Zagreb is Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly City
Croatian typical dishes consist mostly of meat. So, if you love eating meat, Zagreb is the city to try traditional Croatian dishes. If you love animals and not a massive maven meat eater like myself, Zagreb is also vegan / vegetarian friendly city. What’s great (among many other things) about staying in Hostel Mali Mrak owned by a local who happens to be quasi vegetarian is I got to know a bit of typical Croatian food that didn’t have to have meat. Sometimes he cooked, sometimes he ordered food from the nearest
A vegetarian bowl of savoury delicious & garlicky beans with bread from Bistro Mitnica.
local restaurants. I’ll never forget the message he sent, “Brave enough to have baked beans for dinner?” Original & humorous way to offer dinner. 😀 We were brave enough & ate the most savory garlicky beans called (“Gotova Jela”) I’ve ever had from Bistro Mitnica. He also took us all to the local fresh fruit, dairy and vegetable market. Veganism is not something I know a lot about. However, I am curious to learn more about it when it is available or accessible. It was very relieving to know from day one that Zagreb is vegan and vegetarian friendly city.
When we didn’t feel like cooking for ourselves, there was always the delicious and super cheap (43 – 53 kunas) Olimpik Pizza just around the corner with super friendly staff & kind. We were always greeted with a smile and would sometimes have short chats while waiting for our order. Once we were short 20 kunas and the delivery guy Ante paid it. We did try to pay him back but he insisted, “I didn’t give it for you to give it back”. Another pay it forward act of kindness. We were 20 kunas short because we refilled a bottle of red wine next door for 15 kunas. Totally miscalculated the cash we brought with us. There is a wine shop next door of Olimpik Pizza where you could refill any bottle with local wine for only 15 kunas. It’s definitely better tasting and more convenient than Trader Joe’s 2 buck chuck. I don’t think it exist anymore.
Fresh fruits, veggies, and dairy from Trešnjevački open market.
During the 1st week in Hostel Mali Mrak, Igor and I went on bicycles with his dog Fenris. We left Fenris by a tree with the bikes & a bowl of water, where he patiently waited for us. I haven’t been on a bike for years. It was probably my 13th time ever on a bicycle but I really wanted to see the local fresh market. So, I got on the bike without hesitation & followed along. Thankfully, I returned unscathed. As the saying goes, once you learn how to ride a bike even at a late age, even if you don’t ride much in your life, the body doesn’t forget.
There are 2 fresh food open markets. Both have a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, local pastry and condiment stands at a much lower costs & better quality than the supermarkets. There’s an open market at Old Town Center and at Trešnjevački market. Both markets are accessible by tram or by bike. It’s a 20-30 minute bike. Depending on how fast you ride and how many of the eggs you buy uncracked on the way back.
Some sellers would actually give some free fruits & vegetables when you buy from them or at least some fruits to try. Also, towards the end of the day, some of these products are left for anyone to take for free.
It’s always cheaper and better to shop at the fresh market and to cook for yourself, especially if you’re vegetarian. There’s also a Žabac Food Outlet around the corner of the food market. This food outlet is where you can buy supermarket items at 60% – 90% discount. Various items include, yogurt for 1 kuna, potato chips for 6 kunas, a jar of delicious basil pesto for 6 kunas, spicy tomato sauce for 1 kuna & more. Bring bike side saddle bags, backpack or a bike basket to shop for food to last for a few days.
Cheese & basil struklj at La Struk Zagreb restaurant
Succulent Vegetarian Burger with truffle cheese fries at Submarine BBQ Zagreb Restaurant
Truflle oil, herbs & cheese bread w/ a bowl of local cheese & olives from various regions of Croatia at The Heritage Restaurant Zagreb
Vegetarian Samosas, Paneer (homemade cheese cooked in butter & tomato sauce), Dahl Makhani (beans) and Garlic Naan (flat bread) at Bombay Grill Zagreb
Local & International Restaurants
We did most of our “food tour” towards the end of our stay in Zagreb. Most times in non typical Croatian food restaurants. I ate at least 4 times in Bombay Grill that served authentic Indian dishes, once in Curry Bowl that served Sri Lankan food, Submarine BBQ which had the tastiest veggie burgers I’ve ever had & succulent truffle cheese fries, Ginger Sushi and Green Point Vegetarian fast food joint. The local Croatian restaurants I got to eat & drink were La Štruk, Medvedgrad, Hendrick’s The Most Unusual Garden, Bistro Mitnica, Mr. Fogg, Olimpik, The Heritage, and Paulaner Restaurant. Most eating out experience made me want to take a nap at the nearest bench or park. The best overall restaurant experience for me were La Struk, The Heritage, Bombay Grill and Submarine BBQ. These restaurants made me want to go back again, again and again.
Whether you are a meat eating maven, pescaterian, flexitarian or whatever foodarian, Zagreb is also vegan and vegetarian friendly city.
Zagreb is Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly City Zagreb is Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly City Croatian typical dishes consist mostly of meat. So, if you love eating meat, Zagreb is the city to try traditional Croatian dishes.
