In Poljanski Lug, the luxury resort 'The Spot' opens with 11 bungalows, a restaurant celebrating Prigorje cuisine, and fully digitalized service, from robot waiters to smart assistants.
Just a 30-minute drive from Zagreb, in the peaceful village of Poljanski Lug near Vrbovec, a new tourism gem has opened its doors, the resort The Spot. Behind the project are spouses Dora and Aleksandar Sandić, who after 15 years of planning have realized a unique destination combining nature, top-notch design, and innovative technology, reports 24sata.
The resort features 11 identical bungalows, each 63 square meters, ideal for two people and expandable to accommodate four. Each bungalow is equipped with its own heated massage pool, but it's not a classic pool; it's a swim spa system with a counter-current swimming feature. Two units carry the "premium" label because they offer a bathtub instead of a shower, and one bungalow is fully adapted for wheelchair users. High ceilings, large televisions, and electric fireplaces create a special atmosphere, and due to the absence of public lighting, guests can freely enjoy the starry sky.
Owner Dora Sandić told 24sata that the resort was born from a desire for a purely continental story. "We wanted to bring a purely continental narrative to our region. Alongside accommodation, we offer a gastronomic experience exclusively based on local ingredients and old dishes from the Prigorje area, to which we give a little 'new life' and completely modernize them," she said.
The menu changes seasonally and was created in collaboration with two chefs. Sandić emphasizes that everything is as local as possible, sourced from nearby family farms (OPGs). Specialties include smoked catfish skewers, pulled pig head croquette, cabbage dumplings in a modern version (gyoza), žganci (cornmeal mush) with cream in taco form, Šufnudle (noodle dish) with rabbit, beefsteak, and veal cheeks. Menu prices range from €11 to €36, classic cocktails are €9.50, and signature cocktails like "Bee's Knees" or "Zenith" are €11.
Guests seeking maximum privacy can avoid contact with staff, as the entire resort is digitalized. Each bungalow has a tablet and a smart assistant Alexa, through which room service can be ordered. But the real attraction is the delivery robots.
"We have robots that drive food to the bungalows. If someone orders something, the robot brings it and rings the doorbell; it literally delivers it to the doorstep, but only if the guest wants that," Sandić explained to 24sata.
The model is the PUDU BellaBot Pro, a robotic waiter with four shelves, "cat ears," and a large screen. The price of such a robot on the market ranges from €13,000 to €17,000.
In addition to accommodation and the restaurant, The Spot offers a wedding hall with a capacity of 280 people, a multifunctional sports hall, a golf course, a sauna, and a romantic outdoor summer cinema organized in cooperation with the Pučko otvoreno učilište Vrbovec (Vrbovec Open University). The owner emphasizes that the resort is not dependent on the summer season; spring and autumn are dominated by weddings, summer by tourism, and winter by conferences and team-building programs.
The location in the heart of continental Croatia has proven ideal for foreigners wanting to explore the country. Sandić recalled a French family who told her they were at the perfect spot: half an hour to Zagreb, an hour to Varaždin, two hours to Slavonia, and an hour and a half to Plitvice Lakes or the sea.
