The votes were cast for 500 selected locations and experiences, divided into six categories – from tourist experiences, culture, and shopping to culinary delights. Among the winners were Lelosi, Kristal Rogaška, BTC City Ljubljana, Ljubljana Castle, Gostilna Repovž, Dom na Kofcah, Burek Olimpija, Plečnik’s House, GoOpti, and many others.
The Best Of 2025 award is a recognition that confirms the popularity of selected local providers, now being presented for the 14th consecutive year. The selection and award ceremony is organized by the media house The Slovenia, with the support of the international media outlet In Your Pocket. After more than a decade of selecting the best in Ljubljana, the organizers decided this year to expand the voting scope and choose the best providers from across Slovenia.
The Best Of 2025 accolade enhances reputation and continues the tradition of evaluation, which includes both an editorial panel and the broader public, who ultimately vote for their favorite provider in the selected categories.
The grand award ceremony for Best Of 2025 took place on Thursday, 16th of January 2025, in Ljubljana at Cultural Center Španski Borci. This year, awards were presented in six categories: Best Of Travel Experience, Best Of Shopping, Best Of Culture, Best Of Food & Drinks Slovenia, Best Of Food & Drinks Ljubljana, and the Best of Speaker category, which was included in the event for the second consecutive year.
This year’s event was accompanied by the Festival of Decisions, enriching the program with a series of expert speeches, discussions, and roundtables. Premiering last year, the festival is an essential part of the ceremony and aspires to become a permanent companion to this event in the future.
You can view all the photos from the event HERE.
(Please credit the photos as “Best Of 2025,” photographer Črt Piksi.)
So, who are the best and most beloved by the public? Who did the public award with the plaque and the title of BEST OF 2025?
Category “Best Of Travel Experiences”
The founder of the international guides In Your Pocket, Matthias Lüfkens, together with Niko Slavnič, the initiator of the Best Of 2025 awards, presented the awards to the winners in the Best Of Travel Experience category.
Winners:
- Best Family Trips: Jasna Lake, Kranjska Gora
- Best Trending “Hidden Gem” Destinations: Rogla
- Best Outdoor Activity: Velika Planina Hike
- Best Indoor Fun: Woop! Fun Park, Ljubljana
- Best Wellness, Health & Beauty Experience: Wellness Orhidelia, Podčetrtek
- Best Getting around Slovenia: GoOpti
- Best Artisan Handicraft Experiences: Rog Centre Workshops
- Best Romantic Accomodation Experience: Jasna Chalet Resort, Kranjska Gora
- Best Travel Media & Influencers: Hribi.net
- Best Photography of Slovenia: Matevž Lenarčič
- Best Unique things to do in Slovenia: Climb on Mt.Triglav, the symbol of Slovenia
Category “Best Of Slovenia Shopping”
The plaques for the winners in the Best Of Shopping category were presented by Janža Pavlin, Head of Sales at In Your Pocket, and Melinda Rebrek, Executive Producer of LJFW.
Winners:
- “Feel like a Slovenian” brands: Barcaffe Coffee
- Shopping Centers: BTC City Ljubljana
- Ljubljana City Centre Shopping: Ikona Ljubljana
- Gifts from Slovenia: Rogaška Crystal
- Real Estate Slovenia: Stoja Trade
- Slovenia Leggins: Lelosi
- Best Slovenia online shops (powered by shoptok.si): mimovrste.si
- Global shops in Slovenia (powered by shoptok.si): aboutyou.com
- Smart Shopping Platforms: shoptok.si
- Fashion Influencers: Ula Furlan
Category “Best Of Culture”
Janža Pavlin was later joined by the Director of the Slovenian Youth Theatre, Inge Remeta, and together they presented the awards to the winners in the Best Of Culture category.
- Best National Museums: MGML – City Museum of Ljubljana
- Best Unique Museums: Plečnik House
- Best Cultural Festivals & Events: Festival Ljubljana
- Best Theaters & Opera: Slovenian National Theater Drama
- Best Art Gallery: National Gallery
- Best Cultural Family Experience & Events: Museum Night
- Best Castle: Ljubljana Castle
Category “Best Of Food & Drinks Slovenia”
The awards in the Best Of Food & Drinks Slovenia category were presented by Marko Mladinović, a professional gastronomy enthusiast, and Niko Slavnič.
