Top 10 Places to Eat in Ljubljana

Last updated: October 2026

Ljubljana is small enough to cover on foot and relaxed enough that lunch can easily turn into an afternoon. The best places to eat in Ljubljana are the Central Market and Open Kitchen for variety, Klobasarna and Gostilna Šestica for Slovenian classics, Ribca for seafood and Strelec for a special-occasion tasting menu at the castle. The best restaurants in Ljubljana reflect a food scene that mixes Alpine, Balkan, Italian and Central European influences, and most of it is within a short walk of the river.

This guide covers 10 places to eat in Ljubljana, each with a practical box covering how to get there, how long to spend, the best time to go and one tip. Further down you will find a glossary of dishes to try, advice on booking and tipping, suggested plans, where to stay by area and budget guidance. For planning and events, the official Visit Ljubljana site is a good place to start.

Menus, seasons and opening patterns change, and small venues can close or move, so check each place’s own channels before you go. Where we could not confirm a detail, we have said so rather than guessed.

Quick answer: What are the best restaurants in Ljubljana? The ten best places to eat are Odprta Kuhna (Open Kitchen), the Central Market, Ribca, Klobasarna, Gostilna Šestica, Druga Violina, Strelec, Bistro Švicarija, Pri Škofu and Landerik. For a first visit, combine the market and Klobasarna for a casual day, then book Gostilna Šestica or Strelec for one proper sit-down meal.

Quick comparison: places to eat in Ljubljana

1. Odprta Kuhna (Open Kitchen)

Odprta Kuhna is the most fun way to eat in Ljubljana on a Friday, a weekly food market in the square beside the Central Market where restaurants and chefs from across the city serve ready-to-eat dishes from stalls. It is called Open Kitchen because you can watch the cooks at work.

The market runs on Fridays through the warmer months, from late March (the 2026 season opened on 20 March) until about the end of October, although the exact last date depends on the weather and the organisers. It is cancelled in bad weather, so check the forecast. The line-up changes from week to week, which keeps it interesting, and you will typically find Slovenian classics next to Italian, Middle Eastern, Asian and Balkan dishes, plus wine, craft beer and cocktails.

The best way to enjoy it is to treat it as a progressive lunch. Walk the whole square first, then share two or three plates between friends rather than committing to a single stall. Many people sit on the steps and kerbs nearby, or find a spot along the river, so bring a little patience and a sense of humour about the crowds.

Because it is outdoors and seasonal, it works best for casual eaters rather than anyone who needs a guaranteed seat. If the weather turns, fall back on the covered market and a nearby cafe.

• How to get there: Walk to Pogačarjev trg, next to the Central Market in the Old Town. It is a few minutes from Preseren Square.
• How long to spend: One to two hours, or longer if you settle in with a drink.
• Best time to go: A dry Friday from spring to early autumn, ideally around late morning to avoid the biggest crowds.
• Tip: Go hungry, share plates and check the official Visit Ljubljana page for the current season and any cancellations.

2. Central Market (Plečnikova tržnica)

The Central Market is where Ljubljana does its everyday shopping, and it is one of the loveliest places in the city to put together a picnic. The market is the work of the architect Jože Plečnik, whose colonnades run along the Ljubljanica river and give the whole area a calm, classical look.

Open-air stalls sell fruit, vegetables, honey, bread, cheese, dried meats and seasonal produce from farms around Slovenia, while the covered hall and the lower level hold butchers, bakers and fishmongers. Local farmers often sell on Saturdays at the nearby square as well, which adds a lively weekend feel. It is the best place to buy Slovenian honey, pumpkin seed oil and cured meats to take home.

Browse for a while before you buy. Many stallholders will let you try a slice of cheese or a piece of fruit, and the quality is usually high. If you are renting an apartment, this is also the obvious place for breakfast supplies.

Pair a visit with a walk along the river and a coffee in one of the cafes opposite. Because it is a working market, it is quieter in the afternoon and some stalls pack up early, so aim for the morning.

• How to get there: Walk to the Old Town riverside, between the Triple Bridge and the Dragon Bridge. It is easy on foot from anywhere central.
• How long to spend: Around an hour, or longer if you build a picnic.
• Best time to go: Morning, when the stalls are fullest. Saturdays are busy and atmospheric.
• Tip: Bring a tote bag and cash for small purchases, and ask before photographing stallholders. See the Visit Ljubljana market page for background.

3. Ribca

Ribca is a small seafood bar tucked under Plečnik’s colonnade, and it is the best-known place in the city for a simple plate of fish. It sits beside the fish market, and the menu is built around what comes in from the Adriatic.

