If you are like me and would have loved to have lived through an Agatha Christie novel and joined Hercule Poirot aboard the Orient Express, then you will be as thrilled about staying in this hotel as I was.
The hotel was opened in 1925 for the passengers of the Orient Express and many famous people have slept here over the years. During the second world war the hotel was used at Nazi Headquarters and then for various things under the rule of General Tito. Finally it was refurbished and reopened in 2004 and is the most beautiful place to stay.
The accommodation:
The hotel has 208 rooms and I can honestly say that the best night sleep I have ever had was at this hotel. The rooms are comfortable, sound-proof and the black out curtains meant that we had the most comfortable and undisturbed sleep of our trip.
Our room had a large double bed and a sofa bed for Pip with an ensuite bathroom. The hotel is decorated classically but with all the mod cons you could need including excellent wifi.
The hotel also has a spa which we didn’t use but there are L’Occitane products in all the bedrooms and also a bath menu if you would like something a bit more special in your evening bath.
An Orient Express hotel wouldn’t be complete without a ballroom and while we didn’t manage to attend a function in the ballroom we did have a sneaky peak with a member of staff who explained that the acoustics are amazing and they often have musicians and opera singers performing there.
The staff at the hotel were all amazing and went out of their way to help. Almost all staff spoke excellent English and if not were able to find us someone to help.
Food:
Breakfast is served in the restaurant downstairs with a al la carte menu as well as an extensive buffet.
Drinks were available in the various bars including outside on the terrace which was a lovely place to stop for a drink after we had been out exploring all day.
We also had lunch at Le Bistro on our last day which was amazing. The food was delicious but it was also very child friendly. Staff persuaded us to try Strukli which is a traditional dish from Zagreb of dough and cheese sauce and we were glad we did as it was delicious. They have a children’s menu option too.
The hotel was great at catering for allergies and seem to be able to cater to most dietary requirements.
Around the hotel:
Zagreb old town is about a 15 minute walk from the hotel. There are also some bars and restaurants in the immediate area. There is a tram stop right outside.
Child friendly?:
The hotel is surprisingly child friendly. The kids felt just as welcome as we did and there was a great selection of child friendly food on offer.
Parking:
The hotel offers valet parking which really does make you feel like royalty.
Go everywhere, Do everything 