Mid-Priced Ljubljana Restaurants
Affordable restaurants with delicious, enjoyable dining are in no short supply in Ljubljana. They are run by locals and expats with a great passion for fine cooking and eating.
Slovenian cuisine is diverse and I think you would find traditional Slovene dishes really tasty and a refreshing break from everyday modern foods. Ajdovi žganci, idrijski žlikrofi and potica are just some of the most popular.
Rich and Tasty Idrija Dumplings (Idrijski žlikrofi)
A lot of history and culture is rooted in these dishes. You might indeed be able to exclaim “I Feel Slovenia” after tasting them.
The best places to get to taste our culinary past are mid-priced restaurants (please see below) and high-end restaurants in Ljubljana focusing on traditional Slovenian cuisine. And so are gastronomic events organized in the city and around Slovenia such as Open Kitchen and the Restaurant Week.
€€ Restaurant Listings with Locations
Scroll down for a taste of Ljubljana’s best mid-priced restaurants. And if you mouseover the map markers you will see restaurant names and addresses…
Enjoy!
Azur
Pizza, pasta and more
I have two favorite pizza restaurants in Ljubljana, Azur is one of them. Azur’s menu is long but the majority of fans seems to be pizza and pasta lovers. Not within walking distance from Old Town but well worth a few minutes drive.
DaBuDa
Best value Asian food
This Thai & Japanese fusion is likely the best value Asian restaurant in Ljubljana. The trouble with DaBuDa is that everything I’ve tasted here has been delicious so it’s difficult to decide what to have upon a return visit. Solution: we order different dishes and share.
Luda
A place for “true foodies”
Luda is one of Ljubljana’s most talked about restaurants. If you only have one evening in the city (Luda is open Tue to Sat, 6pm to 10pm) be sure to book a table at this place. From the logo to the setting and their menu, everything is simple yet fresh and innovative. Gourmet dining at a very reasonable price!
Monstera Bistro
Delightful, not to be missed
Chef Bine Volčič is earning tremendous compliments for his imaginative, flawless cooking served in a small yet cheerful dining room in Ljubljana’s Old Town, just off Congress Square. Aided by a relaxed, but professional service Monstera Bistro is ‘as good as it gets’ when it comes to mid-priced dining in Ljubljana.
Paninoteka
Great sandwiches & more
Started out as a sandwich place right by the Cobblers Bridge and with Ljubljana Castle as a backdrop, Paninoteka soon expanded their menu and number of seats. From breakfasts, soups and salads to various Italian dishes, you can’t go wrong with having a meal at Paninoteka.
Soba 102
Trendy eatery & bar
Lovely ambiance, a great central location and good dining quickly made this new place one of the most popular cafes and restaurants in Ljubljana. Owned by a well-known Slovene pop singer Jan Plestenjak, Soba 102 (Room 102) got a name after one of his romantic hit singles.
Trta Pizzeria
Best (gluten free) pizza
Located in our lovely neighborhood, Pizzeria Trta is our favorite since it opened in 1998. That year Sasa and Ales, two brothers from Croatia, “chucked it all” and came to Ljubljana to make the best pizza in the city. The rest, as they say, is history.
Zvezda Bistro
Famous for “crunchies”
Central, convenient and serving a tasty mix of Slovene and international dishes, Zvezda Bistro is a great choice for a quiet meal, be it lunch or dinner. Overlooking Zvezda park and Congress Square its location and setting is hard to beat.
5-6 Kg
From suckling pigs to pizza
5-6 Kg Ljubljana is a good-quality, good-value restaurant, serving up traditional Slovenian fare and pizza in romantic Old Town. This friendly spot has a huge plus for me: they make everything in-house, down to the gnocchi, ravioli and other pasta, and bake their own bread in the wooden oven.
As
Italian feast & good vibes
The legendary Gostilna As, run by Rospopović family, is one of the very best Ljubljana restaurants. We love it for its gourmet daily lunches starting from only €8 and its fine à la carte menu featuring light Mediterranean cuisine.
Cantina Mexicana
Come with an appetite
When I’m in the mood for a Mexican restaurant, my first choice is Cantina Mexicana (hey, it rhymes with Ljubljana!). The food is as you’d expect in a Tex-Mex but the ambiance, service and location make for a special experience.
Čompa
Meat grilled to perfection
A small and cozy place on Trubarjeva Street serving traditional Slovene dishes—a meat lover’s paradise! Not only is food prepared and cooked to perfection, Čompa is one of very few restaurants in Ljubljana with meat from free-range, grass-fed animals.
Foculus
All things pizza
No need to go to Italy to have an Italian-style pizza. With 66 varieties, including 20 vegetarian and 8 seafood choices done in a large wood-fired pizza oven, restaurant Foculus is the “go to” place for pizza lovers in Ljubljana city center.
Harfa
Best daily lunches
Boštjan Pavli, who started his culinary career assisting Janez Bratovž of JB fame, quickly became one of most prominent chefs in Ljubljana. Though his restaurant Harfa is a bit out of the way, once you taste Boštjan’s gourmet lunches, you will want to come back.
Julija
For a romantic evening
Though more on the upper end of mid-priced restaurants, Julija will not disappoint with its International and Slovenian menu and good local wines. A terrace on the cobbled street of Ljubljana’s Old Town is a perfect setting for a memorable evening.
Marley & Me
Excellent on every level
A charming and tiny, Parisian-style restaurant in the heart of Ljubljana’s Old Town. The food is simple, delicious and prices very reasonable considering the location. Marley and Matej (Me) always took good care of our needs with the help of their capable and friendly staff.
Namasté
Best Indian restaurant
Family owned and run, Namaste is a synonym for authentic Indian food. Vesna Nisha Dolinar, a daughter of Indian parents, born in Slovenia, has brought a touch of India in Ljubljana. Culinary specialities from Rajhastan and Punjab prepared by Indian chefs will surely excite your taste buds.
Pri Škofu
Discover the hidden gem
It’s one of our favorite Ljubljana restaurants from back in the day… and still is. The owners Maja and Robert live and breathe this family-run restaurant. Tucked away in Krakovo, a quieter part of Old Ljubljana, Pri Škofu serves fresh and tasty food at fair prices.
Robba
A culinary delight
Located in the heart of Old Ljubljana, Robba is easily among 5 best value restaurants in the mid-price range. Try their celebrated duck salad or veal cheeks served on a beautiful plate. Staff is attentive and very friendly, plus Robba is a great place for solo travelers.
Shambala
Sushimama
TaBar
Creative tapas menu
If you love tapas and good vibes this place will put a smile on your face. Attentive and knowledgeable waiters will be happy to suggest the best dishes and wine for you taste. Food and location is hard to beat so don’t miss TaBar for lunch and dinner… and tapas.
Tokyo Piknik
Asian-American picnic
Right there on the river and just steps from Preseren Square you’ll find an enterprising Slovenian (of Sushimama) who flies chefs from Japan and Thailand to delight his guests with authentic Asian dishes. It’s safe to say that Gregor Bozicnik has done it again!
