Jump to content Page index
Stories from Slovenia

Castle restaurants – fine dining in noblemen style

Eat like noblemen. Visit the castle restaurants in Slovenia that have impressed the world’s leading gastronomic guides, including Michelin and Gault&Millau, with their range of culinary arts.

Castle experience of fine dining

Are you looking for the perfect combination of top cuisine and sophisticated ambience? Then, you have to visit one of the Slovenian castle restaurants. From local ingredients, renowned chefs will conjure up gourmet masterpieces on your plates that even the most demanding noblemen could not resist. And that’s not all. They have also convinced the world-renowned gastronomic guides, such as Gault&Millau and the prestigious Michelin. The castle ambiance further adds to the charm, which is particularly appreciated by true romantics. So, will you be joining us at the castle table?

grajske restavracije_Gostilna pri Lojzetu_Zemono

Gostilna pri Lojzetu, Zemono Manor House

In the embrace of the Vipava Valley, rich with diverse flavours and wines, you can catch a glimpse of a wonderful Renaissance manor situated on the hill between the vineyards above the village of Zemono. This is the home of world-class cuisine embellished with a Michelin star. The cuisine of Gostilna pri Lojzetu is based on the authentic flavours of the Vipava Valley, which the chef Tomaž Kavčič masterfully combines in cosmopolitan creations that evoke a sense of nostalgia in his guests while also providing a trendy gourmet experience.

Visit website

Michelin star

Gault_Millau

Slovenia Green

Grajske restavracije_Gostilna na Gradu

Gostilna na Gradu, Ljubljana Castle

Ljubljana Castle, which towers above the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, offers experiences of history, culture and superb cuisine. Gostilna na Gradu caters for lovers of traditional cuisine that is served in a new, trendy way by the team led by chef Luka Jezeršek. Welcome to a gourmet journey through 24 Slovenian gastronomic regions to learn about the dishes made from local ingredients.

Visit website

Michelin Bib Gourmand

Slovenia Green

grajske restavracije_strelec

Strelec Restaurant, Ljubljana Castle

Architect Boris Kobe is responsible for the present-day appearance of the 16th century Archers’ Tower at Ljubljana Castle. Together with painter Marij Pregelj, Kobe designed wall paintings using the sgraffito technique. Motifs from Slovenian folk songs and tales served as the inspiration for the wall decorations. Today, it’s possible to enjoy supreme cuisine in the Strelec Restaurant, which combines all four worlds of the Slovenian territory and serves as an intersection between the past and the present. The creativity of chef Igor Jagodic transforms all the ingredients into a top-notch gastronomic experience that was awarded one Michelin star and four Gault&Millau toques .

Visit website

Michelin star

Gault_Millau

Slovenia Green

grajske restavracije_pavus

Pavus Restaurant, Tabor Castle

Tabor Castle once served as a hunting manor of the Counts of Celje, and it had an important defensive function at the time of the Turkish invasions. This fortress, which towers above Laško, now houses the Pavus Restaurant, where the aroma of wild ingredients fills the air. These are some of the trump cards of chef Marko Pavčnik, the Gault&Millau Chef of the Year 2022. A combination of local ingredients and his creativity tell a unique gourmet story that you will find hard to resist.

Visit website

Michelin star

Gault_Millau

Grajske restavracije_grad otocec

Otočec Castle

The fairy-tale image of Slovenia’s only castle situated on a river island certainly ticks the first box for those expecting an unforgettable (romantic) gastronomic experience. Once you enter the castle restaurant, you will be immersed in the gourmet spirit. Talented young chef Nejc Ban and his team create dishes from local ingredients and those growing in the Castle Garden, symbolising the character and beauty of the surroundings in which they are located. After treating your taste buds, you can rest in one of the castle rooms.

Visit website

Michelin Guide

Grajske restavracije_kendov dvorec
Photo: Fiorenzo Calosso​​​​

Kendov dvorec

The 14th century manor towering over the Idrijca River valley has now been converted into a unique hotel which, despite its contemporary level of comfort, reflects the spirit of the past. The hotel restaurant follows the same pattern, as ancient recipes are nowadays presented in a modern fashion. The house menus reflect the changing seasons, but the famous Idrija žlikrofi dumplings are a regular feature. Chefs Klavdij Pirih and Franci Pivk create the perfect gourmet experience and the manor’s gastronomy was also noticed by the famous Michelin Guide.

Visit website

Michelin Guide

grajske restavracije_gredic

Gredič

The Goriška Brda Hills are known as the Slovenian Tuscany or Provence. Since ancient times, the romantic landscape with vineyards, orchards and olive groves overlooked by small, scattered Brda villages attracted noblemen who chose to build their residences in the Brda. One of the castles found in the Brda is Gredič, transformed today into a hotel where visitors can enjoy first-class lunches or dinners. The Gredič dishes reflect values that combine a love for cooking, respect for their Brda roots, local customs and tradition, responsibility towards nature and excellence in the preparation of food. 

Visit website

Michelin Guide

grad stanjel_foto susan gabrijan
Photo: Susan Gabrijan

Bistro Grad Štanjel

Štanjel is the gem of medieval Karst architecture. The old town centre, the Ferrari Garden and the medieval castle create a fairy-tale image that visitors are not likely to forget anytime soon. A pleasant bistro is hidden between the massive walls of the castle and the aroma of genuine Karst cuisine presented in a modern style drifts from the kitchen. Its dedication to local Karst flavours and traditions sets an example for sustainable gastronomy, and its gourmet potential was also recognised by Gault&Millau, which included the bistro in its guide and awarded it three toques.

Visit website

Gault_Millau

Slovenia Green

restavracija A3 grad Rajhenburg

Restaurant A3, Rajhenburg Castle

All good things come in threes, and this is especially true at the restaurant at Rajhenburg Castle. There are three excellent hospitality service providers, each of whom contributes to an exceptional gourmet experience in their own unique way. The street number is also three. Whether it's multi-course menus or individual dishes, each plate is a masterpiece of its own. And if you add to that the sparkling wines from the castle's sparkling wine cellar, you can be sure that your castle experience will be complete.

Visit website

Michelin Guide

Gault_Millau

Charms of Slovenian castles

Slovenia has more than one hundred castles and mansions. Unfortunately, many haven’t escaped the ravages of time, while others have been renovated and new life breathed into them.

Castles in Slovenia

Slovenia is rich in castles, manors, fortresses and fortification systems. These were built at various times during the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, and the first traces of their construction date all the way back to antiquity. Time got the better of many of them, but dozens now serve interesting functions.

More on: Castles in Slovenia

Stories from Slovenia

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive a green piece of Slovenia in your inbox, and learn about holidays, seasonal offers, upcoming events and travel options.

Share with friends

This content is not available in Russian language.

Please visit the homepage or select another language.

ALMA Virtual Traveller
Which part of Slovenia would you like to explore? Reply to Alma