New Year's Eve celebration

They say that how you enter the new year sets the tone for the year ahead. With this in mind, there’s no room for compromise; put aside the pyjamas, couch, and movies this time. Instead, dress up, put a smile on your face, and welcome 2025 in style with glamour, exceptional food, joy, dancing, and an unforgettable atmosphere at Zagreb’s iconic Esplanade Hotel. Starting with a red carpet and chilled bubbly may set the tone for what awaits you throughout the year!

Follow the red carpet into the magnificent Emerald Ballroom or the elegant Zinfandel’s Restaurant, where every detail has been meticulously planned. The New Year’s Eve celebration at this Zagreb hotel is always a well-orchestrated event, planned down to the smallest detail. Each year, the Esplanade team ensures that every guest feels like a Hollywood star. The glamorous New Year’s Eve celebration begins with a welcome glass of bubbly and gourmet snacks to whet your appetite for the main event: a six-course gala dinner of carefully curated delicacies.

Delicious snacks and irresistible rhythms!

Chef Ana and her team have created an enticing New Year’s Eve menu that proves not only does love go through the stomach but so does great fun! A true gourmet experience starts with welcoming bites of citrus fruit croquettes with Oscietra caviar and scampi tartare with oyster leaf. For meat lovers, a taste of steak tartare served with buckwheat waffles and caper aioli promises to delight. Experienced Chef Ana Grgić Tomić and her team of chefs are preparing a six-course menu for the New Year’s Eve celebration. The menu starts with foie gras truffles complemented by cherries and cocoa, followed by soft gnudi with ricotta, chestnuts, honey, and fried hazelnuts. Scallops paired with carrots and truffles precede a refreshing citrus sorbet. The main course features American striploin served with black garlic crown, potato mille-feuille, celery cream, and port wine sauce. The old year must be bid farewell to with something sweet. For this occasion, the pastry team at the Esplanade Hotel is preparing a creative flan with muscovado, pecan nut crumble, Baileys cream, coffee jelly, and fleur de sel. Select top-quality wines are served during the dinner, and at midnight, a countdown awaits you with a sparkling toast and good wishes. When you feel peckish after dancing and partying, after midnight head to the famous Esplanade’s wine stew to refresh yourself.

If you are seeking a classy cosmopolitan atmosphere with a hint of holiday glamour, paired with impeccable service and an exciting menu for a magical gourmet experience, we highly recommend visiting Zinfandel’s at Esplanade. Chef Ana Grgić Tomić has just launched a new à la carte menu that looks amazing.

Over the years, Ana has significantly shaped the identity of Zinfandel’s. With an innovative approach to cooking that combines modern culinary techniques, respect for tradition and local ingredients, and a flirtation with Mediterranean cuisine, she has brought a touch of feminine personality and creativity that is visible on every plate.

Zinfandel’s is special for its emphasis on sustainability and its philosophy towards food waste, which is why this restaurant was awarded the first Green Michelin star a few years ago.

This time, Ana included blue crab meat in the menu, an invasive species that lives in the Adriatic Sea. “As an ambassador for WWF’s sustainable fisheries initiative, I strive to use fish and seafood carefully and thoughtfully, and to use my influence to encourage others to care about the future of fish on the plate and in the sea. For example, I have added sardines to the menu for Fooling Around on the Oleander terrace, have been sourcing Adriatic scampi from trusted fishermen for years, and have now decided to include blue crab in the menu after a conversation with the team from WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). Blue crab is not only extremely tasty, but also plays an important ecological role”, stresses Ana Grgić Tomić and adds: “As an invasive species in the Adriatic Sea, the blue crab causes changes in the ecosystem, threatening native species and the ecological balance. Including blue crabs in the food chain helps to control their numbers, thereby reducing their impact on the environment. This species can be sustainably hunted and utilised. Blue crab meat is highly valued for its mild taste and firm texture, making it versatile for preparing various dishes. In the new Zinfandel’s menu, I combined blue crab meat with a cream made from other crabs and added a delicate foam made from lovage, a fritula fritter with cream made from roasted and pickled celery, and rounded it all off with Oscietra caviar which comes from sustainable farming”, explains the Chef. 

