Slovenia has new Michelin stars! The Michelin culinary guide has revealed the Michelin stars for 2024 on June 18, 2024, and Slovenia has shined with new stars! This year, Restaurant Pavus, where Marko Pavčnik creates, received a Michelin star for the first time.
Hiša Franko with chef Ana Roš has also managed to retain its three Michelin stars this year, which it received last year. Thus, in 2024, Slovenia boasts one restaurant with three stars, one with two stars (Restaurant Milka), and eight with one star. The restaurants with one star are COB, Dam Restaurant, Gostilna pri Lojzetu, Gostišče Grič, Hiša Denk, Restaurant Strelec, Hiša Linhart, and Restaurant Pavus.
The presence of the ‘red bible’ in Slovenia in recent years has significantly contributed not only to increased visits and enhanced quality of selected Slovenian restaurants, but also to the broader development of Slovenian cuisine and the strengthening of destinations. The guide also opens up new opportunities for local communities.
Hiša Franko retains its prestigious three stars.
Milka Restaurant earns two stars.
Eight other restaurants awarded one star each: Grič, Dam, Strelec, Gostilna pri Lojzetu, Hiša Denk, COB, Hiša Linhart, Pavus
This year, 63 Slovenian restaurants are highlighted in the Michelin Guide, marking an increase of four from last year. Slovenian culinary excellence continues to soar.
Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the MICHELIN guide, comments: “Every year, the MICHELIN guide inspectors have the privilege of observing the persistent progress of the Slovenian culinary scene. They are led by restaurant owners who strive to promote their region and culinary identity at the highest level, excelling with their commitment to an increasingly demanding offering. Today, June 18, on International Sustainable Gastronomy Day, we present our Slovenian selection, which includes a new MICHELIN Green Star, illustrating the growing concern of local experts to envision the contours of ‘more virtuous and sustainable gastronomy’.“
For decades, the Michelin Guide has set standards in the world of gastronomy. Its presence in Slovenia confirms the quality and diversity of our culinary offerings. Chefs from across the country have the opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity on a global scale through independent inspectors, which promotes innovation and elevates the culinary scene. This positions Slovenia among desirable culinary destinations, attracting food enthusiasts from around the world.
Restaurant Pavus has been awarded one MICHELIN star
Recommended by inspectors some time ago for its exceptional cuisine, Restaurant Pavus has received its first MICHELIN star this year, reflecting a significant improvement in its culinary offering. Located in a 13th-century castle in Laško, this establishment is led by the talented Marko Pavčnik. It offers a unique cuisine that reinterprets Styrian culinary traditions and emphasizes the best local produce. Among the dishes highlighted by inspectors is trout with elderflower sauce, enriched with aromatic herbs and fresh strawberries, which is particularly characteristic of the chef’s culinary style. The excellent wine list features top wines from across the country, with a strong emphasis on white wines from the region.
Pavus is the eighth restaurant to receive a MICHELIN star in 2024; all seven restaurants awarded one star in 2023 retained this recognition this year. In the categories with two and three stars, Michelin inspectors have once again recognized the excellence of Hiša Franko and Milka. Their consistency and high level of refinement are exceptional, as evidenced by their maintaining the highest level of excellence.
Slovenia now boasts a total of ten restaurants with MICHELIN stars across all categories, confirming its status as an important European gastronomic destination.
An exceptional dedication to sustainability rewarded with one new restaurant receiving the MICHELIN Green Star
The MICHELIN Green Star in the MICHELIN guide is awarded to establishments that stand out for their exceptional approach to sustainable gastronomy. In this year’s selection, eight Slovenian restaurants have received this prestigious recognition for their exemplary combination of culinary excellence and ecological responsibility, serving as inspiration for both food enthusiasts and the entire industry.