- Best Food Experience: Drožomanija Sourdough Workshops
- Best Drink Experience: Wine fountain, Marezige
- Best Gastronomic Festivals & Events: Restaurant Week, Slovenia (Teden Restavracij)
- Best Wine Festivals & Events: Brda and Wine, Šmartno
- Best Gostilna with Local Food: Gostilna Repovž, Šentjanž
- Best Coffee in Slovenia: Pražarna
- Best Craft Micro Breweries: Kralj
- Best Mountain Hut Food: Dom na Kofcah
- Best Food Influencer: Leaneen, Nina Kastelic
- Best Artisanal local brands (Izvorno slovensko): From Bohinj
Category “Best Of Speakers”
In the Best of Speakers category, the title of Best Speaker was awarded to Nastja Mulej, an exceptionally successful and inspiring individual, a Master of Communication, and the only Slovenian Master Trainer for the methods of Dr. Edward de Bono, who has been successfully teaching creative thinking for over 20 years.
All of the finalists and winner:
- Melanie Seier Larsen
- Aljoša Bagola
- Nastja Mulej (zmagovalka)
- Marko Lukić
- Sara Isaković
- Gregor Kosi
- dr.Violeta Bulc
- David Zupančič
- Karmen Pangos
- Alen Kobilica
- Ljupka Vrteva
- Karel Gržan
- Urška Gerbajs
- dr. Boris Cergol
- Tanja Skaza
- dr. Matjaž Ličer
- Laura Unuk
- Mojca Cepuš
- Klemen Šešok
- Manca Šalehar
Category “Best Of Food & Drinks Ljubljana”
The awards in the Best Of Food & Drinks Ljubljana category were also presented.
- Best Slovenian food: Hiša pod Gradom
- Best Business Lunch / Dinner: Cubo
- Best Pizza in Ljubljana & Around Ljubljana: Peruzza pizza
- Best Bistro / Brunch: Le Petit Cafe
- Best Pizza in old town: Pop’s Place Pizza
- Best Burgers: Hood Burger
- Best Vegan / Vegan Friendly: Barbarella Plant Bistro & Juicebar
- Best World Cuisine: Argentino
- Best Balkan Food: Gostilna Čad
- Best Street food: Burek Olimpija
- Best Cafés & Dessert: POLO caffe&bar


The Beginning of the Best Of Competition
The “Best of Ljubljana” competition has been running since 2011 (wow, has it really been that long?) and every year, the competition gets tougher, with categories becoming even stronger. You can read more about how it all began below
Last year, we introduced a new category, “Best Slovenian Speakers” in the Business and Growth subcategory, which was a huge success, and this category will be present again this year. The Best Of competition concluded with a one-day event where the best Slovenian speakers took the stage to show us why their voices are worth hearing. In the second part of the day, we awarded winners in all the categories, had special guest speakers, enjoyed a cultural program, and later indulged in culinary delights while socializing. It will be hard to surpass last year’s event, but we are striving to deliver another exceptional Best Of competition.
History of the Best Of Ljubljana Competition
What started as a one-time competition for our own fun (and because of our love for alliteration) with a battle for the best burek in 2011, has evolved into one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the city. The competition, which has been running for more than a decade and covers a diverse range of categories, just like our ever-popular Ljubljana In Your Pocket guides, has received tens of thousands of public votes every year. Last year, over 40,000 votes were cast. Of course, this all happened before the Covid-19 pandemic, which temporarily halted the competition, like most things in Slovenia, Europe, and around the world.
But like that inspiring immortal bird from Greek mythology, our Best of Ljubljana competition rose figuratively from the ashes in 2020 and 2021, returning in 2022 better than ever, growing even more in 2023 and 2024. For 2025, we have already prepared an even better competition and event!
If you have any questions regarding the competitions or would like to learn more about participating, you can contact us at [email protected].