“Swanky” might not be the first word you’d associate with anything housed in a former industrial factory, but once you’ve stepped inside here, you’ll see why it’s the perfect word for this hip Zagreb hostel.
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Read: 3 best hostels in Zagreb compared – any why Swanky stands out!
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Swanky Mint Hostel in a FULL review
With cheeky nods to its industrial past combined with very modern conveniences, this superb hostel is the ideal place to stay when you’re visiting Zagreb.
That’s not to mention the beautiful sunny terrace overlooking a garden, the cool art dotted around the Swanky Mint Hostel, the exceptionally friendly staff – and that’s just to start.
And oooooh, wait…the swimming pool!
The Swanky Mint Hostel recently got an upgrade and now have their very own pool.
On that note, should we load our water guns, and get started with the 5 Stars of the Swanky Mint Hostel?
1. Sustainable Upcycling and Solar Panels
The Swanky Mint Hostel is all about sustainability, from the rooftop to the ground.
The building the hostel is in has actually been upcycled – it used to be a dry cleaning factory!
The former factory has been carefully restored to make sure it’s up to hostel standards.
That means the windows have been caulked and the walls have been proofed to protect against noise and weather.
It’s not often you get to stay in a hostel with so much history!
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It’s not just the building that’s been upcycled though.
The furniture from the lounge has been sourced from other places, so take a close look.
You’ll be able to see everything from old hood dryers from barbershops to a mix of tables from all kinds of places.
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The bedrooms follow the same philosophy, with all the beds being from OSB wood.
You can really feel the building’s history when you’re in here.
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In addition to all this upcycling, the Swanky Mint Zagreb also has a bunch of modern-day sustainable practices in place.
They have solar panels installed, and they recycle as much as they possibly can.
On top of that, the hostel is managed by a young team of local staff.
If you’re looking to get in on the eco-friendly fun yourself, they couldn’t have made it any easier.
You can rent a bike or a longboard directly at the hostel to get around the city center.
As the hostel is right in the bike-friendly city center, you’ll be able to enjoy Zagreb like a local.
2. Authentic Style & Design
Like we talked about earlier, the stylish Hostel Swanky Mint used to be a dry cleaning factory.
It actually dates all the way back to 1888.
But even though everything here is decidedly 21st century, there are touches that go back to the 1800s.
Follow the signs towards the building (it’s a bit tricky to get into), and as you get there you’ll already be able to see the huge factory windows.
The hostel sign is etched on an old piece of metal as a throwback.
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In reception, you’ll find an old rolling machine with an illuminated globe decorating it.
The walls have been left bare and stripped back, and the monkey bar is filled with fun industrial touches like multicolored metal chairs and wooden pallets strung with bright mini lanterns.
It’s all authentic and reflects the city’s hip artistic vibe.
But while the bedrooms are still industrial-inspired, you won’t feel like you’re sleeping in a factory.
The sleeping areas are all completely modernized, and the walls are painted white and adorned with colorful travel quotes.
The hostel’s bunk beds are made out of chipboard, while the private room has mattresses placed on pallets (just like the ones in the bar and kitchen) and have refurbished bed lamps by them.
All the private rooms and studio apartments have A/C, free WiFi, and much more.
Why not check out our overview of all different hostel room types you’ve got to know about?
3. Industrial Roots and Swimming Pool
Just in case the message hasn’t come across by by now, the Swanky Mint Hostel’s unique history is still part of its identity today.
You’ll come across pieces of industrial machinery scattered all around the hostel.
The eco-friendly atmosphere and modern style is mixed together with nods to the hostel’s historical roots, making it a really special place to visit.
Here’s our full guide to Hostels in Europe.
The history: The story starts in the later half of the 19th century, when the three OndruÅ¡ek brothers moved from their hometown in what’s now the Czech Republic to seek their fortunes.
Vilim Ondrušek settle in Zagreb, where he opened a dry cleaners.
Later, he met his future wife, Ana, who also ran a dry cleaners.
After the couple wed, they joined forces and bought the land where they would create their joint dry cleaners.
Later on down the line, they expanded into textiles and steam-operated dyeing.
That’s the factory that today is the Swanky Mint Hostel.
While you won’t find a dry cleaners here anymore (sorry, fancy travelers, you’ll have to launder your suits elsewhere), there are all sorts of touches around the hostel that pay homage to the building’s unique history.
And what about the swimming pool?
Since 2016, this 5 Star Hostel comes with a super cool swimming pool.
There is nothing much more to add here,is there? Okay, how about…the hostel pool rules!
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4. 7-Day Social Scene
It doesn’t get much more social than the scene at the Swanky Mint Hostel!
There are events all 7 days of the week, including relaxing events like free dinners and movie nights to drinking games for the more party-happy crowd.
Wednesdays are especially cool with live music and DJs.
As if that wasn’t enough, they also have occasional extra events like flea markets.
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So there’s more plenty to keep you busy, and the staff make sure that the guests are participating and joining in.
They’ll lure you in with voucher for a free first drink, which, unsurprisingly, many guests choose to take advantage of, so the bar is generally buzzing.
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There’s also a terrace with a bar which is often frequented by locals who love to meet other people who’ve caught the travel bug.
This terrace bar is called the Swanky Monkey Garden, a lounge bar locals also love so you can have a completely Croatian experience.
Even if the bar scene isn’t your style, it isn’t hard to be social here with the cozy living room with shared board games and a book exchange.
On top of that, the staff make you feel very welcome in the hostel, and they create a cozy Croatian vibe that will make you feel like you’ve found a little piece of home in Zagreb.
It goes without saying that the Swanky Mint, just like all 5 Star Hostels, has a fully equipped kitchen.
Here, and in the lounge, you can get free coffee all day long.
5. Sharing is caring – the staff
With all the work staff put into ensuring that you have a nice stay here, it’s no surprise that they get consistently fantastic ratings on major hostel rating websites.
You’ll see words like “helpful”, “friendly”, “fun”, and “super-nice” used to describe them by guests who have stayed at the hostel.
They’re also multilingual, and are more than happy to share their best-kept Zagreb secrets with you.
Ask them for a recommendation for somewhere to go – whether that’s a café, a restaurant, or a bar – and they’ll let you in on their local secrets.
They also have special ID cards that include a map of Zagreb with great recommendations.
To make sure that they keep attending their guests’ needs, they also have a suggestion box that’s open to everyone.
If there’s anything they can improve, they’ll be completely open to hearing your feedback.
Planning your further backpacking Croatia trip?
You have found the coolest hostel in Zagreb, for sure.
We have written up even more guides for you to travel around Croatia:
- complete guide to best hostels in Split – all compared
- best hostels in Dubrovnik – and why to you should stay in the city center
- best hostels in Budapest, Hungary
- best hostels in Belgrade, Serbia
- best hostels in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Find all 5 Star Hostels here.
