Ljubljana In Your Pocket by Irena Jamnikar

Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps

LJUBLJANA

“In Your Pocket: A cheeky, wellwritten series of guidebooks.” The New York Times

April - May 2009

Ljubljana To Set World Record Dancing into the Guinness book

Concerts Galore A spring and summer of top music

Jože Plečnik Showcasing great architecture

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Contents

Houseware Gifts & Ideas

E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S

Contents Basics

Transport, language, customs

Quick Pics

Drink some coffee

Culture & Events

Music 16 From Balkan to electronic music Artistic events 18 Entertainment and culture Fairs & Conferences 22 Time for business Ljubljana Junior 27 For the youngest travellers Sports 28 Watching and participating in physical activities

Where to stay

Business suites to hostel bunks

Dining & Nightlife

Where to eat 36 Find something to your taste Cafés 48 Sip up spme coffee and enjoy a piece of cake Nightlife 52 Dance and drink the night away

Town square

Jaime Silva

What to see

Bridges, museums and the castle

Bled

A lake and an island on the sunny side of the Alps

Getting around

Buses, trains, cars and planes

Where to shop

The best of what and where to buy

Mail & Phones

Keeping in touch by post, phones and internet

Directory

Lifestyle Business

88 89

Maps & Index

Ambient Maxi, Trg republike 1, Ljubljana, Slovenia • Phone: +386 1 47 66 874 Open: Monday - Friday: 9.00 - 21.00 • Saturday: 8.00 - 17.00 Triple bridge

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Jaime Silva

City centre map Street Register City map Country map Index

92 94 95 96 97 April - May 2009

Foreword

foreword

With the spring season creeping up in every corner of Ljubljana, the streets and squares are slowly coming back to life with a magnitude of markets, concerts and events scheduled up for the season. The cafés and restaurants are opening up their gardens, balconies and riverside terraces where you can begin to enjoy drinks and food whilst catching a few warm rays of sunshine.

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Cover story

E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S

Ljubljana In Your Pocket Drenikova 33, 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia Tel. +386 41 690 666 +386 30 316 604 fax (+370-5) 212 29 82 ljubljana@inyourpocket.com www.inyourpocket.com ISSN 1855-3486 ©IQBATOR d.o.o. Printed by Schwarz d.o.o., Ljubljana Published 6 times per year

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Press Box

“In Your Pocket: a cheeky, well-written series of guidebooks.” New York Times

So make the most of your stay in the great outdoors of Ljubljana this springtime, in which we will guide you through the best places for entertaining activities, eating, drinking and shopping.

Since 2001, the streets of Slovenia’s cities, towns and villages celebrate one of the biggest dance events called the “Maturantska Parade” or the “Secondary School Graduates’ Parade”. The event celebrates the end of the “matura” or “graduate exams” and this year on the 15th of May, exactly at noon and regardless of weather conditions, graduates perform a square dance that is featured in the Guinness Book Of Records as the largest record breaking synchronous dance in the world. If you happen to be in town during this spectacular show, you mustn’t miss out on an experience of a lifetime. Not only proud parents are out to support their kids, but all Slovenian citizens line up along the streets or watch out from their balconies to witness the dance, which appears quite similar to a waltz or a foxtrot. The event is colourful, energetic combined with a loud clamor of whistles, trumpets and classical music and of course an abundance of laughter and smiles.

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Editorial

Editor Francisco Alvarez, Irena Jamnikar, Writers Camille Acey, Richard Schofield, Ian Roh, Francisco Alvarez, Elliott Foxton, Alina Stylianou Research Tanja Franko, Richard Schofield, Irena Jamnikar Layout & Design Vaida Gudynaitė Consulting Craig Turp Photos Ljubljana Tourist Board, Jaime Silva Maps Monolit d.o.o. Cover photo Marko Prijatelj, Graduation Parade

Text and photos copyright IQBATOR d.o.o. Maps copyright cartographer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, without written permission from the publisher and copyright owner. The brand name In Your Pocket is used under license from UAB In Your Pocket (Vokiečių 10-15, Vilnius, Lithuania tel. +370-5 212 29 76).

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Editor’s note

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

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April - May 2009

Basics Arriving in Ljubljana

Arriving by plane Ljubljana’s cosy little Jože Pučnik Airport is 26km northwest of the city, near Brnik. A taxi to Ljublana will cost €35-45 taking about 25 minutes, buses to town run between 05:00 and 20:00, take about 35 minutes and tickets (purchased on the bus) are €4.10. Arriving by train Once you’ve worked out the tunnel and stair system and made it to the main train station building, find everything you need including an ATM and press stand selling top-up cards (but alas no SIM cards) for prepaid SIM accounts. Left luggage is provided courtesy of 80 coin-operated lockers with instructions in English on platform Nº1, with the toilets conveniently located next door. The station also boasts a surprisingly good Tourist Information Centre, a train information bureau immediately to the right and currency exchange opposite (open daily from 10:00 - 19:00, saturday 08:00-15:00, sunday closed). Getting to town depends as always on where you’re planning to stay and how fit you are. Many central hotels are within reasonable walking distance. Alternatively, find taxis outside, and make sure the meter is running before you depart. Arriving by bus All national and international buses arrive at the central bus station which is located directly in front of the main train station. The temporary prefabricated station building, serving passengers until the opening of the new combined train and bus station in 2010, features little in the way of facilities for the recent arrival, making a trip to the train station almost compulsory. Perhaps the only one of its kind in the world, the bus station does however contain a Sixt car rental kiosk, with the only other useful facility being a small internet café for which tickets can be acquired from ticket window Nº1. Getting to town is the same as described above.

Basics When Things Go Wrong The emergency number is 112 for fire, rescue and andambulance and 113 for police. If possible, find someone who speaks Slovene to help you make the call since there is no guarantee of finding an English speaker on the other end. The nearest Casualty Unit (Emergency Room) to the city center can be found at University Medical Centerat Zaloška cesta 2, Ljubljana (D-2) and emergency treatment is free for members of EU, EEA, andSwitzerland. We also list local pharmacies, dentists, andother services in the directory. You can find it here. If you find yourself in trouble with the police, call your embassy immediately. The numbers for all embassies can be found here under Foreign Representation in the directory (page 89)

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Useful Emergency Words NA POMOČ! (NAH POH-MOCH) - HELP! gasilci (GAH-SEELT-SEE) - firemen policija (POH-LEET-SEE-AH) - police bolnišnica (BOW-NEESH-NEET-SA) - hospital

Only 12.52

Arriving by car Driving to Ljubljana is a joy due to the good roads and excellent signposting. The city is circled by a highway ring from where it’s easy to get to the centre. Simply follow the parking signs for convenient places to leave your car near the city centre. Once in the city, it’s best to walk the short distances rather than drive through the heavy traffic and narrow streets.

Disabled travellers Slovenia is increasingly well-adapted to the disabled. Information is available from the NSIOS, tel. 430 36 46, www.nsios.si.

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES:

STIC, Krekov trg 10, TIC, Stritarjeva ulica, TIC (Railway Station), Trg OF 06, TIC Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport ABC RENT A CAR & EUROPCAR, ANTIQ HOTEL, BIT CENTER HOTEL, BOOKSHOP HAČEK (KLAGENFURT), CITY HOTEL LJUBLJANA, HOTEL LJUBLJANA, EVENTIM, FESTIVAL LJUBLJANA, FLUXUS, GLOBALTURIST, GLOBTOUR BLED, GLOBTOUR KRANJSKA GORA, GRAND HOTEL UNION, GRAND HOTEL UNION GARNI, HOSTEL CELICA, HOTEL EMONEC, HOTEL LEV, HOTEL MONS, HOTEL PARK, KONGO HOTEL & CASINO, LJUBLJANA BUS STATION, LJUBLJANA PUBLIC TRANSPORT (TICKET OFFICE), LJUBLJANA RESORT, M HOTEL, HOTEL MEDNO, RAILWAY STATION, RUMENI TAXI/YELOW TAXI, TOUR AS

BUY ON-LINE: www.ljubljanacard.com

Drinking

Religion

Alcohol is only sold to people over 18, and after 21:00 it cannot be bought in stores.

Although Slovenians are traditionally Roman Catholic, the most recent Eurobarometer Poll in 2005 found that only 37% of the population believe in a god, with 16% atheists and the rest of them believing in ‘something’.

Like most European countries, Slovenia’s voltage is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz, and the country uses European two-pin plugs.

Money Slovenia temporarily swapped the Yugoslav dinar for the tolar in 1991, and adopted the euro in January 2007. Euro coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, 1 and 2 euros, while banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. The Slovenian side of the euro coins are decorated with among other things storks, Mount Triglav, Lippizaner horses, a man sowing stars and a Jože Plečnik design.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Jamie Silva

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

€ valid for 3 days (72 hours)

LJUBLJANA CARD SALES OUTLETS

Electricity

Main train station

Accommodation (hotels, hostel) Taxi and car rentals Guided city tours and events Souvenirs Restaurants & bars Shops & boutiques and MORE!

Smoking Cigarettes can’t be sold to people under 18. Slovenia recently banned smoking from public indoor spaces except in special smoking areas in offices, hotels and bars.

Tipping It’s not traditional to tip in Slovenia, though a reward of about 10% for good service in a restaurant or bar is always appreciated.

Toilets Clean and pleasant public toilets can be found at the Dragon Bridge (Open 07:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun), in the Plečnik Passageway (Open 07:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun) and at the Triple Bridge (Open 07:00 - 21:00).

Politics

Visas

The Republic of Slovenia is a parliamentary democracy. The president, Dr Danilo Türk, was elected in 2007. The prime minister is Borut Pahor, since 2008. The next national assembly and prime minister elections are in year 2012. The government consists of the PM and 15 ministers, of which two are without portfolio.

Many foreigners simply need a passport or ID card to enter Slovenia. Those requiring a visa will be able to travel freely between the Schengen-agreement countries for a limited amount of time, usually 90 days. Always check these details with a Slovenian embassy or consulate. Further information can be found at www.mzz.gov.si.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

April - May 2009

Basics Major Currency Cross Rates Currency

U.S. $ 1. U.S. $ 1. Euro € 1,26 1. U.K. £ 1,39 1. Swiss Franc 0,85

Euro € 0,78 1,10 0,67

U.K. £ 0,69 0,89 0,6’

Swiss Franc 1,14 1,45 1,61 -

Market values Prices in Slovenia are still fairly competitive despite increases over the last couple of years particularly in the prices of cigarettes. Here are some typical everyday products and prices. Product Price (€) McDonald’s Big Mac €2,40 Snickers €1,30 0.5ltr vodka (shop) €11,85 0.5ltr of local beer(shop) €0,84 Loaf of white bread €1,79 20 Marlboros €2,60 Public transport ticket €0,80 Roll of Kodak 200 speed film, 24 exposures €4,09

Basic data Population Slovenia 2,019,406 (2007) Ljubljana 266,845 (2004) Area 20,273 square kilometres Ethnic composition Slovenian 83% Former Yugoslav minorities 5.3% Hungarian, Albanian, Roma, Italian and others 2.8% Official languages Slovenian Italian Hungarian Local time Central European (GMT + 1hr) Longest river Sava (221km in Slovenia) Highest mountain Triglav 2,864m. Borders Austria 318km Italy 280km Hungary 102km Croatia 670km

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Cankar quay with the castle

D. Wedam

Vinjeta - A (new) Ticket to ride As of June 2008, Slovenia now requires that all motor vehicles travelling Slovenian highways must be in possession of a vinjeta (veen-yeh-tah) sticker. This system now exists in lieu of paying tolls, and the vinjeta can be easily obtained at nearly all gas stations and kiosks. For a year sticker the is €55 for cars, €27,50 for motorcycles and for half-year sticker the cost is €35 for cars and 17,50 for motorcycles.

Street smarts Don’t get lost - learn the language of the streets. Slovenians leave away the word for street in daily life, so whil e your d estination may o f ficiall y be call ed Poljanska ulica, you can survive by just saying Poljanska. Avtocesta (aw-toh-ses-tah) Highway Cesta (tses-tah) Boulevard Most (mohst) Bridge Nabrežje (nah-breh-dgee-eh) Embankment Trg (teh-rg) Square Ulica (oo-leet-sah) Street

April - May 2009

history Evidence suggests that people first populated the area known today as Slovenia as far back as 250,000BC. People were known to have settled in the area around Ljubljana by around 400BC when the Celts started arriving. Roman times With the expansion of Julius Caesar’s empire comes the establishment of the Roman town Emona on the left bank of the Ljubljanica, of which some remains can still be found in today’s Ljubljana. Thriving for a relatively short period of time, Emona is abandoned some time during the 6th century AD, and the region is invaded several times by the Huns and other early Germanic tribes.

Language Between the wars After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Slovenia becomes par t of the State, and then the Kingdom of the Slovenes, Croats and Serbs on December 1, 1918, which subsequently becomes the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. The Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) builds many of his most important buildings in the capital between the two World Wars. Slovenia is occupied by the Italians, Germans and Hungarians during WWII. In 1945, Croatian-born Tito, whose mother was born in Slovenia, establishes the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

16th to 18th Centuries Protestant influence grows with the Reformation and continued Austrian occupation. The first book in Slovenian is published in 1550. The city is seriously damaged by the earthquake of 1511 and much of the city is rebuilt in the Baroque style.

Socialism & Yugoslavia Slovenia develops as the richest and most Westernised of the Yugoslavian states. After the so-called Tito-Stalin split of 1948, Yugoslavia becomes much less oppressive. Yugoslavs enjoy many freedoms and are even allowed to travel out of the region and work in the West. Tito dies in Ljubljana on the afternoon of May 4, 1980. Relative freedom and prosperity doesn’t stop the region from suffering the same blows as the rest of the Communist world, and Slovenia becomes the first country to declare independence from Yugoslavia, officially becoming independent on June 25, 1991 after the population votes in a referendum in favour of the move on December 23, 1990.

19th Century Napoleon visits the city in 1809 and makes it the capital of the Ilirske province. As with many occupied countries in this part of the world, a national awakening takes place during the 19th century. Slovenian becomes Slovenia’s official language, the first college is founded, and the city grows into the shape and form it more or less is to this day. Ljubljana’s importance is boosted by the arrival of the first railway in 1849. After much of the city is destroyed by the huge earthquake of 1895, the city is almost completely rebuilt at the start of the 20th century. The Old Town is preserved practically intact.

Independence & Beyond After a slightly shaky start, Slovenia establishes itself as the tiger of the former Yugoslavia. A shrewd combination of nationalist pride and business acumen keeps much of the country’s industry in local hands. Slovenia joins the UN on May 22, 1992 and the EU on May 1, 2004, several weeks before joining NATO. The local currency, the tolar, is replaced by the euro on January 1, 2007. At the end of the year, Slovenia becomes a member of the Schengen countries, and in 2008 proudly takes over the EU presidency for half a year.

Medieval Ljubljana Ljubljana is first mentioned in writing in 1144. The now primarily Slavic city is invaded by the Habsburgs, who control the city and Slovenia almost uninterrupted up until WWI. The city expands during the first few hundred years of this period and the basic shape of the Old Town as it is today is laid out.

French Revolution square

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Jaime Silva

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Language Slovenian is a Southern Slavic language with a 25-letter alphabet. It is closely related to Serbian and Croatian, and shares many words with other Slavic languages. Many Slovenes also speak English, Italian, or German embarassingly well. Special Pronunciations c – as in bicycle e – as in egg g – as in go j – like y in yogurt č – as in cello š – as in ship ž – as in pleasure Basics Do you speak English? – Govorite angleško (Goh-voh- REEtay Ahn-GLESH-ko) ? I don’t understand – Ne razumem (Nuh ra-ZOO-mehm) Where is the toilet? WC? - Kje je stranišče (Key-yay strahnEESH-chay) ? WC (Vay-tsay)? Good Morning – Dobro Jutro (DOH-broh YOO- troh) Good Day – Dober Dan (DOH-behr Dahn) Good Night – Lahko noč (Lah-koh noh-ch) Yes – Ja (Yah) No – Ne (Nay) Hello – Živjo (Jeeve-yoh) Excuse me/Sorry – Oprostite (Oh-PROS-tee-tay) Pardon me (asking for help) – Prosim (pro-SEEM) My name is....- Jaz sem (Yahz sem) ... I am from... – Jaz sem iz (Yahz sem iz)... Days Monday – Ponedeljek (POH-nuh-dehl-yek) Tuesday – Torek (TOR-ek) Wednesday – Sreda (Sray-dah) Thursday – Četrtek (chuh-TUR-tuck) Friday – Petek (peh-tuck) Saturday- Sobota (soh-BOH-tah) Sunday- Nedelja (nuh-DEHL-yah) Questions Who? – Kdo?(K-doh) What? – Kaj?(Ky) Where? –Kje ? (Key-yay) When? – Kdaj (K-dy) How much does it cost? Koliko stane (KOH-LEE-KOH STAH-NEH)? Places Croatia – Hrvaška (Hurr-VASH-ka) England –Anglija (Ahn-glee-yah) Germany – Nemčija (Nem-CHEE-yah) Hungary – Madžarska (Mad-jar-skah) Ireland – Irska (Ear-skah) Netherlands- Nizozemska (NEE-zo-zem-skah) Scotland – Škotska (Shkot-skah) Venice – Benetke (Behn-et-keh) Vienna – Dunaj (Doo-nigh) Post One foreign stamp, please - Eno znamko za tujino, prosim (Eh-no z-nahm-koh zah too-YEE-noh pro- SEEM) For postcard – Za razglednico (Zah raz-GLEHD-neet-so) For letter – Za pismo (Zah pees-moh) Signs Open - Odprto (Ohd-PURT-oh) Closed - Zaprto (Zah- PURT-oh) Entrance – Vhod (oo-hod) Exit- Izhod (eez-hod) Push – Rini (ree-nee) Pull – Vleci (oo-LETS-ee)

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Ljubljanica, riverbank

D. Wedam

Travelling Bus – Avtobus (OW-toh-booze) Train – Vlak (v-LOCK) I am looking for.... – Iščem (EESH-chem) ... One ticket, please – Eno vstopnico, prosim (Eh-noh oo-stopNEETZ-oh pro- SEEM) Times Now – zdaj (z-day) Later – kasneje (kaz-NAY-yeh) Today – danes (dahn-es) Tomorrow – jutri (yoo-tree) Yesterday – včeraj (oo-cheh-ray) In the morning- zjutraj (z-YOO-try) In the afternoon- popoldne (poh-POLD-neh) In the evening- zvečer (z-veh-chehr) At night – ponoči (poh-NOH-chee) Restaurant Talk Menu, please – Meni, prosim (MEH-ni pro-SEEM) Bill, please – Račun, prosim (Rah-CHOON pro- SEEM) Do you have vegetarian food? – Imate vegetarijansko hrano (EE-mah-tay veh-geh-tay-ree-ahn-sko h-rah-noh)? Bar Talk One coffee, please – Eno kavo prosim (EH-noh KAH-voh pro-SEEM) One beer, please – (Name of beer), prosim (pro-SEEM) Cheers! – Na zdravje (Nah zuh-DRAW-wee-ay)! You have beautiful eyes – Imate lepe oči (EE-mah-tay lehpeh oh-chee) Can I have your number? Lahko dobim tvojo telefonsko številko? (Law-koh doh-BEEM t-voy-yo teh-leh-FOHN-sko shteh-VEEL-koh)?

April - May 2009

quick picks

Quick picks

Ljubljana Distilled Eat

Drink

Sleep

Like A Local

Pr’ potic (p.46) Looking for lunch in Ljubljana? Want to go somewhere specialising in local dishes? Then you could do much worse than taking advantage of Pr’ Potic’s set lunch menu where you can enjoy a choice of two soups, two mains, salad and desert, all eaten at either one of the outdoor tables or in the cosy red and white interior. The a la carte menu has a range of hot and cold starters, soups, sides such as dumplings and grilled vegetables. Factor in the wine list, friendly service and the good location on the square at the end of Stari trg and you have an eatery that offers a budget option with the frills still attached.

Cafe Plato (p.51) a stylish and quite new cafe, they offer a wide selection of great ice creams, cakes, and tiny tarts in their small and clean inside space or outside on the slightly unpleasant concrete slabs of terrace facing the major thoroughfare.There is also a nice menu of small dishes and larger meals, depending on whether you are passing through or staying in for a while, but alas you’ll have to get one of the constantly annoyed waitstaff to translate it for you. We recommend just coming for the sweets.

Like A Local

The city centre hotel, called Best Western PremierSlon (p 31) is not only a little bit different but a little bit special as well. The rooms and suites are designed in the classic Best Western style, now coming with many such welcome additions as DVD players and wireless internet access.

It’s all in the timing so they say. Spread over two floors, the Roxly (p.54) provides a dual function by offering meals by day and music by night. The coffee bar and restaurant is popular during the daylight hours, with a good wine and cocktail list, a menu made up of local and international dishes and a view of the castle from the outdoor dining area. By night, DJs and live music, mainly of the blues and rock varieties, keep this place rolling along until three in the morning, providing a welcome alternative to the ubiquitous dance music found in most late-night venues. So whether you want a coffee with a view, a long lunch, or cocktails and rock and roll, the Roxly can meet your needs - just make sure you get your times right.

On the Cheap

Slast (p.37) There’s nothing quite as disturbing as watching grown men simultaneously smile and slice meat. If you can handle it, these friendly folk with their grins and grubby aprons serve some fine burek as well as the usual extra fast food offerings including pizza, hot dogs and kebabs. Soft drinks too.

Kavarna in slaščičarna Zvezda (p.51) a bustling café frequented by a battalion of clients from students to pearl-laden old ladies. Zvezda’s décor leans in the direction of your classic Buddha lounge, with a scattering of Oriental statues and some fine brown velvet wallpaper. Not the cheapest café in town, your money is at least well spent. The coffee is strong enough to wake the dead, and the cakes are some of the best and stickiest in town.

On the Cheap

Vila Veselova (p.35) owned by the same people who run the excellent Žmauc bar, this fairly new hostel in a lovely old villa in the western part of the city centre is aimed at the young travelling crowd who like to relax. Simply furnished with a range of rooms and dormitories, some with and some without en suite facilities and all named after a different colour, extras include nice big balconies and free internet.

With the Ljubljana card (€12.52) you get 3 days worth of free rides on the city bus (normally €1 a ride) as well as free admission to the city museums and galleries. You’ll be thanking yourself all the way to the ban.

With The Family

Allegria (p.42) a veritable corner of Tuscany in Slovenia, Allegria promises to bring the scent of the Tuscan hills and the atmosphere of the stark landscapes across the Alps - and admirably succeeds. With a menu longer than Alitalia’s creditor list, there’s plenty to choose from, be it delicate ravioli and lasagna dishes, or fragrantly grilled meat or fish.

STA travel café (p.50) . There are a lot of pluses to this place despite the clinical sounding name. Set on a big terrace with a good view and lots of tables it offers free Internet for patrons. When all that virtual surfing results in hunger pangs you can sate them with your choice from a wide range of sandwiches. The TV is set to the travel channel so you can look at where you’ve been, where you’re going or where you want to head off to next, and every second Wednesday you can attend the travel presentations and wash all the free information down with beer, wine, coffee, tea or a soft drink.

With The Family

Austria Trend (p.30) two kilometres north of the city centre near the highway, this vast business class hotel that also caters to the better standard of tourist provides high quality rooms in four different categories from good to exceptionally good, plus a range of other excellent services and facilities including wellness centre, top notch conference amenities, restaurants, a fine cocktail bar and a fun oyster and sushi bar. Popular for both relaxing business stays as well as a variety of different functions, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better hotel of this type in the city.

Based on similar wacky, fun and educational places around the globe, the extraordinary House of Experiments (p.64) features two rooms of purpose-builtex periments for the ultimate hands-on experience. Visitors are free to wander around as they wish, engaging with anything that takes their fancy, whether it’s a giant bubble maker, a room full of mirrors or a machine that plays music according to your weight.

Over The Top

If you are looking for fine dining in the heart of the city, Valvasor (p.47) may be just the place for you. ‘Elegant’ and ‘tasteful’ are adjectives that could be used to describe both the décor and the menu. With an extensive wine list selected from all over Slovenia, Valvasor is open for lunch and dinner.

Stara Mačka (p.47) like all the restaurants and cafes along the Ljubljanica the focus here is on the outside experience and this restaurant/bar aims to create a sort of Miami vibe in their tiny area along the river; with Latin music blaring on the stereo, a drink list featuring tropical cocktails and cigars, and a staff of attractive but terribly smug waiters. The food here is pricey steakhouse fare with quality but oddly seasoned (ours came smothered in honey) steaks and burgers. If being trendy ranks higher on your list of priorities than good food and service, this is the place for you.

Over The Top

Grand Hotel Union Executive (p.30) offers one of the city’s most elegant experiences with a mix of old world and contemporary decor and top of the line services for those who travel with expensive taste.

Cankarjev Dom (p.24) is host to many premier national and international musical acts, dance companies, and theater ensembles all year-round. Check out our culture & events section (page 16) and find a great show.

Slightly Strange

Eating horses may horrify most British visitors, but that’s only because they’ve watched too much Mr Ed and have never tried it. It’s low in fat, rich in proteins and easy to digest - so swap your steed for a car and get grilling. Hot Horse (p.38) serves healthy horseburgers from a small kiosk in Tivoli Park and just outside BTC.