The dishes are no-frills and traditional. Fried squid, sardines and cuttlefish risotto are the mainstays, and the plates are designed to be eaten quickly with a glass of local white wine. The atmosphere is informal, with a mix of market workers, office staff and visitors, and the setting is part of the appeal.

Expectations matter here. Reviews are mixed, with some diners praising the freshness and the location and others finding the cooking plain or too oily. Treat it as a casual stop for a quick lunch rather than a destination for fine dining, and you will be better placed to enjoy it.

Ribca is particularly good if you are already exploring the market and want a hot meal without leaving the area. If you prefer a longer seafood dinner with table service, look at the wider selection in the Old Town after browsing.

• How to get there: Walk to the riverside colonnade beside the Central Market. Ribca sits on the lower level of the colonnade, beside the river.
• How long to spend: About an hour.
• Best time to go: Lunchtime, when the fish is freshest and the market is lively.
• Tip: Order a small selection to share, and check the current days and times before you go, as hours vary by day. Listings are available on Visit Ljubljana.

4. Klobasarna

Klobasarna is a compact sausage bar devoted to Kranjska klobasa, the protected Carniolan sausage that is one of Slovenia’s most famous foods. It is the quickest way to try the national classic, and it takes only a few minutes to order.

The sausage is served hot with a fresh bread roll, mustard and grated horseradish, which is exactly how many Slovenes eat it. The short menu also includes hearty soups and stews such as jota and ričet, and there are sweet štruklji filled with ingredients like tarragon and walnuts for dessert. Everything is designed to be simple, filling and affordable, so it is a good choice for a budget lunch.

The room is small and often busy, with standing space and a few tables, so do not expect a long, lingering meal. It works best as a quick stop between sights in the Old Town or as a snack after a morning at the market. Vegetarians will find the choice limited, although the sides and desserts may help.

If you want to learn more about the sausage, ask staff how it is made and what it is traditionally served with. Many are happy to explain, especially outside the busiest times.

• How to get there: Walk to Ciril-Metodov trg in the Old Town, a short stroll from the Central Market.
• How long to spend: 30 to 45 minutes.
• Best time to go: Lunch, or as an early dinner before an evening stroll by the river.
• Tip: Order the sausage with mustard and horseradish and finish with štruklji. Opening days differ between listings, so check Visit Ljubljana before you go.

5. Gostilna Šestica

Gostilna Šestica is one of Ljubljana’s oldest restaurants, an inn that dates back to 1776 and is often described as the city’s longest-running gostilna. The name means “the six” and refers to its old street number.

It is the natural place to try a full Slovenian meal in traditional surroundings. The menu draws on regional recipes and includes dishes such as Kranjska klobasa, game stew and house-made pasta, with a wine list that covers Slovenia’s regions. It is also known for prekmurska gibanica, the layered poppy seed, walnut, apple and cheese pastry from the north-east of the country.

Because it is well known, it attracts both locals and visitors, so book ahead for dinner and weekends.

Expect a relaxed, old-fashioned dining experience rather than anything experimental. That is exactly the appeal: it is a place to settle in, order a few local specialities and take your time.

• How to get there: Walk to Slovenska cesta, close to the Nebotičnik skyscraper in the city centre.
• How long to spend: One and a half to two hours.
• Best time to go: Lunch or an early dinner, with a booking at busy times.
• Tip: Share a few starters, save space for gibanica and check current service times on Visit Ljubljana, as listings vary.

6. Druga Violina

Druga Violina is a friendly gostilna with a social mission, run as a social enterprise that employs adults with special needs. It sits on Stari trg in the Old Town and has long been a favourite for honest, home-style cooking.

The menu leans on familiar Slovenian dishes, including beef soup, Kranjska klobasa, veal stew and štruklji. Portions are generous, the atmosphere is warm, and the idea is that you eat well while supporting a good cause. It was also named one of the ten finalists in the Slovenian food category of the Best of Local 2026 awards, although it was not the winner.

Druga Violina is a good choice if you want a relaxed lunch with local flavour and no fuss. It suits families and small groups, and it is easy to combine with a stroll through Stari trg and the lanes around it. The menu changes with the day, so ask what the kitchen recommends.

Because the restaurant has a community focus, it is courteous to be patient and polite, and to book if you are a larger party. Small tips are welcome in the usual way.

• How to get there: Walk to Stari trg in the Old Town, a few minutes from the Triple Bridge.
• How long to spend: About an hour.
• Best time to go: Lunch, when the daily dishes are available and the street is lively.
• Tip: Ask about the daily specials and try the štruklji. Check opening days locally, as they can change.

