Enjoying Slovenia and Ljubljana like a true Slovenian is easy: you only have to let yourself be carried away by the peaceful national lifestyle. Take a seat at a sunny terrace to enjoy the delicious local food and an excellent Italian or Turkish coffee. On Sunday (or anytime in the week, if you have time), you will also have the chance to enjoy a typical Slovenian brunch in one of the many cute venues in town.
Life is sweet in Ljubljana. This quiet city is ideal for resting on the banks of the Ljubljanica and trying local pastries and savory specialties. The most lovely streets of the capital will warmly welcome you to their numerous well-decorated restaurants and cafés to let you enjoy a French breakfast or a traditional meal.
Let us tempt you with the ten most fantastic brunch venues in Ljubljana. We guarantee that this top 10 will make your mouth water! The town’s best gostilnas and kavarnas await you here.
1. Kavarna Rog
You can crack for a little sweet or savory pleasure at any time of the week in Kavarna Rog. On weekdays, the place is open from 9 am to 9:45 pm, so you will have plenty of time to treat yourself with a brunch inspired breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. On Saturday and Sunday, be aware that the place opens from 9 am to 2:30, so you will have to get up before noon in order to enjoy a delicious Slovenian brunch.
If you are more interested in the food than in the lovely inside decoration, you can even order Kavarna Rog’s delights on Wolt. However, it would be a shame to miss the charming atmosphere of this warm place. The café is incredibly neat, with its amazingly modern decoration combined with wooden tables and great wine cellar vibes.
On this cute Kavarna, you will have the chance to brunch with a wide selection of breakfast, starters, pasta, and main dishes. You can order everything from poached eggs with salmon or American pancakes to yogurt, puddings, avocado spreads, and porridges.
If you like it savory, do not miss the place’s delicious foie gras with pear, tuna tartare or beef carpaccio, and the selection of risottos and gnocchis. You can also order every burger, sandwich, toast, or salads you want. Their menu is hugely extended, so check their website for an English menu before going!
Kavarna Rog
1000, Petkovškovo nabrežje 67, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: 0591 62367
Website: kavarna-rog.si
2. Le Petit Café
Le Petit Café is not the best place in town to discover Slovenia’s delicacies, but it sure will provide you the best French brunch and breakfast selection. The cute place is ideally located on the French Revolution Street (Trg francoske revolucije 4 in Slovene), not far from the city center.
This café is the perfect spot to enjoy a Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame in a very French interior. You can either choose the place’s busy terrace or the lovely warmth of a well-decorated inside room. This is the best atmosphere to enjoy a French croissant or a Slovenian dessert while reading authentic French posters.
Le Petit Café is often considered as the best Brunch place in town by most Slovenians. They fell in love with their complete Brunch menu. It is composed of a large variety of eggs (the most popular ones are the eggs “Florentine”), toasts, yogurts, burgers, sandwiches, and way more. You can even order a “De Gaulle” (a kind of toast).
My personal favorites are the Nutella and bananas “Palacinke”, a Slovenian specialty between pancakes and French crepes, that are to die for, and the complete “Le Petit” breakfast. If you are here for the whole experience, you can also order the place’s great handmade orange juice or one of their comforting teas with Slovenian honey.
Le Petit Café
Trg francoske revolucije 4, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: (01) 251 25 75
Website: https://www.lepetit.si/
3. Bazilika (4 Locations in Town)
Bazilika definitely is a safe bet when it comes to brunching in Ljubljana. Locals love it, and they are quite right about it! You have the choice between four great venues scattered all around town, but be aware that only one is open on weekends: Bazilika Idealist, also known as Bazilika Križanke. This lovely place neighbors “Le Petit Café” and has nothing to envy it (well ok, maybe its croissants).
In Bazilika, you will find a neat decoration and a sunny atmosphere to relax in in the morning, after work, or during weekends. On weekends and Saturday, Bazilika Križanke is open from 7:30 am to 11 pm, and from 7:30 am to 5 pm on Sunday. You will have plenty of time to try every sweet or savory snack on the vast menu.
The bistro and other locations are known for their organic meals prepared with local fresh products. They make an ideal base for their selection of gluten-free cakes, light dishes, poke bowls, soups, or again savory tarts, salads, sandwiches, and yogurts with granola. Vegan and vegetarians will be pleased in Bazilika: a lot of options are made especially for them!
