Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, Ulica Antuna Mihanovića

The empress of Croatia’s hotels, the Esplanade Zagreb, has been serving railway passengers traipsing across from the nearby train station since the days of the Orient Express. These days, of course, there’s no Orient Express – at least not to Zagreb – but this historic landmark can offer a lavish health club and contemporary gym, even a VIP dog service, to accommodate guests year-round. Note also the upscale Zinfandel’s restaurant and the high-class cocktail bar, named after the hotel’s foundation year of 1925.