Pr Skelet (p.54) Look for the skeleton hanging in a cage on the corner of the street, dip up the alley and down the skeleton-riddled staircase, over the skeleton lying under the glass floor and enter what may well be the strangest cocktail bar of them all. As sharp-witted readers may have already guessed, the theme here is a skeletal one. They’re everywhere - some still wearing their clothes, and even a dominatrix skeleton complete with a whip and naughty little skeleton. Not content with this, expect to find a bony handle on your cup should you order a coffee.

Slightly Strange

IIf you’ve ever felt you might need to be locked away, your chance has arrived. Celica (p.35) hostel used to be a military prison and much of the decor has stayed the same. For a fair price you can book yourself into a cell for the night. It would, at least, be educational.

Metelkova Mesto (p.24) is an autonomous social centre created when artists took over former army barracks. The place is decorated in colorful graffiti and artwork and serves as the home for a number of art organizations and rock clubs Gromka and Klub Channel Zero.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

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April - May 2009

Culture & Events

Bohem

Music

Zoran Dukić, guitar (Croatia) - classical music Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 1.4.2009, 19.30 Andraž Poljanec (Slovenia), percussion instrument - classical Mestni muzej Ljubljana / City Museum of Ljubljana 1.4.2009, 19.30 Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra - classical music Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 2.4.2009, 19.30 3.4.2009, 19.30 Conductor: Claus Peter FlorSoloist: Aleksander Gindin, piano (Russia) Programme: P. Ramovš, F. Liszt, P. I. Tchaikovsky End of Level Boss (UK), Stinking Lizaveta (USA) - rock, metal, progressive Menza pri koritu (Metelkova mesto alternative culture centre) 2.4.2009 Accordion Tribe (Slovenia / Sweden / Finland / USA, Austria) - world music Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 4.4.2009, 20.15 Performers: Bratko Bibič (Slovenia), Lars Hollmer (Sweden), Maria Kalaniemi (Finland), Guy Klucevsek (USA), Otto Lechner (Austria) &ndash; all on accordion and vocals Radio -Television Slovenia Symphony Orchestra - clasical Slovenska filharmonija / Slovenian Philharmonic 5.4.2009, 11.00 Artistic director and conductor: Mate Bekavac Programme: J. S. Bach, G. Kanchelli, R. Strauss Danijel Brecelj, piano - classical Mestni muzej Ljubljana / City Museum of Ljubljana 7.4.2009, 19.30 Free admission Steve Wynn feat. Chris Eckman Band (USA/Slovenia) - rock Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 7.4.2009, 20.30 Bohem with guests - pop Cvetličarna 7.4.2009, 20.00 Zoran Markovič, contrabass (Slovenia), Alfredo Perl, piano (Slovenia) - classical Slovenska filharmonija / Slovenian Philharmonic 8.4.2009, 19.30 Majke (Croatia): Unplugged - rock Cvetličarna 9.4.2009, 21.00

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Joey Cape (USA), Jon Snodgrass (USA), Chad Rex (USA) - rock, indie Orto bar 10.4.2009, 21.00 Terrafolk (Slovenia) - ethnic folk Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 11.4.2009, 18.00 Gacha Empega (France), Sam Karpienia Trio (France) - ethno jazz Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 14.4.2009, 20.30 Radio-Television Slovenia Big Band - jazz Hotel Mons 18.4.2009, 20.00 Conductor: Rok Golob Gal Gjurin - pop, jazz Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 19.4.2009, 20.00 Guests: Elda Viler, Vlado Kreslin, Jan Plestenjak, Severa Gjurin, Jadranka Juras, Anžej Dežan, Tomislav Jovanovič & Tokac, Ana Dežman, Jose, Anika Horvat, Dejan Lapanja, Galeristi, Godalni kvartet Fiasco Beijing Symphony Orchestra (China) - classical music Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 22.4.2009, 20.00 Iztok Hrastnik, contrabass (Slovenia), Jerca Novak, flute (Slovenia) - classical Poletno gledališče Križanke / Križanke Summer Theatre 23.4.2009, 19.30 Free admission Partibrejkers (Serbia) - rock Cvetličarna 23.4.2009, 21.00 Sexteto Rodriguez (Cuba / USA) - jazz Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 28.4.2009, 20.30 The Necks (Australia) - contemporary jazz Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 12.5.2009, 20.30 Radio and Television Slovenia Symphony Orchestra - film music Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 14.5.2009, 20.00 Conductor: Evan Christ Soloist: Anja Bukovec, violin Veter Ljubljana Mixed Youth Choir - choir music Slovenska filharmonija / Slovenian Philharmonic 16.5.2009, 19.30 Slovene Chamber Choir - classical Slovenska filharmonija / Slovenian Philharmonic 17.5.2009, 19.00 Chambermaster: Gregor Klančič Programme: H. Schütz, J. Brahms, H. Kaminski, P. Eben, R. Kamplet 25th International Druga Godba Festival various venues 18. to 29.5.2009 Slovenian Philharmonic Chamber String Orchestra: Slovenian music night - classical music Narodna galerija / National Gallery 19.5.2009 Programme: S. Osterc, U. Krek, L. Lebič Soloist: Mirjam Kalin, mezzo-soprano Frankfurt Radio Orchestra (Germany) - classical music Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 20.5.2009, 20.00 Conductor: Paavo Järvi Programme: A. Bruckner - Symphony No. 5 in B major (WAB 105) The Rempis Percussion Quartet (USA) - improvisational jazz Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) 26.5.2009, 20.30

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14th Slovenian Book Days Kongresni trg square 20. to 24.4.2009 The event will include a Slovenian publishers’ book fair and a programme of cultural events ranging from concerts, children’s events and prize winning games to literary readings and publisher presentations.

Culture & Events

culture & Events

Festivals

Open air events

Viva Mexico - festival of Mexican culture Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre), Prešernova 10 3.3. to 18.7.2009 25th International Druga Godba Festival various venues 18. to 29.5.2009

P. I. Tschaikovsky: Swan Lake - ballet The Dvorni trg Square 18.4.2009 14th Slovenian Book Days Kongresni trg square 20 to 24.4.2009 Recreational March Along The Path Around Ljubljana The Path of Rememberance and Comradeship (Pot spominov in tovarištva) 9.5.2009 Secondary School Graduates’ Parade 2009 The Path of Rememberance and Comradeship (Pot spominov in tovarištva) 15.5.2009, 12.00 Art Market - sale of fine art items and creative workshops Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment, Cobblers’ Bridge (Čevljarski most), Hribarjevo nabrežje embankment 2.5.2009, 09.00 - 16.00 9.5.2009, 09.00 - 16.00 16.5.2009, 09.00 - 16.00 23.5.2009, 09.00 - 16.00 30.5.2009, 09.00 - 16.00 Graduation parade 2009 Slovenska cesta 15.5.2009 at 12.00

Opera and balet C a n k a r j ev d o m (c u l t u r a l a n d c o n g r e s s centre)

Prešernova 10 Queen of Pudding’s Music Theatre (Canada): Love Songs - one singer opera Music by: Ana Sokolović Director and scenographer: Brent Krysa 21.4.2009, 20.00 C. Orff: Carmina Burana - cantiones profanae - opera Performed by: Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatres of Ljubljana and Maribor with an international cast of soloists 21.5.2009, 20.00

Theatre Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) Prešernova 10 The Glass Apple - a gypsy musical 8.4.2009, 20.30 Teatro de ciertos habitantes (Mexico): The Grey Automobile - theatre production 16.4.2009, 20.00 17.4.2009, 20.00 Teatro de ciertos habitantes (Mexico): The Grey Automobile - theatre production 16.4.2009, 20.00 17.4.2009, 20.00

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Ljubljana In Your Pocket

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April - May 2009

Culture & Events Francesco Robba Francesco Robba (1698-1757), a Venetian-born sculptor and architect who spent most of his life in Ljubljana, is considered to be Ljubljana’s greatest Baroque master sculptor working in stone. 14.4. to 24.5.2009 Impressionism and Symbolism: Polish painting around 1900 16.4. to 7.6.2009 The 20th Century Drawings in Slovenia: A Historical Overview in Slovenia from Realism in 19th Century to 2nd World War 14.5. to 31.8.2009

Various venues International Museum Day - open door to museums and galleries 18.5.2009

Museums National galary

Branko Cvetkovič

Galleries Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre)

Prešernova 10 A look from behind: Design in Bosnia and Herzegovina - design exhibition 18.3. to 10.4.2009 Uroš Potočnik - paintings Free admission 2. to 19.4.2009 Dušan Arzenšek: Mexico 2008 - photographs 13.5. to 21.6.2009

KUD France Prešeren (arts and cultural centre) Karunova ulica 14 Gabrijel Vrhovec (Slovenia) - paintings 1. to 20.4.2009

Mestna galerija 1 / City Art Museum 1

Mestni trg 5 The 20th Century Drawings in Slovenia: A Historical Overview in Slovenia from Realism in 19th Century to 2nd World War 25.5. to 30.8.2009

Mestna galerija 2 - prostori stalne zbirke / City Art Museum 2 - Permanent Collection Section

Cankarjevo nabrežje 11 Jurij Dobrila (Slovenia) - statues 16.3. to 5.4.2009 The 20th Century Drawings in Slovenia: A Historical Overview in Slovenia from Realism in 19th Century to 2nd World War 25.5. to 30.8.2009

Narodna galerija / National Gallery

Prešernova cesta 24, T: +386 (0)1 241 54 18, http://www. ng-slo.si Zoran Mušič: Spanish vision - documentary exhibition marking the 100th birth anniversary of the Slovenian painter and print artist Zoran Mušič 12.2. to 19.4.2009

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

C a n k a r j ev d o m (c u l t u r a l a n d c o n g r e s s centre)

Prešernova 10 Pre - Columbian Mexico: Eternal Life - the latest archaeological finds from western Mexico 10.3. to 26.7.2009

Mestni muzej Ljubljana / City Museum of Ljubljana

Gosposka ulica 15 Roger Ballen (USA): Retrospective 1982 - 2004 - photographs 23.3. to 30.4.2009

Narodni muzej Slovenije / National Museum of Slovenia - the museum’s building in the Metelkova

ulica street Primož Trubar (1508-1586) This National Museum exhibition is dedicated to the life and work of Primož Trubar, the father of the written Slovenian language and the leader of the Protestant movement in Slovenia, as well as to the achievements of the Slovenian Reformation Movement in the areas of literature, fine arts and music. 6.3.2008 to 30.4.2009

Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije / Slovenian Museum of Natural History Muzejska ulica 1 Forest Secrets 30.11.2007 to 19.7.2009 Fossil Heritage of the Forest 8.5.2008 to 15.4.2009 Glass Case of the Quarter: Eclogite - An Extraordinary Gem from the Pohorje Massif 19.1. to 10.4.2009 Glass Case of the Quarter: Beavers have returned to Slovenia 2.2. to 30.6.2009 Maja Šubic: Darwin through the eyes of an artist 19.3. to 29.6.2009

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Culture & Events The one-time home of the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, Ljubljana continues to inspire, nurture and produce a wide and eclectic mix of creative individuals and groups. Whether it’s the work of the Slovenian artists Richard Jakopič or Ivana Kobilca you’re here to see, or if you simply want to watch the latest Hollywood film, Ljubljana provides everything you need and more besides. For more cultural information, take a look at the Sightseeing section of this guide.

Cinemas Foreign films are screened in the original language with Slovenian subtitles, except for children’s films which are sometimes dubbed. Tickets cost approximately €5.

Kino Dvor C-2, Kolodvorska 13, tel. 239 22 13, info@

My wine

Dance Cullberg Ballet (Sweden): Empty House / Negro con Flores / Walking Mad - contemporary dance performances Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre), Prešernova 10 6.4.2009, 20.00 Choreographer: Johan Inger

Fairs

Moje vino / My Wine - 55th international wine competition Gospodarsko razstavišče / Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre 29.5. to 1.6.2009 The Moje vino / My Wine international wine competition is known for its long tradition and high standards in judging. Wines and other alcoholic beverages will be judged by renowned wine tasters from all continents. 55th International Wine Competition Gospodarsko razstavišče / Ljubljana E xhibition and Convention Centre 29.5. to 1.6.2009 The International Wine Competition in Ljubljana is the oldest international wine competition, not only in the European Union but also in the world. The highest level of expertise and strict adherence to the international rules have brought the Ljubljana competition the highest international reputation and recognition. Bioexo 2009 - exhibition of exotic animals Rastlinjak Botaničnega vrta Ljubljana / Ljubljana Botanic Garden’s Glasshouse 18. to 19.4.2009, 09.00 - 19.00 Bioexo is an exhibition of exotic animals owned by Slovenian breeders and lovers of pets such as snakes reptiles, turtles, spiders, etc., accompanied by lectures, children’s creative workshops and video screenings.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

kinodvor.org, www.kinodvor.org. Kinoklub Vič A-3, Trg Mladinskih Delovnih Brigad 6, tel. 241 84 11, www.kolosej.si. Recently renovated, this is a charming cinema to visit for a mix of Hollywood and other films. Kinoteka C-2, Miklošičeva 28, tel. 547 15 80, www. kinoteka.si. The place for non-Hollywood, art house and European films. Be sure to check the spoken language beforehand. Kolosej J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 520 55 00, www. kolosej.si. A big multiscreen cinema showing popular films inside the BTC shopping area. Komuna B-2, Cankarjeva 1, tel. 241 84 01, www. kolosej.si.

Concert halls Top-end concerts are also often held at Ljubljana Castle.

Cvetličarna Mediapark J-1, Kranjčeva 20, tel. 902

63 27, info@tntevents.net, www.tntevents.net. More a concert hall than a club, nonetheless Cvetličarna is a good place to check out on Friday nights. At other times it opens to host local and foreign bands, often big name ones, but on Fridays you can enter for free before midnight and dance to disco or house, mingling and jostling with the mainly student crowd. The venue itself is big but beyond that nothing to write home about, but the atmosphere is usually great and lets face it, a club can have all the funky décor there is to be had but if it doesn’t have the atmosphere, it doesn’t have much at all.

Exhibition and Convention Centre (Gospodarsko Razstavišče) C-1, Dunajska 18, tel. 300 26 00, fax 300

26 28, info@gr-sejem.si, www.gr-sejem.si. Congresses, fairs and other large events. Festivalna Dvorana H-2, Vilharjeva 11, tel. 234 82 00, tajnistvo@pionirski-dom.si, www.pionirski-dom.si. A large concert and event hall built by none other than local lad Plečnik. Hala Tivoli A-1, Celovška 25, tel. 430 67 50, justina. gosak@zavod-tivoli.si, www.zavod-tivoli.si. Philharmonic (Slovenska Filharmonija) B-3, Kongresni Trg 10, tel. 241 08 00, info@filharmonija.si, www.filharmonija.si. A century old in 2008, the esteemed Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly with Lebaneseborn chief conductor George Pehlivanian and various guest conductors. QOpen 07:00 - 22:00.

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Culture & Events Mestna galerija 1 B-3, Mestni Trg 5, tel. 241 17 70, mestna.galerija-lj@siol.net, www.mestna-galerija.si. The largest fine art exhibition space in Ljubljana, next to the Town Hall. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Sun 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Mon.

Theatres Most plays are in Slovenian, though every now and then there’s a company visiting from abroad. Times given are the box office opening hours.

City Theatre (Mestno Gledališče Ljubljansko)

Cankarjev Dom

TIC Ljubljana

Cultural centres

Österreich Institut (Austrian Institute) B-3, Trg

Francoske Revolucije 6, tel. 426 99 70, www.oesterreichinstitut.si. German language courses, lectures, films, exhibitions and other events. QOpen , Mon, Tue 10:00 - 18:30, Fri 10:00 - 16:00. Closed Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun. Open, Mon, Tue 10:00-18:30, Fri 10:00-16:00. Cankarjev dom A-3, Prešernova 10, tel. 241 71 00, info@cd-cc.si, www.cd-cc.si. This complex from the early 1980s is a major venue for concerts, theatre, dance, film, exhibitions and congresses. Goethe-Institut B-3, Trg Republike 3, tel. 476 37 25, info@ ljubljana.goethe.org, www.goethe.de/ins/si/lju. The German cultural centre: language courses, a library with newspapers and CDs, exhibitions and other events. QOpen 10:00 - 15:00, Thu 13:00 - 18:00, Fri 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Institut Français B-3, Breg 12, tel. 200 05 00, www.institutfrance.si. The French cultural institute offers language courses, exhibitions, films and other events. There’s also a library with newspapers, films and music. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Fri 10:00 - 14:00. Closed Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun. Instituto Cervantes (Spanish cultural institute) C-4, Privoz 11, tel. 421 06 84, aula.liubliana@cervantes.es, www.cervantes.es. The Spanish institute has no library but does offer language courses and organises events. QOpen 12:00 - 18:00, Fri 12:00 - 15:00. Closed Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun.

Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Italian Cultural Institute) B-3, Kongresni Trg 13, tel. 241 56 40, www.

italcult.slo.it.tt. Language courses and a library with books, films and music from Slovenia’s most important neighbour. QOpen 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. KUD France Prešeren B-4, Karunova 14, tel. 283 22 88, kud@kud-fp.si, www.kud-fp.si. A venue for concerts, theatre, exhibitions and other events. QOpen 10:00 - 22.00, Sun 13:00 - 22:00.

Galleries The best places to view and buy local art.

Equrna B-3, Gregorčičeva 3, tel. 252 71 23, equrna@ volja.net, www.equrna.si. Modern art in an elegant white, arched space. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat 10:00 - 13:00. No admission. Ganes Pratt B-3, Gregorčičeva 3, tel. 251 16 33/251 16 34, info@ganes.si, www.ganes.si. This fairly new space (found in the alley next door to Equrna) features some of the most exciting new Slovenian artists. QOpen 10:00 - 13:00, 14:00-18:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

B-2, Čopova 14, tel. 251 08 52, info@mgl.si, www.mgl. si. The MGL has two stages that are the home of modern, progressive drama since the Yugoslav era. QOpen 12:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Kavarna Union B-2, Miklošičeva 1, tel. 308 17 63, www.gh-union.si. The stage of the Kavarna Union coffee house, inside the Grand Hotel Union. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Križanke Open Air Theatre B-3, Trg Francoske Revolucije 1, tel. 241 60 26. A beautiful open air theatre with great accoustics for various summertime concerts and events.

National Drama Theatre (Narodno Gledališče Drama) B-3, Erjavčeva 1, tel. 252 15 11, drama@

drama.si, www.drama.si. With its roots reaching back to the 1860s, Slovenia’s national theatre stages plays from all eras. Q Open 14:00 - 17:00 and 18:00 to showtime, Sat 18:00 to showtime, Sun closed. Puppet Theatre (Lutkovno Gledališče) C-3, Krekov Trg 2, tel. 300 09 70, www.lgl.si. Taking as its cue the origins of Slovenian puppet theatre in the 15th century, this puppet theatre, founded in 1948, provides over 500 performances annually, and is a hotbed of creative music, design and other forms. It’s responsible for keeping scores of children entertained and amused every week. Keep an eye out for the musical puppets that come out of the small tower on the roof of the building on the hour. QOpen 16:00 - 18:00, Sat 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun. The box office is open Mon - Fri from 16:00 to 18:00, Sat from 10:00 to 12:00, and during the hour prior to each performance. Slovenian National Opera & Ballet Theatre B-2, Cankarjeva 11/1, tel. 241 17 66, info@opera.si, www. opera.si. A beautiful neo-Renaissence theatre in the city centre that’s used for various classical performances. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Škuc Gallery B-3, Stari Trg 21, tel./fax 421 31 40, www. galerija.skuc-drustvo.si. One of the cities most popular and important galleries, Škuc holds numerous culture events and exhibitions throughout the year featuring some oft he most important people in contemporary art from throughout the region and the continent. QOpen 12:00 - 20:00. Closed Mon.

Tickets Tickets for events can usually be purchased in advance at the venue, but also via one of the ticket agencies.

ESITI C-1, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte (OF) 6, podpora@

esiti.com, www.esiti.com. The events ticketing office inside the railway station. Q To 31 May: 10:00-19:00. From 1 June: 8:00-22:00 Eventim A-1, Celovška 25, tel. 430 24 05, info@eventim. si, www.eventim.si/portal/en. Online ticket sales for more than 3,000 events per year, including concerts, sports, and cultural events across Slovenia and Central Europe. Check the offer of events and buy tickets before you even arrive in Slovenia. Tourist Information Centre C-3, Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 2, tel. 306 12 15, tic@ljubljana-tourism.si, www.ljubljana-tourism.si. Tickets for concerts, shows and other events. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00.

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ljubljana junior Travelling with the little ones can definitely be a challenge, and Ljubljana does not always cater to the sandbox segment of the population, but with our useful guide to kid-friendly places in town, boredom should easily be held at bay. Let the children delve into these great venues and events.

Children

Atlantis Water Park (Vodno mesto Atlantis) J-2,

Šmartinska 152, tel. 585 21 00, vodnomesto@btc.si, www.atlantis-vodnomesto.si. Large and popular waterpark inside the BTC shopping megaplex. A special train from the main train station takes you directly there and back, should you so desire. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. Admission €8,30/12,50. Biosfera B-4, Karunova ulica 6, tel. 280 16 07, info@ biosfera.si, www.biosfera.si. This extreme sports center features a climbing wall and other edgey sports in a secure environment. Call at least a day in advance to arrange your visit. City Museum (Mestni Muzej Ljubljana) B-3, Gosposka 15, tel. 241 25 00, info@mestnimuzej.si, www.mestnimuzej.si. This magnificent museum offers an interesting introduction to Ljubljana’s history, and every Sunday at 1pm they offer guided tours in English catered to the interests of families with children. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Admission €2.50-4. G-rega Institute B-1, Parmova 53, tel. 839 46 59, info@www.g-rega.si, www.g-rega.si. The group organizes a number of children’s activities at various locations throughout the city including swimming, movement, sports, and gymnastics with special programs for English-speaking children. QOpen 16:00 - 21:00.

Events Cankarjev dom (cultural and congress centre) Prešernova 10, T: +386 (0)1 241 72 99, http://www. cd-cc.si/ Adventure for two narrators and instruments of the world: Two Gobs and a Fiddler - music matinee performance Performance by: Jure Longyka, Žiga Golob, Boštjan Gombač 18.4.2009, 17.00 23.5.2009, 17.00

Hiša eksperimentov (hands- on science centre) Trubarjeva cesta 39, T: +386 (0)1 300 68 88, http:// www.h-e.si Gasology - interactive science lecture 4.4.2009, 14.00 Lightology - interactive science lecture 5.4.2009, 17.00 Colourology - interactive science lecture 11.4.2009, 17.00 Smellogy- interactive science lecture 12.4.2009, 17.00 Bubbleology - interactive science lecture 18.4.2009, 17.00 Frictiology - interactive scence lecture 19.4.2009, 17.00 Toothology - interactive scence lecture 25.4.2009, 17.00 All Equal, All Dif ferent - interactive science lecture 26.4.2009, 17.00

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Performance for children in Tivoli park

S. Rancov

House of Experiments (Hiša Eksperimentov) C-2, Trubarjeva 39, tel. 300 68 88, info@h-e.si, www. h-e.si. An interactive science center for children of any and all ages which disguises learning in a bunch of hands-on games. They also feature an ongoing schedule of special programs called “adventures”. QOpen , Sat, Sun 11:00 - 17:00. Admission €4. Ljubljana Mini Theatre (Mini Teater) D-1, Štihova 6, tel. 430 3143, info@mini-teater.si, w w w.miniteater.si. A theater created especially for children, they put on a number of productions, including the summer puppet festival. QOpen , Sun 09:00 - 18:30. Open Sun 09:00-18:30.

Ljubljana Puppet Theatre (Lutkovno Gledališče Ljubljana) C-3, Krekov Trg 2, tel. 300 09 70, organizacija@lgl.si, www.lgl.si. Year-round offerings of children puppet shows, while most performances will be in Slovenian there are occasionally events by foreign puppet troupes appropriate for an international crowd. Q Open is one hour before acting. Ljubljana Zoo (Živalski Vrt) G/H-2, Večna Pot 70, tel. 244 21 82, info@zoo-ljubljana.si, www.zoo-ljubljana. si. City zoo with special petting areas for the safer animals. This year they mark a year celebration of the frog. Q Open February 09:00-16:00, March 09:00-17:00. Admission €3.506, children under 2 are free.

Slovenian Ethnographic Museum (Etnografski Muzej) D-2, Metelkova 2, tel. 300 87 00, etnomuz@

etno-muzej.si, www.etno-muzej.si. A walk through many cultures of the world, the EthnoAlphabet permanent exhibit is particularly appealing for the younger ones. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Admission €2.50-4.50. Tennis Breskvar H-1, Tesovnikova 74, tel. 568 38 19, tenis.breskvar@siol.net, www.tenis-klub-breskvar.si. If you’ve got a budding Federer or Williams sister in your family you might consider taking them to this center founded by the Slovenian coach who trained Boris Becker and Steffi Graf. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00.

April - May 2009

Sports Slovenians love to enjoy the great outdoors, and from tennis to football to golf to yoga there are a number great of choices to enjoy sport (or watch someone else strain themselves will you sip on a beer) inside and outside, and around Ljubljana.

Bowling

Arena Vodafone live! - Gladiator (BTC Center) J-

1/2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 520 55 80, info@kolosej.si, www.arenalive.si. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri 12:00 - 02:00, Sat 10:00 - 02:00, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. Klub300 H-1, Regentova 35, tel. 510 39 40, info@bowlingklub300.com, www.bowlingklub300.com. QOpen 14:00 - 24:00, Sat 10:00 - 02:00, Sun 10:00 - 23:00. In summer bowling is available every day from 17:00.