You can also note that their staff is incredibly lovely: the service is quick, and they are pretty polite for Slovenian waiters and waitresses. There is really no downside to one of the most famous venues in Ljubljana, except maybe for the prices: they might be slightly higher than in the other popular brunch places in town.
Bazilika Idealist (Open on Weekdays and Weekends)
Trg francoske revolucije 5, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: 051 666 065
Website: http://www.bazilika.si/
Bazilika Bistro (Closed on Weekends)
Prešernova cesta 15, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: 041 883 488
Website: http://www.bazilika.si/
4. Slovenska Hiša
Slovenska Hiša is another unmistakable brunch venue in Ljubljana. There, you will be pleased by the abundance of authentic specialties coming from all around Slovenia and highlighted by fresh and local products. You will get a sense of what is a typical Slovenian breakfast made by some of the best cooks in town.
It is a perfect place for breakfast or brunch, as it is gifted with a bread bar and numerous Slovenian jams and honey. However, in this place, you must taste the numerous traditional Slovenian recipes of Struklji, savory or sweet delicacies made of different doughs and various fillings.
If you have a big appetite, you can also find room for porridges, cheese, forest, and meat plates, herbs or honey spreads, or again authentic national recipes such as Carniolan sausage.
One of the biggest highlights of Slovenska Hiša is its location. The beautiful building is located on the right bank of the Ljubljanica in the lovely historical center of Ljubljana. It also benefits from a fantastic terrace with gorgeous decorations of jars, candles, and flowers. You can also have a cute cocktail there, but be careful: the prices are not the lower you can find in town.
Slovenska Hiša
13 Cankarjevo nabrežje, Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
Phone: +386 (0)8 3899 811
Mail: info@slovenskahisa.si
Website: http://www.slovenskahisa.si/
5. Ek Bistro
This lovely cafe located on Petkovškovo nabrežje is specializing in brunch and lunch and has become an absolute reference in Ljubljana. The opening hours, from 8 am to 2 pm on weekdays, and from 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday can attest to it: this is a place made for brunching.
You will not find any English menu on their website, so you have to trust me: to enjoy the perfect brunch, you will have to pick some options among their sandwiches and toasts, ten different kinds of eggs, great hot chocolate, and matcha latte. You must taste their amazing brioches, French toast, and brownies in their well-decorated interior.
The bistro is ideally located on a calm part of Ljubljana, right next to the beautiful river. EK Bistro is an absolute go-to with its unparalleled comforting atmosphere, but keep in mind that the prices can be a bit high for the size of the portions in this fantastic venue.
EK Bistro
Petkovškovo nabrežje 65, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: 051 624 061
Website: https://ek-bistro.business.site/
6. Paninoteka
Paninoteka benefits from one of the best locations in town. With its terrace on the peaceful Ljubljanica bank decorated with comforting lights, this place is one of the loveliest in the city center, nestled next to Cobbler’s bridge.
You will be pleased with the fresh sandwiches, toasts, and paninis made on request with locally grown products. If you have the chance, stay for lunch and enjoy Paninoteka’s delightful plates of ravioli, gnocchi, and other kinds of pasta. I especially recommend their pine nuts and pesto risotto, and one of their great daily soups.
An exciting highlight of the place is the possibility to eat there at any time of the day and week: it is open almost every time of the week. From Monday to Thursday, you have to come between 8 am and 11 pm, and until midnight on Friday. On Saturday, it is open from 9 am to midnight, and from 9 am to 10 pm on Sunday.
Paninoteka
Jurčičev trg 3, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: 040 349 329
Mail: info@paninoteka.si
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Paninoteka.Restaurant
7. Robba
This brand new coffee shop, open only since May 2015, is a great place to enjoy Slovenians’ slow way of life. It was designed by the gifted architects Špela and Aleš. They received the 1st Prize of the Slovenian Design Achievements 2015 competition at the Month of Design for their fantastic interior.
Indeed, the interior expresses a strong artistic statement with its numerous geometrical patterns of a baroque motif. It makes of Robba one of the best brunch places for artists who want to enjoy a minimalist decoration and freshly prepared dishes, sweets, and smoothies.
In fact, if you mainly care for fantastic brunch drinks, you will be pleased in Robba. The focus is primarily put on drinks: this is a heaven for those who like tea, coffee, healthy drinks, sparkling wines, and an infinite selection of drinks only made with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Food lovers will also enjoy the place’s great desserts, such as the unmissable chocolate fondant, cheesecake, or apple pie. Both meat enthusiasts and vegetarians are welcome in this local food temple, where there is an option for everyone.
