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Host: Zeljka

Zagreb, Croatia

USD
$136 per person

Authentic Croatian cuisine and cooking class in the heart of Zagreb

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Zeljka

Željka (pronounced Zhelika) is a warm and wonderful host who comes from a family of good eaters! Her grandfather owned one of the biggest restaurants in Zagreb and food is a big part of her family life. She says that all big news in her family is shared either at the dining table or in the kitchen. Željka believes that food brings people together and cooking is her form of stress relief. She is excited to share authentic, Zagreb-style Croatian recipes, food and culture with travelers.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-8 guests) Meet your host Željka at her centrally located, classic Zagreb apartment decorated with furniture and china from the last century. Sip on a welcome drink of homemade liqueur made from nuts or berries and have a snack before joining your host for an authentic Zagreb-style three-course meal at her dining table. Croatians eat different meals depending on the day of the week so expect a special and seasonal menu depending on the day of your experience. Your menu may include dishes such as a seasonal soup, meat or fish main with vegetables sides and a salad. Your meal concludes with a traditional dessert. An aperitif, wine or beer as well as tea or coffee are included in the cost of your meal.

Cooking experience: (2-8 guests) Join Željka in her kitchen for a Zagreb cooking class and learn to cook an authentic three-course Croatian meal from recipes that have been passed down through generations of your host’s family. Your hands-on cooking class will last about 2 hours. You will prepare three dishes from scratch - a seasonal soup, meat or fish with sides, and a dessert. Based on the day of the week, the menu varies. Discover the tips and techniques involved in Croatian cooking as well as the food culture and history of the city as you share the meal you helped prepare. Don’t forget to ask why Croatians use so many pumpkin seeds in their food! Željka is excited to share her culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Zagreb. She can also accommodate vegetarian diet in her Croatian cooking class.

Market visit: (2-8 guests) Meet your host at the clock tower in the main square and over a cup of hot coffee, discuss your menu for the day. Walk with Željka to the Dolac market. This is the main market in Zagreb with an open vegetable market and an indoor meat and cheese market where the locals shop for their bread, meats, homemade cheeses and sour cream. Explore with your host local and regional produce sold by her favored vendors, learn about the ingredients that go into your food and sample seasonal fruits or snacks. After another coffee at a café, return to her home with a basket of ingredients to begin your cooking class. Your market tour will last about one hour.

Notes: Alcohol is included in the cost of your experience.

Languages spoken: English, German, Croatian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Croatian vegetable and chicken soup with homemade noodles
  • Veal with wild mushrooms, served with potato dumplings
  • Green salad with homemade wine vinegar and traditional Zagreb-style pumpkin seed oil
  • Dessert of strudel, snenokle or dumplings with plum or apricot
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

I had a wonderful experience with Željka! It was a beautiful sunny day, we met at the Dolac market and enjoyed a stroll through the market stands filled with vivid colours of fresh fruits and vegetables. Željka is a very cool, relaxed and easygoing person and we began talking about travelling and food right away - and since we both love travelling and food, we had a lot of topics to talk about while photographing the whole experience. After our visit to the market where we bought a lot of fresh, organic ingredients, we enjoyed a beautiful stroll through some of the most iconic places in Zagreb on the way to her place - Ban Jelacic Square, famous Ilica street and Britanac Square. Željka’s apartment is settled right in the center of Zagreb, just a minute away from Britanac Square. I was pleasantly surprised with her spacious place that looked very traditional and very “Zagreb-like” - especially the dining hall which was beautifully decorated - the setting of the hall looked like from another century, with big wooden tables, dimmed lights, beautiful table cloth and china which Željka inherited from her grandma. There was also a piano, which Željka’s son plays when they are welcoming guests. Whole atmosphere was very friendly and I felt like a part of their family - their cute dog Rocky was also welcoming me to their home. Željka cooked us traditional Zagreb lunch: “ajngemahtec” (a delicious soup with chicken, lots of chopped vegetables and dumplings), which was amazing! She also prepared fried chicken, “rizi-bizi” (rice with onions and peas, which I really liked because it was very yummy and it reminded me of childhood since my grandma used to prepare it for me often when I was little). For dessert we had “jabuke u šlafruku” - sliced apples fried in a pancake-like dough, sprinkled with some sugar and cinnamon - they were so good that I stopped counting how many of them I ate! Seriously, I was a little embarrassed since I couldn’t stop eating them :) I had a wonderful time and I would definitely recommend Željka as a host and cook to everybody. Although I’m from Croatia, I travel a lot and prefer international cuisines, Željka reminded me why Croatian cuisine is so good! And bringing somebody to his/hers childhood memories with a plate full of delicious, home cooked meal is really something priceless. Thank you for that, Željka!