7. Strelec

Strelec is Ljubljana’s dining room with a view, set in the Archers’ Tower of Ljubljana Castle. It holds a Michelin star and is led by chef Igor Jagodic and one of the most atmospheric places to eat in the city.

The format is a single seated tasting menu, with shorter versions available, built around Slovenian ingredients and modern technique. The room has 1950s sgraffito murals inspired by local folk tales, and the setting above the city adds to the sense of occasion. It is a place for a celebration or a special dinner rather than a quick bite.

Reservations are essential, and it is worth booking well ahead for weekends and holiday periods. Tell the restaurant about any dietary needs when you book, since a set menu is easier to adapt in advance. The castle is reached by a funicular or a walk up the hill. The funicular stops running in the evening, so plan your route home in advance.

Michelin ratings can change from year to year, so treat the details here as a snapshot. Check the Michelin Guide listing and the restaurant’s own channels for the current menu format and booking rules.

• How to get there: Take the funicular or walk up to Ljubljana Castle, then follow signs to the Archers’ Tower.
• How long to spend: Two to three hours for a full tasting menu.
• Best time to go: An evening in spring or autumn, when the views and the weather are at their best.
• Tip: Book early, mention dietary needs in advance and dress smartly for the occasion.

8. Bistro Švicarija

Bistro Švicarija is a leafy lunch stop inside Tivoli Park, set in a historic building on a site that has hosted a guest house since 1835. The present building began life as a hotel in the early 20th century and now houses an arts centre and the bistro. It gives the city centre a gentler, greener side.

The bistro serves Slovenian home cooking, with dishes such as jota and apple strudel, and visitors often mention the creamy polenta and the traditional Sunday lunch. The terrace looks over the park, and on a clear day there are views towards the castle. It is a good place to recover after a walk through Tivoli or a visit to nearby museums.

Opening patterns are daytime-focused, so plan it as lunch or coffee and cake rather than dinner. Reviews of service are mixed, so go with relaxed expectations and enjoy the setting. Special events, including seasonal feasts, sometimes require advance booking.

Combine the visit with a loop through Tivoli Park and the hill beyond, and you have a perfect half-day away from the Old Town. The park is a favourite with locals, so it also gives you a different view of everyday life in Ljubljana.

• How to get there: Walk or cycle through Tivoli Park from the city centre. The bistro is in the grounds, at Pod turnom 4.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: A sunny weekday or weekend lunch, when the terrace is open.
• Tip: Check current days and booking rules on Visit Ljubljana before heading out, particularly for Sunday lunches and events.

9. Pri Škofu

Pri Škofu is a tiny neighbourhood gostilna in Krakovo, the quiet district south of the centre that is known for its allotment gardens and village-like lanes. It is a good choice if you want to eat where locals eat.

It is described in guides such as Lonely Planet as a small, women-run restaurant with a short, frequently changing seasonal menu that draws on produce from the surrounding garden plots. The room is small, with only around two dozen seats, so booking is strongly recommended. It is on Rečna ulica, but we could not check its current status on an official site, so please confirm it is open, what days it serves and whether the details above still apply.

If the restaurant is open, it is a lovely way to see a different side of Ljubljana. Walk from the Old Town through the lanes of Krakovo, look at the garden plots on the way and settle in for a slow lunch or dinner. It is an unhurried place, and menus are designed around what is in season.

Because it is small and personal, the best approach is to book by phone or message, mention any dietary needs and arrive on time. Keep a backup plan in the centre in case plans change.

• How to get there: Walk or take a short bus or taxi ride from the centre to Krakovo, south of the river.
• How long to spend: One and a half to two hours.
• Best time to go: A spring or summer evening, or a weekend lunch, after booking.
• Tip: Check before you go: confirm the days and booking details directly with the restaurant, as we could not verify them from an official source.

10. Landerik

Landerik is one of Ljubljana’s modern Slovenian restaurants, built around tasting menus and local producers. It is on Stari trg in the Old Town, and it was named a finalist in the Michelin Awarded restaurants category of the Best of Local 2026 awards.

The style is contemporary, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients from Slovenian farms and small producers. It suits travellers who have already tried the traditional dishes at places like Klobasarna and Gostilna Šestica and want to see how a new generation of chefs reinterprets them. Expect a guided tasting menu, a considered wine list and a quieter, more formal feel than the casual stops earlier in this guide.

We could not confirm the current menu, days or booking rules from an official source, so treat this entry as a pointer rather than a full review. Check the restaurant’s own website or social channels before you go, and reserve a table as soon as your dates are fixed.