Dance School

Salsoteca A/B-1, Celovška 175, tel. 031 31 48 05, www.salsoteca.si. QOpen 17:00 - 19:30. Closed Sat.

Fitness

Fit&Fun Center B-2, Dalmatinova 2, tel. 239 61 74, info@fit-funcenter.si, www.fit-funcenter.si. Q Open

07:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 22:00. Sokol Group d.o.o. H-3, Koprska 72, tel. 200 27 50, fax 200 27 57, uprava@sokolgroup.com, www. sokolgroup.com. Sokol Tivoli Fitness center A-1, Celovška 25, tel. 300 37 55, sokoltivoli@sokolgroup.com, www.sokolgroup. com. QOpen 06:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 20:00. Sunny H-1, Regentova 37, tel. 513 44 44, www.sunny. si. QOpen 07:30 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 21:00. TG Sportlife H-2, Bežigrad 13, tel. 041 81 11 96, info@ tgsportlife.net, www.tgsportlife.net. Q Open 09:00 - 19:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Golf

Golf klub barje Dunajska 156, tel. 568 70 07, gcbarje@ golf-klub-barje.si, www.golf-klub-barje.si. Golf Trnovo Wolfova 12, tel. 041 76 64 40, info@ golftrnovo.com, www.golftrnovo.com.

Outdoor Activities

SKOK ŠPORT d.o.o. Marinovševa 8, tel. 1 512 44

02/040 217 000, info@skok-sport.si, www.skok-sport. si. QOpen 08:00 - 12:00, 15:00-18:00.

Events Kayak SlalomTournament Sava river at Tacen 2.5.2009 Recreational March Along The Path Around Ljubljana The Path of Rememberance and Comradeship (Pot spominov in tovarištva) 9.5.2009 Free admission The recreational Path around Ljubljana is a unique cultural monument. It runs along the course of the barb wire fence which surrounded Ljubljana during World War II. The fence was built in 1942 in order to prevent contacts between the city and its hinterland. Those participating the 52nd Recreational March along the 35 kilometre Path around Ljubljana will be able to choose from several tracks of different lengths. Ilirija 2009 International Swimming Tournament Kopališče Ilirija 9.5.2009 Ilirija 2009 International Swimming Tournament Kopališče Ilirija 10.5.2009 European Speedway Championship - couples Stadion Ilirija / Ilirija Stadium, Zgornja Šiška district 23.5.2009 Traditional 4th running Thinking on heart 15.4.2009 ob 15.00 do 20.00 7.Slovenija Ljubljana open 2009 4.4.2009 at 08.00, Sport Center Triglav Trotting races on racecourse in Stožicah 10.5.2009 at 14.00, KK Stožice Ljubljana, Stožice 28

Swimming

Atlantis Water Park J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 585 21

00, vodnomesto@btc.si, www.atlantis-vodnomesto.si. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. Admission €7,90/6,50. Kodeljevo F-3, Gortanova 21, tel. 520 13 00, slovan@ siol.net, www.slovan.si. Q Outdoor pool open 09:0019:00 in Aug. Admission €6/4,50. Laguna Spa & Fun H/J-1, Dunajska 270, tel. 568 39 13, laguna@gpl.si, www.laguna.si. QOpen 09:00 - 22:00. Admission €13/11. Plavalni klub Ilirija A-1, Celovška 3, tel. 439 75 80, pkilirija@siol.net, www.plavalniklub-ilirija.si. Recreational Center Tivoli A-1, Celovška 25, tel. 431 51 50, justina.gosak@zavod-tivoli.si, www.zavodtivoli.si. QOpen 06:00 - 11:00; 18:00-23:00, Mon 18:00 - 23:00, Sun 10:00 - 20:00. Outdoor pool open 09:00-19:00. Admission €6/4,50.

Extreme Sports

Biosfera B-4, Karunova 6, tel. 280 16 07, info@biosfera. si, www.biosfera.si.

Tennis

Breskvar Tennis Academy J-1, Tesovnikova 74, tel.

Sport event in Ljubljana

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

D.Wedam

568 38 19, tennis.breskvar@siol.net, www.tenis-klubbreskvar.si. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00. Gradiant J-1, Pot K Savi 45, tel. 537 30 47, info@gradiant.si, www.gradiant.si. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. Kodeljevo sports park F-3, Gortanova 21, tel. 520 13 00, slovan@siol.net, www.slovan.si. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Where to stay

Where to stay Not surprisingly for a popular tourist and business destination, Ljubljana provides a wide range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. As you’d expect, prices creep up the closer you get to the centre, but the cost of a night here still remains relatively low in comparison with western Europe. The city’s popularity does mean however that places do book up for the summer. Ensuring you get yourself the room the want in the location you want and for the price you want during the summer is highly recommended.

Symbol key P Air conditioning

A Credit cards accepted

O Casino

H Conference facilities

T Child friendly

U Facilities for the disabled

F Fitness centre

L Guarded parking

R Internet

G Non-smoking rooms

K Restaurant

J Old town location

D Sauna

C Swimming pool

6 Animal friendly

W Wi-Fi

Cream of the crop Ljubljana’s best beds. Double rooms from €200.

Austria Trend H-1, Dunajska 154, tel. 588 25 00, fax

588 25 99, www.austria-trend.at/lju. Two kilometres north of the city centre near the highway, this vast business class hotel that also caters to the better standard of tourist provides high quality rooms in four different categories from good to exceptionally good, plus a range of other excellent services and facilities including wellness centre, top notch conference amenities, restaurants, a fine cocktail bar and a fun oyster and sushi bar. Popular for both relaxing business stays as well as a variety of different functions, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better hotel of this type in the city. Q 214 rooms (singles €100-125, doubles €140-220, suites €130210, apartments €225). POHAUFGKDXW

Grand Hotel Union Executive B-2, Miklošičeva 1, tel.

308 12 70, hotel.union@gh-union.si, www.gh-union.si. In a great location in the heart of the city centre, the Executive offers fine accommodation in a range of tastefully decorated rooms, suites and apartments. Complete with a lovely old world, Art Nouveau ambience, expect an excellent choice of facilities for both business and leisure. Extras include two decent restaurants, a small bar, airport shuttle service and a decent gift shop. In keeping with its reputation, the hotel also hosts the local bridge club, who meet every Monday at 18:00. Q 327 rooms (singles €194-233, doubles €209-248, suites €455-546). PJHAR6UFLGKDXCW hhhh

Lev B-2, Vošnjakova 1, tel. 433 21 55, info@hotel-lev.

si, www.hotel-lev.si. Ljubljana’s only five-star hotel started business in 1964 and boasts a pedigree that’s managed to entice such notable celebrities as Agatha Christie, Kirk Douglas and Sting in its time. A glistening marble lobby serves as a fine overture to over 170 high quality, air-conditioned rooms from singles through to some exceedingly posh suites, all complete with facilities including soundproof windows, cable television and a choice of internet connections. Extras include popular business and conference services, a restaurant specialising in some fine French dishes and a large casino in the basement. Q 173 rooms (singles €106-120, doubles €125-135, suites €150-170). POJHARUFGKXW hhhhh

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Upmarket Reasonably priced luxury. Double rooms from €140-200.

Antiq B/C-3, Gornji Trg 3, tel. 421 35 60, fax 421 35

65, info@antiqhotel.si, www.antiqhotel.si. A superb location in the heart of the old town with a host of rooms to suite all tastes and budgets. Featuring a welcoming little lobby with lots of nice feminine touches, the rooms have been given a distinctly boutique hotel feel, with huge wooden beds, patterned carpets, interesting paintings on the walls and some really smart pieces of furniture. Even the small budget economy rooms have been approached with a tasteful eye, whereas at the other end of the spectrum the superiors come with bags of space, lovely chandeliers and magnificent bathrooms. Room 13 on the other hand takes a different, more modernistic approach, with wooden floors and minimalist furniture. Q 16 rooms (singles €75, doubles €65-100, extra bed €35). PJAR6IGW hhhh

Best Western Premier Slon B-2, Slovenska 34, tel.

470 11 00, fax 251 71 64, sales@hotelslon.com, www. hotelslon.com. The general goal of this hotel is to offer a no-frills, functional but serious and attentive experience. You’ll see that reflected everywhere; from the lobby and attentive front desk clerk, when you check in, to the rooms and the rest of the facilities. This is the place to stay when you need a business hotel that offers everything you need and don’t really pay much attention to frivolities. It has an absolutely excellent location and its lobby is also connected to Zvezda, probably one of the best coffee shops in the city with some of the best cakes you’ve ever had.Q 171 rooms (singles €75-105, doubles €110-125, triples €165-180, suites €201-335). PJHAR6UIGKDXW hhhh

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Central hotel B-2, Miklošičeva 9, tel. 308 43 00, fax

230 11 81, hotel.garni@gh-union.si, www.astralhotel.net. The classic three-star hotel experience, the Garni is the little brother of the three Union hotels in the city, but that doesn’t necessarily make him a weakling. Geared up exceptionally well for the tourist market, the reception is crammed with the latest useful information about the city and surrounding region, plus there’s bicycle hire during the summer. The combined bar-restaurant isn’t too bad either, and the rooms feature everything you need for a good value stay right in the heart of the city centre. Excellent value accommodation indeed. Q 74 rooms (singles €139-20, doubles €152-218, suites €286-441). PJHAR6FGKDXCW hhhh

Grand Hotel Union Business B-2, Miklošičeva 3, tel.

308 11 70, fax 308 19 14, hotel.business@gh-union. si, www.gh-union.si. Attached to its sibling Executive hotel and sharing some but not all of the facilities on offer, accommodation comes in a choice of rooms and suites with a slightly feminine touch, but not enough to put off the serious male business traveller. Shared facilities include a grand total of 21 conference and banqueting rooms, secure parking and the pleasing fact that the best sights and leisure activities in the city are all close at hand.Q 327 rooms (singles €178-212, doubles €193-227, suites €372-446). PJHAR6UFLGKDXCW hhhh

M hotel H-2, Derčeva 4, tel. 513 70 00, fax 513 70 90, info@m-hotel.si, www.m-hotel.si. Five minutes out of the centre on the road to Bled, this fine, modern business class hotel comes with over 150 well appointed rooms, all with cable television, en suite bathrooms, free wireless internet access and 40 extra-length beds for those who need it. Excellent value for what you get, extras include restaurant, summer terrace, car rental and a hairdresser. Q 154 rooms (singles €77, doubles €144). PHAR6ULGKXW hhh

April - May 2009

Where to stay

Mons G-2, Pot Za Brdom 55, tel. 470 27 00, fax 470

27 08, info@hotel.mons.si, www.hotel.mons.si. Along the highway to the west of the city and close to the zoo, Mons is the city’s only combined hotel and congress centre, and a very good one it is indeed. From the magnificent works of art in the lobby (indeed, Mons markets itself as the country’s first designer hotel) to the glorious rooms, this place really is just what the doctor ordered. Indoor facilities are many, including shops, a travel agency, gym, sauna and library. The congress facilities are state of the art. Q 110 rooms (singles €140-168, doubles €165-193, sui tes €340-368). PHAR6FLGKDXW hhhh

Mid-Range Good value doubles starting from €75-140.

Ahotel H-3, Cesta Dveh Cesarjev 34d, tel./fax 429 18 92, reception@ahotel.si, www.ahotel.si. A rather fabulous-looking endeavour for a three-star, heavy on the cool brown tones, woods and wickerwork, find it not far from the centre and aimed at both the business and independent traveller. The rooms are nicely decorated each coming with en suite bathrooms, flatscreen televisions and wireless internet access. Other facilities include secure parking, a nice bar, and the opportunity to borrow a laptop if yours is broken or lost in transit. Q 26 rooms (singles €70-110, doubles €80-150). PTALGKW hhh

City B-2, Dalmatinova 15, tel. 239 00 00, fax 239 00 01, info@cityhotel.si, www.cityhotel.si. With a reception like a studio set for a children’s television programme complete with bright colours and lots of comfortable furniture, the City Hotel provides a pleasing atmosphere and lots of

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

wonderful added extras for a most satisfactory stay in the city. A combination of standard and superior rooms with lots of pleasing cream colours and hardwood floors in the latter, other goodies include free LAN internet in every room, a small library on the ground floor, and bicycle hire for the fitter section of the community. Good location too, smack bang in the city centre. Q 200 rooms (singles €69- 140, doubles €138-290). PTJHAR6UILGKXW hhh

Kavarna Maček Rooms B-3, Krojaška 5, tel. 425

37 91, macek@lj-kabel.net. With rooms this beautiful and a location this fantastic, you’ll be the envy of other travellers. These rooms are along the river and above the popular Maček cafe and are beautifully renewed in a tasteful modern style. The rooms are mostly singles and doubles for couples, but is also space for the travelling family. In the morning, head down to the cafe for a coffee and breakfast and at night grab one last drink before heading up to your glorious temporary apartment. QOpen 09:00 - 00:30. 4 rooms (singles: €55, doubles: €96). PTJA6GBKS

Park D-2, Tabor 9, tel. 300 25 00, info@hotelpark.si,

www.hotelpark.si. The brightly coloured tower block that is Hotel (and Hostel) Park conceals a number of good value standard, comfort, family rooms and suites, all providing different amenities depending on the cost. All of the modern rooms come with en suite facilities, the pricier one also including a LAN internet connection. There’s a restaurant and bar as well, and a free internet connection in the lobby. Daytrips around Slovenia plus airport pick-up also available on request. Q 200 rooms (singles €70-110, doubles €90150, apartments €150-180). PTJHAR6GXW hhh

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Where to stay

Where to stay Alibi M14 Hostel C-2, Miklošičeva 14, tel. 232 27 70,

Cheap Doubles priced under €60.

Bit Center J-2, Litijska 57, tel. 548 00 55, fax 548 00 56, hotel@bit-center.net, www.bit-center.net. A combined hotel, sports centre and youth hostel 10 minutes east of the centre, rooms are basic but clean, coming with en suite bathrooms facilities and cable television in every room. Budget means budget here, so there are no fancy restaurants or bars, just a snack counter and little else. Sports facilities including badminton and squash courts, fitness centre and gym. The ‘Working Inn’ hostel option provides excellent value rooms that sleep up to 10 people with shared bathroom facilities. Q 39 rooms (singles €34,50, doubles €46, triples €47,50, dorm beds €15). Breakfast (€3,50) not included. AGBKDW h

Apartment rental All the benefits of a private apartment without the costs of a hotel, plus you get to shop for your own breakfast too.

Asdom Apartments D-2, Vidovdanska 5, tel. 041 662

928, info.asdom@gmail.com, www.asdom.si. Rents out studio apartments in the centre of Ljubljana for both short and extended stays. All apartments are equipped with wireless internet and cable television. Excellent service, especially if your survival language is English. Q 7 aparments (€55). PJAW

Why pay more? These rooms will do the trick if you just need a dry, warm place to sleep. Double rooms starting from €60-100.

Emonec B-3, Wolfova 12, tel. 200 15 20, fax 200 15

21, hotelemonec@siol.net, www.hotel-emonec.com. This clean and slightly hidden hotel actually gives you front row seats to the city as it sits right inside the Prešernov trg area. The accomodations are sparse and while they have no restaurant there are no shortage of options as soon as you walk out of the door. A great choice for the traveller on a budget. Q 39 rooms (singles €59, doubles €67-77, triples €90, apartments €105). JHAR6UW hh

Medno Medno 54, Medno, tel. 362 61 00, fax 362 61

16, recepcija@hotel-medno.si, www.hotel-medno.si. Nine kilometres out of Ljubljana on the road towards Kranj, the Medno provides good accommodation in a range of rooms. This good-value hotel also gives the business traveller opportunities to unwind with the massage and Jacuzzi services. Q 93 beds (singles €54-69, doubles €68-88, suites €88-108). PHAR6LGKXW hhh

Vila Minka G-1, Kogovškova 10, tel. 031 66 54 31,

minka@vilaminka.si, www.vilaminka.si. Several modern rooms and apartments ranging in size from 30 to 55 square metres, Vila Minka’s family-run accommodation has been thoughtfully designed with lots of wooden floors, big comfortable beds, plenty of interesting art on the walls and free wireless and cable internet access. The smaller rooms have shared kitchen facilities. Some 3 kilometres west of the city centre near the highway exit, also reached on buses Nº5 and 22. Q 20 rooms (singles €50-60, doubles €65-80, 1-5 person apartments €60-179). PTAR6LGXW hhh

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Celica D-2, Metelkova ulica 8, tel. 230 97 00, info@

souhostel.com, www.hostelcelica.com. Ljubljana’s legendary Celica hostel and surrounding buildings close to the stations and the city centre started life in the 19th century as an Austro-Hungarian military barracks. Once a prison, many of Celica’s rooms have been kept almost as they were, providing a cheap and definitely quirky place to spend the night behind bars. Other rooms are also available as well as dormitories to sleep from four to 12 people. There’s even a room for disabled guests, plus a huge range of other facilities such as kitchen, laundry, internet access, tourist information and bicycle hire. The hostel’s café serves an excellent value set lunch every day. Q 29 rooms (rooms €23-25 per bed, dorms €16-18 per bed). PJHAR6ULGKW h

Rugby Pub & Hostel B-3, Židovska 6, tel. 426 40 62.

A modest place to sleep with a breakfast to start off your day.

This is a rather ambient, unforgettable pub across the Ljubljanica River from the old town. It serves a chilled Guinness within a traditional, homely British setting: walls bursting with memorabilia and soft green carpeting. If the pub is like your second home, and you would like to stay in a familiar setting to what feels like home, best opt to stay in one of the rooms above.

Slamič B-2, Kersnikova 1, tel. 433 82 33, info@slamic.

Vila Veselova A-3, Veselova 14, tel. 059 92 67 21, desk@

Hostels

Zeppelin Hostel B-2, Slovenska 47, 2nd floor, tel. 051

Bed & Breakfast Budget

fax 251 12 45, info@alibi.si, http://www.alibi.si. For the ones that like a more modern looking hostel, Alibi M14 offers a very different experience from its sister hostel Alibi Hostel. Right next to Grand Hotel Union, this hostel blends in very well with its executive-type surroundings. It actually looks more like a hotel than a hostel, but with affordable prices. It’s a bit difficult to find since they haven’t been allowed to put up an obvious sign, but look hard enough and you’ll stumble upon it. Q Open 24 hours. 20 rooms (Double Room 23 €, Double Room Ensuite 25 €, dormitory €20). PJAGW

si, www.slamic.si. An excellent value bed and breakfast in the heart of the city with the added bonus of a fabulous in-house café. The rooms are spacious and modern, all with their own en suite facilities, large comfortable beds and free LAN internet access. Simple breakfasts are served in the aforementioned café, which also has a delightful terrace. Within easy walking distance of Tivoli Park and the old town. Q 11 rooms (singles €65-95, doubles €80-107, suites for 1-7 people €135-280). JHARLG hhh

v-v.si, www.v-v.si. Owned by the same people who run the excellent Žmauc bar, this fairly new hostel in a lovely old villa in the western part of the city centre is aimed at the young travelling crowd who like to relax. Simply furnished with a range of rooms and dormitories, some with and some without en suite facilities and all named after a different colour, extras include nice big balconies and free internet. Q 8 rooms (singles €28, 4-bed dorms €22per bed, 6-bed dorms €20 per bed, 8-bed dorms €17 per bed). JARLGW hh NEW

Ljubljana has a surprising amount of quality hostels, meaning you’ll have no problem finding that elusive combination of an affrodable but good place to sleep and a place to meet other travellers. In the outskirts, there’s also a youth hostel inside the Bit Centre Hotel.

Alibi Hostel B-3, Cankarjevo Nabrežje 27, tel. 251 12

44, fax 25 11 245, info@alibi.si, www.alibi.si. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better located hostel in Ljubljana. Right in the heart of the centre of the city, Alibi is a hostel that is actually a lot bigger than it originally seems. In here you’ll find all types of room. You can choose how many people you want to share the room with depending on how much you enjoy snoring. All of them decorated in different graffiti motifs. The staff is super friendly and always at hand if you need something. Try to get the cooler rooms. One has a great balcony overlooking the river and there’s another one that’s a separate apartment on the top of the building. There’s a locked room next to it with metal doors that looks like a prison cell, but it actually adds to the atmosphere. Q Open 24 hours. 106 beds(double bed €20, four bed private €17, six bed private €20, dormitory €17). PJAR6LEGW h

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

637 436, info@zeppelinhostel.com, www.zeppelinhostel.com. Snug inside a famous building of the name Evropa from the XIX century, this friendly and social hostel is just a few steps out of the old town and within walking distance of the train and bus stations. Zeppelin is the perfect reside for the budget traveler, with everything you may need in terms of entertainment and tourist attractions in immediate locality. Breakfast is included with your stay. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00. Double room 24.99 €, 4-bed room dorms 21.49€, 6-bed dorms room 19.49 €, 8-bed room dorms .49 €. JGW

Airport hotels

Dvor Jezeršek Zgornji Brnik 63, tel. 4 252 94 00, www.

dvor-jezersek.si. Just 2km from Ljubljana Airport (and only 4 kilometres from the Krvavec ski resort) this spacious familyrun hotel that’s been in business since 1768 hotel makes for a good night’s sleep before an early departure or after a late arrival. Apart from decent rooms, there are several romantic apartments for hire and there’s both a gostilna (tavern) on site as well as an elegant restaurant. Q 18 rooms (singles €8090, doubles €120-130). PTHRUILGKW

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

April - May 2009

Restaurants

Ljubljana’s restaurant scene continues to flourish with the addition of newer and more exotic offerings opening almost every month. Be sure to sample some local cuisine when in town, and do get yourself outside at least one legendary kremšnita cream cake, which can be found in abundance throughout the city (although Bled is considered to the spiritual home of this sticky, gooey delight). Those not in town for its culinary excellence and who plan to do plenty of walking will be pleased to discover that almost every street has at least one burek and pizza place on it. Eating on the hoof in Ljubljana is a treat not to be missed. The following reviews are by no means complete, but do offer a bit of everything for everyone, from the finest white-tablecloth options available to the more amusingly backwards establishments complete with greasy cutlery and bumbling waiters. Assuming that visitors avoid the classic traps of restaurant dining and the outrageously overpriced places aimed at the tourist market, eating in Ljubljana, although not as cheap as it was, remains a pleasantly affordable experience for all.

Restaurants Argentinean

Argentino J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 523 36 30, info@

argentino.si, www.argentino.si. The journey out to BTC is well worth the effort, for Argentino really needs to be experienced to be believed. Huge, and based on a classic Argentinean hacienda on two levels with further seating outside, the interior designer had a great time thinking this one up. Featuring vast paintings, enormous mirrors, video projectors, a fabulous bar and an even lovelier open kitchen (it’s actually behind glass, but who cares?), Argentino serves a combination of Argentinean and Slovenian cuisine including several cuts of Argentinean beef and New Zealand lamb, plus a decent menu of seafood and vegetarian options. Other treats in store include peanuts in their shells on every table and an extensive menu of the best Slovenian and Argentinean wine available. The music’s fun too. Highly recommended if only for the bizarre thrill of it all. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. (€5.20-45). PTAR6UILGBXS

Thai

Symbol key P Air conditioning

A Credit cards accepted

E Live music

S Take away

T Child friendly

U Facilities for the disabled

R Internet

L Guarded parking

O Casino

J Old Town location

6 Animal friendly

W Wi-Fi

B Outside seating

V Home delivery

Da bu da B-3, Šubičeva 1a, tel. 425 30 60, info@dabuda.

si, www.dabuda.si. Opened last fall as a modern and multileveled Thai restaurant, the overpriced and underwhelming Thai menu soon fell flat with the locals, so the owners overhauled and re-emerged early this spring as a “fusion” restaurant. While what they’re “fusing” isn’t quite certain, it seems to involve white rice, slimy noodles, and the faint memory of what Thai food should taste like. Nonetheless, this centrally-located restaurant draws endless crowds of hip young locals for dining and slurping signature syrupy cocktails at the bar. QOpen 11:30 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (€4-13). PJAGBXSW

Thai Inn Pub B-2, Rimska cesta 17. With its tuk tuk at

the entrance, the jungle wallpaper all over the place, adornments and pictures, you’ll get a good taste of what visiting a real restaurant is like in Thailand. Thai Inn Pub foregoes the ultra elegant, westernised take on their food. The result is Thai food that tastes like Thai food. If you’re concerned about having food that’ll leave your mouth on fire, you need not worry. The menu clearly explains to what degree the dish will make you beg for water, from nothing to really, really hot. It’s very refreshing to see an ethnic restaurant that doesn’t dumb down its offering for Westerners, but instead gives you the real thing. QOpen 07:00 - 24:00, Sat 08:00 - 24:00.

Balkan

Pod Rožnikom H-2, Cesta Na Rožnik 18, tel. 251 34

46, www.gp-vic.si/roznik-eng.asp. Small, rustic, and surrounded by greenery, this gostilna is situated by Rožnik hill, near Tivoli Park. Specialising in spit and grilled dishes, the beefsteaks, grilled peppers and raznjici skewer all come highly recommended. Easy to combine with a trip to the zoo. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. (€5-15). PTJA6ILGBX

Portal J-2, Zaloška 110, tel. 540 01 66, portalm@siol.