Among these eight recipients of the MICHELIN Green Star for 2024 is the newcomer restaurant Galerija Okusov in Petrovče. Inspectors highlighted the restaurant for its commitment to collaborating almost exclusively with artisans operating within a 50 km radius, using ingredients grown on their own estate, and implementing a no-plastic policy.
The MICHELIN Green Star is an award presented by the MICHELIN guide to restaurants that make exceptional efforts in sustainability. This star recognizes restaurants that practice sustainable methods, reduce waste, care for the environment, and use local and seasonal ingredients. It complements the traditional MICHELIN stars, which assess culinary excellence, and emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in gastronomy.
5 new restaurants awarded Bib Gourmand status
In the Michelin guide’s selection of restaurants for the Bib Gourmand distinction, the emphasis is on locations offering an excellent balance of price and quality, providing a full meal in an affordable price range. These restaurants, also known as “inspector favorites” in the Michelin guide, are highly popular among food enthusiasts and travelers seeking budget-friendly options without compromising on food quality and offerings.
In this year’s selection, five new establishments outside the capital have joined the Bib Gourmand category: Gostilna v vinoteki Faladur in Vipava, Kodila in Murska Sobota, Restavracija Majerca in Stara Fužina, Triangel in Gozd Martuljku, and LALU bistro in Celje. Together with the five restaurants that retained this recognition in 2024, the number of establishments in this category has increased to ten.
Bib Gourmand is a designation awarded by the Michelin guide to restaurants offering good food at moderate prices. It recognizes restaurants where guests can enjoy quality cuisine at relatively affordable prices. The Michelin Bib Gourmand star serves as an alternative to the Michelin stars, which focus on higher-priced establishments and exceptional culinary achievements. Restaurants awarded Bib Gourmand are noted for their good value for money and delicious, quality dishes they offer.
From Michelin-starred restaurants through Gault&Millau to Gostilna Slovenija
The Slovenian Tourism Strategy 2022-2028 defines gastronomy as one of the key connecting products of Slovenian tourism. Slovenia’s vision as a gastronomic destination is to become recognized for high-quality, innovative, distinctive gastronomy, and authentic culinary offerings of food and wine created by exceptional individuals and numerous boutique providers of quality food, who build their offerings on local food production and creative dishes that reflect natural riches, knowledge, and passion in preparation.
Restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide play a crucial role in achieving these goals. The restaurants featured in the prestigious red guide, including those coveted with stars, are spread across Slovenia. Their increased popularity also encourages visits to lesser-known tourist regions and invites discerning guests with higher purchasing power throughout the year. Additionally, Michelin awards and promotes sustainability development in Slovenian gastronomy through its green stars, aligning with the vision of Slovenia’s green boutique tourism.
In Slovenia, our aim is to develop offerings for demanding guests willing to pay more for their gastronomic experiences, while simultaneously strengthening the most dynamic and value-added middle segment of the catering offer pyramid. In this context, the Gault&Millau culinary guide, present in Slovenia since 2018, annually selects the best offerings in Slovenia. The strategic framework for developing a comprehensive gastronomic offer is complemented by the Gostilna Slovenija project, led by the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS) in collaboration with the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO). OZS has enhanced the management model of the Gostilna Slovenija brand and introduced additional criteria for achieving quality and sustainable practices as prerequisites for obtaining the brand.
Among STO’s most significant gastronomy projects are collaborations with internationally recognized gastronomic guides, the specialized gastronomic portal Taste Slovenia, the inclusion of catering providers in the Slovenia Green Cuisine scheme by obtaining the Slovenia Green Cuisine label, and the launch of the Commitment to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics from Slovenian Tourism. The Slovenian gastronomic experience is incorporated into all study trips of foreign media and influencers.
The first edition of the guide was received in 2020, and in the first year of collaboration, we achieved remarkable success: Michelin awarded stars to six restaurants, with five receiving one star each and one receiving two stars. In 2021, we earned one more star – six restaurants received one star each, and one received two stars. In 2022, there were nine restaurants with one star, and one restaurant received two stars. The announcement in 2023 brought one restaurant with 3 stars, one with 2 stars, and 7 with 1 star. Slovenia has seven restaurants with a green star. Upon the announcement of the results, this placed it first in the world in terms of the number of green stars per capita. In total, 59 restaurants were included in the guide.
The Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) conducts systematic and targeted development of gastronomy in close collaboration with key stakeholders: the Tourism and Hospitality Chamber of Slovenia, the Hospitality and Tourism Section at the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS), the association JRE Slovenia, and all leading destinations of Slovenian tourism.
Gastronomy as one of the key connecting products of Slovenian tourism
Michelin exclusively enters destinations with recognized culinary potential. Partnerships are formed with national-level institutions such as ministries, national tourist organizations, etc. The costs associated with collaborating with the Michelin Guide are covered by the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO), which is Michelin’s partner for Slovenia.
In the years 2024 and 2025, the partnership agreement includes various marketing activities, creation of editorial content, content publication on Michelin’s digital platforms and social media, public relations activities, and a licensing fee for using content in STO’s communication channels. The agreement also involves 5,000 copies of the printed Michelin Guide, plaques and jackets for awarded chefs, and the production of additional marketing videos and articles.
STO’s partnership in the project does not impact the guide’s independence. STO does not influence the content or editorial selection of Michelin.
Slovenia is transitioning from being a newcomer to an established Michelin destination. Based on experiences from other destinations, the number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Slovenia is expected to fluctuate over the years.
Michelin Guide and Michelin Stars in Slovenia, but what do Slovenian chefs think about them?
Gastronomy has always been one of the key elements in promoting Slovenian tourism. As such, it has been recognized by various stakeholders in the Slovenian tourism industry, who have united themselves in the vision of the development of Slovene tourism in the direction of unique sustainable boutique 5-star experiences.
Recently we have set down with Slovenian chefs to talk about the arrival of Michelin in Slovenia.
We asked Tomaž Kavčič, Ana Roš, Janez Bratovž, Luka Košir, Črt Butul, Bine Volčič, Marko Pavčnik, Grega Repovž, Igor Jagodic, Mojmir Šiftar and Matej Tomažič about the arrival of Michelin in Slovenia and with kind of an impact, the famous French guide named after a tire – Michelin will have on Slovenian gastronomy.
All of these Slovenian chefs and their Slovenian restaurants have been recognized as creme de la creme at this year’s The Slovenia Restaurant Awards 2020. Learn more about this year’s winners of The Slovenia Restaurant Awards 2020 here.
Slovenian Michelin Stars and those across the Slovenian border
With all the talk about the first-ever Michelin stars in Slovenia, we must not forget there is an amazing chef who lives just a short drive away from the Slovenian border with Italy you will find a Michelin starred restaurant La Suibida, where our fellow Slovene Joško Sirk holds the prestigious honor that is the Michelin Star. Read more about the first Slovenian Michelin Star across the Slovenian border.
There are currently over 2000 restaurants around the world, who are the proud recipients of (one, two,or even three) Michelin star(s).
While we just received our first Michelin Guide in Slovenia, countries around Slovenia already have a few Michelin starred restaurants. Slovenia is the last one to receive the famous red restaurants guide Michelin. Discover which restaurants across the Slovenian border have Michelin stars and were featured in Michelin Guide.
The Michelin Guide just unveiled the new selection for the fourth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Croatia 2020 in March.
Best Slovenian restaurants
Two weeks before the Michelin Guide in Slovenia reveal, we hosted the fourth annual The Slovenia Restaurant Awards 2020. Due to the restrictions on public gatherings this year’s The Slovenia Restaurant Awards were held online in the form of a virtual ceremony together with amazing chefs like Ana Roš, Tomaž Kavčič,and Uroš Štefelin. Make sure you check out the best Slovenian restaurants and the winners of this year’s The Slovenia Restaurant Awards 2020.
