Find out which top 10 restaurants from Ljubljana & Central Slovenia are the finalists at The Slovenia Restaurant Awards 2020!
We would like to congratulate the top Slovenian restaurants from Ljubljana & Central Slovenia!
Slovenia capital, Ljubljana and its surroundings offer their visitors numerous opportunities to spend their holidays, explore, and enjoy. This region borders on all other main Slovenia regions which are represented even in gastronomy. On the north and west, you can feel Alpine and Mediterranean influence while on East gastronomy is influenced by the Thermal Panonina region.
On the South, the region extends to the Croatian border where you can enter the kingdom of the brown bear in the forests of the Kočevsko region, learn about the tradition of herdsmen or visit charming historical towns inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. All of these Slovenian restaurants are also eligible to be featured in the Michelin Guide Slovenia or even to receive the first-ever Michelin Star in Slovenia!
Here is a selection of TOP 10 Slovenian restaurants from Ljubljana & Central Slovenia presented to you by The Slovenia Restaurant Awards.
Generally when a restaurant is awarded a title such as ‘Taste Slovenia – Culinary Centre’, you can be sure that what you will find within will tickle each and every taste bud, and this is for sure true with Dvor Jezeršek. A Slovenian’s Slovenian restaurant in the little village of Cerklje na Gorenjskem just 2km from Ljubljana airport, it has taken the culinary traditions of the country, sprinkled a little modern seasoning and created something excellent.
Only a short drive from Ljubljana, this family-run restaurant with more than a century and a half of tradition offers an excellent combination of modern Slovene cuisine and genuine rural hospitality. Most of the ingredients are not only organic and locally-sourced, but come from the family’s own farm or from their neighbors, a fact which led to Mihovec being one of the original members recognized under the Gostilna Slovenia brand. Often in the evenings, live traditional music is performed, making it a great place to immerse oneself in Slovenia’s rich culture.
Decidedly upmarket in appearance and service, the prices are surprisingly modest – especially given the truly unique location and dining experience that goes along with it. Na Gradu’s award-winning chef pride themselves on the expert preparation of Slovenia’s diverse range of traditional dishes, which have been developed over the centuries in the country’s 24 separate gastronomic regions, with nearly all of the ingredients being locally produced.
In the village of Šentjošt nad Horjulom is the delightful little inn called Grič. Many places may claim the old ‘traditional food with a modern twist’, but Grič certainly delivers on that promise. It all starts with Luka Košir, one of the best young chefs in Slovenia, who earned his stripes under the mentorship of the famed Janez Bratovž at JB Restaurant. Everything used in their dishes is sourced locally, and the kitchen has a strict zero-waste philosophy, which is made easier by Luka’s novel techniques of fermentation. The emphasis here is on always fresh seasonal dishes, so expect a completely different menu depending on the time of year.
Despite the international renown of the chef and sophisticated atmosphere of the restaurant itself, dining at JB is a surprisingly a down-to-earth experience, thanks in part to the fact that it’s still a family-run affair. The menu features bold and original creations, which combine elements from the Mediterranean, French and classic Slovene cuisine into completely new forms and tastes, and of course, features only the freshest ingredients from Ljubljana’s acclaimed farmers’ markets. For gourmands who fancy delving a bit deeper into the culinary philosophy of Bratovž’s kitchen, dishes are based on the interplay between the four elements (earth, water, air, and fire) as well as the four tastes (sweet, salty, sour and bitter). An offer we can’t refuse indeed!
The ‘neo-bistro’ concept, where a classically-trained chef leaves behind a grand, often Michelin-starred restaurant to pursue a unique culinary vision at their own establishment, has officially come to Ljubljana. Bine Volčič, one of the best-known chefs in the country, and his wife Katarina run the lovely little Monstera, cheekily named for the tropical plant that was ubiquitous during Yugoslav times – alluding to the fusion of nostalgic tradition and modernity that is the trademark of Bine’s cooking. In lieu of à la carte options, there are weekly set lunches, while dinner consists of a heavenly 7-course chef’s choice tasting menu. The drinks list is equally impressive, with superbly paired wines and specially produced own-label craft beer.
The food in Atelje is a product of teamwork in the kitchen, whether its the creative or the actual technical process of cooking. They pride themselves on cooking in a natural way, using local ingredients, keeping up with the season and making about 90% of our products in house. Sometimes they get inspiration from old traditional Slovenian recipes, sometimes they take a different approach.
Cubo’s location outside of the city center doesn’t stop those foreigners and locals who appreciate good food and atmosphere from turning up here in droves every day. Taking the very best of the dining experience from décor to service to of course the food, they’ve come up with a truly inspiring place indeed. Opting for a minimalist approach with lots of dark woods and cool greys, the setting attracts everyone from business professionals to families who come to feast on a regularly changing menu of dishes including many inspired from Italy and the Mediterranean.
Perched high up in the archer’s tower of Ljubljana’s grand castle, Strelec overlooks the city from a spectacular position. The interior has a modern flair, with walls that are half exposed, showing the old stone, and half covered with ancient and medieval-style illustrations. Historically reminiscent dishes of gourmet modernity are crafted with ingredients from Ljubljana’s famed market by the star of the show: Igor Jagodic. Recognized as one of the top chefs in Slovenia, he has received numerous awards for his dedication and love for his craft. He, and the rest of the team at Strelec, constantly strive for perfection and their passion is to create high-quality cuisine, where only the best is good enough.
At TaBar they like to believe Slovenia is much like Spain in this particular aspect. Settled in between famous Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea it brings its strong character to the table and builds on the best gastronomic influences that defined its unique place in this world. The result is reflected at TaBar, with its stratified cuisine, a mouthful bit, Slovenian in character, but flexible enough for updating to a modern lifestyle.
TaBar is hence envisioned as a Slovenian tapas and wine bar, where you can enjoy the many special delicacies prepared with a tapas twist and taste a variety of beautiful wines. It is a meeting place with the perfect atmosphere, where fresh local ingredients and good wines are most important and where the open kitchen allows you to get a direct sense of the world of flavor. Set in the heart of Ljubljana’s historic city center you can visit TaBar for a meal, a snack or just a glass of wine.
