Slovenia’s location at the crossroads of Europe brings together diverse culinary influences, including Italian, Austrian, Hungarian, and Croatian flavours. The culinary landscape in Slovenia has continually evolved in recent years and is working hard to accommodate for the plant-based revolution that is increasing in popularity around the world.
Offering a rich tapestry of vegan delights, Slovenia’s varied gastronomy can now be enjoyed by plant-based visitors in a range of different ways, from specialised stores and bistros to street food vendors and high-end cuisine.
Slovenia’s top restaurants embrace veganism
Across Slovenia, a number of Michelin Guide restaurants are incorporating veganism into their menus, offering the highest quality culinary experiences for plant-based enthusiasts.
Gostilna pri Lojzetu in Zemono Manor House encourages guests to entrust the chef, Tomaž Kavčič, with the menu. The restaurant’s offerings change daily, reflecting the chef’s inspiration and the availability of fresh local ingredients, and the chef is happy to prepare a vegan menu for guests. JB Restaurant in Ljubljana offers a seven-course vegetarian menu, with a plant-based option available if pre-ordered.
Renowned chef Uroš Štefelin of restaurant Hiša Linhart in Radovljica has curated an intriguing vegan menu, featuring Slovenian ingredients originating from both traditional and modern cuisine. Dishes on the menu include a vegetable tartar, roast cauliflower with hazelnuts, peppers stuffed with barley and porcini mushrooms or polenta made from red trdinka corn from Bohinj.
Ljubljana’s diverse bistros
Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana boasts a vibrant vegan scene with an array of options for plant-based lovers. Güjžina Restaurant in Mestni trg square offers modern vegan versions of traditional Slovenian dishes. They also organise days of cuisine from the Štajerska and Koroška regions.
VegaNika in the Gornji trg square serves daily vegan lunches inspired by food from around the world. They also serve traditional Slovenian dishes with a modern spin. Pizzeria Piccola offer a wide selection of Roman style vegan pizza options.
Gaudi and Naan offer dishes that reflect Indian, Japanese, or Ljubljana styles. They use local producers as well as vegetables grown in their own garden, and their traditional Western recipes are infused with the warm sun of the Far East.
And for the past 12 years, Ljubljana has hosted Vegafest, Slovenia’s largest vegan and sustainable lifestyle festival. Each year they offer a range of vegan food to sample, as well as insightful talks from champions of the plant-based lifestyle. Dates for 2024’s edition are yet to be announced but it will likely take place in August.
Vegan delights beyond the capital
For those seeking vegan experiences beyond Ljubljana, Avokado in Koper has been a vegan haven for over a decade, offering a range of vegan breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and desserts.
Beside the world-renowned Lake Bled, Public and Vegan Kitchen Bled is known for its delicious vegan burgers, whilst Kavarnica CukrDoza in Maribor offers a delectable range of vegan desserts.
Traditional Slovenian vegan fare and creative veggie dishes
The gastronomic diversity of Slovenia extends across 24 gastronomic regions, with traditional Slovenian dishes like buckwheat žganci (buckwheat mush), Idrija žlikrofi (dumplings filled with potatoes, onions), and štruklji dumplings with numerous vegetarian fillings offering traditional meat-free options.
With Slovenia’s vegan culinary scene continually growing, visitors can embark on a remarkable food journey, savouring the creative and diverse plant-based offerings from this picturesque European nation.
For more information on Slovenia’s plant-based offerings, visit here.
