In Slovenia you will find several beautiful, hip, but also authentic accommodations and restaurants. Unlike other regions, Koroška is somewhat behind the times. Savinjska, the other region, is more used to tourists, and the accommodations have been partly adapted to this. Partly, because the current accommodations have still been renovated in the Slovenian way. You will still find the same style in terms of decoration, and the same ingredients are used, but the dishes have been given a hipper look.
Below I have listed various restaurants and accommodations for you. You can also stay overnight at a number of restaurants and you can also eat at a number of accommodations. However, I have categorized them below, so that my choices may help you a bit. I also added two cool activities (related to drinking) at the end of the blog.
Slovenia is one of the most unspoilt countries in Europe! It has amazing nature, impressive mountains with ski areas, valleys, idyllic coastline, medieval castles, waterfalls, the famous Lake Bled and much more! Go on a tour or camp in the middle of the woods.
- Wilderness
- Bergen
- Waterfalls
- A destination for both a relaxing car tour and an active holiday
Restaurants
Gostilna Pri Vidi
In the middle of the small village Ribnica after Pohorju you will find the restaurant Gostilna Pri Vidi (Location here). The owner herself can also be found in the service and proudly serves the food. The atmosphere here takes you back in time, but the quality of the food is just as good. Even though it is served the old-fashioned way on a large platter, it is delicious. One of the most used ingredients in Slovenian cuisine is buckwheat, and I can highly recommend it in this restaurant.
Bar Mitnica
Along the water of the river drau and against the village Muta on, lies Bar Mitnica (Location here). They have a small interior space, but you come for the terrace. This is a fantastic location with a view of the river. Whether you're driving, cycling or walking past, I would definitely stop here. They even have beach chairs to get into the holiday spirit.
Eco House Na razpotju
Between Hotel Plesnik and the valley Logarska valley There are several locations to eat. This is a really cool option Eco House Na razpotju (Location here). As you can see in the photo below, it is located in the middle of greenery.
Inside, you can immediately see from the interior that you are close to the Alps, but the food has been completely revamped. They make the most delicious dishes with local ingredients. From here you can take a nice walk in the valley.
When we visited this location, they were short-staffed, so reservations were wise. Book a table so they know you're coming. That is certainly worth it.
Koca Trije Ploti
The mountain restaurant Koca Trije Ploti (Location here) is closed out of season, so keep that in mind if you're traveling in low season. Still, I want to mention it, because from this place you have an incredibly cool view of the Alps towards Austria. So if you are taking a short or long walk on this mountain and this place is open, I would definitely go there for a drink.
Hiša Raduha
This place, Hiša Raduha (Location here), is once again an accommodation and a restaurant in one, and not just any one. It is incredibly beautiful and the location of the small houses where you can spend the night is also very nice. They also have tree houses where you can spend the night. Two for two people and even one for four people. From the garden where the houses are located you have a beautiful view of the Savinja river.
This accommodation opened in 1875 and currently the fourth and fifth generations of the same family work together in the restaurant and the house. The restaurant exudes tranquility and yet there are also references to the past in the interior.
Dinner is provided five evenings a week at fixed times. With dinner you can drink excellent wines, which will be happily explained by the sommelier, one of the owners. The dinner is excellently prepared and made with all kinds of high-quality local ingredients.
Accommodations
Gostilna Pri Lipi
Near the aforementioned bar Mitnica, there is an old Carinthian house in the same village, either Gostilna Pri Lipi (Location here). This house has been offering overnight stays in this old style for quite some time. The people in the area are very proud of the house and its furnishings. The walls are completely antique, but the wooden floor and all furniture also breathe history. There are many rooms with a total of thirty beds and all rooms have been named after the owners and the saints.
You can also dine here and the restaurant also reflects the old Carinthian style. Every plate and glass is different. The food is served in small containers, which gives you a kind of tapa idea, but of course they are all real Slovenian dishes.
Hotel Plesnik
The large Hotel Plesnik (Location here) is located in the valley Logarska valley in the Savinjska region and is family-run. It is a simple hotel on the inside, but their wellness offering is incredibly modern. You can enjoy massages, a sauna and a whirlpool. In addition to these wellness options, yoga and meditation workshops are also offered.
The restaurant uses local ingredients. With as few artificial additives as possible, they try to make the flavors as close to nature as possible. So you can both sleep and eat here. The evening menu offers a four-course dinner. This really is an ideal accommodation when it comes to luxury and relaxation.
Tourist Farm Govc – Vršnik
Tourist Farm Govc – Vrsnik (Location here) is a real family home, where many rooms offer space to really retreat into nature. The surroundings are beautiful and the owners are very nice. A number of rooms have fantastic views of the mountains, but ultimately the view from every room is actually beautiful. You can also come here for lunch without having booked an overnight stay at this location. Activities you can do nearby include walking, climbing or cycling.
