Where to eat in Ljubljana, from street food to a Michelin star

Odprta kuhna, the Friday I would not miss

Odprta kuhna, open kitchen in Slovene, is a food market on Pogačar Square, next to the central market. It runs on fine Fridays from March to October. Its 14th season opened on 20 March 2026 with more than 65 vendors and over 280 dishes, from traditional Slovenian cooking to bistro ideas, world food, craft beer, cocktails and wine. A third of the cooks were new. If your trip includes a Friday, this is where I would have dinner.

Which dish to order in Ljubljana

The dish with the best city story is leteči žganci, «flying žganci». According to the tourist board, it is fried chicken legs and wings, and the ironic name goes back to the 17th-century workers at the Ljubljanica port, when žganci was ordinary food and almost a symbol of poverty. Beyond that joke, the capital cooks food from all over the country, and Gostilna na Gradu, at the castle, sets out to tour Slovenia’s gastronomic regions in a single menu.

A handy way to choose without knowing the city is the Ljubljana Quality mark, which local food experts award to restaurants in the capital. Many of them also cook at Odprta kuhna, so it is a good way to try them before booking a table.

The treat, up at the castle

Strelec occupies the Archers’ Tower of Ljubljana Castle. Chef Igor Jagodic, working with the ethnologist Janez Bogataj, cooks dishes that cross the Alps, the Adriatic and Pannonia, with medieval touches. According to the castle, it held a Michelin star in 2023 and 2024, a recommendation in 2025, four Gault & Millau toques with 17.5 points and 95 Falstaff points. It opens on weekday evenings and from midday on Saturdays.

If you want the view without a tasting-menu bill, the castle wine bar pours only Slovenian wines with small plates, from 10:00 to 22:00, and Café Lolita does cakes and home-made juices.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Ljubljana on Expedia and filter by area before price.

Guided food walks

Ljubljana Tourism runs food tours such as the Yummy Market Walk, with seven tasting stops at the market, and Odprta kuhna menus served at a private table. On a first day, a tour like that tells you what to try in a couple of hours. In November the city also holds its November Gourmet season.

To sleep close to all this, check the neighbourhoods in where to stay in Ljubljana, and if you have a full day, my hour-by-hour Ljubljana in a day includes the food stops. And if you are unsure what to leave when the bill comes, see tipping in Slovenia. To order with confidence, learn a few Slovenian phrases, starting with «hvala», thank you.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Ljubljana on Booking.com and filter by area before price.