Zagreb bringing legendary café from 1907 back to life

ZAGREB, 21 October 2026 – One of Zagreb’s historic cafés, Corso, which first opened in 1907, is set to be restored as the Croatian capital moves to bring the long-standing city landmark back to life.

The City of Zagreb has begun the process of preparing design documentation for the final refurbishment of the café, located at the corner of Ilica and Gundulićeva streets in the city centre.

The project follows the comprehensive renovation of the historic building at Ilica 25–27 and Gundulićeva 2, which houses the café across approximately 930 square metres of basement, ground-floor and mezzanine space.

The building, which originally housed the Croatian-Slavonian Land Central Savings Bank, is a individually protected cultural heritage property. Its comprehensive renovation was financed by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, including structural work to the café premises.

With those works completed, the City of Zagreb, which owns the property, will oversee the next stage of the project.

The design documentation will establish the work required to restore the interior while respecting the building’s historic character and conservation requirements.

Plans include restoring decorative interior features and producing replicas based on archival photographs and historical descriptions. Elements of the original interior furnishings are also intended to be recreated, where possible, to help return the space to its former appearance.

The refurbishment is designed to reinstate the premises as a traditional café while ensuring it can operate according to modern hospitality standards.

“We know how much this legendary café, which features in the feuilletons of Antun Gustav Matoš, means to the people of Zagreb,” Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević said.

He added that the city intends to respect its historic character while allowing the premises to operate as a café in line with contemporary standards.

The project will follow conservation guidelines established by the City of Zagreb’s office responsible for cultural and natural heritage.

According to preliminary estimates, approximately €2 million from the city budget will be allocated to the design work and refurbishment.

Once the works are completed, the city plans to launch a public tender to select an operator to run the premises as a café.

The aim is to reopen Corso to residents and visitors, restoring a venue that has been part of Zagreb’s café culture for more than a century.

Corso opened on 14 December 1907 at the intersection of Ilica and Gundulićeva streets. Its planned revival forms part of efforts to preserve the capital’s historic urban heritage while returning the space to its original hospitality purpose.