Pirano

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

net, www.portal-m.si. Step into this cavernous old gostilna or stay out on the terrace and watch the river flow by at this great restaurant tucked away from the traffic. While they offer pizzas and pastas, the parking lot stays full with people here for real grilled Serbian food, and those options abound. They also have a long list of good Slovenian wines to drink alongside. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 01:00. Closed Sun. (€7-20). PTAULEGBXS

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Restaurants at river Ljubljanica

Pri Jovotu E-3, Poljanska 99, tel. 520 30 00, gostilna@

prijovotu.com, www.prijovotu.com. It might not get any more homey than this, this ill-kempt restaurant bares a striking resemblance to grandma’s house replete with bad lawn furniture and a pet parrot sitting in the middle of the dining room. A regular stop for students and laborers, the food, a mix of steaks, pizzas and grilled Serbian meat dishes, comes fast and greasy. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00, Fri 10:00 - 24:00, Sat 12:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. (€5-9). TA6ULEGBXS

Sax House B/C-4, Trnovski pristan 4a, tel. 070 23 51

90, info@agencija-smer.si, www.sax.si. The restaurant bills itself as “grill based food” and indeed the pleasant aromas of the grill permeate the air as your approach. The restaurant is a stylish and incredibly simple place, and the food is a mix of grilled meat dishes, as expected, but also

Pilalitos quite a wide range of grilled vegetable skewers. A good choice if you’re looking to dine on the quiet side of the river. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. (€5,80-16,50). PTJA6UGBXSW

Sofra B/C-1, Dunajska 145, tel. 565 68 00. For a

well-prepared taste of Bosnia without the long train ride, this restaurant offers intimate and classy surroundings and a reasonably priced menu featuring mostly Bosnian grilled, roasted, and sometimes spicy specialties. The vegetarian among you might find something in the burek offerings, and for the adventurous there are a few beef tongue delicacies. There is also a sizeable room of to one side that can be closed off for large private parties. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sat 12:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€4-7). PAULEGBX

Burek Burek is the universal and ubiquitous Balkan snack that simply has to be tried when you’re in the region. From the Turkish word bur, meaning to twist, burek comes in all manner of shapes and sizes but are essentially a baked filo pastry snack with a savoury filling, usually flavoured minced beef, cheese and/or spinach, best enjoyed with the addition of lashings of plain yoghurt. Burek can be found ready to eat, cheap and piping hot in bakeries and speciality places operating out of little more than an open window, especially around the bus station. Variations on the burek theme can be found as far and wide as Israel, where they have the burekas, and even in Lithuania where they eat something not unlike a burek that they call a čeburekai. Enjoy.

Nobel Burek C-2, Miklošičeva 30, tel. 232 33

92. A small kiosk close to the train and bus stations churning out steaming hot burek as well as pizza for those who like to do their fine dining in the street. Excellent value, excellent burek. Q Open 24hrs. (€1-2). J6UXS

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Burek, Crouchy Crouch

Slast C-3, Poljanska 7, tel. 114 56 05. There’s nothing quite as disturbing as watching grown men simultaneously smile and slice meat. If you can handle it, these friendly folk with their grins and grubby aprons serve some fine burek as well as the usual extra fast food offerings including pizza, hot dogs and kebabs. Soft drinks too. QOpen 06:00 - 24:00. (€2-4). J6UGXS

April - May 2009

Restaurants Buffet express If you’ve just read the entire restaurant section of this guide and you still haven’t been served, stay calm, collect your belongings and pop into somewhere where the food is served piping hot, and straight from metal containers.

Restaurant 2000 B-3, Trg Republike 1, tel. 476 69 25. A vast underground filling station for budget-conscious city slickers such as construction workers, Korean businessmen and of course the obligatory sprinkling of students. Grab a tray, throw on some meat, mashed potato, rice, salad, whatever, don’t forget to pick up a soft drink, pay and eat. The food isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s more than good enough especially for the price. Find it deep inside the bowels of Maxi Market. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. (€5-7). PJGBSW

Fast food

Ajda C-1/2, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte (OF) 13, tel. 43

91 440. One of a number of identikit fast food outlets opposite the train and bus stations, this one serves up the same collection of hot food as the others and works around the clock without a break. Q Open 24hrs. (€1.40-4.50). PJGS

Delikatesa Ljubljanski Dvor B-3, Kongresni Trg 11,

tel. 426 93 27. The acclaimed Ljubljana restaurant’s fast food outlet offers such tantalising takeaway options as good value slices of hot gooey pizza, meat, salad, lasagne and cold drinks. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. (€2-25). PTJAGBS

Falafel C-2, Trubarjeva 40/041 64 01 66, www.alja-

shaar.com/falafel.htm. A tiny little place churning out delicious falafel-based delicacies plus the usual array of pizzas and burgers. An excellent choice for vegetarians on the move, expect long queues during the busy lunchtime period. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Sun 13:00 - 22:00. (€1-7). JA6UGS

Hot Horse A-1, Tivoli Park kiosk, tel. 521 14 27, master@hot-horse.si, www.hot-horse.si. Eating horses may horrify most British visitors, but that’s only because they’ve watched too much Mr Ed and have never tried it. It’s low in fat, rich in proteins and easy to digest - so swap your steed for a car and get grilling. Hot Horse serves healthy horseburgers from a small kiosk in Tivoli Park and just outside BTC. QOpen 09:00 - 06:00, Mon 10:00 - 06:00. (€1-3). J6UBXS

Jež C-3, Poljanska 3, tel. 232 52 46. To the left a bar the size of a coffin, to the right a fast food outlet bashing out basic fare including sandwiches and pizza. The snackbar, for reasons beyond comprehension, also has a computer with an internet connection for public use. QOpen 05:30 - 22:30, Sat, Sun 07:00 - 17:00. (€1-3). 6UGBS

Kantina Peperončin J-2, Šmartinska 152b, Citypark,

BTC City, tel. 585 22 02, fax 585 22 04, info@teman. si, www.peperoncin.si. If you need something quick to satiate your growling stomach after hours of shopping madness, you could do worse than this. Kantina Peperončin is one of the shopping center cafe/snack shops and while it effects little charm it does serve fast and cheap sandwiches, pizza slices, hot dogs, and kebabs to give you energy for another round of mad dash shopping. Q Open 09:00 22:00, Sat 08:00 - 22:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00. (€1,30-5,90). PTAULGS

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Restaurants Konkurenca C-1/2, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte (OF) 14,

tel. 430 52 26. Kebabs, burgers and burek to eat in or take away around the clock just southwest of the train and bus stations. Q Open 24hrs. (€1-5). J

McDonald’s B-2/3, Čopova 14, tel. 426 32 26,

w w w.mcdonalds.si. I t’s McHere i f you McNeed i t. Also inside the train station (open 07:00-23:00), in BTC (with a drive-in nearby) and in several other locations in Ljubljana. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sun 10:00 - 23:00. (€1-5). PTJGBSW

Red Hot Horse C/D-2, Trubarjeva 31, tel. 041 41 52 90. Across the street from the hostel we had noticed an intriguing fast food restaurant called “Red Hot Horse”. After the amount of drinking last night it didn’t sound too appealing but we thought it was worth a try. We knew it was a mistake after they fished one of last night’s burgers from a bucket of murky, lukewarm water, probably contravening all health and safety restrictions! I had a tiny nibble off the side of the burger and struggled to swallow it. John took a whole mouthful. Q Open 08:00 - 01:00. (€2-4). J6UGBXSW

Fish

Gostilna Krpan F-2, Ob Ljubljanici 24, tel. 521 12 20, gostilna.krpan@siol.com, www.gostilna-krpan.si. A nicely designed Slovenian fish restaurant with a stunning variety of fresh fish specialities on offer. The menu comprises everything from oysters and squid to scorpionfish and lobster. Naturally, there’s a good selection of wines to make the fish swim. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. (€4-43). PTA6ULGBXS

Operna Klet B-2, Zupančičeva 2, tel. 252 70 03.

Café

Fun

Tucked away just off the main road and down a flight of steps, those in the know who enjoy fine fish dining are apt to totter down the aforementioned stairway and feast in simple surroundings on an extensive menu including octopus salad, scampi and Dalmatian squid. The décor has a aquatic theme too, and you’ll not hear a lot of English spoken. Recommended for both its unpretentiousness and the quality of the food. Be warned though, the place can fill to bursting at lunchtime during the week. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sat 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun. (€6-20). PJA6UGB

Tomato B-3, Šubičeva 1, tel. 252 75 55, fortuna.

Taverna Tatjana C-4, Gornji Trg 38, tel. 421 00 87,

Brigad 10/041 91 64 07. Two bright red pre-WWI trams from Prague are now parked together in a Ljubljana square for the purpose of providing pizza and hot sandwiches to a clientele made up of mostly poor students. One tram does the cooking whilst the other is packed with individual tables for two. The service is friendly enough though, and for wackiness you’ll not find a more eccentric location in the city. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. From 15. July to 18. Avgust is closed. (€1,50-9). J6UGBS

laura.b@siol.net. Every kind of vaulted ceiling imaginable from brick to plaster to wood inside one of the city’s favourite restaurants. Bedecked in dried flowers and folk-art tablecloths, the speciality of the house is fish, but there are plenty of other choices available including lots of traditional Slovenian grilled meat dishes and one or two vegetarian options. A good choice if you’re in town for a short time and want to keep everybody happy. QOpen 17:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. (€8-50). PTJA6UGBSW

fortuna@siol.net, www.tomato.si. Two colourful dining areas with plenty of hard-wearing furniture, on which you’ll find a galaxy of equally bright students tucking into excellent value food including fish and chips, hot sandwiches, pasta and other treats. Next door to the wacky Yugoslav statues scattered around immediately to the west of it, why not combine the two and experience the best of both worlds. QOpen 07:00 - 21:00. Closed Sat, Sun. (€1,50-2). PTJA6GBXS

Tramvaj Ekspres Pizzeria A-3, Trg Mladinskih Delovnih

Chinese

Fruit juice

Juicebox B-3, Slovenska cesta 38, tel. 051 645 930,

info@juicebox.si, http://www.juicebox.si/index.html. An experimental juice bar that mixes up glasses upon glasses of 100% fruit juices, soya milk, milk, yogurt and nuts. That’s enough to get anyone’s mouth water. Definitely, a pleasant place for an invigorating start to the day or a mid day refreshment and you can bring your laptop along to make use of its WIFI facility. QOpen 07:00 - 20:00, Sat 8:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun. GW

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Cesarsko mesto K-2, Litijska 76, tel. 544 45 00, ce-

sarsko-mesto@siol.net, www.cesarsko-mesto.si. A big, brightly-colored, and certainly kitschy beacon on a stretch of industrial nowhere, this Chinese restaurant keeps its parking lot full as their ever smiling wait staff serves a steady stream of hungry locals. The menu focuses on Mongolian and Tibetan specialties and offers Slovenian beverages as well as Chinese and Tibetan drinks. If you’re passing through the area or staying in the BITCenter nearby, this is a quite good option. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. (€7-20). PAUGBS

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D. Wedam

China Fast Food C-2, Kotnikova 5 (Ledina Center), tel.

031 56 82 78. Six little tables inside a small restaurant on the ground floor of Centar Ledina, constantly busy at lunchtime with locals tucking into food cooked in a single wok by a Chinese man visible through a large plate glass window. Reasonably priced, fast, and with vegetarian options as well, the food is pretty good, and worth investigating if you find yourself here with an empty stomach and not a lot of time. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. (€4,70-6,80).PJAUGS

Kitajska Zvezda C-4, Hrenova 19, tel. 425 88 24. We’ll

need a second viti to establich if it’s a tradition to have the waitresses’ toddler grab your leg as you step over him on the way to the bar, but if you don’t mind eating in a Chinese kindergarten this shouldn’t really bother you. The menu of this quirky place not far from the old town features everything you’d expect to see, with no great surprises in store. Average Chinese food in a slightly more than average environment. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. (€5-20). PTJAGBS

Zhong Hua C-2, Trubarjeva 50, tel. 230 16 65. Apart

from the fact that they also sell a range of beds, this bustling little Chinese restaurant close to the river provides the perfect Chinese restaurant experience as you’d expect to find any where in world these days. A charming Chinese family, some of whom speak very good English, are on hand to dish up a range of classic Chinese dishes both spicy and plain and including four vegetarian options. Quite possibly the best full Chinese restaurant experience in the city centre. QOpen 11:00 - 22:30. (€5-7). PTJA6GBXS

www.inyourpocket.com April - May 2009

Restaurants

Restaurants Manna B-4, Eipprova 1a, tel. 283 52 94, info@kuli-

Indian

narika-manna.com, www.kulinarika-manna.com. This high-class and expensive restaurant bills itself as heavenly food here on earth, and as soon as you enter the interior positively glitters. The menu features some of the most rarefied ingredients Slovenia has ever seen such as Japanese wagyu beef as well as a full selection of both Slovenian wines and some of the best wines and spirits from around the world. Every detail is just so in this beautiful space and it was thus no surprise when the restaurant recently had the distinction of being visited for lunch by American First Lady Laura Bush., you’ll see the picture commemorating the event as you enter the door. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. (€10-30). PTJA6UGBS

Namaste B-3, Breg 8, tel. 425 01 59, info@resta-

vracija-namaste.si, www.restavracija-namaste.si. Lots of greens, oranges and golds and some nice exotic touches create a relaxing atmosphere inside a super restaurant specialising primarily in dishes from Rajastan and the Punjab. Using the best spices imported directly from India, the owners stress the fact that the dishes, both meat and vegetarian options are made individually from mild to extra hot. By all accounts the food is excellent. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Sun 11:00 - 22:00. (€5-21). PTJA6UGBXS

International

Angel A-1, C. Ljubljanske brigade 33, tel. 518 74 54,

angel@bid.si, www.angel-kaval.si. Located in the big Mercator center on Cesta Ljubljanske Brigade, Angel is more of a lunchtime eatery though it does stay open until 11 pm. Along with a varied menu of appetizers, soups, pastas, pizzas and mains, it has a nice new look to it, and also sells its own brand of oils, vinegars and marinated olives. If you need to duck out to Mercator for a spot of grocery shopping, you might just want to then duck in here for a spot of lunch or something more substantial. QOpen 09:00 - 22:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 23:00, Sun 09:00 - 17:00. PTAULGW

As B-3, Čopova 5/a, Knafljev prehod, tel. 425 88 22,

gostilna.as@siol.net, www.gostilnaas.si. Exquisite presentation and service mark the legendary As out as one of the most expensive dining experiences in the city. Brimming with antiques and well-behaved waiters, sit amidst opulent detritus and feast from a menu including more fancy dishes than you could eat in a year including baked potatoes with caviar, lamb cutlet with honey and truffles plus a battalion of fabulous desserts. And if that’s not enough, the wine list includes everything one could possibly need to accompany the rich and varied food. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. (€4.50-31).PJAGB

Bachus Center B-3, Kongresni Trg 3, tel. 241 82 48,

info@bachus-center.com, www.bachus-center.com. Subterranean dining opposite the Philharmonia in the heart of the city, eat a wide range of international dishes under vaulted ceilings. As well as changing specials, the menu includes a fixed list of treats including beef with truffles, octopus and a few vegetarian options. QOpen , Mon 08:00 - 23:00, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 06:00. Closed Sun. 18:00 - 06.00holidays (€7-20). PJAEGBSW

Café Romeo B-3, Stari Trg 6, tel. 426 90 11, romeo.plus@

siol.net, www.caferomeo.si. Red vinyl pvc seating with some very strange lighting indeed and the pinkest walls you ever did see. A great place for good value Mexican and fusion food for all the family during lunchtime or, later on, for a buzzy little cocktail adventure with the great and the good of the city. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. (€2-8,50). PJA6UGBXSW

Cubo J-2, Šmartinska 55, tel. 521 15 15, info@cubo-

ljubljana.com, www.cubo-ljubljana.com. Cubo’s difficult location doesn’t stop those foreigners and locals who appreciate good food and atmosphere from turning up here in droves every day. Taking the very best of the dining experience from décor to service to of course the food, they’ve come up with a truly inspiring place indeed. Opting for a minimalist approach with lots of dark woods and cool greys, the setting attracts everyone from business professionals to families who come to feast on a regularly changing menu of dishes including many inspired from Italy and the Mediterranean. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00, Sat 12:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. (€360). PAULGW

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Maxim B-3, Trg Republike 1, tel. 476 69 80, info@ Restaurant Pri Vitezu

Julija B-3, Stari Trg 9, tel. 425 64 63. A tasteful Baroque-look interior with lots of gilded mirrors, distressed white furniture and some extraordinary blue and white tiles on the wall at the back, the fine international menu is packed with interesting food including octopus, pasta in many shapes and sizes and an impressive dessert menu. The wine list is also worth a mention, boasting a range of good value and painfully expensive bottles from home and abroad. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. (€3-19). PTJA6UGBXSW

Jurman F-2, Zaloška 151, tel. 051 358 358, pizzeria. jurman@siol.net, www.jurman-sp.si. Far beyond where nearly any buses go, this standard family pizza place stands full of hungry local customers. The logo features a waiter sprinting hands full to someone’s table, and true enough the waiters are hurrying around making sure everyone is seen to quickly whether they are inside or out near the children’s play area on the astroturfed patio. It’s a good budget-conscious family-friendly place. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00. (€5-36). PTAULGBS

maxi.si, www.maxi.si. In the heart of the city centre this modern, business-orientated restaurant provides a fine menu of dishes including duck breast with mashed potatoes, soups, seafood, and a galaxy of fabulous puddings. There’s a huge wine list too, and a nice terraced area complete with water features for quality outdoor summer dining. Popular with professional locals and foreigners alike. QOpen 12:00 - 18:00; 19:00-23:00, Sat 12:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun. (€40 and more). PJA6LEGBS

Pri Vitezu B-3/4, Breg 20, tel. 426 60 58. A painfully

expensive white tablecloth affair complete with several rooms decorated in an old world manner, this much talked-about international restaurant cooks a range of dishes to suit all palates, served by waiting staff in crisp white uniforms. One of the favoured haunts of the city’s wealthy ladies and gentlemen, this should only really be considered if you’re really trying to impress somebody, whether that somebody is a local beauty you’ve just met or somebody you’re trying to get to sign a lucrative contract. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€8-50). TJA6UGBXS

Restaurant Most C-3, Petkovškovo nabrežje 21, tel. 232

Downstairs for vast pizzas served by a mixture of indifferent and pleasant waiters to a mixed clientele sat both inside and out. Upstairs for more of the same, only with the addition of grilled meats and other classic Slovenian dishes. Now an institution, the terraces get thoroughly clogged with business professionals and tourists alike during the summer. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (€5-10). PTJA6UGBSW

81 83, most@t-2.net, www.restavracija-most.si. As soon as you arrive to this restaurant you’ll notice a framed food quality award next to the door. That gives a hint of what this restaurant has in store for you. It’s fairly obvious that a lot of thought went into the décor of this place. The pictures had wooden frames that had deliberately not been polished. Underneath them there was beautiful handwriting on the walls. It all gave the place a very rustic and cosy ambiance. Even the music was soothing. Very romantic. The cutlery hanging from the lamps marred the effect a bit, but that’s really nitpicking. The best part was, of course, the food. Simply exquisite and very well decorated. It’s great. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PJAGK

Luka Gourmet café & restaurant Evropa B-2, Slov-

Restaurant Plato B-2, Ajdovščina 1, tel. 230 84 80,

Ljubljanski Dvor B-3, Dvorni Trg 1, tel. 425 15 18.

enska cesta 47, tel. 438 24 24, info@kavarnaeuropa.si, www.kavarnaeuropa.si. Located in one of Ljubljana’s oldest and most historic buildings, Cafe Evropa offers a variety of lunch and dinner specials guaranteed to satisfy any palate, and is neatly divided into two distinct sections, for a formal or informal experience. To the left, reminiscent of a cozy mountain lodge (complete with an open second-floor gallery and antique skis on the walls), diners will enjoy an extensive salad bar and a tasty, inexpensive meal, efficiently served by a staff both charming and gracious. If your tastes are guiding you to something a bit more elegant, stay to the right where you have a larger, but more expensive, a la carte selection, and a more subdued atmosphere. Whichever you decide, don’t let yourself leave without first trying one of the delectable, freshly-made cakes and desserts; your sweet tooth will thank you. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00, Sat 17:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. PTJHA6EGBKSW

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

plato@siol.net, www.plato.si. We really liked the concept of this restaurant. Located in the centre of the city, the interior looks like the structure of a tree. The first floor is a café, but if you follow the branches that hug the walls up the stairs you’ll find yourself in a very peculiar restaurant. The branches give way to leaves and the whole thing has a very fresh and organic feel to it. Of course, including the food, which was delicious. Even though the service could’ve been faster (we were very hungry that day), the waiter was always very attentive and even offered to translate the menu of the day without us even asking for it. QOpen 11:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. (€4,5 - 22). PTJAGBXSW

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April - May 2009

Restaurants

Restaurants Azur H-2, Cesta Na Brdo 33, tel. 423 24 23, info@piz-

zeria-azur.si, www.pizzeria-azur.si. A bright orange beacon in the middle of nondescript suburbs, walk right in and past the freaky statue (which appears to be a homeless person begging for change) and into this wide open and friendly pizza and risotteria. The menu is full of various types of pizza and while they give their risottos top billling, they actually have more pasta offerings. It is clear from the familiar air that this place is full of regular repeat customers and it is certainly family friendly and even tourist-friendly despite its distance from the center. If you’re headed back from the zoo, this could be a good lunch or dinner stop for you. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. (€4.90-12.90). PTAUGB

Favola B/C-3, Dunajska 129, tel. 566 20 94, bernard.

markovic@bid.si, www.favola.si. Favola has a wide range of pasta and risotto dishes as well as fish and meat options, but overall, pizza seems to be the go here. There are over 25 varieties to agonize over and once you’ve made your choice you can then deliberate whether to go large or small. Add in soups and an excellent salad range, plus hot and cold appetizers, and top it all off with a warm and friendly atmosphere made even more so by the big wood-fired pizza oven going non-stop, and you have a great place for pizza and pasta at very reasonable prices. Q Op en 10:00 - 22:00, Sa t, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. PTAULGBXW

Kavalino C-3, Trubarjeva 52, tel. 232 09 90, www.

Restaurant

River House B-3, Gallusovo Nabrežje 31, tel. 425 40

90, river@siol.net, www.riverhouse.si. Billing itself as a combined music, cocktail and restaurant bar, River House’s international ambience is helped along with some intriguing filigree lamps over the bar, cocktails to die for and freshly squeezed fruit juices. The atmosphere is fast and friendly, and the menu comes packed with everything you could ever wish for from fried egg on toast to truffles. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. (€10-20). PTJA6UGBS

Skriti kot B-2, Ajdovščina 4, tel. 430 22 06, skriti.kot@ siol.net, www.skritikot.com. The name translates to “Hidden Corner”, and this restaurant, which is hidden deep under the SKB building, certainly is. Serving pasta and Slovenian standards to a regular flow of local workers and students, this windowless nook is just the right place for tucking in to a reasonably-priced meal while hiding from your tour group. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. (€7-32).TA6UGBXS

Smrekarjev hram B-2, Nazorjeva 2, tel. 308 19 75, www.gh-union.si. Another of Ljubljana’s upscale eateries, Smrekarjev Hram features a wide menu and a long wine list, made up of exclusively local bottles with the sole exception being French champagne for those particularly special occasions. Make sure you leave room for a main and a dessert, where you can select from a range of fish or meat dishes such as grilled sea bass or beef in goose liver sauce, finishing off with raspberry pie or baked fig with vanilla ice-cream. The elegant interior of Smrekarjev Hram is offset by the funky multi-colored straw sculptures which add a touch of fun to somewhere with more than a touch of class. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. (€14-50). PTJA6ULEGBSW

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Philip Bouchard

XXI (425 20 29) B-3, Rimska cesta 21. Upon walking

into XXI, you are sure to notice two things: the deliciously fresh aroma wafting from the kitchen, and the sleek ambience conveyed by the subtle lighting, arched ceilings and minimalist decor. The waiters, though somewhat uninterested in speaking English, are certainly knowledgeable concerning the menu, which offers everything from Sicilian Caponata to Argentine beef, as well as a variety of seafood. A bit on the expensive side, but you pay for what you get; a a superb dining experience. QOpen 12:30 - 24:00, Sat 12:30 - 17:00. Closed Sun. JA

Italian

Al Capone J-2, Šmartinska 152b, Citypark, BTC City, tel. 541 00 61, fax 585 22 04, info@teman.si, www. al-capone.si. Located in the food court of City Park, this spaghetti and pizza cafeteria does its best to affect a rustic feel with brick walls and rustic “aged” chairs, but if you’re there for ambience you’ll be sorely disappointed. This should only be considered for the quick and greasy family lunch. QOpen 09:00 - 22:00, Sat 08:00 - 22:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00. (€6-10). PTAULGW

Allegria B-2, Nazorjeva 8, tel. 426 74 02, info@allegria.

si, www.allegria.si. A veritable corner of Tuscany in Slovenia, Allegria promises to bring the scent of the Tuscan hills and the atmosphere of the stark landscapes across the Alps - and admirably succeeds. With a menu longer than Alitalia’s creditor list, there’s plenty to choose from, be it delicate ravioli and lasagna dishes, or fragrantly grilled meat or fish. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sat 12:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 17:00. (€2.30-20.20). PAGB

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kavalino.si. Hidden in a downhill cobblestone alley, you’ll find a quaint Italian restaurant that specializes in Tuscan food. Enter and the first thing you’ll see is a tasteful dining area with an indoor tree in the corner that rises up to a skylight. Venture further and you’ll encounter the second dining area in a beautiful wine cellar. Follow up the stairs and you might be disappointed by a third and final dining area with furniture and a color scheme that just seem out of place. In Ljubljana there are many restaurants that offer “lunch specials” to lure customers in. Unfortunately they are usually degraded versions of regular dishes, both in price and quality. This one seems to be the exception to that rule, offering great food independently of the time of day, and the service might not be the friendliest, but at least it’s efficient. Definitely worth finding.QOpen 09:00 - 22:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€6-18). PTJA6GBXSW

Tartuf C-2, Trubarjeva 5, tel. 431 01 81. Tucked away

up a small alley way, Tartuf offers a couple of sparsely decorated yellow rooms and a summer courtyard to the usual collection of students and local office workers. The menu is far from revolutionary, featuring such well-known dishes as pizza, lasagne, and that well-known Italian favourite, goulash. The dessert pancakes on the other hand can be pretty special, although the service can be a little on the slow and indifferent side of diplomacy. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 12:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun. (€5-6). TJA6GBS

Japanese

Sushimama B-3, Wolfova 12/040 70 20 70, www.

sushimama.si. Currently the only Japanese restaurant in Slovenia, the small and intimate Sushimama’s interesting little touches beyond the actual food include a subscription to Wallpaper magazine and the brave act of putting the sushi chef on display as he works in the restaurant. The extensive menu features every Japanese favourite from soups to noodle soups, a number of delicate rice- and noodle-based dishes to of course the sushi itself. Complimented by an extensive list of cocktails and wines, the restaurant is marking its territory as the first and finest of its kind. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€14-19). PJARGBXS

Lunch

Fresco B-2, Slovenska 51, tel. 430 33 30. A basic

modern canteen geared towards the time-poor lunchtime office worker crowd, this bright orange restaurant looking not unlike the inside of a train (albeit a rather large one) provides both help-yourself and waiter service and is good value for money if nothing else. Highlights include ready-to-grab meals from the hotplates by the entrance and a slightly better than average salad bar. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. (€2-39). PAGBSW

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La Storia C-1, Linhartova 3, tel. 234 45 92, info@ lastoria.si, www.lastoria.si. This large and lovely trattoria sits inside a bustling but decaying old shopping center not far from the center, and caters to a daily horde of office workers and students with its authentic pizza and pasta offerings. While other restaurants serve pasta and Italian dishes as an afterthought, true Italian food is the focus here, and the ample staff will make sure you get yours fast and hot. QOpen 11:00 - 21:00, Sat 12:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. (€5-10). PTJA6GB

San Martino J-2, BTC City, Mercurius, tel. 585 22

70, fax 585 22 04, info@teman.si, www.sanmartino. si. A shockingly good looking restaurant on the edge of the sprawling BTC Center. The restaurant has a hip and stylish staff, two terraces for outside eating, a large dining room, and a white leather sofa’d room in the middle for relaxing and sipping on coffee or wine. Oh and the food? Italian trattoria pastas and pizzas. If you’re in the mall and absolutely famished, escape the food courts and come directly here for a proper meal. Q Open 07:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. (€4,80-15). PTAUILEGBXW

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April - May 2009

Restaurants Luka Gourmet Lunch Cafe B-3, Stari Trg 9, tel. 425

01 18, info@lunchcafe.net, www.lunchcafe.net. Acres of stripped pine and one of the best kitchen smells in the city, lunchtime feasts include some truly memorable home-made soups, large and tasty salads and a few restrained yet delicious pasta dishes. Be warned though, the place is immensely popular, and waiting for a table or simply having to go somewhere else is a common occurrence.QOpen 09:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 23:00. (€3-19). PJA6UGBXSW

Pasta Nona B-2, Gosposvetska 2, tel. 438 24 24.

Scrubbed pine tables and an air of casual sophistication await those looking for one of the finest lunch spots in town. Drop by this magnificent little eatery for big plates of steaming pasta, wonderful sauces, some great salads and, best of all, a dustbin-sized help-yourself barrel of couscous. Tucked up away from the action in the heart of the city-centre business district, this place fills up fast. QOpen 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. (€5-10). PTJAGSW

Stari Tišler C-2, Kolodvorska 8, tel. 430 33 70. To the

right an old-fashioned, working class canteen with a fabulous stainless steel bar, men with moustaches slurping cheap soup and little else. To the left, a more updated and pleasing environment serving basic Slovenian fare in posher but less interesting surroundings. A communal courtyard out the back provides an opportunity for both worlds to collide under the hot summer sun. QOpen 06:00 - 18:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 17:00. (€5-20). PTJA6UGBX

Mexican

Cantina Mexicana B-3, Wolfova 4, Knafljev prehod,

tel. 426 93 25, ftdoo@siol.net, www.cantina-mexicanarestaurantes.si. Fun on two floors in one of the city’s most popular courtyards, Cantina Mexicana is positively aglow with bright colours, strange sculptures, grass growing on the ceiling and some nice lighting tricks behind the long ground-floor bar. The food is classic Tex-Mex as you’d expect, and appears to be fairly popular. If nothing else, this is one of the quirkiest and silliest places in the city centre and even if you’re not hungry is well worth a visit for a drink or two. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 03:00. (€4,90-16,90).PTJA6GBSW

Restaurants Joe Peña’s B-2, Cankarjeva 6, tel. 421 58 00, bienve-

nido@joepenas.si, www.joepenas.si. A combined cantina and cocktail bar with a fine garden to boot, they’ve got it just right, from the general scruffiness of the place through to the smell of limes and cumin that hits you as you open the door. The food’s pretty good, being the standard Mexican dishes as found throughout the world including fajitas, enchiladas et al, plus there’s a decent menu of vegetarian options to keep everyone happy. One of the best atmospheres in the city that’s guaranteed to please all but the fussiest of patrons. Highly recommended. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (€3-14). PTJA6GBSW

Pizza

Foculus B-3, Gregorčičeva 3, tel. 421 92 95, foculus@ siol.net, www.focuus.com. Magnificently decorated once you’re through the quirky electric sliding doors, with autumn leaves painted on the vaulted ceilings and red, yellow and orange plates built into the roof of the large wood-fired pizza oven, the large and busy Foculus currently specialises in 66 varieties of pizza, including 20 for vegetarians and eight with seafood. The salads are also particularly good. The service can be a little slow at times, but the wait is generally more than worth it. Recommended. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. (€5,78,4). PTJAUGBS

Parma B-3, Trg Republike 2, tel. 426 82 22, www.

picerija.net/parma.htm. A quirky little one, this. As well as a couple of ordinary tables, most dining here is done at the large bar from where the food is cooked and served. Find an empty stool, make your order and away you go. And while you’re waiting for your pizza to arrive, take a look at the large photographs on the wall of the construction of the area you’re eating in. Find it hidden away down the stairs and on the right at the southern end of Maxi Market. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:30. Closed Sun. (€4-6). TJA6ULGBXSW

Piazza H-2, Parmova 51, tel. 436 31 81. Authentic

pizza in an Italian village square setting, complete with an odd bicycle with a salad bar attached for theft prevention. Not the cheapest pies in town, but a pizza feeds two hungry souls. Piazza can get very busy, the terrace especially, but you can wait at the bar to be seated if you haven’t booked in advance. If you want to pay by card, apply patience. Q Open 10:00 - 23:00, Sun 11:00 - 22:00. (€5-10). PTJA6ULGBXS

Trnovski Zvon B-4, Eipprova 17, tel. 283 94 64, www.

pizzerijatrnovskizvon.com. An interesting option if you’re in the area, this local-geared pizza place has a nice intimate room at the front and a larger space out the back. Décor comes courtesy of a few stuffed animals and some interesting bits of art on the walls, whilst the people who come here run the gamut from youngsters out for a bit of a treat to husbands whose wives have run away without leaving anything in the oven. As well as a large list of pizzas in two sizes, the (sadly Slovenian-only) menu also has a few other dishes including fish, pasta and a couple of vegetarian options. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00, Sat 11:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. (€4-8). PTJA6ULGBXSW

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Restaurant

Russian

Ruska Pravljica J-1/2, Kranjčeva 26, tel. 534 50

87, pult@ruska-pravljica.si, www.ruska-pravljica.si. As far from the city centre as Slovenia now is from the Soviet sphere of influence, Ruska Pravljica does a good first attempt at bringing Russian cuisine to Slovenia. The interior and staff costumes are appropriate, but you can’t help feeling the menu is closer to the Slovenian idea of what Russian food should be like. A few shots of original vodka will do much to keep you focused on what Russians do best. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sat 14:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€4-10). PTA6ULGBS

Sandwiches

Sidsa

Gostilna Figovec B-2, Gosposvetska 1, tel. 426

44 10, gostilna.figovec@siol.net, www.figovec.si. White tablecloths, heaps of quality Slovenian wine and a pleasing mix of bits and bobs on the walls including old farming implements, joints of meat and a television blaring ou t MT V cu t this one ou t from the humdrum mainstream gostilna scene. Popular with both locals and foreigners alike, this really rather pleasing place dishes up above-par nosh such as the ghoulish-sounding horseflesh prosciu tto and horseflesh beefsteak, alongside such amusing concoctions as ‘yang pig baked in oven’ and mushroom turkey. Joking aside, what this place loses in translation it more than makes up for in the kitchen. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 16:00. (€7-28). PTJA6UGBXSW

Paninoteka B-3, Jurčičev Trg 3, tel. 425 00 55,

Gostilna Kovač J-1, Pot k Savi 9, tel. 537 12 44, info@

Slovenian

Gostilna Lovec A-3, Trg Mladinskih Delovnih Brigad 1,

www.paninoteka.si. The first sandwich bar in Ljubljana and still by everyone’s accounts the best. Using the best ingredients stuffed inside large, delicious pieces of Italian bread, eat in or take out, hot or cold. One of the city’s latest institutions and a highly recommended one it is too. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 09:00 - 23:00. (€1-7). J6UEGBXSW

In a way, there’s no such thing as Slovenian - with sheep and cows on it’s mountain pastures giving meat and milk products, the Mediterranean fresh providing seafood, and with influences from the Balkans, Austria and Italy, you might as well call it world cuisine. One thing that is unique is the gostilna, the traditional, rustic, family-owned Slovenian inn providing affordable and honest homemade food that would make your granny grin.

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kovac-co.si, www.kovac-co.si. Well out of town near the Tomačevo roundabout, Gostilna Kovač has been serving up Slovenian cuisine with traditional kindness since 1840. There’s plenty of emphasis on meat and fish. Inside, antiques and wooden beams create a rustic atmosphere, while there’s a lovely porch and terrace for al fresco dining. QOpen 12:00 - 22:00. Closed Sat, Sun. (€10-100). PAUBW tel. 426 91 36. One of the more interesting and individual gostilnas in town, Lovec provides a labyrinth of rooms with plenty of brick archways, some really fine old green ceramic stoves, a broken piano on the wall, scores of students of course, and something you don’t see in a gostilna every day - a salad bar. The food’s as good as you’ll get anywhere like this, there are a few vegetarian options, and, for that ultimate gostilna experience with an interesting twist, this one wins hands down. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00, Sat 12:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. (€3-13). JAGBS

April - May 2009

Restaurants

Restaurants value food and occasional folk-related nights of entertainment. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sat 12:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. (€6-21). PTAGB

Pizzicato C-4, Gornji Trg 33, tel. 251 11 18, rez-

ervacije.pizzicato@email.si, w w w.pizzicato.si. An intimate restaurant with in the old town with beautiful and well-restore interior, Pizzicato serves traditional Slovenian standards, pasta, and pizza made fresh and with care. The staff is exceedingly helpful and tourist-friendly, and devoted to making sure to they have happy guests and repeat visitors. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00. (€5-9). PTJAGBX

Pr’ potic B-3, Stari Trg 21, tel. 425 43 37, prpotic@siol.

Gostilna Zlata Ribica B-3, Cankarjevo Nabrežje 5-7,

tel. 241 26 80, zlata.ribica@gpl.si, www.zlataribica. si. The ‘Golden Fish’ has a red, yellow and black interior with lots of interesting art, a strange big fish hanging from the ceiling and lots of wine bottles around the walls. The menu features cold meat platters, noodles, beef fillet and pears with blue cheese, but this place is foremostly known for its excellent fish. Q Open 09:00 - 24:00. (€3-18). PTJHAUEGBW

Mencigar Nobile D-3, Zarnikova 3, tel. 439 70 40,

info@mencigar-nobile.com, www.mencigar-nobile.com. Across the road from St Joseph’s Church, Mencigor Nobile is a wonderfully unpretentious restaurant specialising in traditional food from the Prekmurje region of northeast Slovenia. The three dining areas, known as the Glažar, Janc and Goričko rooms are decorated with classic folk motifs and cooking utensils and are, as are the clientele that frequent them, as a diverse as it gets. A popular place for coffee and a break with teenagers and workers during the day, the evenings see a slightly classier crowd descending for the excellent, good

net. Looking for lunch in Ljubljana? Want to go somewhere specialising in local dishes? Then you could do much worse than taking advantage of Pr’ Potic’s set lunch menu where you can enjoy a choice of two soups, two mains, salad and desert, all eaten at either one of the outdoor tables or in the cosy red and white interior. The a la carte menu has a range of hot and cold starters, soups, sides such as dumplings and grilled vegetables. Factor in the wine list, friendly service and the good location on the square at the end of Stari trg and you have an eatery that offers a budget option with the frills still attached. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. (€11-17). PTJA6EGBXSW

Pri Vodniku H-2, Vodnikova 65a, tel. 505 59 07, info@

privodniku.si, www.privodniku.si. Set in the building where the poet Vodnik was born in 1758, now this pleasant Slovenian restaurant serves a la carte meals as well as several set menus. Each of the menus offers a different overview of local specialities. For something special, take the time to try the 8-course slow food menu accompanied by good wine. For a really relaxed visit, you can stay on after dessert and sleep in one of the guestrooms.QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sun 11:00 - 21:00. (€10-20). PTA6ULGBXSW

Špajza B-3, Gornji Trg 28, tel. 425 30 94. An exceedingly classy affair with chunky, creaking wooden floors, a number of different rustic-feel rooms to eat in, an extensive menu of Slovenian and international dishes, an excellent salad bar and an antique silver cash register in the entrance. Popular with many people including business professionals, tourists and romantic couples, prices are high but still relatively affordable if you don’t come here every day. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. (€7,50-10). JAGBS Valvasor B-3, Stari Trg 7, tel. 425 04 55, info@valvasor.

net, www.valvasor.net. If you are looking for fine dining in the heart of the city, Valvasor may be just the place for you. ‘Elegant’ and ‘tasteful’ are adjectives that could be used to describe both the décor and the menu. Seafood features heavily in both the appetizers and mains sections though for the completely carnivorous there is also a good range of mouth-watering red meat options. If you find yourself spoilt and confused by choice you could take advantage of the degustation menu and try a little of a lot. With an extensive wine list selected from all over Slovenia, Valvasor is open for lunch and dinner though it’s definitely best to book for an evening excursion to avoid the disappointment of being politely told there is just no room for you tonight. QOpen 12:00 - 22:30. Closed Sun. (€16-24). PTJAGBXS

Vodnikov Hram C-3, Vodnikov Trg 2, tel. 234 52 60,

vodnikov.hram@gmail.com, www.vodnikov-hram.si. Between the Puppet Theatre and the old market place, near funicular to Ljubljana Castle, featuring large vaulted brink ceilings, bright yellow walls and a colourful cast of characters, the menu contains much to be considered including Slovenian dumplings, veal, Slovenian potstickers, good salads and a wide choice of vegetarian meals. QOpen 07:30 - 24:00, Sun 09:00 - 24:00. (€5-50). PTA6ULGSW

Židana Marela H-1, Vodnikova 2, tel. 515 14 60,

JazPaTi@zidanamarela.si, www.zidanamarela.si. A fantastic idea whose time (surprisingly) never came before now, Židana Marela organizes Slovenian Nights at Skriti Kot restaurant where they introduce attendees to a typical Slovene meal, drink,customs, folk music, and dances in a convenient 2.5 hour experience. At the end of the night the whole room should be up on their feet and joining in on the raucous fun. QOpen 19:30 - 24:00. (€5-15). PJA6UGB

Vegetarian

Vegedrom H-2, Vodnikova 35, tel. 513 26 42, info@

vegedrom.com, www.vegedrom.com. A vegetarian can certainly stuff themselves on vegetable pizzas and side salads in the center of town, but if it is real healthy vegetarian meals you are after then head to the outskirts and try Vegedrom. The restaurant creates vegetarian, organic and vegan meals inspired by Slovenian and Indian cuisine, with daily specials and special lunch sets that include soup, salad, and a sweet. A worthwhile trek for something healthy and delicious. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00, Sat 12:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun. (€4-10). TA6ULGBXS

Steak house

Stara Mačka B-3, Krojaška 8, tel. 251 17 49, info@

Café

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Igor Modic

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staramacka.si, www.staramacka.si. Like all the restaurants and cafes along the Ljubljanica the focus here is on the outside experience and this restaurant/bar aims to create a sort of Miami vibe in their area along the river; with Latin music blaring on the stereo, a drink list featuring tropical cocktails and cigars, and a staff of attractive waiters. The food here is pricey steakhouse. You can also enjoy light meals, like various salads

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or sea food and then top them with tasty desserts. They are the only restaurant where serve food till 01 hour. From a crisp cocktail before dinner to a full course meal without ever having to leave the comfort of the house.QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 09:00 - 23:00. (€5-20). TJA6UEGBXW

Tea Cha B-3, Stari Trg 3, tel. 252 70 10, cha@siol.net.

When it’s all just to much, it’s tempting to just plonk down and have a cuppa. That’s exactly what Cha offers - a fine place to relax and watch the world hurry by, while you much around with teabags. There’s a choice of black, green, herbal and falvoured teas, with exotic tastes well catered to. The classy porcelain crockery adds to the special feel of the place. An on-site shop sells the dry version too. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00, Sat 09:00 - 15:00; 18:00-22:00. Closed Sun. TJAGBS

KavaČaj B-2, Kersnikova 1, tel. 433 82 33. Trans-

lating simply as CoffeeTea, the hugely popular café inside the Slamič B&B serves excellent coffee and a wide range of teas as well as cakes and puddings in abundance. As well as the nice ground floor venue there’s a larger area upstairs and an all-year terrace. QOpen 07:30 - 22:00, Fri 07:30 - 21:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun. PTJA6GBSW

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com April - May 2009

CAFÉS

Coffee culture is very pronounced in this part of the world, with time standing still a few times a day when people dehurry as they drink some coffee in a café or on a terrace.

Abecedarium B-3, Ribji Trg 2, tel. 426 95 14, info@

P Air conditioning

A Credit cards accepted

E Live music

S Take away

T Child friendly

U Facilities for the disabled

R Internet

L Guarded parking

O Casino

J Old Town location

abecedarium.si, www.abecedarium.si. Half café-bar, half international restaurant, this lovely 1528 building is believed to be the oldest house in the city. Other claims to its fame and fortune are the fact that some 30 years later the father of Slovenian literature Primož Trubar (1508-1586), who wrote the first book to be printed in Slovenian (Abecedarium), lived under this very roof. The Protestant reformer-author, who also wrote the first complete Slovenian translation of the New Testament, would no doubt be horrified at the changes to the building with its striped blue and white chairs and young, liberal clientele. During the summer the terrace is a nice place to sit and drink. QOpen 07:00 - 01:00. (€12-60). PJAUEGBSW

6 Animal friendly

W Wi-Fi

Bachus Lounge B-3, Kongresni Trg 3, tel. 241 82 42,

B Outside seating

V Home delivery

Symbol key

info@bachus-center.com, www.bachus-center.com. Buzzing pretty much any time of the day, Bachus’ ground-floor lounge area features good-looking clients, good-tasting coffee, a year-round garden for sipping cocktails under the stars, and a whole host of other fancy attractions. A popular Ljubljana A-list classic, handy for both the attached international restaurant or as a pre-club venue for its hugely popular nightlife venue. QOpen 08:00 - 06:00, Mon 08:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€3.30-42). PAEG

Bazilika Shop & Cafe C-2, Miklošičeva 22, tel. 041

530 539, darja@bazilika.si. Right next to the courthouse and in one the busiest areas of Ljubljana, this café is the closest thing you’ll find to an oasis in the city. As soon as you enter, you’ll feel how you leave the bustle, noise, and gray of the city behind and are welcomed by very soothing oriental music and décor. A great place to come and study, use your laptop or just surf the net. Try the excellent coffee and sandwiches. Great service too. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Bife Jež C-2, Resljeva 44, tel. 232 17 60. A tiny little

café-bar in the middle of nowhere, good for a pick-me-up coffee or something a little stronger if you’re stranded hereabouts. A small outside seating area provides a safe haven for those who find the idea of being stared at by ever yone too much to handle. Q Open 05:30 - 22:30. Closed Sat, Sun. (€2 sand wich), (€1 coffee). JBS

Cacao C-2, Petkovškovo Nabrežje 3, tel. 430 17 71.

If you like ice-cream, and who doesn’t, then this is your place. Along with the usual coffee, tea, wine and beer, Cacao serves up scoops of ice-cream which you can enjoy indoors or out on the terrace. Fruit and ice-cream is around 5€ a serve and if you want a bit of a kick with your cream, go for one of the alcohol-spiked varieties such as Rio (Baccardi and blue curacao) or Brasil (tequila, minus the worm). There are also plenty of child-friendly shakes and servings available but if you are planning on going to Rio you might want to bring the babysitter. Q Open 08:00 - 22:00. PTJA6UGBSW

Café Antico B-3, Stari Trg 17, tel. 041 76 40 80. A Ljubljana café

D. Wedam

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Parisian feel exudes from every pore of Café Antico. Popular with middle-aged couples out for a balloon or two of quality wine as well as a more younger set of chic young urbanites, the happy proprietor serves up the world’s top 40 cocktails alongside the aforementioned wine and a few well chosen bottles of cold beer, plus there are a few snacks on hand to keep the hunger away including cheese sandwiches and of course croissants. Check out the interesting room for two people. QOpen 06:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 10:00 - 23:00. TJGBSW

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Cafe Open C-4, Hrenova 19, tel. 041 391 371, info@

open.si, www.open.si. Some places try too hard to attract a specific group of people. This coffee shop is not one of them. While it does cater to the gay community, it strays from some of its more cliché aspects. You won’t find anything here that can’t be found in other coffee shops, but it’s perfect for people who appreciate the aforementioned style. Also, make sure you check the beautiful design that covers most of the back wall. It depicts a woman whose hair is blowing with the wind and merges with the autumn leaves. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00, Sun 16:00 - 22:00. J6LEGBXW

Cafetino B-3, Stari Trg 5, tel. 422 29 50. Cha-

otic on a Saturday af ternoon and not much quieter during the week, Cafetino’s split-level design provides ample seating for the city’s caffeine connoisseurs to imbibe on a range of coffees made from freshly ground coffee beans. A small shop at the back sells the beans in question to take away plus a few sweets including packets of delicious English fudge and assorted biscuits. Q Open 07:30 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00, Sun 09:00 - 14:00. TJA6UGBXS

Caffe Ljubljana B-2, Gosposvetska 7, tel. 041 89 03

41/426 32 26. A cute curved café-bar, convenient if you’re staying at the Slamič, with a nice little courtyard out the back and a huge dragon for a door handle. This far from exclusive establishment is a decent enough place for a pick-me-up espresso or something a little stronger amidst a mixed clientele including hip young students and retired Party officials. QOpen 06:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun. From 28. July to 15. August open from 08:00 to 16:00. (€3,70-4,85). PTJGBXS

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CN7 B-3, Cankarjevo Nabrežje 7, tel. 252 72 07, cn7@ volja.net, www.cn-7.com. A pleasant enough café on the waterside, nothing too special but full of interesting things and people to look at all the same. The clientele runs the entire range of local folk and tourists from teenagers to geriatrics. The coffee is better than many in the area. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00. TNGB

Coffe Project C-2, Mali trg 1. Hidden behind the popular

stretch of Trubarjeva, this tiny and very new coffee shop has big ambitions. It serves Turkish brewed for the discerning coffee drinkers and in the beer department it has the distinction of offering not only the two ubiquitous and watered-down national beers but also a selection of homemade ones. Ask a local to guide you there and they just might join you in something new. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sat 15:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. PJ6ULEGBXW

Corso Bar B-3, Cankarjevo Nabrežje 13, tel. 041 623

379, corso@siol.net. Industrial overtones and a bunch of trendy young things behind the bar, heaps of arty people drinking coffee, wine and beer and the added bonus of outside seating. Take your pick on an indoor experience with lots of funky metal piping and black pvc furniture or chance your arm under an al fresco umbrella. QOpen 08:00 - 03:00, Sun 08:00 - 22:00. J6UGBS

Čez Cesto C-3, Ciril Metodov Trg 12, tel. 470 47 07.

Smack bang next to the cathedral, this unpretentious spot, clearly pandering to the trade from the local market, rarely hears an English voice, making it well worth more investigation. Find a small selection of beers, wine and spirits and the most extraordinary white chandelier. QOpen 07:00 - 18:00, Sat 07:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun. TJAUGS

April - May 2009

cafÉs

CAFÉS Coffee & Cakes Cakes take a special place in Slovenian daily life, and slaščičarnas (cake cafés) provide that shot of coffee and sweet sweet pastries that can keep you going for a few more hours.

