Culinary walk Tkalčićeva

Submarine is a favourite place of those fond of top burgers and a good atmosphere and for years now it has been one of the most important names on Zagreb's fast-food scene. From their first location in Frankopanska Street, they have slowly and resolutely spread to more locations in Zagreb and throughout Croatia, and, since recently, also to neighbouring countries.

Their strengths that they are so proud of are the use of organic, local, and fresh ingredients, humanitarian work, work on inclusivity, staff education, and taking care of employee satisfaction – recently they even opened their own radio station. In addition to the regular burger menu, the offer also includes occasional seasonal burgers, vegan burgers, several types of super popular fries, salads, milkshakes, and desserts. They are delivered by Wolt, Glovo and Bolt. 

This pub, owned by a well-known brewery and producer of Zagreb's most important beer, is located not far from the very beginning of Tkalča, at the corner of the beautiful Skalinska Street that connects Tkalčićeva Street to the Dolac open-air green market. The offer includes all the products of this largest Croatian brewery, half-and-half, light and dark beers, Radler and non-alcoholic beers.

The food offer is typical of pub restaurants but more elaborated, so in addition to sausages or ribs, veal shank roast with sour cabbage, Zagreb steak or fried calamari, they also offer the ever-popular ćevapi, pljeskavice, pizzas, lasagnas and burgers, several types of salads, but also desserts, among which traditional Germknödel are worth trying. 

The Cookie Factory is an American-type coffee & dessert shop that was opened back in 2011. From the beginning to this day, their most famous product is their brownie with ice cream; they also sell American classics such as different kinds of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, pies, and cakes. Eventually, they opened another shop on Eugen Kvaternik Square and expanded their offer to macarons, a selection of Croatian biscuits and mono-portion desserts.

Although Tkalča is known as the most touristic street in Zagreb, Otto & Frank is one of those places that the Zagrebians just love. The bistro got its name after the owner's pets, and is a good mix between a bistro and a bar. It offers seasonal dishes for any time of the day – from the very popular typical Zagreb breakfast, to comfort food such as stuffed peppers or dumplings with plums, to international classics such as French toast or burgers.

Otto & Frank offers specialty coffee, has a nice wine list, but also a wide selection of craft beers and cocktails. 

L'oro di Napoli, named after the cult classic movie in which Sophia Loren plays a pizzaiola, is the only place in Tkalčićeva Street that makes the authentic Neapolitan pizza, and the only pizza restaurant in Zagreb with a complete staff from Napoli!

So, if you like the beautiful puffy soft edge of a real pizza Napoletana, a UNESCO-protected pizza, with real Italian San Marzano tomatoes and original mozzarella, but also burrata, pasta with shrimp or clams, parmigiana or desserts, this is just the place for you. 

Häagen-Dazs, a world-famous ice cream brand found its admirers in Zagreb too. In the newly opened shop in Tkalča, Häagen-Dazs offers various types of ice cream as well as waffles, cakes, and ice cream drinks. Here you can choose your favourite flavour combinations and enhance your choice with a wide selection of toppings, sauces, and sprinkles. They are also available at delivery services. 

This popular pub in the heart of Tkalčićeva Street is owned by the first Croatian family-owned craft brewery Medvedgrad, and is one of their four pubs well-known among Zagreb beer lovers. It is always full and the atmosphere is good, especially in summer when on their terrace you can occasionally enjoy live music or watch some important sports events. They offer all their famous beers in various types, some of which they have been producing for 30 years, along with occasional seasonal beers, as well as a selection of Croatian and international spirits and wines. You can also buy beer in bottles to take away.

Good beer pairs well with good food, so the menu includes the usual favourite dishes - burgers, sausages, pizzas, ćevapi, but also some vegan plates, as well as salads and pancakes. The most famous are their čvarkuše or crackling scones; they say that so far, they have produced almost five million of them!

Opened in the middle of the pandemic in a bold catering leap of faith, Black Piggy based its concept on the promotion of Croatia's autochthonous variety of pig, the fajferica or black Slavonian pig. Here you can try delicious ribeye, tomahawk, and other steaks, as well as burgers, but also ćevapi, grilled minced meat sausages made from this appreciated breed of pig.

The offer also includes beef burgers, as well as chicken dishes such as wings or breaded fillets, and even some pasta dishes; the most important secondary player in the offer are waffles, which they offer in savoury and sweet versions. You can accompany everything with several well-known Croatian beers and wines. 

Funk is one of those iconic, charmingly shabby city clubs that always promises a good night out, with great music and top-level entertainment. For twenty years, in its basement with brick vaults, in the old-Zagreb ambience, this deceptively quiet daytime bar/cafe has been hiding the soul of a true club.

Nice and cheerful staff, cool guests from Zagreb's cultural scene, interesting programs, performances by renowned local electronic music DJs and superb sound system will certainly make every club-hopper happy. 

Even though Melin is, technically, situated in Kožarska Street, a secluded old-Zagreb street long known for the 'ladies of the night' (nearby, there is also a sculpture dedicated to them, 'Woman at the Window' authored by the academic sculptor Vera Dajht-Kralj), it has always been a part of Tkalča because of its spacious beautiful terrace on a small plateau overlooking Tkalčićeva Street, just a few steps away.