ROBBA
Mestni trg 4, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: (01) 422 03 70
Website: https://robbarestaurant.com/
8. Lolita – Cankarjevo Nabrezje
Lolita’s second venue in Ljubljana is a fantastic place to brunch as it will delight you with both food and a lovely natural and well-decorated frame. The track racing of the place is not recognized enough for the quality of the cuisine and frame. However, the real insiders know that this is a fantastic place to brunch.
This lovely venue located near a peaceful river arm makes an ideal spot for those who love ice cream, desserts, cake, and coffee. Their ice cream was actually awarded as the best in the world, so you have to give it a try! You will be able to taste these delicacies every day: from 9 am to 10 pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 9 am to 9 pm on Sunday.
Lolita Cankarjevo nabrežje – Kaval Group
Cankarjevo nabrežje 1, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 590 16299
Website: lolita.kaval-group.si
9. Kavarna Zvezda
If you are walking the city streets on a Sunday morning, you will have a hard time not coming across Zvezda, the most renowned patisserie in Ljubljana, according to the locals. The real insiders enjoy their Slovenian and delicious cakes as often as they can and at any time of the day, but the place is definitely suitable for weekly or Sunday brunch.
There are four Zvezda venues in town, scattered everywhere in Ljubljana, but the original place is located on Wolfova ulica, right in front of the famous Kongresni trg. It is close to the banks of the Ljubljanica, and the atmosphere is quiet around there.
If you manage to find a seat at Zvezda’s great terrace, you will have the opportunity to taste their whole menu and stay here wandering all day long. Do not pass on their delightful vegetarian paninis, their collection of toasts, sandwiches, and their great variety of cold and hot drinks.
However, Kavarna Zvezda’s biggest highlight remains its dessert menu: their pastries and sweets are undoubtedly the best in town. From a simple apple strudel to a complicated Austrian Sacher torte or a Slovenian recipe of Bled Cake, Prekmurska Gibanica, or chocolate and banana torte. Come have a taste, and make sure to go at the beginning of your trip because you surely will want to come back!
Kavarna Zvezda
Wolfova ulica 14, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: (01) 421 90 90
Website: http://www.zvezdaljubljana.si/kavarna/
10. Moji štruklji “My Dumplings of Slovenia”
You will find one of Ljubljana’s best food venues under the sumptuous arcades of the Covered Market, designed by the most renowned Slovenian architect, Jose Plecnik himself. It is the best occasion to try the popular traditional recipe of struklji in all of their declinations: they can be made with buckwheat dough, stretched, with yeast or leafy-yeast.
This is a unique brunch idea since you can choose both savory and sweet fillings, from chocolate or fruits to vegetables and meat, and still add the toppings you want. Do not miss this unique opportunity you will not be able to find in any other country!
Moji štruklji
Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 1, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 590 42190
Website: https://www.moji-struklji.si/en/
11. Cajna Hisa – Tea House (WEEKDAYS ONLY BONUS)
Cajna Hisa is an adorable tea house located in one of Ljubljana’s loveliest streets. Unfortunately, this is not open on Sunday, but you definitely have to find some time on your weekdays and Saturday to taste one of their fantastic breakfast. This place is mostly made for you if you are a huge tea lover, but you will be fine there as long as you like pastries and sweets.
This lovely tea house is open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays, and from 9:00 to 3:00 on Saturday. Cajna Hisa is, without a doubt, the reference in town for every kind of tea. Whether you like it hot, iced, green, black, red, with additional juice or not, you will be pleased with their enormous selection. They also have coffee if you are craving some.
Yes, their teas are excellent, but their desserts have nothing to envy them. From apple strudel or pies to classical Slovenian must-try like Potica or Gibanica, you will find something to suit your needs in Cajna Hisa. Plus, their terrace is lovely and their interior even more: you have to see it with your own eyes!
Cajna Hisa – Tea House
Stari trg 3, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 1 252 70 10
Website: https://www.cha.si/
A Sweet and Savory Visit to the Capital
We all wish there were more Sunday in a week to let us try all of these brunch places. But we are still lucky since they are finally no reasons to reduce this opportunity to the end of the week. Eating and drinking are some of the best ways to discover a country, so this is basically tourism! And Ljubljana is especially gifted with numerous brunch venues, so you have no other choice but to fall for all of them.
If you liked what you just taste, why not trying to cook them once at home? Here is a top-notch recipe to reproduce the Slovenian masterpiece that is potica.
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