The best bars and cafés Ljubljana

2 small pieces reminiscent of the United States at the time of Prohibition, a decoration both sophisticated and rococo. Even the impressive collection of tasting glasses exudes a certain style. People come here to enjoy authentic and well-balanced cocktails. However, if you feel like composing your own glass, it is possible to impose your ingredients on the mixologist, who will be delighted to add a new creation to his menu. Special mention to the brilliant signature cocktails of inventiveness!

It's THE landmark of Ljubljana's youth. Tozd is first and foremost a welcoming place where you can feel at home. You can taste the local beers, eat or attend concerts. Its heterogeneous decor and 90's nostalgia make it an Instagrammable place. Coffees are served in the bar's emblematic flamboyant orange cups for a good dose of good humor. Its terrace and relaxed staff reflect the "young " Ljubljana student city par excellence.

This is the Irish pub in Ljubljana. Classic wooden decoration, Guinness and English are in honor. Nothing of Slovenian good but a lively place. " Typical "beers (Murphy's, Kilkenny and Guinness) are expensive: from 5,50 to 7 €.

A small terrace on the water awaits you right on the banks of the Ljubljanica, next to the Triple Bridge. To get there, just take the stairs down from the pedestrian street. This well-known local bar is the perfect place to sip a cocktail with friends while enjoying the comings and goings of the tourist barges. Makalonca is classified as a cultural monument of national interest, as it is part of Plečnik's heritage. Originally designed as a pier, it became a bar fifty years later. A number of sweet and savory snacks are also available.

A friendly bar for a first discovery of Slovenian wine. This bar is actually owned by Movia Vineyard, located in Slovenia's best wine region, Goriška Brda. It should be noted that the estate dates back to the 18th century. During the communist regime, its owner Mirko Kristancic managed to resist the wave of collectivisation, and Movia, with an area of 16 ha, is the only vineyard in the whole region to have remained a private company. Its magnificent cellar contains some treasures to be enjoyed in moderation.

This is Ljubljana's student bar par excellence. Hidden in a pedestrian street in the centre of the town, you can enjoy pints of draught beer (about 60 in total) as well as whisky shots (50 different varieties). The animation starts quite late for the capital, usually after dinner. Local partygoers as well as international students love this place with two large and often crowded rooms and a landscaped garden. The pub turns into a sports bar where everyone defends their team on game nights.

This wine and tapas bar has been a popular success since it opened a dozen years ago. Its atypical tavern-style décor encourages procrastination, as does its gargantuan wine list, which offers over a hundred choices. Most of them are Slovenian, although there are a few well-known names of great French wineries. Don't hesitate to ask the waiters for advice. The tapas and appetizers, mainly delicatessen and pickled vegetables, are excellent. Live music some evenings.

Pub at the foot of Ljubljana Castle, on the edge of the Ljubljanica, by continuing Cankarjevo Nabrežje. In Slovenian, maček means "cat" and watermelons means "coffee-restaurant". Watermelons Maček also offers a good wine list. The sunny summer garden is ideal for a drink near the river.

Here, a wealthy clientele from 18 to 45 years old, trendy, urban and modern mixes. Music with DJ from 8pm. It is the place to be before. Possibility to eat salads, tapas, pasta dishes... Disabled access. For everyone, at any time of the day or evening. On weekends, it's full from 8pm and it's better to book if you want to have a table, otherwise it's the bar. Possibility of eating on site in the adjacent restaurant which forms with the bar a single establishment.

The temple of charcuterie where the imposing ham slicer reigns supreme. The various thin slices of salami, prosciutto and other sausages are elegantly hung on tiered wooden displays that are brought to the table for a "wow" effect. Added to this are portions of local cheeses to pick at, tapenade toast, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and fig or onion confit. Clearly, for an aperitif worthy of the name, this is the place to be! We complete the tasting with good Slovenian wines by the glass.