If you are planning a special evening, Landerik and Strelec make a useful pair. One offers a castle setting and the other an Old Town dining room, and together they show the range of modern Slovenian cooking. If you prefer to keep costs down, choose one of them for a special night and eat at the market and the gostilne for the rest of your trip.

• How to get there: Walk to Stari trg in the Old Town. Confirm the exact address and arrival details when you book.
• How long to spend: Two to three hours for a tasting menu.
• Best time to go: An evening, with a reservation made well ahead.
• Tip: Check before you go: confirm opening days and the current menu directly with the restaurant.

How to Pick Where to Eat in Ljubljana

Choose by mood. For fun and variety, go to Open Kitchen on a Friday or wander the Central Market. For a classic Slovenian meal, pick Gostilna Šestica or Druga Violina. For a quick, cheap bite, Klobasarna and Ribca are hard to beat. For a celebration, book Strelec or Landerik.

If you are travelling with children, the market, Klobasarna and Bistro Švicarija are easy and flexible. Vegetarians will do best at the market, in the bistros and at restaurants that offer seasonal vegetable dishes, since traditional menus are meat-heavy.

Suggested Plans for 1, 2 or 3 Days

One day: Browse the Central Market in the morning, eat sausage at Klobasarna, then book a dinner at Gostilna Šestica.

Two days: Add Ribca or Open Kitchen on day one, and spend day two in Tivoli Park with lunch at Bistro Švicarija before a special dinner at Strelec.

Three days: Keep one evening for a neighbourhood meal at Pri Škofu, or a tasting menu at Landerik, and use a spare lunch for Druga Violina in the Old Town.

Dishes to Try in Ljubljana

• Kranjska klobasa: The protected Carniolan sausage, usually served with mustard, horseradish and bread.
• Štruklji: Rolled dumplings with sweet or savoury fillings such as cottage cheese, tarragon or walnuts.
• Potica: A rolled sweet bread, most often filled with walnuts, traditionally served on holidays.
• Jota: A hearty stew of beans, sauerkraut or turnip and meat.
• Ričet: A thick barley stew, often with smoked meat.
• Prekmurska gibanica: A layered pastry from north-east Slovenia with poppy seeds, walnuts, apple and cheese.
• Fried squid and sardines: Simple Adriatic seafood that is a staple of the market.

Booking, Tipping and Opening Hours

Book ahead for tasting menus, weekend dinners and small gostilne. Walk-ins are fine at the markets and sausage bar. Many traditional restaurants close between lunch and dinner or on certain days, and opening hours vary by season, so check each venue before you set out.

Slovenia uses the euro. Service is not always added to the bill, and rounding up or leaving around ten per cent for good service is a common courtesy. Always check the bill to see whether a cover or service charge has been included.

Getting Around

The Old Town is compact and largely pedestrianised, and most places in this guide are within a short walk of each other. A few, such as Strelec at the castle, Bistro Švicarija in Tivoli Park and Pri Škofu in Krakovo, need a longer walk, a funicular or a short bus or taxi ride. Cycling is popular in Ljubljana and easy on the flat streets.

From the airport, buses and shuttles connect to the city centre, and the main bus and railway stations sit close together on the northern edge of the Old Town. Check the official Slovenian Railways site and Visit Ljubljana for current transport information.

Where to Stay in Ljubljana

The Old Town puts you beside the market, the river and most of the cafes, which is ideal for food-focused trips, though it can be lively in the evenings. The area around Tivoli Park and Slovenska cesta is a little calmer and still close to the centre. Krakovo and Trnovo are quieter, local neighbourhoods with a village feel for those who want to eat away from the crowds.

Budget Guidance

Ljubljana suits a range of budgets. Low: market stalls, Klobasarna, Ribca and bakery snacks. Mid: a sit-down lunch at Druga Violina, Bistro Švicarija or Gostilna Šestica, with wine by the glass. High: a tasting menu at Strelec or Landerik. Eating a main meal at lunch, when many restaurants offer set menus, is one of the easiest ways to keep costs down. Always check current prices on the venue’s own channels.

Discover More of Europe

Ljubljana pairs well with other compact, food-rich cities in Central Europe. If you are building a longer trip, compare it with our guide to the top 10 places to eat in Budapest for thermal-bath-town comfort food, or see where to find hearty dumplings and beer-hall classics in our top 10 places to eat in Prague. If your route continues south to the coast, plan an island escape with the top 10 Croatian islands, or follow the Italian thread with our top 10 places to eat in Florence.

Featured image: Photo by Med Cruise Guide, CC BY 2.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons