MICHELIN Guide 2025: Slovenia shines with 12 stars and 9 Green Stars
Hooray! The new MICHELIN Guide Slovenia 2025 is here, and Slovenia continues to impress. No fewer than 72 restaurants have been included in the guide – nine more than last year. Of that total, twelve are starred restaurants, there are nine Green Stars and three brand-new awards. And that for a country that has only been participating in the MICHELIN Guide since 2020. They’re doing great there in the Balkans!
Slovenia may be small, but it is a culinary powerhouse with a landscape as varied as its cuisine: think rugged mountains, dense forests and even a small, charming stretch of coastline. That rich nature translates directly onto the plate. On holiday years ago, I ate myself silly on ćevapčići; the popular spicy sausage.
Many Slovenian chefs work closely with local farmers, hunters and foragers – and you can taste it. Slovenia was named a gastronomic destination in 2021, and culinarily speaking, they are going like a rocket.
Ana Roš remains the queen of Slovenia
The culinary figurehead? Still chef Ana Roš of Hiša Franko. Her restaurant retains its coveted three stars as well as the Green MICHELIN Star for sustainability. This places her among an extremely select group of chefs worldwide with this double accolade. And oh yes: she is one of only two female chefs with this honorary title. Girl power, but with butter, sourdough and fermentation.
New awards: young talent and hospitality in the spotlight
For the first time, the MICHELIN Guide in Slovenia has presented three new distinctions:
- Young Chef Award: Filip Matjaž (COB) – promising and innovative.
- Sommelier Award: Anže Kristan (Gostilna pri Lojzetu) – for his brilliant wine-and-food pairings. You’re guaranteed to drink well in Slovenia anyway, because they produce extremely affordable, high-quality red and especially white wines here, which excel in freshness and fruitiness.
- Service Award: Jan Sinčič (Salicornia) – because nowhere else makes you feel quite so welcome.
In short: in Slovenia, you get not only good food, but also top service and equally excellent wine advice. Cheers!
Green MICHELIN Stars: sustainability is the new delicious
Green is the new gold in Slovenia. Nine restaurants received a Green MICHELIN Star, including the new entry from Hotel Plesnik. Here, Janez Bratovž and Tom Čopar cook up the stars (and leaves) with sustainable flair. Other top spots include Grič by chef Luka Košir and – naturally – Hiša Franko.
Twelve stars in total: here they are
In addition to Hiša Franko’s three stars and Milka’s two (chef David Žefran), there are seven restaurants with one MICHELIN Star:
- COB – Filip Matjaž
- Dam – Uroš Fakuč
- Gostilna pri Lojzetu – Tomaž Kavčič
- Grič – Luka Košir
- Hiša Denk – Gregor Vračko
- Hiša Linhart – Uroš Štefelin
- Pavus – Marko Pavčnik
Worth a culinary road trip, right?
Bib Gourmand: top food without top prices
It’s not just stars that are on the rise; great addresses with an excellent price-quality ratio are gaining ground too. Twelve restaurants received a Bib Gourmand, including three new names: Lesnika, Etna and Gredič. Think: flavourful, affordable and surprisingly good.
Slovenia is growing in quality and quantity
With 72 restaurants – including 51 selected establishments and 9 new additions such as Dveri Pax, Jaz by Ana Roš and Salicornia – Slovenia is firmly putting itself on Europe’s culinary map.
As Maja Pak Olaj, director of Slovenian tourism, put it so aptly: “Six years ago, we deliberately began investing in gastronomy. By now, 72 restaurants have been included in the MICHELIN Guide, and that number is rising every year.”
Put it on the wishlist right away
From slow food to star chefs, from sustainable kitchens to hidden gems: Slovenia has it all. No holiday plans yet? We know what we would do. And bring an empty suitcase, because Slovenia is full of flavours you’ll want to remember and take home.
Read also:
- Restaurant Vermeer review: relaxed fine dining in Amsterdam
- R21 in Amsterdam: a strong contender for a Michelin star
- Review: the new French restaurant Veneur in Amsterdam
