Welcome!
Festival itinerary and guide
Your ticket to the best experience in Zagreb
We are very grateful that you are a part of our festival and the Grain family.
You’ve worked hard this year and now it’s time to recharge!
At Grain, we want to ensure you have a well-deserved break in Zagreb - to reflect, learn, make new friends and have a great time overall. Given all the excitement and rakija, we also want to ensure you don’t miss out on anything. So, here’s a handy online guide to everything you need to know.
The venue of the Grain Festival
“Kaptol Boutique Cinema & Bar” is located in the center of Zagreb. This boutique cinema was renovated in art deco style, with state-of-the-art video and audio set up for a perfect experience of our speakers' presentations.
The time between speeches will be spent hanging around in the industrial-themed bar of the cinema where the sponsor’s market will be located - a perfect spot to browse new products.
Both days starts at 9:00, please arrive early enough so we ensure everything runs smoothly.
It’s a 10-15 minute walk from the main square or you can take an Uber or taxi.
There is a parking garage at the venue if you are coming by car. Validate your parking ticket at the bar to get 3 hours free.
Welcome event and pre-registration
Monday evening - Nov 3rd 19:30h
This year our usual spot on the Main Square is under renovation, so we’ll hop a few tram stops away and meet at Kino Urania, a stylish old cinema hall with amazing cocktails. It’s the perfect place to register, pick up your Grain goodie bag, and catch up with colleagues. And to enjoy some nice tunes by one of Croatia´s finest - DJ Pytzek.
We encourage you to register on Monday evening.
(The Urania bar is nestled at the bottom of the alley at the Trg Eugena Kvaternika 3 address. Enter the passageway between Borovo and Muller stores and head all the way to the back.)
Tuesday evening - Nov 4th 19:00h
“Katran Studio”
Grain and Fravero Prophoto invite you to a food and music night that will be held at Katran Studio from 19:00h.
The Zagreb-based Silver Lining Jazz Collective brings classic jazz and swing with a touch of contemporary elegance. Their sound perfectly blends rhythm, emotion, and improvisation, an ideal backdrop for an evening after the 1st day of lectures.
We will have a Pic-Time storytelling hour, a unique community experience of sharing the stories behind the images.
Wednesday evening - Nov 5th 21:30h
Party Time
We’ll wrap up the festival where the energy always peaks — at the Peti Kupe club. The Grain finale is legendary for a reason: four DJs, one unforgettable evening.
The night kicks off with Benedetto Lee, setting the tone with smooth, feel-good grooves. Next up is Belgrade-based DJ Iva Arifaj, who has been shaping the local and regional scene for a decade. Her sound flows effortlessly from disco grooves to house vibes, always staying true to her refined taste and intuitive feel for the crowd’s energy.
Our own Petar Jurica will turn it up a notch with some harder, more driving beats than last time and to close the night, the Ozman takes over, carrying us deep into the rhythm until the lights come on.
A proper Grain-style ending: full of music, movement, and memories.
FEW POINTS
TO NOTE
It’s the easiest way to get around. Just a quick tip - try to avoid local taxis with yellow signs on top, as they can sometimes overcharge. Zagreb’s taxis with blue signs are reliable and safe to use.
01. UBER or BOLT
Will be available in the bar and the lobby area of the Kaptol Cinema. Choose ‘Kaptol Boutique Cinema WiFi’ and you can simply sign up with your email or Facebook account.
02. COMPLIMENTARY WIFI
The euro is the national currency of Croatia and in all venues it will be possible to pay with credit and debit cards too.
03. CARDS & EURO
If you are traveling to Zagreb with your partner or friend, he/she is welcome to join us for the evening events - the more, the merrier!
04. TRAVELING WITH YOUR PARTNER?
On both days of the festival, we have lunch breaks for 2 hours each. Just south from the conference venue is Tkalčićeva Ulica - a pedestrian street with plenty of restaurants and bars to grab a nice meal.
05. LUNCH BREAKS
We will be available to assist you via info@thegrain.ws for any questions you might have.
+385989437767
+38598602220
+38598411171
06. NEED ASSISTANCE?
If this is your first time visiting... or if you are just keen to explore more because you couldn’t the last time, here are a few tips & a selection of our favourite spots
PLACES TO VISIT
Walking is the best way to explore Zagreb. We recommend starting in the Upper Town, wandering its cobbled streets and historic squares, then heading down Strossmayer Promenade toward the Lower Town - passing through the Stone Gate and along Radićeva or Tkalčićeva, lively streets lined with cafés, bars, and restaurants.
Optional additions :
Make sure to stop at one of the small lookout points along Stross for a beautiful view of the city below.
If you’re walking in the evening, you might catch the old gas lamps being lit by hand — a Zagreb tradition that still continues today.
End your walk in the Lower Town parks like Zrinjevac or Dolac Market (in the mornings) for a taste of everyday local life.
1) Enjoy Zagreb by walking
This unusual museum is a Croatian franchise, a unique peek into personal mementos that will leave a mark on you. It’s conveniently located in the Upper Town, close to many other sights.
It might be strange that we recommend a cemetery for a visit, but if you have time and would like to move beyond the center this is a good option - one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe.
Best places for caffeine
You only really need coffee on days ending with a “y”.
Cogito have the best coffees in town. Sourced with care, emphasizing its seasonality and origin; caring about the quality of each batch they roast and each cup they serve.
Express Bar is a top-pick for specialty coffee lovers. And here’s a special twist for our audience: you can try coffee from the “Kava” brand by our own host Marko.
2) Express Bar
One of our favourite spots in Zagreb with a great selection of coffees and teas. Inspired by the nearby Botanical garden, this cafe/gallery is located in a quiet part of the city centre and while you’re there, might be a good option to visit the Botanical garden too.
3) Botanicar
Whether you’re looking for something fast, slow, vegan or meaty - here’s a helpful list of spots to consider. Some get quite busy, so getting a reservation is a good idea (we’ll note those here)
Goodies for foodies
Croatia's first certified 100% organic vegan restaurant. You won’t find a better place for green lovers.
1) Zrno
Best burgers in Zagreb. All ingredients here are sourced from local farms around Zagreb. Pro tip - get truffle potatoes too!
“Konoba” is the Croatian word for a traditional family- run restaurant with a selection of simple but tasteful meals that our grandparents ate. Reservation advised.
3) Didov San
Located in the Teslina pedestrian zone, Sopal blends a relaxed, modern bistro atmosphere with creative cuisine.
4) Sopal
Situated in the atrium of the Zagreb Youth Theatre (ZKM), Kiyomi is a pan-Asian it is amzing fusion restaurant.
The focus is on dim sum, robata grill (Japanese charcoal grill), sushi and other Asian classics.
