 81% of international tourists want to explore local cuisine, which shows how much gastronomy influences the choice of destination. In line with these trends, Zagreb is developing a recognizable and diverse gastronomic scene that combines authentic local flavors with contemporary international influences. Taking into account global trends and local specificities in gastronomy, the Zagreb Tourist Board strategically directs its activities towards strengthening the city’s recognition and, through partnerships and projects such as Delicious Zagreb, seeks to further highlight the richness of Zagreb’s culinary offer and encourage innovation, professionalism and sustainable development within the local community.”
The President of the Zagreb Catering Association, Franz Letica, emphasized the importance of joint action between the profession and tourism institutions: “Zagreb gastronomy has been experiencing a strong upswing in recent years – the combination of tradition, innovation and the personal approach of each caterer creates a unique experience for our guests. That is why I believe that by working together, exchanging knowledge and constantly investing in quality, we can further strengthen Zagreb’s reputation as a destination that is remembered for its taste and experience. Cooperation between caterers, the tourist board and creative professionals does not only mean promotion, but also the creation of a common vision – a vision of a city that lives from its people, its food and its culture. Thank you to the Zagreb Tourist Board for recognizing the importance of this synergy and providing a space for the voice of the profession to be heard and respected.”
Chef Rudolf Štefan, owner of the Šibenik restaurant Pelegrini (one Michelin star), presented the Delicious Zagreb project (www.deliciouszagreb.hr) – a digital platform that provides an overview of Zagreb’s restaurants, bars, winemakers, pastry chefs and producers of authentic products. Through recommendations, themed routes and stories about local ingredients, Delicious Zagreb offers a guide to the flavours that shape Zagreb’s contemporary gastronomic scene. For those who want to try their hand at preparing dishes, there are also recipes from renowned chef Vesna Miletić.
The new gastronomic series “Ana Cooks, Zagreb Loves”, authored by renowned chef Ana Ugarković, was also presented. Through the episodes, Ana explores local ingredients, traditional recipes and contemporary interpretations of Zagreb cuisine, highlighting her favourite Zagreb locations, and on this occasion she stated:
“Zagreb has a special gastronomic identity – a combination of tradition, seasonality and urban energy. Through this series, I wanted to show that Zagreb cuisine is not just what is served on a plate, but also the stories about the people, places and emotions behind every bite.”
On this project, the Zagreb Tourist Board is also collaborating with British influencer Paul Bradbury, who, through his video stories, introduces the international audience to the authentic flavours and unique experiences of Zagreb’s gastronomic scene.
In addition to the platform and digital content, the TZGZ is continuously developing practical training for gastronomy professionals. As part of this, on Monday, October 27, the third Michelin Masterclass workshop for Zagreb chefs was held at the ManO2 restaurant, led by chef Alain Weissgerber from the Austrian restaurant Taubenkobel, holder of two Michelin stars, who stated: “The food in Croatia is excellent — great chefs work with local products, appreciating the diversity of ingredients and cuisines. Their approach is based on simplicity and respect for ingredients.” The workshop was attended by 11 chefs and sous-chefs from 8 restaurants: Balon, Dubravkin put, Gallo, Izakaya, Le Bistro Esplanade, Pod Zidom Bistro, Tač and Zinfandel’s. We would like to remind you that the first Masterclass workshop of the Michelin global gastro guide outside of France – held in 2023 in Zagreb – was the first of its kind in the world.
