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If, like me, you tend to prefer modern restaurants over touristy old-town menus, and consider finding good coffee an essential part of any city trip, Ljubljana has plenty to offer.
I already knew before my trip that Slovenia was becoming a serious food destination. Michelin has been publishing a Slovenia guide since 2020, and quite a few restaurants have earned stars, with Ana Roš’s Hiša Franko being the best-known example.
So during my three days in Ljubljana, I definitely wanted to explore some of the city’s food scene for myself. That didn’t mean eating elaborate, expensive meals every night, though. I was just as interested in finding casual places for lunch, good brunch spots, and of course, good specialty coffee.
This guide brings together the restaurants and coffee shops in Ljubljana I visited myself and would recommend.
Shortlist: My favorite places to eat and drink coffee in Ljubljana
- Best special dinner: Georgie Bistro
- Best casual dinner: Pop’s Aperitivo
- Best brunch: Kavarna Rog
- Best specialty coffee: Mala Pražarna
My favorite restaurants in Ljubljana
Georgie Bistro: My favorite restaurant for a special dinner
When I travel, I tend to gravitate toward more modern restaurants. Places where chefs work with local ingredients and flavors, but give them their own contemporary twist. Georgie Bistro is exactly that kind of restaurant.
The interior feels fresh and modern, with soft pink chairs and large windows overlooking the street that let in plenty of natural light. The tables are spaced far enough apart that you don’t feel like you’re having dinner with the people next to you. If you want a little more privacy, there’s also a separate table at the top of the stairs, overlooking the restaurant and kitchen below.
During my visit, I can choose from several tasting menus where the chef decides what is served. I go for five courses, but there are also seven- and nine-course options.
The food is delicious. The dishes have a Slovenian base, with the occasional international twist. One good example is the “cacio e pepe turnip.” The flavors become a little more pronounced with every course, creating a really nice progression throughout the menu. The portions are exactly right too.
The service is super attentive, and the staff talk enthusiastically about both the menu and the wine list without making it all sound unnecessarily complicated. For me, this is the place to book if you want a more special dinner in Ljubljana. It’s not cheap, but the quality absolutely matches the price.
Address: Čufarjeva ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana
JAZ by Ana Roš: Modern food by Slovenia’s most famous chef
If you spend even a little time reading about Slovenia’s food scene, you’ll quickly come across the name Ana Roš. Her restaurant Hiša Franko in Kobarid has three Michelin stars. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel halfway across Slovenia to eat at one of her restaurants, because JAZ by Ana Roš is right in the center of Ljubljana. JAZ itself is listed in the Michelin Guide, although it currently doesn’t have a star.
JAZ is part of AS Boutique Hotel, where I’m staying during my city trip. The obvious advantage is that after dinner, all I have to do is head upstairs and roll into bed. Breakfast for hotel guests is also served here in the morning.
The interior works really well with the style of the food. It’s modern and atmospheric, with world music playing in the background that you notice without it taking over or making conversation difficult.
Thankfully, the menu isn’t so extensive that you need long to make a decision. I start with the ceviche, followed by sea bass with miso. The dishes arrive fairly quickly. Great when you’re really hungry, although it also means you can be back outside surprisingly soon even after several courses.
That said, everything I eat looks beautiful and tastes delicious. The portions aren’t huge, which I actually like. It means there’s still room for dessert. Just kidding, there’s always room for dessert.
I order bovški krafi, Slovenian dumplings with pear, bread, cinnamon, and butter sauce. Oh man, so good! They’re quite rich, but you only get two, which turns out to be exactly enough.
JAZ isn’t cheap, but it’s a great choice if you want to try the food of one of Slovenia’s best-known chefs. Make a reservation in advance, though, because this is a popular restaurant.
Address: Čopova ulica 5a, 1000 Ljubljana
Pop’s Aperitivo: Modern Italian food, pizza, and cocktails
Georgie Bistro and JAZ are both restaurants where you’ll want to set aside a little more of your budget. If you’re looking for a fun evening with good food without turning it into such an elaborate dinner, Pop’s Aperitivo is a good alternative.
Like JAZ, Pop’s Aperitivo is located at AS Boutique Hotel. There’s plenty of seating inside as well as a large number of tables outside. The restaurant is stylish but considerably more casual, with a menu built around modern Italian food, especially pizza and pasta.
I start with the burratina with tomato, basil oil, and focaccia. It’s fresh and full of flavor. After that, I order the Tartuffo Nero pizza with black truffle, shiitake, mushrooms, and several different cheeses. The menu says that pizzas are for sharing, and that turns out to be pretty accurate. Especially after the burratina, there’s no way I’m finishing the whole thing by myself.
It’s very good though, with a nicely crisp crust. By the time I’m done, there definitely isn’t any room left for dessert, despite the desserts looking very tempting.
The only downside to such a large restaurant is that the staff occasionally seem to struggle to give every table the same amount of attention, so I sometimes have to wait a little longer. But as long as you’re not in a rush, it’s not a big deal. I’d happily come back for the pizza alone.