Hotel Planinka
Hotel Planinka (Location here) owes its name to the mountains, because it means 'flat area on top of the mountain'. The hotel is located in the upper part of the Savinja valley. It is a modern hotel, but it certainly still has Slovenian influences. The owners are a Slovenian couple, where the roles are clearly divided. He, Tomaz, serves the dishes and is the sommelier. She, Helena, ensures that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, but is also present during the breakfast buffet, for example. They also employ a chef. A small, but nice and skilled team. The rooms are spacious and whether you have a balcony or not, you always have a nice view.
If you want to sleep and/or dine here, a reservation is advisable in any case. They have chosen to only open when the chef is present and it is therefore not self-evident that the kitchen is open.
In addition to a fantastic four-, six- or nine-course dinner, you can also enjoy wine tastings here. You can taste three, five or seven wines of your choice with accompanying snacks. You can do this in the restaurant, but why there if they also have a wine cellar? The wine cellar has many different wines, each more exclusive than the other. With more than 250 wines, the owner has divided the wine cellar into a modern and old-fashioned variant. You already heard it, it's worth a visit.
Lake Peak Apartments
The apartments are located around the corner from the restaurant mentioned above Lake Peak Apartments (Location here). In winter it is already an extremely popular place to spend the night, but in summer they often still have enough space.
This place is ideal for families as they have large apartments with multiple bedrooms. Even if you travel with two people, for example, you have a gem in your hands in one of their apartments. The view is fantastic and each apartment is incredibly spacious. If you prefer to cook yourself or do not want to eat certain meals out, then that is no problem with the kitchen in this apartment.
Gin brewery at Gostilna Murko
The restaurant is located in Slovenj Gradec Gostilna Murko (Location here) for four generations now, and not just any four generations, but all from the same family. The first owners, Maks and Anna, started here with a forge and inn, but Anna expanded this with brewing brandy from juniper berries.
You can eat well in this restaurant and they are especially known for their dessert. In addition to the menu, they have more to offer. The current generation has converted the secret old recipe into a gin recipe in a modern way. There is a private gin brewery in the garage. The gin is made by hand in small batches, and you can even make your own gin here (under supervision).
Beer tasting at Time Brewery
A cool, hip place to have something to eat, but this place is of course mainly known for its beer. Bee Time Brewery (Location here) they brew their own beers and each beer is named after a time. These times indicate at what time of day they recommend which beer. So you can have a nice bite to eat here, but also do a beer tasting. It is very large inside and beautifully decorated with trendy green tiles against the bar. Nevertheless, I would also go there when the weather is nice, because the terrace is also nice.
Curious about what activities you can do in this region? Then also read:
Slovenia | Off the beaten track in Koroška and Savinjska
Reservation
All of the above accommodations and restaurants are popular and most are not very large. They will of course be open during the high season, but will fill up quickly. In low season it is not unusual for them to be closed because there are no guests. If you want to sleep or eat somewhere, reservations are recommended, both in high and low season!
Also worth mentioning is the fact that all kinds of dietary requirements or allergies can be taken into account. For example, I, Madelon, eat vegan and this was possible everywhere. Just keep in mind that you need to let them know in advance so they can prepare for it. But it's definitely worth it, because we really had a fantastic meal!
Sustainable Travel
In Slovenia they have actually been working on sustainability for much longer than we in the Netherlands. They have it Green Cuisine label, which is awarded to restaurants that follow the principle of sustainability and mainly use local products. Sustainable initiatives are labeled with Slovenia Green to help travelers easily make eco-friendly choices during their travels.
Slovenia is at the forefront of sustainability compared to the Netherlands. They are also very proud of this, so you can see this throughout the country. The country knows it Green Cuisine label, which is awarded to catering establishments that work sustainably and mainly use local products. Travelers can easily make environmentally friendly choices during their stay in Slovenia because all sustainable initiatives are labeled.
Conclusion
The restaurants in particular pleasantly surprised me. You can enjoy very tasty food in these regions and the wines from these regions are also excellent. The restaurants are diverse, so you can choose between a classic meal at more old-fashioned restaurants, but you can also opt for a five-course dinner with matching wines. All options are of course sustainable and prepared with local products.
Even if you are looking for suitable accommodation, you can opt for a slightly older style or ultra-modern with nods to the past. All in all, enough choices to spend the night and dine locally!
Slovenia is one of the most unspoilt countries in Europe! It has amazing nature, impressive mountains with ski areas, valleys, idyllic coastline, medieval castles, waterfalls, the famous Lake Bled and much more! Go on a tour or camp in the middle of the woods.
- Wilderness
- Bergen
- Waterfalls
- A destination for both a relaxing car tour and an active holiday