Café Plato B-2, Ajdovščina 1, tel. 230 84 80, plato@

siol.net, www.plato.si. A stylish and quite new cafe, they offer a wide selection of great ice creams, cakes, and tiny tarts in their small and clean inside space or outside on the slightly unpleasant concrete slabs of terrace facing the major thoroughfare.There is also a nice menu of small dishes and larger meals, depending on whether you are passing through or staying in for a while, but alas you’ll have to get one of the constantly annoyed waitstaff to translate it for you. We recommend just coming for the sweets. QOpen 07:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€2-3). PTJA6GBXSW

Čolnarna A-2, Tivoli Park (near the Ribnik, lake), tel. 251

11 60, fortuna.fortuna@siol.net, www.colnarna.com. Once upon a time this old café sold the best homemade cakes and sweets in town in the most beautiful setting around, but it is now 120 years in, and we all know age can make it hard to keep up. These days while the surroundings are still quite lovely, the cakes are not bad and ice creams are delivered in a truck. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00.TJ6UGBXS

Kavarna in slaščičarna Zvezda B-3, Kongresni Trg

4, tel. 421 90 90. A bustling café frequented by a battalion of clients from students to pearl-laden old ladies. Zvezda’s décor leans in the direction of your classic Buddha lounge, with a scattering of Oriental statues and some fine brown

Grajska Kavarna C-3, Ljubljanski grad (Ljubljana

Castle), tel. 439 41 40, w w w.grajska-kavarna. si. Swanky, cool and chic in equal measures, Ljubljana Castle’s very own café is housed inside a dismal-looking 1980s concrete monstrosity well overdue for a facelift. Retaining much of its original communist-era look, the interior is fun if you’re in the area, and is a good place to stock up on fruit juice, wine, coffee, beer, sandwiches and a Harry Potter ice cream. Q Open 10:00 - 21:00. PTJA6GBSW

Kavarna Tromostovje B-3, Prešernov Trg 1, tel.

430 12 18, www.kavarna-tromostovje.si. Here near Plečnik’s famed Tromostovje (Three Bridges), alongside the river, you can get a real feeling of the pulse of the city.This open-air café is blessed with perhaps the best location in the city and as such it seems to always be full with locals and tourists sitting with a coffee, enjoying great ice cream, soaking up local color, and sometimes even watching a daytime concert on the square. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00. TJ6UEBXSW

Maček B-3, Krojaška 5, tel. 425 37 91, www.macek-

lj.si. Reassuringly scruffy after so many good-looking places in the area, gurgle down some tea, coffee or something a little stronger in the safe confines of four bright orange walls decorated with some nice black and white photographic portraits of both people and Ljubljana itself. Extremely popular with families toting young children during the weekends. QOpen 09:00 - 00:30. TJA6GBSW

Metropol B-2, Kersnikova 6/040 63 99 01. A distinctly

industrial feel with lots of absurd touches such as a ridiculous flashing robot and a glass-walled smoking room for two, if you’ve got the strength to throw a sleeping student on the floor,

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

velvet wallpaper. Not the cheapest café in town, your money is at least well spent. The coffee is strong enough to wake the dead, and the cakes are some of the best and stickiest in town. QOpen 07:00 - 23:00, Sun 10:00 - 20:00. (€1-4). PTJA6UGBSW

Zvezda B-2, Wolfova 14, Slovenska 34 (in Hotel Slon),

tel. 421 90 90, kavarna.zvezda@siol.net. A bustling café frequented by a battalion of clients from students to pearlladen old ladies. Zvezda’s décor leans in the direction of your classic Buddha lounge, with a scattering of Oriental statues and some fine brown velvet wallpaper. Not the cheapest café in town, your money is at least well spent. The coffee is strong enough to wake the dead, and the cakes are some of the best and stickiest in town. QOpen 07:00 - 23:00, Sun 10:00 - 20:00. Slovenska 34 open: 08:00-22:00, Sun 10:0020:00. (€2,80-3). PTJAUGBSW

prepare yourself for a full-on youthful experience. A bit out of the way along the same street as Slamič B&B, Metropol is only really recommended for those who enjoy being in the company of boys and girls who are technically still at school. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00. Closed Sat, Sun.PJAGBSW

Pr’ Fotru C-1/2, Trubarjeva 18. A tiny strip of a cafe and

bar, the terrace outside provides a great front row seat to the flow of the, sometimes hip and other times strange, traffic heading up and down Trubarjeva. A tiny television inside promises to be tuned to a game whenever one is going. QOpen 07:30 - 01:00, Sat 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 11:00 - 01:00. J6UGBXSW

STA travel café B-2, Ajdovščina 1, tel. 040 390 000,

www.sta-lj.com/sta/sta-travel-cafe. There are a lot of pluses to this place despite the clinical sounding name. Set on a big terrace with a good view and lots of tables it offers free Internet for patrons. When all that virtual surfing results in hunger pangs you can sate them with your choice from a wide range of sandwiches. The TV is set to the travel channel so you can look at where you’ve been, where you’re going or where you want to head off to next, and every second Wednesday you can attend the travel presentations and wash all the free information down with beer, wine, coffee, tea or a soft drink. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. PJ6UGBXW

Trubadur C-2, Trubarjeva 31, tel. 434 35 30. Giggly waitresses and heart-stopping cakes provide the interesting diversions inside this otherwise ordinary café along one of the city’s more famous trendy streets. The coffee’s not too bad either, and if it’s some peace and quiet you’re after for 20 minutes this might be just the place for you. QOpen 07:30 - 22:00. Closed Sun. (€4-5). TJ6UGBS ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

April - May 2009

Nightlife

nightlife

Ljubljana may be a small capital, but the student population and the city’s western outlook ensure that the bars and clubs here are as good as anything you’ll find in Berlin or Stockholm. Whether you’re looking for quiet drinks with business colleagues or a mysterious adventure into the world of Turbo Folk, the venues listed here are guaranteed to land you with a varied, thrilling and uniquely Slovenian experience, quite possibly with a headache to match.

Symbol key

Cafe Galerija B-3, Mestni Trg 5, tel. 040 245 780,

www.cafe-galerija.com. Right next door to Cupiterija you’ll find Café Galerija. As the name suggests, this café doubles as a gallery space. Along with the artworks and outdoor seating, the café boasts a cool blue interior bar at the back, where patrons can sit back and enjoy teas and coffees, snacks and a range of alcoholic drinks - - -pretty much something for everyone of a legal drinking age. QOpen 09:00 - 03:00, Sun 09:00 - 22:00. PJA6EGBXW

Casablanca B-3, Mestni Trg 17, tel. 01 426 30 28.

P Air conditioning

A Credit cards accepted

E Live music

S Take away

T Child friendly

U Facilities for the disabled

R Internet

L Guarded parking

O Casino

J Old Town location

6 Animal friendly

W Wi-Fi

B Outside seating

V Home delivery

Handkerchiefs for lampshades, a vaulted brick ceiling and not a sign of Humphrey Bogart anywhere. Not unlike the couple from Kent who called their child Depressed Cupboard Cheesecake, the owner wasn’t really thinking when he came up with the moniker here. After all’s said and done however, during the summer at least the place fills to bursting with a diverse crowd of happy-go-lucky locals and tourists. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 07:00 - 01:00. POJ6GBCW

Compañeros Café B-2, Slovenska 51. Head down a too-

long bright orange hallway and dive bar, that clearly caters to a youthful crowd looking to drink cheap and fast while listening to the daily DJ set. The day we went the bar was plastered floor to ceiling with dirty handwritten signs advertising drink deals. If you’re under 25, or just act like you are, this is the place for you. QOpen , Mon, Tue 07:30 - 00:30, Wed, Thu, Fri 07:30 - 02:30, Sat 10:00 - 02:30. Closed Sun. No admission. JAGBXS

Fétiche B-3, Stari Trg 25/040 70 03 70, www.fetiche.

si. A dark and moody, space-age cocktail bar on two levels complete with everything a cocktail bar should possess. Sit in the company of wannabe supermodels and young boys with their expensive trousers falling down and gaze in wonder at the vast model pictures, retro furniture and the obligatory huge mirror ball. There’s outside seating too, and, rather oddly, a small boutique selling expensive designer fashion upstairs. Q Open 10:00 - 01:00. PJA6GBXW

Gas Station J-2, Savska 5, tel. 437 91 30. Just south of

Bar

Mox XIV

Bars

Aperitiv Bar B-2, Miklošičeva 1, tel. 308 19 96. A

pleasant, small and simple café-bar on the ground floor of the Grand Hotel Union Executive with a well-stocked bar and a few nice Art Nouveau touches. A decent place for business travellers to start the evening, meet informally with colleagues or to simply network with other like-minded executive types. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 08:00 - 22:00. PJ6UG

Bi-Ko-Fe B-3, Židovska Steza 2, tel. 425 93 93. A sloppy,

messy kind of bar full of art students lounging around on the windowsills or sitting at the extraordinary plastic orange bar. Much talked about and extremely good fun to look at, our last visit entailed standing at the aforementioned orange counter and being ignored by everyone until the barmaid appeared to ignore us as well. A resounding victory for form over content indeed. QOpen 07:00 - 01:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 01:00. PJUGBXSW

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Žale Cemetery on the way back into town, sit and drink inside a convertible car amidst motoring memorabilia including old petrol pumps, hub caps on the walls and a vintage motorbike in the window. Hardly part of the regular tourist scene, this odd little experience’s location means you need to be in a silly mood or motoring mad to go here. Once the gimmick’s been stripped away, there’s not a lot left besides the hugely popular summer terrace. QOpen 06:00 - 23:00, Sun 09:00 - 22:00. P6UGBX

Juice box Slovenska 38, tel. 051 645 930, info@jui-

cebox.si, www.juicebox.si. An experimental juice bar that mixes up glasses upon glasses of 100% fruit juices, soya milk, milk, yogurt and nuts. That’s enough to get anyone’s mouth water. Definitely, a pleasant place for an invigorating start to the day or a mid day refreshment and you can bring your laptop along to make use of its WIFI facility. QOpen 07:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 15:00.

Kamera Klub C-2, Kolodvorska 6, tel. 432 50 29, kamera@amis.net. A particularly interesting local bar for local people containing some of the best and worst examples of interior design in the city. There’s sport on the television, men with berets and large moustaches, and, strangely, a personal computer with internet access in case nobody wants to talk to you. QOpen 06:00 - 23:00, Sun 07:30 - 23:00. PJAUGW

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Kolovrateater C-3, Ciril Metodov Trg 14. Just opened in late October, Kolovrateater trades from 9 am to 1 pm but unless you want a quiet coffee it is really more of a night-time place, especially on the weekends when it shakes off the café mantle and dons that of a club. And, it’s not just any old club - - -planned regular events include live music, stand-up comedy and literary readings, with no cover charge for these eclectic entertainments. If after all that culture you should feel a little hungry don’t be alarmed by the fact that the only snacks listed on the menu are bubble-gum and croissantssandwiches are available too. And if a quiet daytime drink is all you are after, the coffee’s pretty good here. At the time of publication the website wasn’t up and running but it should be by the time you are holding this guide in your hands so check it out to see what’s on at Kolovrateater. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00. PJA6EGBXW Lepa žoga A-1, Celovška 43, tel. 432 31 09. Ideally situated for basketball and hockey fans without tickets for the events in neighbouring Hala Tivoli, you can grab a drink at this sports bar and cheer on your team in action on three TVs and a big screen. With autographed T-shirts of local sports heroes, this is can be any fan’s local. QOpen 07:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. A6GBXW

well as a tasty selection of pricey cocktails. They also organize regular music nights from national and international acts. The bar is nice, but as cars steadily pass through the maze like parking area it makes it hard to relax and party at the shopping mall. QOpen 08:00 - 00:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. No admission. PAULGBXSW

Pri zelenem zajcu C-4, Rožna 3, www.prizelenemzajcu.

si. This is a good place to head to if you want to find a small non-pretentious bar where the locals are friendly. Slowly rotating disco lights and trance type music give the Rabbit a bohemian feel and you can either head into the green gloom or grab a drink and perch yourself at one of the couple of outdoor tables. Recommend for students or those who once were students and want to feel like one again, even if only for an evening, or for those who’ve never drunk absinthe and would like to give it a go. QOpen 09:00 - 00:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 01:00. Closed Sun. JA6EGBXW

Na Balanci H-1, Vodnikova 155, tel. 500 76 71, www.

francinabalanci.com. If you find yourself pacing through the halls of the expansive BTC Center wondering where the old Slovenia of yesteryear got buried, you might just find it here far away from the center and hidden from the street. Come down the small alleyway and make a left at the tennis courts and find a beautiful wooden high-ceilinged bar chocked full of early twentieth century memorabilia from old- fashhioned bicycles to big black and white family television sets. There is so much to soak in while you soak up your drinks from the full bar, you might have to make more than one visit. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri 08:00 - 05:00, Sat 09:00 - 05:00, Sun 15:00 - 24:00. PTA6ULEGBXSW

Opera Bar B-2, Cankarjeva 12, tel. 421 03 90, info@

opera-bar.com, www.opera-bar.com. A bright, large, colourful space popular with many of the city’s more well-heeled residents, including those who like to attend the opera house across the street, Opera Bar is your classic café-bar. It brims with good-looking types drinking coffee during the day and something a little stronger later on. The Australian-Slovenian ownwership explains the huge Aborigine-style painted ceiling and walls. QOpen 07:00 - 02:00, Mon, Tue, Wed 07:00 00:30, Sun 10:00 - 18:00. PJHAEGBXSW

Playa J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 040 57 35 72, bar@

playa.si. This fancy bar inside of BTC center gained notoriety for being co-owned by one of Slovenia’s better pop stars, Jan Plestenjak. They serve hot and cold drinks from a full bar as

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April - May 2009

nightlife Pr Skelet B-3, Ključavničarska 5, tel. 252 77 99. Look

for the skeleton hanging in a cage on the corner of the street, dip up the alley and down the skeleton-riddled staircase, over the skeleton lying under the glass floor and enter what may well be the strangest cocktail bar of them all. As sharp-witted readers may have already guessed, the theme here is a skeletal one. They’re everywhere - some still wearing their clothes, and even a dominatrix skeleton complete with a whip and naughty little skeleton. Not content with this, expect to find a bony handle on your cup should you order a coffee. QOpen 10:00 - 03:00. J6GBX

Roža B-3, Židovska 6/040 58 07 56. Dark and jazzy, find among other hip drinkers plenty of sophisticated students chucking back glasses of expensive wine and cocktails in two rooms decorated with padded walls and lots of nice little extra touches. You’re in the heart of bohemian Ljubljana now, with plenty of other choices in this league if it isn’t doing it for you. QOpen 7:30 - 01:00, Sat 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 10:00 - 01:00. PJULENGX

Rollbar J-2, Hala 18 (BTC City), tel. 585 25 70, info@

indoor-karting.com, www.indoor-karting.com. Another reason to visit the huge BTC complex is this extraordinary place. Taking the gimmick of the race-car-theme-drinking-hole to its logical conclusion, this subterranean boozer not only comes complete with enough racing paraphernalia to start your very own F1 museum, it’s actually got a go-kart racing circuit. There are no drink-driving laws here, just a bunch of electric go-carts and a hangar-size space to wiggle them through. Not quite as tame as it sounds, these go-carts when running on full power have a top speed of 120kph, restricted for obvious reasons here to a more sensible albeit still stupidly fast 65kph. QOpen 07:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 01:30, Sun 08:00 - 23:00. AUEGBXW

Roxly C-2, Mala 5, tel. 041 399 599, info@roxly.si, www.roxly.si. It’s all in the timing so they say. Spread over two floors, the Roxly provides a dual function by offering meals by day and music by night. The coffee bar and restaurant is popular during the daylight hours, with a good wine and cocktail list, a menu made up of local and international dishes and a view of the castle from the outdoor dining area. By night, DJs and live music, mainly of the blues and rock varieties, keep this place rolling along until three in the morning, providing a welcome alternative to the ubiquitous dance music found in most late-night venues. So whether you want a coffee with a view, a long lunch, or cocktails and rock and roll, the Roxly can meet your needs - - -just make sure you get your times right. QOpen 07:00 - 02:00, Thu, Fri 07:00 - 03:00, Sat 10:00 - 03:00. Closed Sun. (€6-18). PJAEGBXSW

Roxly

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

nightlife Salon C-2, Trubarjeva 23, tel. 439 87 64, www.salon.

si. Suave sophistication as seen through the adolescent eyes of the MTV generation, complete with all the usual shallow trappings such as zebra skin sofas and fluffy red walls. From the mirror balls to the small individual chill-out rooms, the visual notes are all in the right order, and the cocktail menu is as good as any. However, as so often happens in the East, there’s more to the book of life than just its cover. This place is all about being seen and what you’re seen wearing. Don’t expect a Hollywood welcome if you turn up looking anything other than an A-list movie star. QOpen 09:00 - 03:00, Mon, Tue, Wed 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 15:00 - 01:00. PALEGBSW

Slon Restaurant & Lounge B-2, Slovenska 34, tel.

470 11 55. A combined bar and restaurant inside the hotel of the same name, sink back in the cane furniture, knock back a devilishly expensive cocktail and soak up the frightfully posh atmosphere. An almost circular affair with huge windows overlooking the busy street outside, this is an excellent option for informal business meetings, or if you’re feeling hungry a club sandwich or full meal. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 10:30 - 24:00. (€7-15). PTJAUGBKXSW

Sputnik H-2/3, Tržaška 128, tel. 423 23 72, fax

256 67 95, dobrodosli@sputnik.si, www.sputnik.si. Suave, dark and moody, featuring 60s retro furniture with lots of beautiful-looking people sitting on it, ice-cold beer and cocktails, a long, long bar and waitresses with even longer legs. A nice café during the day, Sputnik transforms itself during the evenings into a much buzzier place with occasional special events. Q Open 06:00 - 24:00, Fri 06:00 - 02:00, Sat 07:00 - 02:00, Sun 08:00 - 22:00. PA6ULEGBXW

Stara Mačka B-3, Krojaška 8, tel. 251 17 49, info@

staramacka.si, www.staramacka.si. The ground floor space of this combined cocktail bar and steak house restaurant has opted for something along the lines of a Cuban vibe, with plenty of Cuban cocktails on the menu to accompany the Cuban music and cigars also on offer. Upstairs find a small restaurant with lots of classic 60s-style red lampshades turning out a reasonable menu of appetizers, steaks, fresh salads and seafood dishes. For those who can’t be bothered to move too far from where they eat to where they end up drinking, Stara Mačka may well prove too tempting to resist.QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 09:00 - 23:00. (€4-15) PJA6UGBKXSW

Tombstone Saloon B-4, Eipprova 19, tel. 283 14 13.

Žmauc A-3, Rimska 21, tel. 251 03 24. Ask any tuned-in

local to make a list of their favourite bars and they’re almost certain to put this place on the list. Covered in quality graffiti outside and always featuring a huddle of interesting-looking individuals smoking suspiciously large cigarettes by the entrance, the exterior is but a mild prelude to what’s inside. A smallish L-shaped bar is packed day and night with more strange characters amidst an interior design scheme straight from the pages of a Manga comic. Excellent for coffee or something a little stronger. Highly recommended. QOpen 07:30 - 01:00, Sat 10:00 - 01:00, Sun 18:00 - 01:00. PJA6GB

Clubs

As Lounge B-3, Čopova 5, Knafljev prehod, tel. 425 88 22, www.gostilnaas.si. This fabulous lounge is the third string to the three-string bow that is As. Featuring lots of laid-back browns and oranges with comfortable sofas and a mix of well-heeled clients, enjoy loads of cocktails and DJs in a chill-out environment that’s one in a million. Private parties also available. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. PAG

Bachus B-3, Kongresni Trg 3, tel. 241 82 44, info@ba-

chus-center.com, www.bachus-center.com. Essentially the only nightclub in the centre of Ljubljana, this place accordingly bursts with people whenever there’s something good going on. Running the gamut of themed nights appealing to everyone from students to those looking for the best DJs in the city, this is currently the liveliest place in town for everyone to let their hair down and have some good old-fashioned fun. QOpen 08:00 - 06:00, Mon 08:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. PJAEG

Jupiter Bar J-2, Šmartinska 152/031 57 42 37, bar@

jupiter.si, www.jupiterbar.si. A glistening, spaceship-style creation of a club pandering to the well-connected, predominantly teenage market, this BTC-located den of naughtiness and hedonism borders on cult status with its orange-dressed staff, a customised YouTube television station and obsession with Colgate-white, happy clappy people. Themed evenings rotate around a simple diet of Latin, hip-hop, reunion and student parties. QOpen 20:00 - 05:00, Fri, Sat 18:00 - 05:00. Closed Mon, Sun. Closed in August. PAG

Klub 300 H-1, Regentova 35, tel. 1 510 39 40, fax

040 333 999, info@cluboz.si, www.cluboz.si/si/. /A club nestled deep between the domains of Ljubljana’s overwhelming large shopping malls is suited for those that take pleasure in any kind of music and a night out with friends. If it’s Balkan turbo folk or electronic music you can find OZ2 packed and full of fun on a Friday or Saturday night. QOpen , Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 21:00 - 05:00. PALG

Emonska klet B-3, Plečnikov Trg 1, tel. 421 93 00,

Klub SubSub A-1, Celovška 54a, klub@subsub.si, www.

Club OZ2 J-2, Smartinska 152, tel. 040 282 282, fax

Zlata Ladjica B-3, Jurčičev Trg 1, tel. 241 06 96, info@

emonska.klet@siol.net, www.emonskaklet.com. As well as being a large subterranean restaurant-bar in the heart of the city centre serving traditional Slovenian food, this is also where scores of young and not-so-young people head for during the evenings and weekends when it doubles as a club venue. As well as rolling around on the floor drunk, other things to do under the large vaulted brick ceilings are listen to the occasional DJ or even a band or two, get stuck in a conversation with expats and dance like a complete idiot. Fun! QOpen 10:00 - 02:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00. Admission €1. PJAEG

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

040 333 225, hvalazaroze08@gmail.com. Translating as ‘thank you for the flowers’, this place doesn’t really get going until the sun has been long down. With a color scheme based around purple and artworks adorning the walls, the stylishness of the club is complemented by the aromas coming from the large vases of freshly-cut flowers. With views straight down on to the river from the elegant arched windows and different DJs featured each night Hvala za rože plays a range of music. They don’t have a website yet but pop in earlier in the evening to suss out what’s on and if whatever it is takes your fancy come back a few hours later. It’s located downstairs just near the open air market and tourist information booth on the Mestni trg side of the river. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 03:00. Closed Sun. JAUEGBXW

1 510 39 41, info@bowlingklub300.com, www.bowlingklub300.com. Celebrating a birthday? Graduating? Reunion? Organizing a business meeting or get together? If it’s a good time you need, Klub 300 is a friend indeed any day of the week. Order a ‘zirafa’ for the group (a 3 litre long tube of bubbling local beer which allows you to pour your own draught) and take on your friends or colleagues at one of the bowling alleys, or at a game of pool. El Toro, a Mexican restaurant attached to the complex, fries up a spicy dish for just under a tener and the cocktails are only a fiver. The VIP room is especially suited for business meetings who want to mix work with a bit of fun. QOpen 14:00 - 24:00, Wed 13:00 - 24:00, Fri 14:00 - 02:00, Sat 11:00 - 02:00, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. PALG

Complete with authentic cowboy saloon-type swinging doors to get unceremoniously thrown through after you’ve drunk the bar dry and insulted the sheriff, this ridiculously silly, woodenclad, cowboy-theme bar comes with the usual prerequisite wagon wheels on the ceiling and cowboy hats on the walls, plus classic rock howling out of the CD player and sport on the television vying for attention at the same time. Definitely one to put on your pub-crawl list if that’s what you’ve come here to do. TJA6ULEGBXSW zltim.si, www.zlataladjica.si. Lots of vaulted ceilings, pictures of sailing ships, rigging, sails and a DJ booth inside a wooden barrel, the rum selection is surprisingly lacking in variety and there’s not a sailor in sight, but it beats the lacklustre banality of most Irish pubs any day of the week. As well as the main bar area there are also a couple of smaller rooms for more intimate moments, and one of central Ljubljana’s biggest terraces. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 10:00 - 22:00. (€7-20). PTJA6UEGBKXSW

Hvala za rože C-3, Adamič-Lundrovo Nabrežje 5, tel.

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subsub.si. The oldest club in Ljubljana doesn’t really get going until about 1 am but when it does it doesn’t let up until 5 or 6 in the morning. Specialising in ‘good music’, with underground DJs and bands, SubSub attracts a mix of locals and tourists who want to hear the full gamut of alternative dance tracks from hip hop to funk to reggae. The cover charge depends on who is spinning or playing and once through the doors you’ll be part of a hip crowd ranging in age from their teens to their late 30’s. QOpen 17:00 - 02:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 17:00 - 05:00, Sun 15:00 - 02:00. (€3-16). PJALEGBXW

April - May 2009

nightlife KMŠ A-3, Tržaška 2, tel. 425 74 80, info@klubkms. si, www.klubkms.si. If you’re young and a student, here’s a great place to have some fun with the rest of Ljubljana’s dynamic youth. Numerous concerts and DJ nights are programmed for the weekends and the occasional weekday. Drink to your heart’s content as the booze is by far the cheapest in town. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00, Sat 21:00 - 05:00. Closed Sun. Closed in August. Admission €0,5. PJA6EGW

Turbo Folk Born in Serbia in the early 1990s and having close cultural links with the Bulgarian Chalga, Turkish Arabesk and Greek Laïka scenes, Turbo Folk mixes traditional Balkan folk music with the westernised club music coming out of the region at the time. The term was first used by the Montenegrin-born Serbian singer-songwriter Rambo Amadeus, essentially as a joke, but has now become synonymous with the genre. Growing up via the illegal radio stations of Belgrade and the cult cable television station Pink TV, what was originally a Serbian child has gone on to have children of its own throughout the Balkans. Fusing together a bizarre mix of predominantly working-class sentimentality, nationalism and hedonism, Turbo Folk is alive and well and living in the suburbs of Ljubljana. Dress codes for men are fairly liberal, but the classic Turbo Folk female wears revealing dresses, dances in a provocative way, and is usually found inside a pair of long, high-heeled white boots. Completely off the tourist radar, those wishing to know more about the sub-culture before venturing along to a venue might like to ask the advice of a local before doing so.

