Ten restaurants get Michelin stars
Ten Slovenian restaurants have been deemed worthy of Michelin stars by the famous French restaurant guide, one more than in 2023. Ana Roš's Hiša Franko has retained three stars and restaurant Milka, run by chef David Žefran, has kept its two. Eight restaurants now have one star.
Hiša Franko, serving locally sourced food in the Soča Valley, earned its third Michelin star in 2023 and has managed to retain it this year. The restaurant, located near Kobarid, has also been awarded four toques by the Gault&Millau guide, while Roš has been ranked in the top three of the world's chefs compiled by The Best Chef Awards.
"Each course is a true discovery, in which local and Slovenian ingredients and traditions are skilfully combined with influences from elsewhere in the world with grace, good taste and the chef's own inimitable style," the Michelin guide says.
Restaurant Milka in Kranjska Gora, run by chef Žefran, has kept two stars. It earned its first Michelin star in 2022, soon after it launched, and the second one the following year. "The restaurant offers a fine gastronomic synthesis of its region," the guide writes.
Pavus, located at Laško Castle, won a Michelin star for the first time. The restaurant's chef Marko Pavčnik pays great attention to sustainability in sourcing local ingredients, foraging and using the nose-to-tail approach, according to Michelin.
Among the restaurants that have kept one Michelin star are COB in Portorož, which serves the creations of Filip Matjaž, the Radovljica establishment Hiša Linhart with chef Uroš Štefelin, Gregor Vračko's Hiša Denk from Zgornja Kungota, and Strelec in Ljubljana, where Igor Jagodic is the chef.
Also retaining their one star are the Horjul restaurant Gostišče Grič with Luka Košir, Dam in Nova Gorica with Uroš Fakuč, and Vipava's Pri Lojzetu with Tomaž Kavčič.
"Taking all categories together, Slovenia boasts no fewer than ten Michelin starred establishments, confirming its status as a noteworthy European gastronomic destination," the guide says.
Eight restaurants have earned the green star for sustainability, putting Slovenia in first place among European countries in the number of green Michelin stars per capita, according to the Slovenian Tourism Board (STO).
Among them is Hiša Franko, which is the 33rd restaurant in the world boasting three Michelin stars as well as a green star.
Five new restaurants have also received the Bib Gourmand, bringing the total number to ten.