A pub, a restaurant or something in between?
When someone asks whether Maksi is a pub or a restaurant, the honest answer is: both. We proudly call ourselves a pub, but our menu complicates that story a little. That’s why we usually describe ourselves as a gastro pub, a place that combines the relaxed feel of a pub with a serious approach to food.
But what does that actually mean, and how is it different from a regular restaurant?
The classic restaurant
In a restaurant, the meal is the main event. You come to eat, you usually book a table in advance, and the evening follows the order of the courses. The atmosphere tends to be quieter and more formal, and people choose these places for dinners and occasions where the food takes centre stage.
The classic pub
A pub, on the other hand, is first and foremost a place to hang out. You come for a drink, for the match, for a chat with friends. There’s food, but it’s often an afterthought: something to nibble on with your beer.
The gastro pub: the best of both worlds
A gastro pub keeps the easygoing feel of a pub but takes its kitchen as seriously as a restaurant does. You can come for a coffee, a single beer, lunch or the whole evening. Nobody expects you to order a starter, main and dessert, but if you want to eat well, there’s plenty to choose from.
In short, the difference isn’t so much what’s on the plate as how you feel at the table.
What that looks like at Maksi
People come to us for their first morning coffee, for lunch, for drinks after work or to watch a match. We also host birthdays, christenings, first communions, confirmations and office parties.
The gastro side is run by our culinary team led by chef Tomislav Kralj, who likes to take familiar ingredients and flavours a step further than you’d expect. The à la carte menu features burgers, tacos, woks, soups and our signature dishes. It follows the seasons and changes regularly, and you can check the current offer on our Menu page. From Tuesday to Friday from 11 am we also cook daily dishes under the name Try Me Today Only.
The pub side is all about beer from the Zagreb Brewery range, wines and cocktails, sports broadcasts and evenings with live music. Over more than ten years we’ve hosted plenty of performers and bands, from stand-up nights to live gigs on the terrace, and for our 10th birthday Nina Badrić took the stage. Take a look at some of those moments in our gallery.
When to choose which?
If you’re planning a formal dinner for two with quiet surroundings and five courses, a classic restaurant is probably the better choice. If you want to eat well without anyone minding how long you stay or whether the match is on, a gastro pub is the place to be.
Maksi is in Borongaj, at Ulica Divka Budaka 18, right next to Maksimir Stadium. We’re open Tuesday to Sunday, and for larger groups and celebrations you can reach us through our contact form.
