From 1 to 30 November, the November Gourmet Ljubljana culinary festival will once again take over numerous venues across Ljubljana and its surroundings. Celebrating its tenth anniversary under the slogan “Taste the Rhythm”, this year’s edition will explore the interplay between gastronomy and music. The programme will feature a wide variety of experiences, from evenings bringing together chefs and musicians for lively conversations, and the “Chef Up” charity cooking show showcasing young culinary talent, to the “Spoonful Trail” open-air culinary event and the “NovemBeer Gourmet Ljubljana” craft beer trail. The festival will also offer numerous culinary and musical events, workshops and tasting menus.
Highlights of the 10th anniversary edition of November Gourmet Ljubljana
Among the festival’s main highlights will be “Džuskanja s chefi ” (“Jam Sessions with Chefs”, held in Slovene), evenings combining gastronomy and music (10, 12 and 17 November). In lively conversations hosted by food writer and presenter Boštjan Napotnik, chefs and musicians will present a special festival dish alongside the music that inspired it. The featured pairings will bring together chef Mojmir Šiftar and rapper Trkaj, chef Luka Jezeršek and traditional Slovenian folk-pop singer Monika Avsenik, and chef Igor Jagodic and the band Batista Cadillac.
On Saturday, 14 November, Stritarjeva Street will host the NovemBeer Gourmet Ljubljana beer route, featuring craft breweries from Ljubljana, its surroundings and other parts of Slovenia, each presenting special music-inspired festival beers. Meanwhile, Pogačarjev Square will come alive with The Spoonful Trail, a special edition of the Open Kitchen food market, where visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of hearty soups, stews and other spoon dishes, accompanied by the sounds of a Ljubljana brass band and classic Slovenian popular songs.
On Friday, 20 November, the Bažato Gallery will host Taste the Rhythm, a special sensory experience celebrating the festival’s tenth anniversary. Visitors will journey through the gallery’s spaces, where both the musical tempo, featuring live performances, and the culinary flavours created by three renowned Ljubljana chefs will gradually build in intensity.
Another festival highlight will be the Chef Up charity cooking show (24 November). Students from BIC Ljubljana will prepare their own music-inspired dishes in front of an audience at the Kult316 restaurant, presenting their creations to renowned chefs Igor Jagodic, Jorg Zupan and Gregor Jelnikar. The chefs will evaluate the dishes and select the best one. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the education and training of young people pursuing careers in hospitality.
A Note of Good Taste
The festival will conclude on 30 November at Center Rog with A Note of Good Taste (Ton dobrega okusa), an event organised by Ljubljana Tourism in collaboration with Teden reatavracij (Restaurant Week). Bringing together culinary professionals and musicians, the event will explore how music influences the dining experience and its role in shaping restaurant identity. The results of a study examining diners’ attitudes towards music in restaurants will be presented, while participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a special experiment, discovering firsthand how different musical soundtracks influence their perception of the same dish.
From fermentation to coffee tasting accompanied by jazz
The festival will also offer a diverse selection of culinary workshops and experiences. All will follow this year’s theme, Taste the Rhythm, exploring the relationship between gastronomy and music in different ways. Experiences will range from discovering how different musical genres influence the perception of wine and enjoying coffee tastings accompanied by jazz to dinners with live music and a dinner cruise during the switching-on of Ljubljana’s festive lights.
Festival menus and culinary events across the city
Throughout November, numerous restaurants and other culinary establishments will offer special festival dishes and tasting menus, inviting visitors to discover creative interpretations of local and international flavours accompanied by carefully selected music. The programme will be complemented by other music-infused culinary events, ranging from St Martin’s Day wine celebrations and a morning dance event with breakfast to guest appearances by renowned chefs.
About November Gourmet Ljubljana
The November Gourmet Ljubljana festival is part of Ljubljana Tourism’s efforts to strengthen Ljubljana’s reputation as a culinary destination, foster cooperation among local providers and develop attractive tourism experiences during a traditionally quieter period for tourism.
The full November Gourmet Ljubljana festival programme is available on the Ljubljana Tourism website.
