"Waterside" Restaurants in Slovenia
David Žefran and his team demonstrate great skill. Their source of inspiration is nature, which is impressive all around them with imposing mountains and a clear lake. Local products are refined with great sensitivity into artistic miniatures. The wine list is also impressive.
Andrej Smogavc cooks in a former monastery, which is also home to Slovenia's oldest inn. The talented young chef celebrates contemporary Slovenian cuisine with modern ideas. The service is very attentive and charming, and the wine tips are just right.
The speciality restaurant is divided into two areas: Downstairs in the bar there are around 15 hot and cold fish and meat courses, while on the first floor Jakob Pintar serves a blind tasting menu with a focus on vegetables from his garden. Excellent organic and biodynamic wines.
Glamping is now the order of the day in the park-like estate with its large pond. The food is still excellent, but the restaurant's opening hours now vary (see website). Sophisticated fish cuisine takes centre stage, with wines from the estate's own vineyard in the Brda.
Wooden beams, beautiful round arches and a brick wood-fired oven exude nostalgic charm; the number 1905 is written above the door frame. The fourth and fifth - young - generations of the Martinčičič family have taken up this tradition and imaginatively transferred the recipes of yesterday into today.
Sitting down at a table at Marina is like arriving home. This is partly due to the friendly staff and partly due to Ivica Evačić-Ivek - a guarantor of upscale Mediterranean cuisine for over 20 years. Some courses are classically good, others more innovative. Good wine service.
There is plenty on offer in Portorož's nightlife district, but Tomaž and Patrizia Bevčič stand out with their dedicated cuisine. The provenance of the products and animal welfare are important to them. They serve authentic Mediterranean cuisine with a fine touch.
This location sets the mood, and from the terrace you have a good view of the boats in the marina - an ideal setting for fish cuisine. The plates are a feast for the eyes, and the fish from the oven is a particular favourite. If you fancy a change, you'll be delighted with the well-matured steaks.
The family business is a century old and the fourth generation is now at the helm. However, you shouldn't expect typical country cuisine, as regional ingredients make every course a contemporary delight. The wines come mainly from Slovenia, but also from Chile and Spain.
You cross the bridge and the green river into the park of the sophisticated castle. The ingredients come from the castle garden or from producers in the region. Classics are interpreted in a modern way, such as beef steak combined with mashed potatoes, onion marmalade and mustard.
You are welcomed with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a pond. The tasting menu ranges from freshwater fish to meat dishes, all skilfully arranged. The excellent wine list features the best Slovenian winemakers, as well as some as yet unknown ones.
It feels like you're sitting in an Italian osteria. No wonder, senior chef Mara comes from Venice. Together with her son Marco, she serves a mixture of Italian and Slovenian classics. Stuffed calamari, mussels, fish platter - hearty and good.
A stylish boutique hotel in a charming side street. The skilful mix of classic and modern is noticeably different from the usual offerings on the banks of the Ljubljanica. A fine example is the sea bass fillet with baby spinach, quinoa, coconut and lemongrass.
After work, you feel at home in the beautiful garden with a large tree in the centre. Cocktails, wine and Champagne sweeten the after-work drink. They are accompanied by San Daniele prosciutto, canapés, olives and crisps. The hungry order pasta or burgers.
The restaurant on the campsite has been designed in an alpine style with plenty of light. Surrounded by beautiful nature, modern Slovenian cuisine is served. One example is the corn soup with chestnuts and popcorn. Meat lovers will be delighted by the 45-day matured beef steak.
The history goes back to 1870 - and the completely renovated establishment has lost none of its charm since then. Now in its sixth generation, the restaurant serves classics such as sour stomach soup, veal pie with roasted plums and stuffed veal breast.
Over 220 years of tradition - and this is still upheld today: in the form of Špehovka (potato with gammel) or Krapi (ravioli-like pasta). The restaurant is known for its meat dishes, such as veal cheeks, game goulash or pork and veal medallions. The trout is also excellent.
The location is outstanding: just five steps from the water, you can enjoy the sea and the scent of salt. The restaurant combines the flavours of the hinterland with hearty recipes and the coast with light cuisine. The wine list is excellent, with a large selection in the wine cellar.
Good home cooking without frippery is on the programme - and really tasty. The trout, excellently fried in cornflour, is a must. The crayfish on Chardonnay foam is a delight, as is the really fluffy gnocchi with porcini mushrooms.
The rustic inn is located in the wild and romantic natural area around the Soča. Down-to-earth dishes are on the menu. Homemade Žlikrofi with pršut and garlic to start, followed by pork loin with gorgonzola. The Štruklji, like the pizza, comes from the wood-fired oven.