The wait is finally over as the prestigious french restaurants guide Michelin finally revealed the first-ever Michelin Stars in Slovenia. And it was actually quite surprising how many restaurants got at least one star!
Last November it was announced by the Slovenian Tourist Board that Michelin Guide, as well as the prestigious Michelin Stars, are coming to Slovenia and will be releasing its famous and first Slovenian Michelin Guide in March of 2020. The arrival of the renowned Michelin restaurant guide was presented at last year’s edition of Days of Slovenian Tourism and is the result of important steps that Slovenian gastronomy has made in the field of development and increasing the recognition and reputation of Slovenia as a destination for top gastronomic experiences.
Michelin Guide was supposed to unravel the first Michelin Stars in Slovenia back in March, however, due to the Coronavirus epidemic, the reveal and release of the Michelin Guide in Slovenian were postponed until further notice. It wasn’t until the middle of May that the famous french restaurant guide Michelin together with the Slovenian Tourist Board announced that they will be announcing Slovenian Michelin Star recipients on June, 16th at 11 am.
The anticipation over the last few weeks grew steadily both in the restaurant kitchen as well as among the culinary enthusiasts in Slovenia. The arrival of the Michelin guide to Slovenia represents a great opportunity for Slovenia to increase its profile as a top gastronomic destination and to raise the quality of Slovenian gastronomy, and for the most excellent Slovenian restaurants a unique opportunity to gain the Michelin star they been dreaming about.
The printed version of the red Michelin guide in Slovenia will be published this year, which further emphasizes the importance of gastronomy as a key development and promotion theme of Slovenian tourism in 2020 and 2021, especially since both gastronomic and touristic sectors were hit hard during the epidemic.
Michelin One Star Restaurants
The MICHELIN Guide Slovenia 2020 awarded five restaurants their first Michelin stars:
It is in the heart of the town of Nova Gorica, in an atmosphere that is both urban and intimate, that Chef Uroš Fakuč at DAM guides his clients on a subtly modern culinary journey where the flavors of the world contrast with the chef’s culinary heritage.
Chef Tomaž Kavčič from the restaurant Pri Lojeztu invites his guests to enjoy a gourmet getaway under the karst highlands of the Vipava Valley. His cuisine reveals all the beauty of the Slovenian terroir while highlighting Italian influences through dishes with authentic and surprising flavors.
In Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, Atelje is awarded its first Star. As dynamic and lively as the city, Chef Jorg Zupan makes the most of his years spent in kitchens all over the world. With a deceptively simple menu, he skilfully devises dishes based on local and international products that create a delicate and unforgettable dining experience.
Northern Slovenia is home to two new one-star restaurants. In his restaurant Hisa Denk in Zgornja Kungota, chef Gregor Vračko is the perfect ambassador for excellence in Slovenian cuisine. Driven by the expectations of his clientele, the chef offers a secret menu that reflects a modern and creative approach to the culinary traditions of his region.
While the atmosphere at Vila Podvin in Radovljica is decidedly intimate, chef Uroš Štefelin‘s cuisine is unique, with dishes full of flavor to stimulate the senses.
Atelje 
Dam 
Pri Lojzetu 
Hiša Denk 
Vila Podvin
Best Female Chef in the World gets 2 stars!
Ana Roš’s cuisine is awarded two Stars in her restaurant Hiša Franko in Kobarid in north-western Slovenia, a restaurant surrounded by an exceptional natural environment. A self-taught chef with extraordinary creativity, she demonstrates the extent of her talent with precision, meticulousness, and aesthetics in a friendly atmosphere. Her husband and sommelier Valter Kramar’s wine pairings extend the invitation to travel already suggested by her fine cuisine. A tribute to nature, her unique menu gives pride of place to regional products and offers an exceptional dining experience of wonderfully balanced flavors.
Bib Gourmand awards
Since 1997, the Bib Gourmand distinction has been awarded to good restaurants that offer a complete quality menu (starter, main course and dessert) at a reasonable price (maximum 35 euros in Slovenia). The MICHELIN Guide Slovenia has for the first time listed nine Bib Gourmand restaurants.
Spread across the country, these restaurants offer excellent value for money. Etna, located in Divača, invites you to discover a cuisine with multiple influences. Located on the left bank of the Sava River, it is in the heart of the village of Smlednik that local and international gourmets can enjoy the culinary creations of Evergreen. In Šentjanž, where Gostilna Repovž is located, you can enjoy fine local cuisine, while in Horjul, in the Carniolan region, Gostišče Grič delivers precise, seasonal, and fresh dishes to its guests.
In the heart of Idrija, a UNESCO World Heritage city, Jožef creates symphonies of flavor filled with tradition. At Mahorčič, located in Rodik, the chef reinterprets Slovenian traditions to offer his guests contemporary and elegant dishes made from local products.
An exciting mix of different cultural traditions, Ljubljana also has a lot to offer. For example, Na Gradu draws its inspiration from Alpine, Pannonian, and Mediterranean cultures to offer guests a delicious discovery of different Slovenian culinary traditions.
Close to the Austrian and Hungarian border, it is in Murska Sobota that the chef at Rajh unveils cuisine inspired by his mother’s and grandmother’s recipes, where local products give rise to dishes full of delicacies. On the opposite side, on the border with Italy, where the town of Dol Pri Vogljah is located, Ruj and its chef take their guests on a tasty journey to the heart of karst traditions.
The Plate
Finally, no less than 37 establishments were awarded a Plate. Created in 2016, the Plate is a distinction awarded to restaurants whose cuisine has seduced our inspectors and deserves to be recommended. These restaurants are:
Julijana (Bled), Ošterija Debeluh (Brežice), Gostilna Vovko (Brusnice), Galerija Okusov (Celje), Gostilna Francl (Celje), Dvor Jezeršek (Cerklje na Gorenjskem), Danilo (Škofja Loka), Gredič (Dobrovo v Brdih), Hiša Torkla (Izola), Marina (Izola), Gostilna za Gradom (Koper), Gostilna Krištof (Kranj), Kendov Dvorec (Idrija), Pavus (Laško), AS (Ljubljana), B-Restaurant (Ljubljana), Cubo (Ljubljana), Harfa (Ljubljana), JB (Ljubljana), Maxim (Ljubljana), Monstera Bistro (Ljubljana), Separe (Ljubljana), Shambala (Ljubljana), Strelec (Ljubljana), Sushimama (Ljubljana), Valvasor (Ljubljana), Vander (Ljubljana), MAK (Maribor), Sedem (Maribor), Calypso (Nova Gorica), Pikol (Nova Gorica), Hiša Fink (Novo mesto), Otočec Castle (Otočec), Stara Gostilna (Piran), Rizibizi (Portorož), Sophia (Portorož), Hiša Krasna (Sežana)