Among the appetizers, Ana singles out the Adriatic scampi, which she marinated this time with homemade pomegranate jam. It is served with a cake and crème brûlée of caramelised Jerusalem artichoke, along with hazelnut and scampi velouté. Adriatic scampi are one of Ana’s favourite foods, caught in the Velebit Channel by pot in order to protect the microecosystem.

Ana’s creativity shines in every dish as she effortlessly combines seemingly incompatible ingredients. The result is fantastic flavours and textures that bring an artistic touch to the plate. Poached scallops are elevated with a delicate truffle mousse, while Ana is preparing her renowned creamy risotto, this time incorporating bitter radicchio and a port wine cream with foie gras cream.

During the winter season, it is essential to warm up with a hearty soup. You can choose between a roasted corn soup with charred corn, chili marmalade, and amaranth, or a robust pheasant consommé with homemade ravioli filled with chestnut cream and pheasant meat. It may be a touch decision, but either choice is sure to be a refreshing and satisfying option.

The main dishes on the menu feature fantastic winter flavour combinations. “I paired quail with dried apricot mousse, utilising the apricot pits and juice to make a for demi-glace with leftover vegetables. The venison fillet is encrusted with herbs from the Oleander terrace and black garlic, complemented by a black trumpet mousse that I prepared in a mille-feuille style, reminiscent of the famous French dessert. Scorpionfish this time comes with mandarin oil and a velvety sauce made from real autumn food – smoked and roasted pumpkin”, reveals Ana.

The musical highlight of the evening will be provided by the energetic Showtime Band. Their captivating rhythms and carefully chosen hits will draw everyone to the dance floor. From evergreens and waltzes to the greatest pop and rock hits, their music will create an atmosphere impossible to resist. Immerse yourself in a spectacular blend of live performances, charismatic vocals, and dynamic energy, which will keep you dancing until the early hours of the morning.

And if you wish to take a break from dancing, the Esplanade offers a comfortable Piano & Cognac Lounge. Furnished with cozy sofas and a bar, it is the perfect spot to relax with premium cognac and cigars while listening to the light piano music.

While you are having fun, a super cheerful team of animators under expert guidance will lead your little ones into the new year with a children’s disco party full of playful activities and dancing. The youngest children can look forward to a specially decorated space, plenty of fun with their peers, social games, dancing music, and an abundance of surprises. When the little ones get tired of playing and dancing, they will be welcomed into a cool and relaxing space to unwind.

For the most unforgettable night of the year, be sure to reserve a table for yourself and your company at the iconic Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. Join us for a spectacular celebration in a festive atmosphere that you will not want to miss! Zinfandel’s or the Emerald Ballroom – the choice is yours. Just don’t wait too long, as there aren’t many places left!

The price for the reception with the evening programme is €295 per person, which includes welcome bubbly with delicious snacks, a six-course gala dinner, unlimited consumption of selected wines, sparkling wine at midnight, and a replenishing stew.

The reception price for children (aged 4–10) is €155 per child, and includes a sumptuous buffet menu, children’s sparkling wine at midnight, and unlimited consumption of juices and water. This offer is available to parents staying at the hotel or planning to attend the reception at one of the hotel’s venues.

For more information, please visit Advent Esplanade. To reserve a table or accommodation, please contact the Esplanade team specialising in event organisation at [email protected] or by phone at 01 45 66 035, 01 45 66 666. * The price includes VAT.

DOWNLOAD PHOTOS:  Esplanade doček Nove 2025 (Esplanade Zagreb Hotel Archive/Lili Bašić/Sandro Sklepić/Goran Jakuš)

Published: 20. December 2024