Where to eat in Ljubljana: what to order and where
Ljubljana eats Slovenian: sausage, buckwheat, cabbage stews and cakes, with a lot of local produce on the plate. The Central Market is the start, and the Friday Open Kitchen is the fun. Book dinner at a gostilna, and look for places that put the region's dishes on a short menu.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The old town and the streets around the market, with the gostilne a few minutes back from the river.
- Order this
- Kranjska klobasa (Carniolan sausage) and štruklji (rolled dough with filling).
- When to eat
- Lunch from 12:00 and dinner from 18:30. Kitchens in small places close around 22:00.
- Book or walk in
- Book a gostilna for dinner, especially on a weekend. Market stalls and cafes take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up or leave about 10 percent for good service.
What to eat in Ljubljana
- Kranjska klobasaCarniolan sausage, a smoked pork sausage served with mustard, sauerkraut and bread. Found at sausage bars, gostilne and the market.
- ŠtrukljiRolled dough with a filling, such as walnut, cottage cheese or tarragon, boiled or baked. A staple of traditional menus.
- Idrijski žlikrofiSmall filled dumplings from the Idrija area, made with potato and herbs and served with a meat sauce or alone.
- JotaA thick stew of beans, sauerkraut or turnip, and potatoes, often with smoked meat. Warming in winter.
- Prekmurska gibanicaA layered cake of poppy seed, walnut, apple and cottage cheese, from the northeast. Heavy and sweet.
- ŽganciA porridge of buckwheat or corn flour, served alongside meat or with pork crackling.
- PoticaA rolled yeast cake, most often filled with walnuts, a staple of Slovenian celebrations.
Where to eat in Ljubljana, by neighborhood
Old town and the market
Cafes and restaurants along the river, and stalls around the Central Market. Pick a side street for dinner.
Center
Gostilne and bistros between Slovenska cesta and the river, with lunch menus that suit a weekday.
Krakovo and Trnovo
A quiet district south of the center with small, local restaurants and cafes, worth the ten-minute walk.
Rožnik hill
Grill restaurants in the woods above Tivoli Park, popular with locals for a long lunch.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Gostilna Na Gradu
€€€Slovenian restaurant · Ljubljana Castle
OrderA regional tasting menu, or the day's seasonal dish
A contemporary Slovenian restaurant in the castle, built around the country's regional dishes. After 18:00 it serves a tasting menu only.
- Book
- Online or by phone
Confirmed open: jezersek.si
-
Gostilnica Pri Škofu
€€Gostilna · Krakovo
OrderThe day's home-cooked dish and a Slovenian wine
A small traditional place in Krakovo with a short menu and cheap lunch specials. It sources herbs and vegetables locally.
- Book
- Phone, and book on weekends
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: inyourpocket.com
-
Druga Violina
€€Social enterprise restaurant · Old town
OrderA Slovenian classic from the day's menu
A restaurant on Stari trg staffed and partly supplied by people with disabilities, with farm produce and Slovenian classics.
- Book
- Walk in, or book for dinner
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: visitljubljana.com
-
Gostilna Šestica
€€Gostilna · Center
OrderŠtruklji and a slice of prekmurska gibanica
The city's oldest gostilna, in business since 1776, serving traditional Slovenian dishes and wines.
- Book
- Phone, and book on weekends
Confirmed open: visitljubljana.com
-
Gostilna Čad
€€Grill restaurant · Rožnik hill
OrderĆevapčići or a mixed grill
A grill restaurant in the woods above Tivoli Park, serving Balkan grilled meats on a terrace. A taxi or a walk up, and a good long lunch.
- Book
- Phone, and book on weekends
Confirmed open: visitljubljana.com
Food markets in Ljubljana
- Odprta kuhna (Open Kitchen)A Friday food market on Pogačarjev trg, where restaurants sell their dishes from stalls. It is seasonal: it runs from March into the autumn, and the weather decides some days. Come hungry and share.Fridays from March to October or November, about 10:00 to 21:00; check the dateSource: visitljubljana.com
- Ljubljana Central MarketOpen-air stalls for fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey and bread, set along the river and under Plečnik's colonnade. Go in the morning.Monday to Saturday, mornings; closed Sunday; hours vary, so checkSource: inyourpocket.com
How Ljubljana eats
- Meal timesLunch is the main meal, from about 12:00. Dinner starts around 18:30 and ends early in small places.
- TippingRound up or leave about 10 percent if service was good.
- ReservationsBook gostilne for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday. Cafes and market stalls take walk-ins.
- Lunch menusMany restaurants offer a weekday lunch menu at a lower price than dinner, a good way to try a gostilna.
- Coffee and cakeCoffee is a long sit on the river. Order one and stay as long as you like.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes outside the door.
Staff on the riverside calling you in from the pavement.
A menu in six languages with pizza, paella and schnitzel on it.
Eating in Ljubljana: questions people ask
What food is Ljubljana known for?
Kranjska klobasa, a smoked sausage, and štruklji, a rolled dough with fillings. Add žlikrofi, jota stew and potica for the full Slovenian table.
Where is the best place to eat in Ljubljana?
For a traditional gostilna, Šestica or Pri Škofu. For a modern take in the castle, Gostilna Na Gradu.
Do you need to book restaurants in Ljubljana?
For gostilne at dinner, yes, especially on weekends. Cafes and market stalls take walk-ins.
Is there a food market in Ljubljana on Friday?
Yes, Odprta kuhna runs on Fridays on Pogačarjev trg, from March into autumn. It does not run in winter, so check the date.
How much do you tip in Ljubljana?
About 10 percent for good service, or round up the bill.
Is Ljubljana cheap for food?
It costs less than Vienna or Venice. Weekday lunch menus and market food are the best value.