En Pub H-1, Celovška 150, tel. 514 11 26, info@

enpub.si, www.enpub.si. The true sounds of the suburbs echo around the walls of this extraordinary little place practically non-stop. Leave your gun in the car, clear security and the metal detector, and you’re free to indulge your wildest wishes. Every night is different, from hopelessly sentimental romantic nights of ballads to all-night DJ parties featuring the classic Turbo Folk girls. Refreshment features everything from bottles of ice-cold local beer to cocktails to ice cream, and they even do sandwiches and coffee for party animals who’ve moved on to other places that stay open even longer and come back again early in the morning. For a totally different take on Ljubljana, En Pub simply has to be experienced to be believed. QOpen 06:30 - 24:00, Thu 06:30 - 03:00, Fri 06:30 - 05:00, Sat 09:00 - 05:00, Sun 09:00 - 24:00. PTA6ULGBXW

Klub 12 G-1, Prušnikova 95/041 67 85 77, info@

klub-12.com, www.klub-12.com. Turbo Folk’s classic Ljubljana after-party venue is a good few kilometres from the city centre and doesn’t see a single client until around 04:00, but that’s all part of the fun really. After the other venues have closed their doors the deal is to pile into this dark underground cavern with its strange red lighting, pictures of naked women with bows and arrows on the walls and excruciatingly loud music and carry on with the party. This is hedonism at its very best, to the point that many of the true hardcore followers of the faith scrabble out of here blurry eyed in the morning and start all over again. Unmisable for those who know and love how to party. QOpen 07:00 - 05:00, Sat, Sun 18:00 - 05:00.PALEGX

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

nightlife Orto Bar E-1, Grablovičeva 1, tel. 232 16 74, info@orto-

bar.com, www.orto-bar.com. A combined bar and live music venue dedicated to the glorious and mostly unpretentious world of rock music, filled nightly with a well-behaved crowd in leather jackets etc, drinking the night away and taking advantage of one of the few regular live music venues in the city. The bar is worth visiting on its own. Long and thin, there’s a line of old turning ventilators along one wall, giving the place a futuristic, Mad Max feel. QOpen 08:00 - 05:00, Mon, Tue, Wed 08:00 - 04:00, Sun 18:00 - 21:00. PALEGBX

TeatroKlub A-1, Slovenska 25, teatro@teatro1.com,

Sax Pub B-4, Eipprova 7, tel. 283 14 57. This is what

happens when an unruly youth inherits his great aunt’s country cottage. This now legendary, graffiti-spattered nightspot wouldn’t last a week in New Orleans, but in Ljubljana there’s nothing of its kind to beat it. A fairly small bar features photographs of jazz greats on the walls and a clientele of people who appreciate what Charles Mingus once referred to as black classical music. Most of the time the music is pre-recorded, but they do have the occasional live band in from time to call. Call them to see what’s on. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00, Mon 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 16:00 - 22:00. JA6LEGBD

www.teatro1.com. Big, loud and brash, Teatro sprawls itself over two levels. Upstairs the colour scheme is black and red with a metal industrial feel whilst downstairs the look is cool icy blue. But whichever part you are in, the music is pumping and the punters are looking and looking to be looked at. There’s nowhere really to chill out except on the upstairs smoking terrace but in a place where you can buy your drink by the glass or the full bottle, and where by the early hours people are likely to be up dancing on the tables, chilling out can wait. Flashy and frenetic Teatro is a little but loud taste of Belgrade slap-bang in Ljubljana. QOpen 21:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. (€5 for men). PJAULEGBXW

Pubs

Ultra B-2, Nazorjeva 8, tel. 031 56 07 13, info@ultra-club.

guinnesspub.net. Enough Guinness mirrors to keep everyone in town high for a week, plenty of comfortable cubby holes and a splendid little summer courtyard in the heart of the student district. Draught beers include Guinness plus Kilkenny and that old English 80s favourite, Woodpecker cider. Friendly and different enough to be worthy of at least a little plaudits, put this one on your pub-crawl list for sure. QOpen 07:00 - 01:00, Sat, Sun 17:00 - 01:00. PJA6UGBX

si, www.ultra-club.si. If you find yourself painfully unprepared at the salsa night a few doors day, you can slink down to this fancy disco for something a little more free-formed. The bar features DJs and various theme nights from house to hip hop and the full bar also offers an assortment of cocktails whenever you take a break from the throbbing crowd. QOpen 20.00 03.00. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. Admission €5. PJAG

Cutty Sark B-3, Knafljev Prehod 1, tel. 425 14 77.

One of the most popular bars in the city and frequented by all manner of locals and expats, Cutty Sark provides two dark bars and a summer terrace, childish art on the walls, model ships and the world’s biggest chewing gum machine. Featuring a good selection of local and international beer, find it bursting with interesting specimens most evenings. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 - 01:00. PTJA6UEGBXSW

Guinness Pub B-3, Gosposka 3, tel. 426 62 93, www.

Pub Martin

Parlament Pub B-2, Šubičeva 1, tel. 251 32 43. Knowing neither whether it’s a café or a bar, nor for that matter who it’s trying to attract, this peculiar oddity with its books on the shelves, shady characters and (you’ve guessed it) students, also serves big fat sandwiches to soak up all that beer and/or coffee you’re quite possibly going to drink in here. If you find a tourist anywhere within these four walls, it’s almost certainly going to be you. Very local and interesting. QOpen 06:00 - 04:00, Sun 16:00 - 24:00. PJA6UEGBXW

Dancing

Piano Bar B-2, Nazorjeva 6, tel. 244 23 11. Hardly worth a second glance during the day, this long, thin little shopping-centre café transforms itself during the evening into something charming and unique. Home to the city’s fans of swing, salsa, old Yugoslavian rock music and more besides, evenings here include singles nights for the over-30s and plenty of opportunities to dance in couples just like they did in the old days. For more information about this scene, check out the interesting website at www.vintage.si. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 02:00. Closed Sun. No admission. PJAEGBX

Zlati Zob E-2, Zaloška 69, tel. 059 13 95 52. While

Slovenia enjoys a new life in the EU and puts its Yugoslavian days behind it, in Ljubljana you can still find echoes of the many cultures that made up that old land, and at Zlati Zob the city’s new “ethno-club” those echoes can take the form of a singer’s wail or a throbbing balkan gypsy beat. The cafe/club’s interior, full of Balkan artifacts and traditional instruments hanging off the walls, hints at the raucous nights of music and dancing that occur when the sun goes down and various regional artists and DJ entertain the crowd. QOpen 07:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 07:00 - 03:00, Sun 12:00 - 01:00. PALEGBXW

Jazz clubs

Gajo Jazz Club B-2, Beethovnova 8, tel. 425 32 06,

jazzclub.gajo@siol.net, www.jazzclubgajo.com. Roll over Beethoven - this is perhaps Ljubljana’s most famous Jazz venue, with regula jam sessions (Monday nights), concerts by local and international artists and other events. besides listening to music, it’s a great place for a few beers too. The programme can be found on the club’s English-language website. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 24:00. PJAEGS

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April - May 2009

nightlife

nightlife Adult entertainment

Patrick’s C-2, Prečna 6, tel. 230 17 68. Smoking

bans can cause many changes to the fabric of a society, not least to the basic atmosphere of the classic Irish pub. Long gone now is the lingering nicotine smog that helped shape the style of this cellar bar, but the overall atmosphere remains more or less intact. Popular with locals, expats and tourists alike, the bar stocks all your favourite Irish tipples, served by a gaggle of cheery bar staff, plus there’s the usual live sport on a big screen. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00, Sat 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 17:00 - 24:00. (€5,50-7). PTJA6EGSW

Pub Premier C-3, Petkovškovo Nabrežje 17, tel. 430 52 31. A pleasant enough riverside café-bar with its very own whiskey bar, sport on the television, postcards from friends who long since moved on and good outdoor seating when the weather’s right. Hardly the sort of place to spend and entire evening in, but worth checking out all the same if you’re planning on drinking yourself up and down both sides of the water for the evening. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 09:00 - 01:00. No admission. PJA6ULEGX

Rugby Pub & Lounge B-3, Židovska Steza 6, tel. 426 40 62. Three floors of testosterone-filled entertainment for the lads, featuring rugby paraphernalia nailed wherever it can fit, lots of sports on large television screens, table football, Guinness and Pilsner Urquell on tap and the usual selection of young (and not-so-young) gentlemen with their encyclopaedic heads full of useless sporting facts and figures. Not to everyone’s taste for sure, but proof if ever it was needed that Ljubljana’s a serious European city up there with the best of them. QOpen 08:00 - 24:30, Fri 08:00 - 01:00, Sat 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. PJHAUGBXSW

William’s Pub C-2, Tavčarjeva 8a, tel. 434 38 53. Lots of international flags and good things to drink inside what comes about as close as you’re going to get here to a classic London pub. Frequented by a mostly 20-something crowd, its proximity to the large television studios at the end of the street also means this place entertains the occasional passing Slovenian celebrity. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri 08:00 - 01:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00; 19:00-01:00. Closed Sun. J6GBX

Wine bars

Dvorni Bar B-3, Dvorni Trg 2, tel. 251 12 57. A large L-shaped adventure specialising in wine, particularly local wine, as well as functioning as more normal café at the same time. Highlights include a swanky, jazzy area at one end for the more wine-orientated punter plus at the other end a place to enjoy a beer and a sandwich in slightly less sophisticated

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

surroundings. A good place, and a particular favourite with the kids thanks in part to the huge play area that also puts on the occasional children’s events and entertainments. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 09:00 - 24:00. (€4,50-15). PTJHA6UEGBKXSW

Enoteca B-2, Nazorjeva 12, tel. 425 71 06, info@

enoteka.si, www.enoteka.si. One of Slovenia’s greatest hidden treasures has been its many quality wines, which are only now getting the attention they’ve deserved. While the international wine world slowly uncovers each one, region by region, you can get yourself a crash course by heading to this basement bar. The wonderful owner Sašo single-handedly runs the place and will gladly educate you on the vino while serving local prosciutto and cheeses alongside. In the hot summer days, this bar has the added bonus of being naturally cool. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. Closed Mon, Sun. PJAGS

Maximal B-3, Breg 2, tel. 422 00 33, galerijabreg2@

siol.net. A combined café, gallery and bar full of serious-looking people staring into their laptops and some interesting contemporary art on the walls. The barman considered both himself and his place of work far too important to give us a couple of minutes for a chat (this when the place was practically empty), so the only information we can give you is that it looks nice in here, and that if you’re wearing the wrong hat you might well be treated like a war criminal. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sun 09:00 - 22:00. PJAULGSW

Movia B-3, Mestni Trg 4, tel. 425 54 48, movia@siol.

net, www.movia.si. The Slovenian Movia vineyards have been producing quality plonk for longer than anyone can remember, and this, their little showcase wine bar in the old town, is a fine place to come and try some of their excellent products. Found slightly hidden away inside a little covered courtyard, Movia is barely bigger than a telephone box, features extremely friendly staff, and even serves a selection of food especially prepared to compliment the wines on offer. Recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun. PJ6UGBX

Wine Cellars of Slovenia (Vinske Kleti Slovenija)

C-1, Dunajska 18, tel. 431 50 15, vinskekletislovenije@siol.net, www.vks.si. The oldest and largest wine shop in the country naturally has a classy restaurant attached where discerning diners may sample some, or all, of the 80 wines on the menu. This is a place where the choice of good Slovenian dishes is based on the wine, rather than the other way round. Recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sat 17:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€6-20). PALGBKX

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Although Ljubljana is a relatively small city, it does make space for sexy and sinful late night entertainment for adults, gays, lesbians, transvestites and so on. There are several strip clubs in Ljubljana that have recently sprung up around the city displaying a diversity of foreign girls for escorting, table-dancing, stripping or just to keep you company if you buy them an (expensive) drink, and I mean €100 for the cheapest bottle of champagne. Clubs usually provide a dance show, often being quite explicit. Escorts in Ljubljana are limited but somebody in your hotel can advise for a tip where you can find a nightlife companion. Some places worth trying out are the Elite Erotic Massage starting from €85 for an hour. Exclusively for the ladies, there is a male escort service: a perfect companion for a romantic dinner, cultural event and a classy glass of wine. For those looking for shopping for an erotic inventory, read on to find the right sex shop for you, most being easily found around the old part of town. Prostitution is illegal in Slovenia and you would have to look very hard to find any girl working the streets. Of course, we don’t advise that you try as these girls do not necessarily undergo any medical examination. It is best to stick with the more ‘refined’ selection we have on offer in Ljubljana. There are several gay and lesbian bars which, frequently organize events at Monokel, K4 Roza, and Open Caffe to name just a few. One of Ljubljana’s two gay bar-discos, Tiffany, is tucked into one of the several buildings in the complex, nearly adjacent to a brightly colorful youth hostel housed in former prison.

Hard core Cafe G-3, Dolgi most 4, tel. 041 716 612,

info@hardcorecafe.si, www.hardcorecafe.si/. Ljubljana got Erogene Zone! Hard Core is new and the revolutionary sex experiment on adult entertreinment scene since the independency..Free entrance, cheap drinks, good looking girls and ...what else can you ask for? They have stag packages and special offers on the menu where you can find also day & night prices of drinks and special “stojan” erotic drink. Slovenian Erotic Guru Max Modic & his team 69 are taking care that Tarra White & sexy collegues will be regular guest on the high “porn” level.The location is out of city center under the Dolgi Most bridge but ride is worth of try...untill 4PM. QOpen 14:00 - 04:00. Closed Sun. PJAG

Klub Slon B-2, Slovenska 34, tel. 470 11 48, ecarte@

siol.net. The most centrally-located adult entertainment club in town in the basement of popular Hotel Slon, this is also the tamest . The small group of girls, who you’ll mostly find fully dressed, do a a few nightly topless cabaret shows. While lapdances and the like are not offered here, when the women are not dancing they are available for some personal interaction. QOpen 22:00 - 04:00. PJAEGBXSW

Tanga J-1/2, Brnčičeva 13, info@tangaclub.com, www.

tangaclub.com. This club is quite a trek from the center of town, along a lonely stretch of railroad track so definitely bring a map. Once you get there, head upstairs from the bar café and find a neon-lighted multi-leveled space with a wide selection of international ladies and a menu full of drinks and services. QOpen 21:00 - 04:00. No admission.PALG

Sex shops

Symbol key P Air conditioning

A Credit cards accepted

E Live music

S Take away

T Child friendly

U Facilities for the disabled

R Internet

L Guarded parking

O Casino

J Old Town location

6 Animal friendly

W Wi-Fi

B Outside seating

V Home delivery

Escape E-1, Grablovičeva 1, tel. 232 16 74. On the

lowest level of the ever popular Orto, this club’s surroundings are consistent with the rock club atmosphere that is housed above it. There is a small stage for striptease, but lapdances and personal attention are the real focus here with private dances available at your table or in one of the back rooms. QOpen 21:00 - 04:00. Admission €16. PJAG

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Red Shop C-3, Gornji trg 24, tel. 425 32 29/041

624 608, fax 90 20 930, redshopnada@gmail.com, http://www.redshop.si/.Concentrating mainly on sex toys of all sorts, this store offers a great variety of accessories that will help you enrich your sex life. You can visit the establishment in the old part of town or shop online. Just don’t expect much help from the clerk, in English or otherwise. QOpen 10:00 - 12:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Venera Shop C -2, Trubarjeva 4 3, tel. 4 32 41 83, http://www.venera-shop.si/trgovina/ ?page=shop/index. Ever wondered about going a little crazier in bed? Well, what are you waiting for? In this sex shop you’ll find all the little toys your heart might desire. Videos, lubricants, all types of things that run on batteries et al. Check it out. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

April - May 2009

what to see Ljubljana Castle is arguably the main attraction for visitors to the city, but all that lies beneath it from the Old Town to Ljubljana’s multitude of world class museums are more than worthy of further investigation. The extraordinary combination of treats, from the architecture of Jože Plečnik’s to the historic atmosphere of the Old Town to the occasional blast-to-the-past burst of retro-Yugoslav city planning all work together in harmony to create the most unique of cities.

Around Ljubljana

Postojna Cave (Postojnska jama) Jamska 30,

tel. 700 01 00, fax 700 01 30, info@turizem-kras.si, www. turizem-kras.si. Q August,September: ever y day at 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 , 14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00. O ctober: every day at 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, Franc Habe 16.00 Children: €12, students: €16, adults: €19. Organised groups: €10-16.

Cemeteries

Žale Cemetery (Pokopališče Žale) J-1, Med

Hmeljniki 2, tel. 420 17 00, inf o@ zale.si, w w w.zale. si. Built on the site of a much earlier cemetery attached to the neighbouring (and still standing) Holy Cross Church, what’s arguably Plečnik’s Ljubljana B. Jakše & S. Jeršič masterpiece was completed in 1940. The grand arched entrance complete with stark white colonnades supposedly represents the gateway between the lands of the living and the dead. Between them and the cemetery itself are a series of peculiar buildings, chapels and monuments including the Žale funeral home. Architectural styles abound, reflecting Plečnik’s vision of equality among religions. The cemetery itself, once you get there, is a pleasure to behold and is worthy of a good hour’s stroll. The final resting place of many Slovenian greats including Plečnik himself, also find a small area given over to the Jewish population of the city. QOpen 07:00 - 21:00.

Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad) C-3, Grajska

Planota 1, tel. 232 99 94, info@ljubljanafestival.si, www.ljubljanafestival.si/en/ljubljana_castle. Perched on top of Castle Hill (Grajska Planota) and dominating the city skyline to the south, Ljubljana’s magnificent castle stands on the site of several former defensive buildings in a hilly area of land stretching away to the south of the old town. The current ensemble of buildings originates from necessary 16th-century reconstruction work following the earthquake of 1511, with several later additions. Not unlike Kraków’s Wawel Castle in Poland, Ljubljana Castle has served as both a royal residence and a military barracks over the centuries. Undergoing extensive albeit slow renovation work, the current main points of interest for the visitor are both located inside the Outlook Tower (Razgledni Stolp), built in the 19th century and raised a

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

what tosee see what to Tourist information L jub l ja n a To uri s t I n f or m a ti o n C e n tr e (Turistični informacijski center) C-3, Adamič-

Lundrovo Nabrežje 2, tel. 306 12 15, fax 306 12 04, tic@ljubljana-tourism.si, www.visitljubljana.si. A small but extremely well equipped resource with plenty of maps, brochures galore in English, information about what’s on in the city and a range of information on what to see and do in the region. They also organise tours, can help with accommodation, and should be one of your first ports of call when you arrive. Their website is one of the best we’ve seen in Central Europe and is well worth further investigation. Friendly, informative staff too. Q Open 08:00 - 21:00, Oct-May 08:00-19:00. Also at the bus and train station (tel. 433 94 75; open 08:00 - 22:00, Oct-May 10:00 - 19:00, saturday 08:00-15:00).

Slovenian Tourist Information Center (STIC) C-

3, Krekov trg 10, tel. 306 45 75, fax 306 45 80, stic@ ljubljana-tourism.si, www.visitljubljana.si. Slovenia’s national tourism office. Maps, brochures and general information about travel throughout the country. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00. Open 08:00 - 21:00, Oct-May 08:00 - 19:00. further 1.2m by the communists in 1982. The tower’s Virtual Museum screens a 20-minute film in 3D, viewed with the aid of special glasses and a headset for an English translation, showing an interesting and informative history of the castle. On the same floor find a small door that takes you to the top of the tower up some 100 red cast-iron steps, each individually decorated with an image of the tower and the city’s dragon. A door at the top leads to a small viewing platform (not for the faint hearted) with wonderful views of the city. Underneath the tower and located down a small flight of stairs tucked away through a doorway in the corner of the courtyard is the diminutive St George’s Chapel (Kapela sv Jurija). Originally Gothic and remodelled in the Baroque style, the chapel is interesting for its 15th-century wall paintings and not a lot more. The castle also has a small art gallery featuring temporary exhibitions, a café, souvenir shop and a branch of the city’s Puppet Museum. It’s also a popular place for local weddings, and durin g th e summ er puts on concerts and, in July, hosts a popular ou tdoor cinema. To reach it, several small paths lead up from the old town, or take the furnicular next to the D.Mladenovic Puppet Theatre.

Mestni Trg B-3. The centre of medieval Ljubljana, the town’s main square was damaged in the 1511 earthquake and subsequently rebuilt in Baroque style. The square houses the Town Hall, City Art Museum, the decorated 16th century Lichtenberg house and the Souvan house with its Empire facade.

Prešernov Square (Prešernov Trg) B-3. Formally a

meeting place for several roads in front of one of the old entrance gates to the city, and a public square since Ljubljana’s original defensive walls were torn down in the middle of the 19th century, this is one of the city’s most important landmarks. Named after Slovenia’s national poet France Prešeren (German, Franz Prescheren, 1800-1849), it’s both a popular

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meeting place (notably under the large statue of the man after whom the square is named) and a site for concerts and events during the summer. The charming little public space is ringed by a number of interesting sights including the magnificent Art Nouveau façade of the Urbanc House, an extraordinary piece of early 20th-century flamboyance and site of the now sadly closed Centromerkur department store.

Essential Ljubljana There are too many good things to see in Ljubljana, but if you’ve only got a limited amount of time on your hands, the following all come highly recommended.

Tivoli Park A-1/2. Laid out in 1813 as a place for the general health and recreation of the city’s population, at some five square kilometres, Ljubljana’s gargantuan bucolic lung literally two streets west of the city centre is so packed with good things to see and do that it’s almost worth visiting the Slovenian capital just to Mansion-LTB-archive come here. Set amidst rolling hills, Tivoli Park is a pleasant mixture of lawns, pastures, wooded areas and fun adventure playgrounds for the kids, all of them immensely popular with everyone from cyclists (bicycles available for rent throughout the park during the summer) to families out for a breath of fresh air and a picnic. As well as its reputation as the top nature spot in the area, Tivoli Park also houses a number of cultural sights including the International Centre of Graphic Arts, the Museum of Modern History and, in the park’s far southwestern reaches, the zoo.

Triple Bridge (Tromostovje) B-3, . Perhaps Ljubljana’s

most characteristic structure(s), the triple bridge is a curious merger of a 19th century road bridge (itself replacing a medieval wooden bridge), with two 1930s pedestrian bridges designed by Plečnik, who took the opportunity to do up the whole ensemble with lamps and stone balustrades.

Churches

Evangelical Church (Evangeličanska Cerkev) B-2,

Gosposvetska 9, tel. 252 72 80, evang.cerkev.sl@siol. net, www.evang-cerkev.si. Completed in 1852, this fairly unremarkable church represents much that is classic German (or, to be exact, Austrian) austerity. The simple, single-towered magnolia façade hides a basic interior, most of it made from wood, with a few interesting flourishes. The main organ dates from 1878, and the painting on the main altar is the work of a virtually unknown Austrian by the name of Künnel.

S. Rancov

Cathedral (Sv. Nikolaja) C-3, Dolničarjeva 1, tel.

231 06 84. With its classic twin towers and trademark single, weather-worn green dome, the city’s cathedral, more properly known as St Nicholas’ Church, encapsulates everything that is Ljubljana. Small and interesting, but not too exciting at first glance, a longer look at its history and finer details reveals its hidden charm and beauty. Built on the site of a much earlier church, the cathedral’s main structure and appearance dates from the first half of the 18th century. Inside the Baroque masterpiece’s pink shell is a cavalcade of classic creams and golds, littered with extraordinarily detailed frescoes and possessing that calming feeling that only a great church can bring. Of particular interest are the ornate choir stalls and Robba’s maginficent angels on the main altar. Don’t forget to check out the astonishing pair of bronze doors on the western and southern sides. Dating from 1996 and commissioned to celebrate John Paul II’s visit to the Cathedral, the former celebrates 1250 years of Slovenian Christianity, and the latter, depicting six cardinals in a row with the figure of Christ lying at the front, the history of the diocese of the city.

Franciscan Church (Frančiškanski Samostan) B-3, Prešernov Trg 4, tel. 242 93 00. Built in an instantly recognisable, mildly swirly Baroque fashion, Ljubljana’s mid16th-century Franciscan Church dominates Prešernov Trg like a big pink birthday cake. Part of a larger complex with an additional Franciscan monastery, if you’re lucky enough to find the doors unlocked expect a few treats inside including Robba’s 18thcentury altar, some charming D.Silpa frescoes dating from 100 years or so later and a chapel notable for containing a cross designed by none other than Jože Plečnik. For those who don’t appreciate the finer points of ecclesiastic architecture, the front steps do at least provide a nice place to sit and watch the world go by on a gloriously sunny day. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00.

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T. Kunst

Cobbler’s Bridge (Čevljarski most) B-3. Another Plečnik creation, this elegant 1930s bridge is named after the cobblers’ workshops located on its predecessor. Pillars of various sizes stand on the bridge, some supporting lamps, others simply holding stone balls in the air.