Nikolina, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (7)
Zeljka was very friendly and has explained a lot to us since I'm not a very good chef. The food she bought with us tasted in the end very well. Overall it was an experience that we would to again.
- Ralf_S June 03, 2024
We booked this tour for our clients! They had an amazing experience! Authenticity and friendly cooking class! Bravo MS Željka! Equilibri Travel Croatia
- Equilibri June 04, 2023
Željka and her husband where amazing hosts and make you feel at home. Not only do you learn how to cook authentic Croatian food, but you get to see how everyday Croatians live. Their house is very welcoming and the food is amazing. Highly recommend to those who want to learn about Croatian cuisine or simply to experience something new! It had definitely opened my eyes!
- Cedric_L October 08, 2022
We had a fabulous cooking class with Zeljka. It was a Very authentic experience and insight into Croatian cooking and lifestyle.
- Allison_H October 02, 2022
Our guide was warm and welcoming. We enjoyed our visit to the market and discussions about each aspect of selections. The class was informative and the food was delicious. We became part of Croatia instead of just tourists.
- Ferne_B July 25, 2022
If you are looking for memorable, fun, cooking experience while in Zagreb, then look no further. Where else can you can meet a fantastic mother and son team, go shopping in Dulac Market, go to their home and learn how to make delicious Croatian dishes? If you like to cook, learn about other cultures and foods, have great conversation, eat delicious foods, and leave with memories of a lifetime, then you need to book this experience. I will be contacting Viator because I am unable to post my pictures. Pictures tell a thousand words, so hopefully I will be able to post those soon. Book this unique opportunity and have memories of a special experience.!
- Stephanie April 03, 2022
- June 15, 2019
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Zeljka

$136 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $136 $136
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $136 $136
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-4:00pm

Meet Zeljka

Željka (pronounced Zhelika) is a warm and wonderful host who comes from a family of good eaters! Her grandfather owned one of the biggest restaurants in Zagreb and food is a big part of her family life. She says that all big news in her family is shared either at the dining table or in the kitchen. Željka believes that food brings people together and cooking is her form of stress relief. She is excited to share authentic, Zagreb-style Croatian recipes, food and culture with travelers.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-8 guests) Meet your host Željka at her centrally located, classic Zagreb apartment decorated with furniture and china from the last century. Sip on a welcome drink of homemade liqueur made from nuts or berries and have a snack before joining your host for an authentic Zagreb-style three-course meal at her dining table. Croatians eat different meals depending on the day of the week so expect a special and seasonal menu depending on the day of your experience. Your menu may include dishes such as a seasonal soup, meat or fish main with vegetables sides and a salad. Your meal concludes with a traditional dessert. An aperitif, wine or beer as well as tea or coffee are included in the cost of your meal.

Cooking experience: (2-8 guests) Join Željka in her kitchen for a Zagreb cooking class and learn to cook an authentic three-course Croatian meal from recipes that have been passed down through generations of your host’s family. Your hands-on cooking class will last about 2 hours. You will prepare three dishes from scratch - a seasonal soup, meat or fish with sides, and a dessert. Based on the day of the week, the menu varies. Discover the tips and techniques involved in Croatian cooking as well as the food culture and history of the city as you share the meal you helped prepare. Don’t forget to ask why Croatians use so many pumpkin seeds in their food! Željka is excited to share her culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Zagreb. She can also accommodate vegetarian diet in her Croatian cooking class.

Market visit: (2-8 guests) Meet your host at the clock tower in the main square and over a cup of hot coffee, discuss your menu for the day. Walk with Željka to the Dolac market. This is the main market in Zagreb with an open vegetable market and an indoor meat and cheese market where the locals shop for their bread, meats, homemade cheeses and sour cream. Explore with your host local and regional produce sold by her favored vendors, learn about the ingredients that go into your food and sample seasonal fruits or snacks. After another coffee at a café, return to her home with a basket of ingredients to begin your cooking class. Your market tour will last about one hour.