Address: Čopova ulica 5a, 1000 Ljubljana
Take a look around Knafljev Prehod
JAZ and Pop’s Aperitivo are both located around Knafljev prehod, a little passage you could easily walk straight past if you didn’t know it was there.
Walk through the gate and you’ll find a small area filled with restaurants and outdoor terraces. There’s an immediately relaxed, sociable atmosphere, so it’s worth having a look around if you’re already in this part of the city.
Vino & Ribe: a simple fish lunch with excellent wine
For a straightforward but very satisfying lunch, I head to Vino & Ribe. As the name suggests, this small restaurant is all about fish and wine, and it doesn’t try to make things more complicated than they need to be.
You choose which fish or seafood you want and how you’d like it prepared, either grilled or fried. I go for a mixed plate of fried seafood, including calamari, which doesn’t take much convincing since I love calamari.
It’s simple food, but done really well. If you want good fish, a great glass of wine, and an easy lunch outside on a sunny day, Vino & Ribe works very well.
Address: Stari trg 28, 1000 Ljubljana
Best brunch in Ljubljana
Kavarna Rog: My favorite brunch
Finding really good coffee with breakfast proved a little more challenging in Ljubljana. Fortunately, I had nothing to complain about at Kavarna Rog.
The restaurant sits alongside the Ljubljanica River and has seating inside as well as a large outdoor terrace. The terrace is next to an intersection, but that honestly doesn’t bother me much. What I do find slightly annoying is how much people smoke outside, so it’s worth paying attention to where you sit.
I order sourdough toast with poached egg, avocado, labneh, and bacon, which is exactly the kind of breakfast I want when I know I’ll be walking around the city for the rest of the day. More importantly, the coffee is good too. That combination makes Kavarna Rog my favorite place for brunch in Ljubljana.
The location is convenient as well. Kavarna Rog is close to Center Rog and Cukrarna, two of my favorite places for seeing Ljubljana’s more modern side. After breakfast, you can head straight out sightseeing. You can read more about both in my guide to the best things to do in Ljubljana.
Address: Petkovškovo nabrežje 67, 1000 Ljubljana
EK Bistro: Brunch on a riverside terrace
While searching for good breakfast spots in Ljubljana, one name kept coming up: EK Bistro. So on my first morning, I decide to head there for brunch.
Apart from the food, the location is probably the main reason to come here. EK Bistro has a lovely terrace right by the river. From Dragon Bridge, you walk slightly away from the busiest part of the center, and it immediately feels less touristy.
I’m there on a sunny morning and luckily manage to get one of the outdoor tables. The breakfast menu has all the usual brunch favorites, including eggs benedict and French toast, and the prices are reasonable for such a popular brunch spot. I go for the avocado toast with salmon.
Unfortunately, the cappuccino is a little disappointing. So while I’d happily come back for breakfast, I’d go somewhere else if coffee is the main reason for your visit.
There are only a few tables inside, so for me EK Bistro is really all about the terrace. Especially when the weather is good, it’s a lovely place for breakfast or brunch. If there’s no table available, Kavarna Rog isn’t far away.
Address: Petkovškovo nabrežje 65, 1000 Ljubljana
More good places to eat in Ljubljana
Odprta Kuhna: Ljubljana’s Friday food market
I already mention Odprta Kuhna in my guide to the best things to do in Ljubljana, but it obviously deserves a place in an article about where to eat in Ljubljana too.
Every Friday from March through the end of October, Pogačarjev trg next to the Central Market turns into a large open-air food market, as long as the weather is good. Restaurants, bars, and other food businesses set up stalls selling food and drinks.
What I especially like here is the atmosphere. You can take your time walking around the different stalls, choose something that looks good, and then sit down on the steps with your food and watch the world go by.
Unfortunately, I already have a reservation at Georgie Bistro that evening, so trying lots of food isn’t really an option for me. Instead, I stick to a glass of wine from Kletvica Natural Wine Bar. I’d already heard that Slovenians know how to make good wine, so obviously that needed to be tested.
If you’re in Ljubljana on a sunny Friday, I’d definitely try to fit Odprta Kuhna into your plans. Even if it’s just for lunch, a glass of wine, or to get some ideas for restaurants you might want to try later.
Address: Pogačarjev trg 1, 1000 Ljubljana
Lolita: where I tried Kremšnita
Kremšnita, a cream cake made with layers of puff pastry and custard, is one of those things you should try at least once while you’re in Slovenia. One of the easiest places to try it in central Ljubljana is Lolita. It’s very touristy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad place to stop for something sweet.
The cake reminds me a little of a Dutch tompouce, including the fact that it’s virtually impossible to eat neatly without making a mess. But it’s delicious and much lighter than it looks.
Address: 1000 Cankarjevo nabrežje, 1000 Ljubljana
Where to find good specialty coffee in Ljubljana
I had to search a little harder for good coffee in Ljubljana than I did for good restaurants. Coffee at regular cafés and restaurants was sometimes a little disappointing, but the following specialty coffee shops are definitely worth seeking out.
