Zagreb's most storied hotel is having a very good year. The Esplanade, opened in 1925, has picked up three international recognitions for 2026: an Art of Hospitality Excellence distinction at the European Hotel Awards, a place in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice ranking of Central and Southern Europe, and a retained MICHELIN Key.

The European Hotel Awards ceremony took place at Grand Hotel del Mare Resort & Spa in Bordighera, Italy, where Esplanade general manager Ivica Max Krizmanić accepted the hospitality honour on the hotel's behalf.

The Condé Nast result is arguably the one most relevant to travellers. The Esplanade came eighth in the top 10 for Central and Southern Europe with a score of 97.13 — and it was the only Croatian hotel to make the regional list. That ranking drew on nearly 800,000 reader votes rating travel experiences worldwide, so it reflects what actual guests thought rather than an editor's pick.

The MICHELIN Key, meanwhile, is awarded by inspectors looking at architecture and interior design, consistent service, character, value for money and the hotel's contribution to its destination. Add an earlier inclusion this year in the 50 Best Discovery platform, and the Esplanade has now been validated by industry peers, guest surveys and professional inspectors alike.

The timing matters because the hotel is in the middle of a renovation programme running through 2026 and 2027. Guest rooms and public areas are being redone, with the aim of keeping the building's signature Art Deco character while adding contemporary comfort. Management says the full renovation should be wrapped up in the second half of 2027 — so anyone booking for this year or next should expect some works, but also freshly refreshed spaces as the project rolls out.

Why it matters for travellers: Zagreb has been quietly growing as a city-break destination, and the Esplanade remains its most recognisable address — a century-old hotel woven into the city's social and dining scene. If you want historic grandeur rather than a generic five-star, it now has three independent 2026 endorsements to back that up. And with the renovation finishing in 2027, the second half of next year could be the sweet spot: renewed rooms, awards-level service, possibly before peak-season prices fully catch up.

Croatia Week