Notes: Alcohol is included in the cost of your experience.

Languages spoken: English, German, Croatian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Croatian vegetable and chicken soup with homemade noodles
  • Veal with wild mushrooms, served with potato dumplings
  • Green salad with homemade wine vinegar and traditional Zagreb-style pumpkin seed oil
  • Dessert of strudel, snenokle or dumplings with plum or apricot
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

I had a wonderful experience with Željka! It was a beautiful sunny day, we met at the Dolac market and enjoyed a stroll through the market stands filled with vivid colours of fresh fruits and vegetables. Željka is a very cool, relaxed and easygoing person and we began talking about travelling and food right away - and since we both love travelling and food, we had a lot of topics to talk about while photographing the whole experience. After our visit to the market where we bought a lot of fresh, organic ingredients, we enjoyed a beautiful stroll through some of the most iconic places in Zagreb on the way to her place - Ban Jelacic Square, famous Ilica street and Britanac Square. Željka’s apartment is settled right in the center of Zagreb, just a minute away from Britanac Square. I was pleasantly surprised with her spacious place that looked very traditional and very “Zagreb-like” - especially the dining hall which was beautifully decorated - the setting of the hall looked like from another century, with big wooden tables, dimmed lights, beautiful table cloth and china which Željka inherited from her grandma. There was also a piano, which Željka’s son plays when they are welcoming guests. Whole atmosphere was very friendly and I felt like a part of their family - their cute dog Rocky was also welcoming me to their home. Željka cooked us traditional Zagreb lunch: “ajngemahtec” (a delicious soup with chicken, lots of chopped vegetables and dumplings), which was amazing! She also prepared fried chicken, “rizi-bizi” (rice with onions and peas, which I really liked because it was very yummy and it reminded me of childhood since my grandma used to prepare it for me often when I was little). For dessert we had “jabuke u šlafruku” - sliced apples fried in a pancake-like dough, sprinkled with some sugar and cinnamon - they were so good that I stopped counting how many of them I ate! Seriously, I was a little embarrassed since I couldn’t stop eating them :) I had a wonderful time and I would definitely recommend Željka as a host and cook to everybody. Although I’m from Croatia, I travel a lot and prefer international cuisines, Željka reminded me why Croatian cuisine is so good! And bringing somebody to his/hers childhood memories with a plate full of delicious, home cooked meal is really something priceless. Thank you for that, Željka!

Nikolina, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (7)
Zeljka was very friendly and has explained a lot to us since I'm not a very good chef. The food she bought with us tasted in the end very well. Overall it was an experience that we would to again.
- Ralf_S June 03, 2024
We booked this tour for our clients! They had an amazing experience! Authenticity and friendly cooking class! Bravo MS Željka! Equilibri Travel Croatia
- Equilibri June 04, 2023
Željka and her husband where amazing hosts and make you feel at home. Not only do you learn how to cook authentic Croatian food, but you get to see how everyday Croatians live. Their house is very welcoming and the food is amazing. Highly recommend to those who want to learn about Croatian cuisine or simply to experience something new! It had definitely opened my eyes!
- Cedric_L October 08, 2022
We had a fabulous cooking class with Zeljka. It was a Very authentic experience and insight into Croatian cooking and lifestyle.
- Allison_H October 02, 2022
Our guide was warm and welcoming. We enjoyed our visit to the market and discussions about each aspect of selections. The class was informative and the food was delicious. We became part of Croatia instead of just tourists.
- Ferne_B July 25, 2022
If you are looking for memorable, fun, cooking experience while in Zagreb, then look no further. Where else can you can meet a fantastic mother and son team, go shopping in Dulac Market, go to their home and learn how to make delicious Croatian dishes? If you like to cook, learn about other cultures and foods, have great conversation, eat delicious foods, and leave with memories of a lifetime, then you need to book this experience. I will be contacting Viator because I am unable to post my pictures. Pictures tell a thousand words, so hopefully I will be able to post those soon. Book this unique opportunity and have memories of a special experience.!
- Stephanie April 03, 2022
- June 15, 2019
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $136 $136
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $136 $136
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-4:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.