Ulica Isidora Krshnjavoga 1, Zagreb, Croatia
Central location a 15-minute walk to Zagreb's main square
Rooms include flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and minibars
Upper-story rooms have superb city views
Suites come with separate living and work space, or whirlpool tubs
Extensive meeting and event space includes a ballroom
A huge gym, indoor pool, sauna, and steam rooms
Restaurant, cafe, and lounge bar with terrace
24-hour room service
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Decor is dated throughout the hotel
Lower-story rooms prone to noise
Shaky Wi-Fi signal
Breakfast is expensive
The Westin Zagreb is a 349-room, three-and-a-half-pearl hotel in the center of Zagreb near the Mimara Museum. Interiors throughout are well kept, but dated, and rooms lack any wow factor. Those on higher floors offer great city views, and some include amenities like Samsung tablets. The hotel has a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, and a cafe off the lobby, and is geared toward business travelers, the hotel has 13 multifunctional meeting rooms and a ballroom. The health facilities, which include a huge gym, an indoor pool, sauna, and steam rooms, do add a bit of value here, though the hotel is underwhelming for the brand. Travelers seeking to stay a bit closer to Old Town might want to check out the jazzier Hotel Dubrovnik.
Scene
Business-oriented chain hotel that's showing its age
Few are likely to find this towering slab of modern architecture much to look at, and while things have a bit more sparkle and polish once inside, this isn't the nicest Westin outpost we've ever visited. Filled with light from large floor-to-ceiling windows, spotlights, and a glowing centerpiece chandelier, the lobby is spacious and bright with swaths of polished stone, mirrored paneling, and floral-patterned rugs. The look is traditional and dated, a style that's exacerbated by antique-style furnishings, traditional portraits, and occasional neo-classical touches. Part of the business-focused Starwood Hotels chain, the hotel, with its multifunctional meeting rooms and event spaces, attracts mostly corporate travelers, but given its central location, tourists find their way here too.
Location
Set in leafy neighborhood within walking distance of Zagreb's central square
The hotel is set back from a main road and surrounded by parks in the central Valentici neighborhood of the Croatian capital. The leafy area also includes businesses and residential blocks, and the hotel is within walking distance of most of the city's tourist attractions. It's across from the Mimara Museum of Art, while the Croatian National Theater is less than a 10-minute walk away. It's a 15-minute walk to Zagreb's Upper Town, which is the city's historic district. The area is home to Zagreb's main square -- surrounded by numerous bars, restaurants, and cafes -- as well as sights like the St. Mark's Church and quirky destinations like the Museum of Broken Relationships. The central train station is about a five-minute drive from the hotel, while Zagreb Airport is about a half hour's drive.
Rooms
Traditional rooms and suites, some with separate living rooms; impressive views from upper floors
The Westin Zagreb's 349 rooms are decorated in neutral tones with dark wood-veneer furniture and patterned carpeting very much in the mold of a chain property. That fact would be fine, except that everything looks held over from an earlier decade. The lack of meaningful wall art makes the rooms feel spartan as opposed to minimalist, and the overall style is a far cry from the hotel's five-pearl claims. Expect to see just a touch of color, including shades of mauve and blue in seating and carpets.
Amenities include free Wi-Fi (which can be spotty), tea- and coffee-making facilities, well-stocked minibars, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and pay movies. Junior and Executive Suites focus on the needs of business guests, providing separate office or living spaces with work desks, ergonomic chairs, and Samsung tablets. Bathrooms are finished in either tile or marble, but all have shower/tub combos and phones, and include bathrobes; Deluxe Suites add whirlpool tubs. Many of the bathrooms look especially dated, with marble in unattractive tan and red hues. Higher-floor rooms offer impressive city views, while rooms on lower floors are prone to some traffic noise.
Features
Excellent health facilities include indoor pool and huge modern gym plus dining and drinking options
The hotel's health facilities are its true high points, and include a modern gym with extensive cardio- and weight-training equipment, a 60-foot indoor swimming pool, and a large whirlpool tub, plus Finnish and Turkish saunas. Massages and other treatments can be booked as well. Guests can rent running shoes and workout clothing at reasonable daily rates (and keep the socks) -- the hotel offers local running maps too. There's also a small play area for kids and childcare services are available for a fee.
A buffet breakfast is served in the hotel's traditionally styled Kaptol Restaurant, though it's not included in the room rate and is on the pricier side. This restaurant, which specializes in traditional Croatian and international cuisine, is also open for lunch and dinner, while Cafe Rendez-Vous, off the lobby, offers more casual fare. The cozy, low-lit Diana Bar Lounge & Terrace serves cocktails and snacks, and extends to a covered patio that goes alfresco in the warmer months. The hotel also offers healthy dining options to coincide with its wellness amenities.
Wi-Fi is free throughout. Self-parking is available for a fee. The hotel's dedicated concierge is staffed around the clock