Roots

Juice bar by day, a cocktail bar by night under the funicular in the city center

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Simple but nicely decorated open space in the city center, right under the funicular, with arched brick vaults and a beautifully verdant terrace with a view of Tomićeva street. Seating is high wooden tables with comfortable high chairs.

Roots is run by Tomislav Perko, a Croatian travel writer/ bartender, and a young team of mixologists with respectable bartending contest experience.

During the day, Roots is a juice bar, and in the evening, it changes ambient lighting and staff uniforms to become a bustling cocktail bar.

You can expect a luxurious selection of fruit and veg juices, smoothies, fruit bowls with homemade granola, oatmeals flavored with all kinds of additions, avocado toast, hummus, smoked salmon, tartar, and many tasty bites.

The night version boasts an enviable selection of whisky, cognac, rum, other spirits, and a short and brilliant wine list.

The cocktail list is divided into winter (seasonal) and other (with or without ice, long drinks, virgin or low alcohol cocktails) with verticals covering multiple vintages.

The menu is attractively designed using a 12 custom sign system to help you decide.

We tried three different but unique cocktails using elaborate preparation methods, like clarifying bourbon, aromatized spice oils, and interesting recipe twists like switching gin with mezcal in a Negroni.

Their presentation and aesthetic made them one of the top cocktail spots in town.

Saturdays are the busiest night of the week, and the service was smooth and welcoming.