Kavarna Specialka at Center Rog
One of my favorite coffee stops is Kavarna Specialka by GOAT Story at Center Rog.
The industrial interior, with a large bar stretching across the space, makes it a great place to sit inside with your coffee. But when the weather is good, I’d head straight for the spacious terrace. From here, you have a lovely view of the river and can watch people walking and cycling past.
If you’re planning to visit Center Rog anyway, this is the obvious place for a coffee break. Or plan your visit around the coffee, of course. Just head up the stairs to find it.
Address: Trubarjeva cesta 72, 1000 Ljubljana
Črno Zrno Specialty Coffee
Črno Zrno had been saved in my Google Maps long before I even knew I was going to Ljubljana. To be honest, that was initially mostly because of the interior.
This tiny coffee shop inside a medieval building, with its blue-and-white tiles, is incredibly photogenic. It’s also conveniently located if you’re walking from the old town up toward Ljubljana Castle.
The Colombian owner I’ve read so much about isn’t there when I visit, and my cappuccino isn’t as good as I’d hoped. Maybe I simply catch them on an off day.
So based on my own visit I wouldn’t rank it above Mala Pražarna. Still, one coffee is hardly enough to write the place off, especially given its reputation and the beautiful interior alone makes it worth stopping by if you’re heading towards the castle.
Address: Gornji trg 17, 1000 Ljubljana
Mala Pražarna: the best coffee I had in Ljubljana
I have my very last coffee in Ljubljana at Mala Pražarna. Along with Črno Zrno, this was one of the places coffee lovers had recommended to me several times before my trip, so on my final morning I decide I really should stop by.
Mala Pražarna is a small place. There isn’t much room to sit comfortably inside. You’re better off taking your coffee with you and drinking it on a bench by the river, or standing outside the door.
The barista is super friendly, and the enthusiasm for good coffee is obvious. My cappuccino arrives with impressive latte art and, more importantly, tastes excellent.
After a few days when finding really good coffee with breakfast had sometimes been surprisingly difficult, this is exactly the ending I was hoping for. A perfect final coffee in Ljubljana.
Address: Krakovski nasip 10, 1000 Ljubljana
FAQ about eating in Ljubljana
What are the best restaurants in Ljubljana for a special dinner?
For a more special dinner in Ljubljana, my two favorites were Georgie Bistro and JAZ by Ana Roš.
I’d choose Georgie Bistro if you want a tasting menu and a slightly more intimate dining experience. JAZ is a good option if you want to try the food of Ana Roš without making the trip to Hiša Franko. Both are modern restaurants, both focus on interesting flavors rather than traditional Slovenian food, and neither is a budget option. If I had to pick just one, Georgie Bistro was my favorite.
Where can you find good specialty coffee in Ljubljana?
The best coffee I had in Ljubljana was at Mala Pražarna. There isn’t really anywhere to settle in for a long coffee break, but my cappuccino was excellent and the barista clearly takes coffee seriously.
Kavarna Specialka at Center Rog is another good option, especially if you want somewhere with more space to sit. Črno Zrno is probably the best-known specialty coffee shop of the three. My own cappuccino there wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, but I’d still stop by for the beautiful interior and give it another try.
Do you need restaurant reservations in Ljubljana?
For popular restaurants, I’d make a reservation, especially for dinner and if you’re visiting Ljubljana over the weekend. I booked Georgie Bistro and JAZ in advance and would do the same again.
For casual lunches and places like Pop’s Aperitivo, it’s easier to be spontaneous. Brunch can be a little trickier when the weather is good, particularly if you want a table outside. I was lucky to get a terrace table at EK Bistro and Kavarna Rog on a sunny morning without a reservation.
So if there’s somewhere you really don’t want to miss, I wouldn’t leave it until the last minute.
What time should you have dinner in Ljubljana?
You don’t need to wait until late in the evening to have dinner in Ljubljana. I generally ate somewhere between 7 and 8 p.m., which worked well, although popular restaurants were already filling up around that time.
Opening hours vary quite a bit between restaurants, so I’d always check the restaurant itself before making plans rather than assuming everywhere serves dinner late.
Do you tip at restaurants in Slovenia?
Tipping isn’t mandatory in Slovenia. If you’re happy with the service, you can round up the bill or leave a small tip. Around 10 percent is considered generous but perfectly normal for good service, while simply rounding up is also fine.
You don’t need to automatically add a fixed percentage to every bill. I’d simply base it on the service you received.
Is eating out in Ljubljana expensive?
It can be, but it certainly doesn’t have to be.
Restaurants such as Georgie Bistro and JAZ are places where you’ll spend more, particularly if you order several courses and wine. But there are plenty of more casual options too. You can have pizza at Pop’s Aperitivo, fish and wine at Vino & Ribe, or brunch without turning every meal into a big expense.
For me, that mix was actually one of the nice things about eating in Ljubljana: you can have a special dinner one evening and keep things very casual the next day.
Looking for more Ljubljana travel tips & inspiration? Check out my Ljubljana city guide.
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