Gluten-Free and Vegan Restaurants in Ljubljana: 5 Places for Both

Finding vegan food in Ljubljana is no longer difficult. The Slovenian capital has a growing selection of plant-based cafés, bistros and restaurants.

Finding gluten-free food in Ljubljana has also become much easier, with several restaurants catering specifically to people avoiding gluten.

But what if you need both vegan and gluten-free food at the same time?

That is a much more specific challenge.

A dish can be completely vegan and still contain wheat, barley or rye. At the same time, a 100% gluten-free restaurant may serve plenty of meat, fish, eggs or dairy.

This guide focuses specifically on gluten-free and vegan restaurants in Ljubljana – places where the two dietary requirements overlap and where visitors can find, or request, food that is both plant-based and gluten-free.

If gluten is your only concern, see our full guide to the Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Ljubljana. If you are only looking for plant-based food, visit our guide to the TOP 10 Vegan Restaurants in Ljubljana.

1. Dezela Okusov – start here if gluten safety matters most

4,5•Restaurant•ZaprtoSpletno mesto

•Navodila za pot

•(01) 283 92 88

For travellers with celiac disease, Dežela okusov is one of the most important restaurants to know in Ljubljana.

Located on Eipprova ulica in Trnovo, the restaurant describes its cuisine as 100% gluten-free. Rather than preparing a few gluten-free dishes alongside conventional food, gluten-free cooking is at the centre of the entire restaurant concept.

Its menu includes soups, gnocchi, pasta, risotto, salads and meat-free main courses alongside meat and fish dishes. This means Dežela okusov is not a vegan restaurant, but guests looking for food that is both vegan and gluten-free should ask the staff which current meat-free dishes can also be prepared without any animal-derived ingredients.

For someone who is both vegan and living with celiac disease, that distinction can actually be useful: gluten is already removed from the restaurant’s kitchen concept, so the main question becomes which dishes are suitable for a vegan diet.

Best for: travellers with celiac disease who want a dedicated gluten-free restaurant and can confirm the current vegan options with staff.

Address: Eipprova ulica 11, Ljubljana.

Read our full feature on Dežela okusov and its 100% gluten-free concept.

Gluten Free Near Me: Best Restaurants in Slovenia

Searching for “gluten free near me” in Slovenia is easier than it used to be, but for people with celiac disease, a gluten-free label is only the beginning. A restaurant may offer gluten-free bread or pizza while still using shared fryers, preparation surfaces or utensils. The safest choices are dedicated gluten-free kitchens, followed by restaurants that clearly understand cross-contact and can explain their procedures. This guide brings together some of Slovenia’s best-known gluten-free restaurants, from Ljubljana and Lake Bled to Celje, Maribor, Podčetrtek, Mislinja and Novo mesto. We have placed dedicated venues first and clearly identified mixed kitchens where guests […]

2. Cojzla – gluten-free cooking with plant-based choices

Gluten-free restaurant•OdprtoSpletno mesto

•Navodila za pot

•031 773 434

Cojzla is another particularly useful address for anyone avoiding gluten.

The restaurant was created after chef and owner Igor Mihelič encountered celiac disease in his own family. Cojzla describes itself as a boutique restaurant preparing a range of gluten-free dishes, from buckwheat noodles and fermented buckwheat pancakes to falafel and other creative dishes.

There are also plant-based products and preparations in the wider Cojzla range; for example, its gluten-free sourdough pizza mix is explicitly described as both vegan and gluten-free.

Because the restaurant menu changes, vegan visitors should still confirm which dishes are completely plant-based on the day of their visit.

Best for: gluten-free lunch with the possibility of vegan choices.

Address: Italijanska ulica 7, Ljubljana.

3. Gaudi&Naan – vegan first, gluten-free by arrangement

Vegan restaurant•ZaprtoSpletno mesto

•Navodila za pot

•041 662 073

Gaudi & Naan approaches the combination from the opposite direction.

It is a vegan restaurant, with plant-based cuisine at the heart of its concept. Its menus focus on seasonal ingredients and contemporary dishes influenced by different culinary traditions.

For gluten-free visitors, the important detail is that the restaurant says it can adapt to gluten-free dietary requirements with prior notice.

That makes it a strong option when vegan food is the priority and gluten also needs to be avoided.

However, this is not presented as a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. Anyone with celiac disease should therefore explain that the restriction is medical and ask specifically about preparation and possible cross-contact.

Best for: a vegan dinner, date night or more refined plant-based meal where gluten-free requirements can be discussed in advance.

Address: Trubarjeva cesta 7, Ljubljana.

4. BARBARELLA JUICEBAR – vegan café food with gluten-free options

Bistro•ZaprtoSpletno mesto

•Navodila za pot

•064 256 554

Barbarella Juicebar is a convenient central Ljubljana option for vegan breakfast, lunch, smoothies and desserts.

Its official menu specifically states that it serves vegan dishes as well as gluten-free dishes. Current options include smoothies, salads, bowls, soups and sweets.

Some dishes can fit both requirements. For example, its quiche is made with corn and buckwheat flour and a tofu and cashew filling. But other vegan dishes contain gluten – including products made with kamut bread.