Located on Kongresni Square, you can go there at any time of the day, for a lunch break, a snack or to share a drink in the early evening. The menu is particularly extensive: homemade cocktails with every conceivable alcohol, gourmet tarts (27 choices in total), savoury and sweet snacks. The coffee is offered in the Italian style, robust and tasty. You won't be able to resist for long in front of the cokoladna torta, a variation of chocolates that will undoubtedly keep you going until dinner. Fairly high rates.

With its deckchairs on the lawn and white umbrellas, the Ethnological Museum café is a must-see place to enjoy the long summer afternoons. In its pretty garden, you can read the latest novel you bought or your favourite guide book. You can also enjoy a slice of pie or an ice cream in the summer. In the fall, cultural events return to the café's artistic life. Lectures and readings are organized there. As for the rates, they are quite moderate.

Whether you've come up on foot or by funicular, don't miss the opportunity to have a drink at the castle café. In summer, the large terrace, full of tables, is crowded with Slovenians and tourists alike. The view from the promontory terrace is magnificent, allowing us to admire Ljubljana from top to bottom, from every angle. The delicious selection of desserts from Lolita cafés is on offer, as well as a wide range of coffees and soft drinks. The bucolic decor inside is also very aesthetically pleasing, making you feel right at home!

Ljubljana's most elegant and tempting patisserie! The window overlooking the street reveals aesthetic masterpieces that can't fail to convince you to enter. Inside, the viennoiserie corner starts with two-tone croissants and the famous dragon rolls, cylindrical puff pastry creations filled with cream. Then there's the selection of monodesserts, often in trompe l'oeil like yuzu lemon, and with innovative flavors including chestnut, redcurrant, matcha, sesame or whisky. An essential stopover!

A gourmet and very girly address to enjoy a snack break with a breathtaking view of the most emblematic square in Ljubljana. Inside, the decor is modern and airy. In the window, a large selection of pastries and fruit or chocolate cakes are sure to make your eyes water! A little advice from your guide: opt for the teas or the gourmet coffees. Of course, the portions are limited, but you can at least taste most of the house specialties... Better to live with remorse than with regret!

Founded in 1996, this alternative and colorful bar is a kind of open-air museum around street art works, present both on its exterior façade and inside its walls. Particularly appreciated by the local youth, the place welcomes a student public in a chic and relaxed atmosphere. It is not rare to cross there some local celebrities! The drinks are rather higher than elsewhere but the quality of the reception largely compensates for this slight drawback. Small sheltered terrace on the spot.

The Šuklje Wine Bar offers more than 300 different types of wine, no less! At the helm: a Frenchman and a Slovenian woman, both passionate and determined to sharpen your palate and your taste buds. A cosy atmosphere where the bottles are king for the decoration. So that you don't drink on an empty stomach, there are cheese and charcuterie boards, various spreads and their toasts, a beef carpaccio or the seasonal dessert. It's the perfect place to chat with your loved ones and have a snack while enriching your wine knowledge.

This famous skyscraper cannot be overlooked when discovering Ljubljana for the first time. This atypical building, inaugurated in 1933, had the ambition to become the Yugoslav Empire State Building. With a total height of 70 m, it cannot be said that it will have succeeded in competing with the American giant, but it will have become a tourist attraction in Slovenia. With a 360 degree view, you can admire the city from all angles, as well as its surroundings on clear days. A rooftop bar completes this place full of history.

If your day's schedule has grown longer than expected and a meal at the restaurant no longer seems an option, don't panic. This bar is the perfect place for a late-night snack, with its wide selection of finger food, but above all its impressive list of beers available on draught! You'll find Ljubljana's youth coming here to chat with friends over the board games on offer. Try the Sloven'c hot dog with beer sausage or the homemade fish & chips.

Prulček is an alternative cultural venue located on the outskirts of central Ljubljana. Every week, a program of artists perform in concert, and admission is free to promote culture for all, although a voluntary and spontaneous contribution is greatly appreciated. A dozen draught beers are available, as is the house burger on Thursday evenings. It's the place to be in Ljubljana to join the locals and enjoy the nightlife. Events can be viewed online on the website.