FRIDAY FEASTS OPEN-AIR COOKING IN THE CITY OF DRAGONS

Strictly speaking, you wouldn’t need a special reason to visit Slovenia’s capital soon: Ljubljana has been considered one of Europe’s greenest metropolises at least since 2007 when car traffic was banned from the city center. In addition to the many historic structures, the buildings by Jože Plečnik, an architectural pioneer of the 20th century, have turned the city into an architectural jewel that is definitely worth seeing. Around the buzzing cultural and creative scene in this university town, numerous galleries, events, and hip shops have sprung up among the long-established museums. Ljubljana has the ideal conditions for a short or longer city trip.

DELICIOUS START TO THE WEEKEND

If you are still looking for a reason to take a trip to the Ljubljanica River, which flows right through Ljubljana’s historic city center, Fridays between March and October are a great time to do it. On these days, a selection of Slovenia’s most creative chefs will set up tables and benches on the city’s central market square and will create a temporary open-air culinary paradise. Since the start of this event in 2013, more than 300 different dining establishments from all over the country have cooked and served here.

Under the simple and apt title “Odprta kunha” (Open Kitchen), the concentrated culinary diversity of Slovenia gathers in one spot week after week. Here you can eat alone or together, with old and new acquaintances, simply standing or walking, sitting at a table or relaxing on the steps on the way to the nearby cathedral. With the various offers, it feels like you can taste the whole world at this one spot in the old town. 

And yet it’s not just about eating. The central location right in the vibrant city center of this EU capital creates an open marketplace where people from all over the world for one day agree that nothing beats authentic and communal culinary enjoyment.

SOUL FOOD WITH SOCIAL VALUE

While strolling between the market stalls, you can experience the development of culinary creations up close - ideal conditions to whet your appetite and to immerse yourself in the most diverse world of tastes. From regional dishes to exotic cuisine, everything is included. In between there is always time for a delicious sip of Slovenia wine, or a glass of the newest creation from a regional craft beer brewery at the end of the gourmet tour.

At the end of the day, all the leftover food goes to charity organizations. In addition, only biodegradable or reusable dishes are used, and recycling or upcycling measures are continuously implemented. In this way the Open Kitchen doesn’t only stay in the guests’ minds as an extraordinary experience, but also ensures a lasting, positive influence on the social life of the city of dragons.