march-2012

180 | DESTINATION GUIDES More free monthly guides available at traveller.easyJet.com
Zagreb
Croatia
DIALLING CODE +385
CURRENCY Kuna (HRK)
FLY FROM
Dortmund,
London (LGW),
Paris (CDG)
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI
Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs
about 250HRK.
The Pleso
Prijevoz buses
run to the city centre
Tickets: 30HRK.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €30
Nokturno (4 Skalinska,
tel: 01 481 3394) If you
want something cheap
and cheerful right in
the centre, then this
unfussy old-timer is
a great place to fi ll up
on Croatian delights
alongside the locals.
EXCLUSIVE Boban
(3 Gajeva, tel: 01 481
1549) Something of
a local institution,
this one. Founded by
a famous Croatian
footballer, this Italianinfl
uenced restaurant
serves up excellent
dishes along with
lashings of gorgeous
Croatian wine. The
homemade pasta,
with a delicious array
of sauces, is divine.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY Kota (20
Meduliceva) Like a
drop of wine and a bit
of culture? Then Kota
is ideal, a wine barbookstore
where you
can learn everything
you need to know
about Croatia’s
seriously underrated
wines. Try the mighty
Dingac if you dare.
LATE & LIVELY
Sax (22 Palmoticeva,
tel: 01 487 2836) The
best venue for informal
live music in the Lower
Town. Jazz, blues, rock
and even pop are on
the eclectic roster at
this friendly hub.
NO WAY!
Zagreb did not
escape the 1990s
war unscathed. The
city was repeatedly
bombed and
Serbian warplanes
even attacked the
Presidential Palace
in an audacious
assassination attempt.
robinmckelvie.com
LOWER TOWN
GO Lower Town, a
stately oasis of parks
and neoclassical
architecture, dates
back to the days
when Zagreb was
part of the Habsburg
Empire. Check out its
grand architecture.
Zante
Greece
DIALLING CODE +30
CURRENCY €
FLY FROM
London (LGW),
Milan (MXP)
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI
Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs €13.
Visit the Europcar
desk for special
easyJet rates.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €30 Arekia
(Dionyssiou Roma,
Zante Town, tel: 26950
26346) Located on
the coast road leading
north, this venue is
renowned for the
traditional cantades
(serenades) you can
hear here. With ample,
fresh, home-style
cooking, local wine
and a friendly
atmosphere, this is
one of the island’s
outstanding tavernas.
EXCLUSIVE Komis
(Bastouni tou Agiou,
Zante Town, tel: 26950
26915) If you can
splash the cash while
you’re away, this is the
place to come. Located
near the main dock and
decorated with marine
paraphernalia, here
you can order superb
fresh fi sh and seafood
– a good choice is
the mydia saganaki
(mussels fried with
tomato and cheese).
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY Lobby
(18–20 Lombardou,
Zante Town, tel: 26950
25250) This chilledout
seafront café is a
decent spot to relax
in a comfy chair and
watch the action in the
port while sipping on
a coff ee or beer,
or sampling one of
their simple snacks.
LATE & LIVELY
Ghetto (Laganas)
One of the longestestablished
clubs
in the busy resort
of Laganas, Ghetto
pumps out a mixture
of the latest techno
and trance sounds
with occasional Greek
favourites in its hi-tech,
air-conditioned interior.
THIS MONTH
SEE Greek National
Independence Day
and the Feast of the
Assumption are
celebrated together
with a military and
schoolchildren’s
parade in Zakynthos
Town and church
services throughout
the island (25 March).
NO WAY!
The island is the
centre of Greek nougat
production. Known
locally as mandolato,
more of the honey-
and almond-based
sweet is produced
here than the rest of
the country combined.
Nick Edwards
See page
131
Zürich
Switzerland
DIALLING CODE +41
CURRENCY CHF
FLY FROM
London (LGW,
LTN), Manchester
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI
Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs 60CHF
Trains leave
the airport
every 10 minutes.
Tickets: 6.40CHF.
Visit the Europcar
desk for special
easyJet rates.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €30 Mishio
(9 Sihlstrasse, tel:
044 228 7676) Fast
and tasty Asian
dishes, that’s what
you get at Mishio.
Take your pick
from a selection of
noodles, curries and
dishes from the wok,
everything cooked by
the all-Asian staff in
the open kitchen.
EXCLUSIVE
Heugümper (4
Waaggasse, tel:
044 211 1660) The
“Grasshopper” off ers
international cuisine
and classic Swiss
dishes with a twist.
The atmosphere in
this old townhouse
is elegant.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY
Tina Bar (10
Niederdorfstrasse,
tel: 044 250 7686)
Even though this oldschool
bar has just
reopened after some
gentle renovation,
it still exudes the
charm of a bar of
the good old days.
A timeless piece of
Zürich bar history.
LATE & LIVELY
Exil (245 Hardstrasse,
tel: 043 366 8684)
National and foreign
bands playing styles
from indie rock
through folk and rap
to electro are live on
stage almost every
night of the week.
Great regular aftershow
parties.
THIS MONTH
GO Many of the
former shady bars in
the red-light district
around Langstrasse
have turned into
some of the city’s
fanciest and trendiest
bars in the last couple
of years, making
the district one of
the best areas for
nightlife in Zürich.
NO WAY!
Fifty years ago,
Zürich actually had
around 60,000
more inhabitants
than today. 445,000
inhabitants were
counted in 1962.
After decades of
declining fi gures,
a rise set in around
1999. The city is back!
Chris Young/zurich.
inyourpocket.com
www.eslcompany.com