This perfectly illustrates why vegan does not automatically mean gluten-free.

For celiac travellers, ask staff about preparation and possible cross-contact rather than relying only on the ingredient list.

Best for: breakfast, light lunch, smoothies and something sweet.

Address: Slovenska cesta 38, Ljubljana.

5. Grashka Deli – plant-based food with gluten-free pizzas and desserts

Deli•ZaprtoSpletno mesto

•Navodila za pot

•041 575 751

Grashka Deli at Center Rog is another good addition for travellers combining vegan and gluten-free diets.

Grashka describes itself as a plant-based deli, using regional ingredients, whole foods and fermented plant-based products.

Its current menu is particularly useful because several dishes are clearly offered in gluten-free versions.

For example, Grashka currently lists gluten-free versions of its Peppe, Mandelita and Chikita pizzas, as well as gluten-free desserts including gibanica and cookies.

There is an important warning for people with celiac disease: the gluten-free pizza listings state that the products may contain traces of gluten. Grashka is therefore a good choice for people following a gluten-free and vegan diet by preference or intolerance, but those requiring strict medical gluten avoidance should discuss their needs with the restaurant first.

Best for: vegan lunch, gluten-free vegan pizza and casual dining.

Address: Trubarjeva cesta 72, Center Rog, Ljubljana.

Gluten-free and vegan restaurants in Ljubljana: quick comparison

Gluten-free is not the same as vegan

This is worth repeating because the two diets are frequently confused.

A vegan diet excludes animal products such as meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs.

A gluten-free diet excludes gluten-containing grains including wheat, barley and rye.

Foods such as vegetables, fruit, rice, potatoes, buckwheat, quinoa, legumes and many nuts and seeds are naturally suitable for both diets.

But plenty of vegan foods – including seitan, ordinary pasta, bread, pizza and many desserts – contain gluten.

Similarly, a gluten-free dish may contain cheese, butter, eggs, meat or fish.

What if you have celiac disease and are vegan?

If you have celiac disease, simply identifying gluten-free ingredients is not enough.

Cross-contact can occur through shared preparation surfaces, fryers, utensils or flour used elsewhere in the kitchen.

When ordering, explain clearly that you need food that is:

vegan + gluten-free + suitable for celiac disease.

At a dedicated gluten-free restaurant such as Dežela okusov, the gluten question is easier to manage. At a vegan restaurant with gluten-free options, you should ask more specifically about how the dish is prepared.

What should you ask before ordering?

Instead of simply asking, “Is this gluten-free?”, ask:

• Is the dish both vegan and gluten-free?
• Is it prepared separately from gluten-containing food?
• Do you use a shared fryer?
• Are sauces and dressings gluten-free?
• Is regular flour used in the same preparation area?
• Can the kitchen accommodate celiac disease?

This distinction is particularly important when travelling, as restaurants may interpret “gluten-free” differently depending on whether it is a preference, intolerance or medical requirement.

Which restaurant should you choose?

If strict gluten avoidance is your priority, begin with Dežela okusov or Cojzla and ask which current dishes are vegan.

If being fully vegan is the main requirement, Gaudi & Naan gives you the simplest starting point, with gluten-free requirements available by prior arrangement.

For a quick breakfast or lunch, Barbarella is convenient, while Grashka is particularly interesting if you are craving plant-based gluten-free pizza.

Frequently asked questions

Are there gluten-free and vegan restaurants in Ljubljana?

Yes. Ljubljana has restaurants where the two dietary requirements overlap, although there are fewer choices than for either diet individually. Some are gluten-free restaurants with vegan choices, while others are vegan restaurants offering gluten-free dishes.

Is Dežela okusov vegan?

No. Dežela okusov is a 100% gluten-free restaurant, but its menu also contains meat and fish. Its current offer includes meat-free main courses, so vegan visitors should ask which dishes are completely plant-based.

Is Gaudi & Naan gluten-free?

Gaudi & Naan is a vegan restaurant rather than a dedicated gluten-free restaurant. It states that gluten-free requirements can be accommodated with prior notice.

Does Barbarella have gluten-free vegan food?

Barbarella says its menu contains both vegan and gluten-free dishes, but some vegan products also contain gluten. Check the individual dish before ordering.

Is Grashka Deli suitable for celiac disease?

Grashka has several gluten-free vegan dishes, but its gluten-free pizza menu warns that products may contain traces of gluten. People with celiac disease should therefore ask about preparation before ordering.

Eating gluten-free and vegan in Ljubljana is getting easier

Following one dietary restriction can already make travelling more complicated. Following both a vegan and gluten-free diet requires a little more planning.

Fortunately, Ljubljana now offers several different approaches.

Dežela okusov and Cojzla put gluten-free cooking first. Gaudi & Naan approaches the problem from the vegan side. Barbarella and Grashka provide useful casual options where vegan and gluten-free dishes overlap.

The key is knowing the difference between gluten-free ingredients and a gluten-free kitchen, particularly if you have celiac disease.

Once you know what to ask, finding gluten-free vegan food in Ljubljana becomes considerably easier.