The legendary Melin is a bar club with a long tradition of being an alternative antithesis to the mostly "noble" reputation of this vibrant street.

Although recently somewhat redecorated and slightly distanced from its rock and punk image, it remains a gathering place for those who do not belong to the mainstream, so here, with a cold beer, good wine, coffee, or bitter liqueur pelinkovac, you will always be able to enjoy some good music from jazz, rock, etc. to soul and quality vintage pop.

One of the first real pubs in Zagreb, a place where we got to discover great world beers, managed to keep its good reputation even today, three decades later.

In the most vibrant part of the street, in an old-Zagreb wooden house, with an authentic 'pub' interior made of dark lacquered wood and brass, in dark red and green colours, you will encounter friendly service and an excellent selection of Croatian and international beers, as well as cocktails, Zagreb's main coffee brand or a selection of important Croatian and world distillates.

In front of the pub, next to the stairs leading to the beautiful Opatovina Park, there is also a large terrace/winter garden, restored after it was destroyed in a storm in 2019. From time to time, here they organize pub quizzes, and if there are some sports events which include a Croatian team, a madhouse of cheering fans is guaranteed. 

The name of a modern Asian-American fusion restaurant in dark colours in the lively heart of Tkalča, down the stairs from the Opatovina Park, symbolizes the house number of the address, and in accordance with it, the main stars of the offer – 5 types of woks and 7 types of hamburgers.

Burgers are varied, from vegan to chicken, to rich classic and bbq, and woks are offered with egg or buckwheat pasta, in veggie, fish or meat options.

Popular bao buns, spring rolls, katsu, and even curry are also on the menu. Here they also produce sweets for other facilities owned by the group to which Stars of 57 belongs, so you can taste these visually impressive and delicious desserts in various flavours such as lemon, pistachio, or poppy at the source. They offer all beers from the well-known Zagreb brewery, as well as major Croatian good quality wine brands, delicious coffee, and juices. 

This successful restaurant serving the favourite Balkan food, named after the Croatian word for chicken drumstick, is perhaps the first place that comes to our mind when we want to enjoy a good Balkan-style barbecue. The first restaurant of this, today a chain of grill restaurants opened in Rudeš. In a short time, it gained its loyal customers, and ten years and fifteen locations in Zagreb later, it is still flourishing and expanding to the Croatian coast.

Beautiful decoration, pleasant ambience with friendly staff, and consistent delivery of quality is Batak's guarantee. Whether you choose ćevapi, burgers and other Balkan delights, Zagreb steak, some chicken dish or a salad, a seasonal dish or one of its excellent cakes, you will make a winning choice. The ever-increasing selection of drinks includes excellent Croatian wines, cocktails and much more. 

Torero is a fine dining restaurant at the end of the pedestrian zone in Tkalčićeva. Torero offers elaborate seasonal tasting menus, as well as an à la carte dishes, with a special emphasis on local foodstuffs. 

Duksa is one of the most popular pizza places in Zagreb. The first one was opened back in 2012 in Maksimir, and was named after its original location — the street where the owners grew up. With their third restaurant in Tkalča, they finally came to the very centre of Zagreb to the delight of their guests.

They divide their pizzas romanas with crispy thin dough into red and white, and they also have pitta breads.

They are known for their creative pizza stuffings and fun pizza names whose author is the owner himself, such as: I Like Pancetta, Dado Is Crazy about This One, What I Had in the Fridge (and It Turned Out Great). 

Barbieri's is one of the best Zagreb examples of the popular gastrotainment concept. A modernly decorated restaurant and an elegant bar make up this unique Zagreb location, with live music and DJ programs; in summer, the fun atmosphere spreads to their equally popular terrace. This fashionable restaurant currently offers top quality steaks, fresh fish, and handmade pasta.

The well–equipped bar is full of wines, fine spirits, and cocktails. Barbieri's has an age limit to enter. 

This spacious restaurant and bar has been known to the Zagreb public for many years as one of THE places for evening outings. As for the food, Khala offers Japanese fusion cuisine that is seasonally adapted to our climate, and the menu includes dishes such as carpaccio, sushi, woks, dim sum, poke... Khala also boasts a large selection of drinks, including signature cocktails.

On hot summer days, Khala's terrace is one of the most pleasant places to have a coffee in the shade, and in the evening, it is full of young people going out.

Magnolia is a confectionery brand from Zagreb with 4 pastry shops; this one in the Kaptol Centar is their flagship store. They are famous for their selection of modern versions of traditional cakes, and mostly for custom-made cakes for various occasions — from festive to business. In this shop, the emphasis is on modern confections and mono-portion signature desserts. The interior is decorated in Magnolia's characteristic style and pastel colours.

Bonkulović is the first Croatian delicatessen that still has its army of loyal fans. The extensive offer of cured meat products and cheeses, artisan chocolates, selected spices and oils, sauces and pastas, desserts, wines, and fine spirits truly justifies the cult status of this specialized gourmet store. Whether you want to treat yourself and your loved ones or are looking for a high-quality gastronomic gift, Bonkulović is the address you need. 

Aladdin Cave 

Bombay grill 

Dragon sushi 

El Greco 

Curry bowl Sri Lanka 

Kebab Tkalča 

Layali Lebanese Restaurant 

Royal India 

Tuk tuk express