Esplanade Zagreb Afternoon Tea Review: Art Deco Tea for Two

The Esplanade Zagreb Hotel was built for passengers arriving on the Orient Express, and a century later its Art Deco glamour still feels entirely at home beside Zagreb’s main railway station. That sense of history gives afternoon tea here a character few modern lounges can reproduce. In this Esplanade Zagreb afternoon tea review, we look at the grand setting, Ronnefeldt teas, savory bites, colorful pastries, and the one traditional element we missed.

Afternoon Tea Ambiance at Esplanade Zagreb

Art Deco grandeur follows guests through the Esplanade, but the 1925 Lounge & Cocktail Bar does not feel like a room preserved behind glass. During our afternoon tea, polished chandeliers, dark wood, and immaculate surfaces created a calm sense of occasion. Natural light softened the heavier furnishings and made the lounge feel welcoming rather than solemn.

The connection with the Orient Express is more than a convenient piece of hotel storytelling. The proportions, materials, and old-world rhythm of the room make lingering over a pot of tea feel natural. Service matched the setting, attentive and polished without turning a relaxed afternoon into a ceremony.

The 1925 Lounge Drinks Menu

We came for Ronnefeldt tea, although the well-stocked bar made a persuasive case for returning later in the day. Its cocktail program draws inspiration from the decades since the hotel opened in 1925, alongside classics, mocktails, spritzes, spirits, Croatian craft drinks, and a broad European wine selection. It gives the lounge a life beyond afternoon tea, from early coffee to late-night cocktails.

Our Ronnefeldt Tea Selection

Pai Mu Tan

The organic white tea opened with an invigorating floral and fruity aroma. Its large, loosely packed leaves had enough room to unfurl, producing a natural sweetness that reminded us of candied fruit and passion fruit. A gentle astringency kept the finish clean. Pai Mu Tan retained plenty of character in a second infusion, so it was worth taking our time over the pot.

Fancy Sencha

Fancy Sencha had a smooth body and a gently bittersweet profile. The aroma of freshly cut grass introduced its distinctly Japanese character, while steaming the leaves intensified their vegetal notes. It was tart enough to remain refreshing, balanced by a rounded sweetness that worked well between the richer bites.

Esplanade Zagreb Afternoon Tea Food

Savory Bites

We began with the mildest bite, grilled cheese on whole-grain toast. The warm toast and melted cheese made a comforting pair, lifted by avocado mousse and zingy Asian microgreens. It was simple in concept but carefully balanced.

Next came smoked salmon on focaccia. We liked the generous layer of herb-flecked curd cheese beneath the salmon, with arugula adding freshness and a little peppery bite.

The final canapé placed soft prosciutto on toasted focaccia. Prosciutto is at its best when it almost melts on the tongue, and this one did exactly that. The savory course was smaller than the sweet selection, but each item had a clear purpose.

Pastries and Sweets

When a stand arrives with this many colorful sweets, deciding where to begin becomes part of the pleasure. We usually move from lighter flavors to fruit and finish with chocolate, taking a sip of tea between bites. That small ritual keeps the palate fresh and gives each pastry a fair chance.

Our first choice was the choux au craquelin. The pastry had the light, airy center and delicately crisp shell we hoped for, with just enough chew inside. Raspberry cream gave it freshness, while pistachio cream on top added richness without smothering the fruit.

A raspberry mousse cup followed. Shaped like a blossom, it tasted floral and fruity at once, with raspberry providing the brightness and rose adding a perfumed finish. The combination was as coherent on the palate as it was in color.

Both macarons had the correct delicate shell and softly chewy center. The blueberry flavor came through beneath the sweetness, while the yellow macaron was more elusive, offering only a quiet suggestion of marzipan. Technically it was sound, although we wanted its flavor to speak a little louder.

The two cake pops differed by more than their chocolate coatings. The ruby chocolate version concealed pleasantly toothsome nuts, while the second combined red velvet cake with milk chocolate. They were playful, rich little bites that made sense near the end of the progression.

We finished the sweet course with a chocolate praline filled with nougat and hazelnuts. The shell broke with a clean snap before giving way to the lavish, nutty center. It needed no elaborate analysis. It was simply delicious.

Marinated Fruit

Winter is rarely the season in which strawberries make a strong impression, so the marinated fruit was a welcome surprise. The kitchen coaxed enough sweetness and fragrance from it to feel intentional, giving us a bright pause among the pastries.

Is Esplanade Zagreb Afternoon Tea Worth It?

We did miss scones. With clotted cream and old-fashioned jam, they connect afternoon tea’s history with its present in a way few other bites can. Our menu at Esplanade took a more contemporary path, and while the absence was noticeable, it did not undo what the experience did well.

The excellent service, accomplished pastries, quality tea, and luminous Art Deco setting made this one of Zagreb’s most distinctive afternoon experiences. Esplanade did not imitate a London hotel tea course by course. It interpreted the ritual in its own historic setting, and that gave the afternoon personality. For couples, hotel-history enthusiasts, and travelers seeking an elegant pause in central Zagreb, it is easy to recommend.

Esplanade Afternoon Tea Review Card

• 9.5/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/10
• 9.5/10
  SERVICE – 9.5/10
• 9.3/10
  TEA SELECTION – 9.3/10
• 9.2/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.2/10
• 9/10
  BITES – 9/10
• 9.6/10
  VALUE – 9.6/10

Price, Hours, and Practical Information

Esplanade Zagreb Afternoon Tea FAQ