April - May 2009

what to see Holy Trinity Church (Cerkev svete trojice) B-3,

Slovenska 21, tel. 252 48 64. Constructed to a design by Carlo Marinuzzi between 1718 and 1726 from a commission by local merchant Jakob Schell von Sch ellenburg, and wi th all the usual addi tions over the centuries, this imposing Baroque marvel dominates the area it’s located in not least for its unusual, gabled rooftop façade. Part church and part monastery, the former’s interior is somewhat restrained, its D.Silpa main outstanding feature being a Francesco Robba altar, carved from African marble around 1740. The main steps date from the 1930s and are the work of our old friend Plečnik.

Jewish Ljubljana The first Jews arrived in Slovenia during Roman times, vanished in the 7th century, and reappeared three hundred years later in Carinthia, the first truly stable Slavic state ever created. Over the next four hundred years they spread themselves around, especially in Maribor, and, disregarding the usual conflicts with the natives, prospered, taking on professions as diverse as bankers to cattle farmers. The first recorded Jews in Ljubljana arrived in 1213, surviving for just over three hundred years in the area around today’s Židovska Steza over the river from the old town before Maximilian I had them thrown out of the city in 1515, just three years before he himself shuffled off the planet forever. It wasn’t until as late as 1867 that the Jews returned to the city when the ban was lifted, although very few did actually arrive, most opting for lives in neighbouring Gorica (now the Italian town of Gorizia) and Trst (now Trieste in Italy). By 1944, Ljubljana’s remaining 100 or so Jews, most of them Ashkenazim were rounded up by the Nazis and taken to Auschwitz where almost none survived. In 1954 a small Jewish Community was established in Ljubljana by the survivors of the Holocaust. Independence brought about a reorganisation of the community, and until 2003, Ljubljana was the only European capital without a synagogue. Today an estimated 400-600 Jews live in Slovenia, most of them in the capital. There’s little to see in the way of Jewish sites in Ljubljana, the exceptions being the area around Židovska Steza and the small Jewish section inside Žale Cemetery.

Jewish Community of Slovenia (Judovska Skupnost Slovenije) A-3, Tržaška 2, tel. 252 18

36, jss@siol.net, www.jewishcommunity.si. This energetic team of local Jews organises various events and gives out information in the areas of youth and student affairs, education, culture, Jewish women’s affairs and religion. Q Open Tue 16:00 -18:00, Thu 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun. The building will be closed entirely throughout July.

Synagogue (Sinagoga) A-3, Tržaška 2. Inside the headquarters of the Jewish Community of Slovenia, the small synagogue was the last synagogue to open in a European capital city and dates from 2003. The city has no rabbi; the chief Rabbi for Slovenia is Mr Ariel Haddad, who is based in Trieste, Italy.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

what to see Robba Fountain (Robbov Vodnjak) B-3, Mestni Trg.

Ljubljana Card The Ljubljana Card offers reductions of up to 35% on admission fees, taxi rides, shop prices, car rental and other expenses. The card is valid for 72 hours and costs €12.52. Find it for sale at all tourist information centres and at various hotels, businesses and shops, or order it at www.ljubljanacard.com.

Or thodox Church (Pravoslavna Cerkev) A-2,

Prešernova, tel. 252 40 02. Built alongside the southwestern perimeter of Tivoli Park in 1936 to serve the city’s Serbian community, this wholly unremarkable church complete with all the usual ostentatious details, is worth visiting during services, daily at 10:00.

St Joseph (Cerkev Sv. Jožefa) D-3, Zrinjskega 9,

One of th e most famous landmarks in the city, this lovely 1751 fountain is named after its creator, the Italian Baroque sculptor Francesco Robba (1698-1757), and is also known as The Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers. It was the last of Robba’s Ljubljana creations. The eight years it took him to complete it essentially bankrupted the man, and he finally left the D. Wedam city for Zagreb. Based loosely on the grand fountains of Rome, the artist’s masterpiece features three river gods, supposedly representing the Krka, Ljubljanica and Sava rivers.

Museums

sv.jozef@rkc.si, http://jezuiti.rkc.si/jozef. Following the earthquake of 1895, the religious folk of Ljubljana vowed to get together every Easter to pray that such a terrible thing would never happen again. From 1914 these liturgies were celebrated inside this large and extraordinary-looking church, which was completed in the same year. Built by the Jesuits, the building was confiscated by the communists in 1949 and subsequently handed over to the state film industry who, in a nutshell, wrecked the place. Now back in the hands of the Church, renovation work is ongoing. The half-coffered, half-domed ceiling and everything underneath is now intact, but much work and filling-up remains. Several interesting Yugoslav-era photographs of the building can be found inside the porch.

Brewer y Museum (Pivovar ski Muzej) B-1, Pivovarniška 2, tel. 471 73 40, pivovarski.muzej@pivounion.si, www.pivo-union.si. The Union Brewery has been providing quality beer to the masses for almost 150 years. The brewery’s museum, inside the same building that they make the stuff in the attic of the company’s former malt house, provides an intriguing insight into the history and development of beermaking in Slovenia with the aid of all manner of exhibits from life-size recreations to some of the beautiful old machinery that helped launch a thousand drunken nights. Visits need to be booked in advance, and include a tour of the current brewery, the screening of a short film, and of course the chance to sample some of the products. Q Open 08:00-13:00 on every first Tuesday of the month. Admission free.

St Peter (Cerkev Sv. Petra) D-2/3, Trubarjeva 80,

City Museum (Mestni Muzej Ljubljana) B-3, Gosposka

tel. 231 79 65. The h eri tage of th e Roman Catholic St Peter’s Church goes back long before this building was completed in 1733, with a number of churches standing on this spot for some 500 years before Giovanni Fusconi’s superb M. Tancic Baroque designs were realised. Inspired by the great churches of Venice, much has been changed over the centuries, including Neoclassical additions following the 1895 earthquake and the construction of a new façade, complete with interesting fish details over the doors between 1938 and 1940 by the local architect Ivan Vurnik. Many changes have been made inside as well, including much work by Vurnik’s wife, Helena. Points of particular interest include Franc Jelovšek’s magnificent frescoes and several altar paintings by Valentin Metzinger.

Monuments

France Prešeren B-3. Slovenia’s national poet France

Prešeren (1800-1849) stands in the square named in his honour at the foot of the Triple Bridge. As well as offering an interesting visual treat, the monument also serves as a focal point for people meeting in the city. Erected in 1905, the large monolith is the work of the architect Maks Fabiani and sculptor Ivan Zajc and features the Muse of poetry holding a small laurel of bay leaves over his head as well as extracts from his writing around the base.

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15, tel. 241 25 00, info@mm-lj.si, www.mm-lj.si. A magnificent museum run by a team of historians who know how to show people a good time, showcasing Ljubljana in all its good and bad colours throughout history. Featuring both permanent and temporary exhibitions, this is the best place in town for a crashcourse in city history. Find scale models of unfulfilled Plečnik creations, elaborate costumes, old photographs and much more besides. Check out the fabulous little website for upcoming exhibitions. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Admission €4/2,50. English-language guided tours Sun at 13:00.

Contemporary History Museum (Muzej Novejše Zgodovine) A-1, Celovška 23, tel. 300 96 10, uprava@ muzej-nz.si, www.muzej-nz.si. If you needed a reason to visit Tivoli Park, it’s here. This fascinating museum inside a wonderful 18th-century mansion presents the history of Slovenia from the period around the start of WWI until indeMatthew Armstrong pendence in 1991. Using a combination of well-presented exhibits including old photographs, clothing and household items the museum charts the often wobbly path of the nation through and between the two world wars and the difficult and truly fascinating post-war communist years. The building itself is worth seeing alone, being a marvellous combination of original Baroque and the interesting modernist work of the Slovenian architect Jurij Kobe, dating from 1991. QOpen , Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00, Thu 10:00 - 20:00. Closed Mon. Admission €7/3,50.

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International Centre of Graphic Arts (Mednarodni Graf ični Likovni Center) A-2, Pod Turnom 3, tel. 241 38 00, info@mglclj.si, www.mglc-lj.si. Located inside the gorgeous 17th-centur y Ti voli Mansion, this must-see attraction for anyone with even Nena a passing interesting in the visual arts contains a staggering 3,500 prints and over 400 books, mostly from the second half of the 20th century onwards and including the work of many of the great masters of European graphic arts. Everything is represented, from painting to posters to book design. Private access to the museum’s archives is available on request in advance. QOpen 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Tue. Admission €3,40/1,70.

National Gallery (Narodna Galerija) B-2, Prešernova

24, tel. 241 54 18, info@ng-slo.si, www.ng-slo.si. Inside Czech architect Fr a n t i š e k Ed m u n d Škabrout’s fabulous late 19th-century neoRenaissance masterpiece wi th an additional modern wing thrown on for good measure, this aboveaverage galler y features the ver y best LTB-archive in Slovenian art from the 13th century up to the first half of the 20th century, including paintings by such notable artists as Ivan Grohar (1867-1911), Richard Jakopič (1869-1943) and Ivana Kobilca (1861-1926). The other permanent exhibition in the building focuses on European painting, and includes some really fine examples of the Renaissance-period Italian painting through to the more modernist work of the early 20th century. The gallery also contains a small gift shop, which has several good books and postcards. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Admission €7/3,50.

National Museum (Narodni Muzej) A-2/3, Prešernova

20, tel. 241 44 00, info@nms.si, www. narmuz-lj.si. Found lurking inside another of the city’s fine, late 19 t h-c en tur y n e oRenaissan ce buildings complete with fine painted ceilings and elaborate sculptures on the stairs, this is D. Wedam the oldest museum in country, founded way back in 1841. Permanent displays include an intriguing collection dedicated to the Slovenians and the Slovenian language alongside the usual bits and pieces of interest dug out of the ground, plus a large ensemble of almost 200 examples of carved stonework dating from Roman times excavated in the city and surrounding regions. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Thu 10:00 - 20:00. Admission €3/2,50.

www.inyourpocket.com April - May 2009

what to see Natural History Museum (Prirodoslovni Muzej)

A-3, Prešernova 20, tel. 241 09 40, uprava@pms-lj.si, www2.pms-lj.si. Attached to Ljubljana’s National Museum, the Natural History Museum isn’t the best in the world by a long way but it does offer an assortment of oddities to beat the rainy blues away or to simply keep the children amused for a while. Among the many peculiar displays of shells, rocks and an almost complete set of mammoth bones, the human fish is perhaps the museum’s strangest display. Known so for its pinky human flesh appearance, the little proteus anguinus is a blind amphibian found exclusively in a relatively small area including parts of Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and Herzegovina. The gift shop features a handful of fun things for the kids including small build-your-own dinosaur kits. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Tue 10:00 - 20:00. Admission €3/2,50.

Plečnik House (Arhitekturni Muzej, Plečnikova zbirka) B-4, Karunova 4, tel. 280 16 00, pz@aml.si, www.aml.si. The Slovenian visionary architect Jože Plečnik lived in this house from 1921 until his death in 1957, making this brilliant monument to the great man and his work poignant for both its immediate connection with him as well as being the building in which he did most of his work, much of it on the actual building itself. Organised into both a living recreation of how and where Plečnik lived LTB-archive and a fascinating insight into his often revolutionary ideas, exhibits include recreations of everything from his kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and countless examples of original drawings and models. The museum can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Q Tours hourly on Mon, Fri 10:00 - 15:00, Tue, Wed, Thu 10:00 - 18:00, Saturday 09:00 - 15:00. Book in advance by email or phone. Arhitekturni muzej (Pot na Fužine 2) Admission €4/2.

Railway Museum (Železniški Muzej) B-1, Parmova

35, tel. 291 26 41. Housed primarily in a wonderful semicircular brick locomotive shed, the current incarnation of this excellent museum dates from 2004 and offers an exceptional glimpse behind the history of the technology, culture and people of the nation’s railway heritage. In the shed find a chorusline of vast old steam locomotives, the oldest dating from 1861, whilst another building plays host to several rooms of signal equipment, railway eccentricities, uniforms, a recreation of old station master’s office and, up a wiggly spiral staircase, a small art gallery featuring the railway-related paintings of one of the museum’s former directors. Outside find even more exhibits from rusting trains to a small scale model of a viaduct. This highly recommended museum will keep boys of all ages occupied for a pleasant hour or more. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Admission €3/2.

Slovene Ethnographic Museum (Etnografski Muzej) D-2, Metelkova 2, tel. 300 87 00, etnomuz@ etno-muzej.si, www.etno-muzej.si. In the middle of some serious renovation work at the time of visiting and temporarily lacking its permanent exhibition, the impressive Ethnographic Museum’s aims are to the link past and present, different cultures as well as nature and civilisation in creative and imaginative ways through the use of both exhibitions and workshops. Whatever the exhibitions on display, whether about Slovenian folk music, traditional horsehair sieves or any number of other topics, the clever use of materials, interactive displays and an excellent choice of English descriptions makes this place an

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

essential place to visit. Find the entrance in the large square at the back of the building and be sure to take a look at the huge black and white photographs incorporated into the pillar designs in the main entrance hall. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Admission €4,50/2,50.

Technical Museum (Tehniški Muzej) Borovnica, Bistra Pri Vrhniki, tel. 750 66 70, info@tms.si, www. tms.si. A bit of a drive to get to this one, but if tractors, fishing rods, tools of every possible size, shape and application, guns, odd metal boxes that possible work on steam and thousands of other similar contraptions and devices tickle your trumpet then get thee to the tiny village of Bistra, or rather its lovely old castle and grounds. Other points of particular interest include an eccentric collection of Tito’s old cars and a permanent exhibition dedicated to printing and the written word in Slovenia, including an interesting hotchpotch of machines and tools used in the printing process. Sundays see the place turn into a working museum, complete with demonstrations of lots of sharp, fast-turning and essentially dangerous tools. Pack your protective goggles and head 30km southwest out of Ljubljana on the main A1 highway and take the Vrhnika turnoff. The museum is a few kilometres south of here along road 642. QOpen 08:00 - 16:00, Sat 08:00 - 17:00, Sun 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Tuesday to Friday 8:00-16:00, Saturday 8:00-17:00, Sunday and public holidays 10:00-18:00. In July open Tuesday to Friday 10:0018:00, Saturday 8:00-17:00, Sunday and public holidays 10:00-18:00. Admission €4/3.

Tobacco Museum (Tobačni Muzej) A-3, Tobačna

5, tel. 477 73 44, tobacna@tobacna.si, www.tobacna. si. The small and intriguing Tobacco Museum traces the origins of the deadly weed in Europe from the 16th century

Wacky Ljubljana Every city boasts its more eccentric major sights, and here at In Your Pocket we sometimes like to point them out. It’s often the more unusual things about a city that give it its unique flavour. The following are our particular favourites.

House of Experiments (Hiša Eksperimentov)

C-2, Trubarjeva 39, tel. 300 68 88, info@h-e.si, www.h-e.si. Based on similar wacky, fun and educational places around the globe, the extraordinary House of Experiments features two rooms of purpose-built experiments for the ultimate hands-on experience. Visitors are free to wander around as they wish, engaging with anything that takes their fancy, whether it’s a giant bubble maker, a room full of mirrors or a machine that plays music according to your weight. They also provide what they call Adventures, namely small performances that aim to show different scientific principles, with enticing names like the Centre of Gravitology, Eggology etc. Q Open sat, Sun 11:00 - 19:00. Groups can book special visits outside these days too.

Puppet Theatre clock (Ura) C-3, . Every hour

between 08:00 and 20:00, puppets pop out of the clock at the top of the Ljubljana Puppet Theater building, accompanied by music. First, Kobilica the horse shows up, followed by Krpan, carrying a knife; when he raises it, the horse hurries back inside with Krpan in persuit - a scene taken from the puppet show that opened then new theatre in 1984. Krpan has been chasing Kobilica around the clock and delighting children since 1992.

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what to see onwards. Exhibits include information about the history of the city’s tobacco factory, which opened in 1871 and in which building the museum is now housed, various machines for the production of cigarettes and a hauntingly lifelike display of two 19th-century women rolling the factory’s renowned Ljubljana Virginia cigars. The factory remains an important part of Slovenian history not least because it was here that the country’s women’s emancipation and rights were born. At its peak, the factory employed some 1,000 workers and was the third largest company in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Painfully difficult to find, look for the 1971 socialist-realist statue of a female tobacco worker and you’ll find the entrance behind her and to the right. The museum publishes a small booklet in English, which is well worth picking up. Q Open every 1st Wed, 3rd Thu of the month 10:00-18:00.

Parks & Gardens

Botanical Gardens (Botanični Vrt) H-3, Ižanska 15,

tel. 427 12 80, botanicni.vrt@siol.net, www.botanicnivrt.si. Nearly 200 years old, this garden is part of the biology department of Ljubljana University and has 2 hectares of protected landscape, with over 4500 species of native and foreign plants. Guided tours of groups over 15 people are possible for a small fee and when booked 10 days in advance. Q Open 07:00-19:00, Jul-Aug 07:00-20:00. Admission free.

Town Hall (Mestna Hiša) B-3, Mestni Trg 1. The 15th

century Town Hall was dramatically altered over the ages, and given a Baroque facelift in the early 18th century. Note the original medieval coat of arms on the building. Inside, you can view the Grand Council Chamber, wedding hall and banquet hall. Tours are available by appointment at the tourist office. Q Guided tours €2.

Tours Almost every hotel in the city offers guided tours of one sort or another. Some are good, others just a way of making money. You should be able to spot the scams without too much difficulty. The Tourist Information Centre also offers several walking tours of the city, and can even, if you give them plenty of warning, organise an original one just for you. The Jewish Community of Slovenia (see Jewish Ljubljana) is the best place to contact for all Jewish-related tours of the city and Slovenia in general.

Boat tours (Izlet z ladjo) B-3, Ribji Trg pier, tel. 306

12 15. Organised by the people at the Tourist Information Centre, this is an ideal way to increase your knowledge of the city whilst messing about on the water at the same time. Boats leave from just south of the Triple Bridge at the so-called Ribji Trg pier on the Old Town side of the water and take a leisurely cruise up and down the Ljubljanica, passing under all the main bridges and sights. Q Tours in May at 17:30, Sat, Sun also at 10:30 and 17:30. Jun-Jul 18:30, Sat, Sun also at 10:30 and 18:30. Guided tours in English and Slovenian €10/5. Unguided tours €8/4.

Castle funicular (Turistični vlakec) B-3, Stritarjeva.

Spare yourself the slog up the hill by taking the funicular ride up to the castle while listening to English-language commentary. Q Departs regularly between 09:00 - 21:00. Return ticket €2-3.

As little as an hour away from the capital tucked up close to the Austrian border, getting to Bled by train (via Lexce Bled station), bus or car is a relatively painless experience.

Arriving in Bled

Arriving by bus Buses leave regularly from the main bus station in Ljubljana and take about 80 minutes to make the journey. Close to the town centre at the northeastern tip of the lake, Bled’s dinky little bus station (avtobusno postajališče) doesn’t offer much in the way of excitement beyond a kiosk outside selling chocolate, soft drinks and cigarettes. Inside is a combined Alpetour and ticket office. Toilets are in the same building and are free to use. The small waiting room has several luggage lockers against one wall, which we were reliably informed by the lady selling tickets were not for public use. To get the centre, walk south along Svobode until you hit the water. Good free maps are available from the Jelovica hotel, visible from the bus station. Arriving by train Although Bled itself has no train station, nearby LesceBled station on the main line is convenient for hopping onto one of the regular buses to Bled, 4 kilometres away. Arriving by car Take the A2 highway northwest out of the city and follow the signs for Kranj. Bled is well signposted once you’re out in the countryside. Journey time is around one hour depending on weather and traffic.

Bled Tourist Office Svobode 10, tel. 574 11 22, tdbled@telemach. net, www.bled.si. Follow the yellow footprints and be greeted by an above-average collection of information, maps, guidebooks, Bled T-shirts and helpful, friendly staff. An excellent place to drop by for topping up on the latest information, there’s also a computer providing free internet access and a superb view of the lake. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sun 11:00 - 17:00. Bled provides plenty of choice for those wishing to make more of a day out of their visit to the town. As well as the hotel listings here, the tourist information people can provide the visitor with plenty of advice on the best accommodation options available. Be warned though that during the peak summer and winter seasons rooms fill up fast.

Where to stay

Astoria Prešernova 44, tel. 579 44 13, astoria@vgs-

bled.si, www.hotelastoria-bled.com. Hotel Astoria’s exterior is decidedly of the bygone socialist era, but the interior has recently been renewed to bring it up to today’s basic standards for resort stay. The location is the key here, nearby you can take the foothpaths up to the castle and enjoy the views of the lake. Dinner is available at their restaurant, The Castle Bled, which is staffed by students from their nearby culinary school. Q 48 rooms (singles €69, doubles €109). Brek fast included. PTJHAULEGBSW hhh

Digital Tour Guide C-3, tel. 306 12 15, http://www.

Botanical Gardens

J. Bavcon

Ljubljana Zoo (Živalski Vrt) G/H-2, Večna Pot 70,

tel. 244 21 88, info@zoo.si, www.zoo.si. A large complex with a good variety of native and foreign animals. An excellent day out for the kids, and educative for parents too. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00. Admission €6, various reductions for children, under 2 free.

Places of interest Practically every street in Ljubljana has its own particular place of interest, providing plenty of colour for those visitors to the city who like to wander aimlessly in the style of an urban rambler. The following are by no means exhaustive, but do provide an insight into some of the more illustrious and talked-about sensations in the city.

Republic Square (Trg Republike) A/B-3, . The political centre of modern Slovenia, this square houses the brutalist 1960 parliament building, two equally delicate office towers and the Cankarjev dom centre.

Skyscraper (Nebotičnik) B-2, Štefanova 1. Believe it or not, this lovely little skyscraper was, at 70 metres, one of the highest buildings in Europe when it was built in 1933. The rooftop café sadly closed long ago.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

visitljubljana.si/en/tours_and_excursions/city_tours/ special_experience_tours/77753/detail.html. Let your headseat tour guides Ben and Mandy take you on a two-hour trip past Ljubljana’s highlights. Or switch to their German friends Anna and Thomas, or the Italian duo Paulo and Oriana. With the mp4 digital tour guide player and map in hand, you’ll have explanations about the city’s history and sights, and can see pictures too. Rent the player at any of the tourist information centres. Q Player rental (5 hours) and map €10 (ID and €10 deposit required).

Ljubljana Night & Day Tel. 051 893 805, ljubljanabynight@gmail.com. Let pretty English speaking guides take you and your mates on an insider’s tour of Ljubljana’s best bars and clubs. Catering to groups of 5-20 people, pick any Friday or Saturday night for this experience, or go for daylight activities such as the adrenaline park, paintball, karting and excursions.

Roman remains Beneath the streets of Ljubljana lie the remains of ancient Aemona, a Roman city built in 15AD. Several bits and pieces, gates, walls and pillars, can still be found scattered around town. The burial ground, along Slovenska, has a sarcophagu and a gleaming replica of the statue of a local man. Once protecting the city and counting over 26 towers, the Roman wall was built around 15AD - a job so well done that parts are still standing after nearly 2000 years along Mirje. Jože Plečnik had a go at restoring the ruins in the 1930s, adding height, gates and, surprisingly, a pyramid. The city museum has more about the Roman period.

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April - May 2009

bled

bled cable television and balconies, some with excellent views of the lake and mountains. Four kilometres from the superb 18-hole golf course which the company also owns and operates, other treats include good wellness facilities, conference rooms and a magnificent indoor swimming pool. Q 150 rooms (single €125-165, double €152190, suit €185-265). PTHARLGKDXCW hhhh

Hotel Krim Ljubljanska 7, tel. 579 70 00, prodaja@

Park Grad

TIC BLED

Best Western Hotel Kompas Cankarjeva 2, tel. 578

21 00, info.kompas@kompas-lovec.eu, www.kompashotel.com. A distinctive Alpine-feel hotel with a big sloping roof, as the hotel owners say themselves, the place is within easy walking distance of the town centre yet provides a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere at the same time. Over 100 well appointed rooms and suites with either a park or lake view come complete with all the trimmings including cable television, minibar and internet connection. Other perks include a decent restaurant, relaxing bar, indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and excellent conference facilities for the discerning business traveller. Q 95 rooms (single €123-137, double €135-155, suite €200-240). PTHA6UFLGKDXCW hhhh

Best Western Premier Hotel Lovec Ljubljanska

6, tel. 576 86 15, booking@kompas-lovec.eu, www. lovechotel.com. Less than a five-minute walk from the lake, Bled’s other Best Western hotel was completely renovated in 2005. Its choice of rooms and suites are all excellent, coming with internet connections, minibars and air conditioning. For those who literally want to splash out a bit, the de-luxe rooms even come with Jacuzzis on the balconies. To complete the Alpine effect, every room has a wooden floor. Other facilities for all include a good restaurant and state of the art meeting and conference facilities. Q 60 rooms (single €128-148, double €151-225, junior suite €205-225, suite €240-280). PHAR6ULGKDXCW hhhh

Grand Hotel Toplice Svobode 12, tel. 579 10 00,

ghtoplice@hotelibled.com, w w w.hotel-toplice.si. Complete with its legendary thermal swimming pool that provides more than enough of a reason to stay here anyway, Toplice’s rather stark exterior betrays wealth of comfort and style inside its walls to make you want to stay here even more. The rooms and suites are all well designed, some of them exceedingly elegant, and all coming with en suite bathrooms, cable television, minibars and internet access. The lakeside location is arguably the best in Bled, with further attractions including three restaurants plus two bars, as well as excellent wellness and conference facilities. Q 87 rooms (single €140-180, double €158-220, suit €252-600). PHARUFLGKDXC hhhhh

Hotel Golf Cankarjeva 4, tel. 579 17 00, hotelgolf@

hotelibled.com, www.hotel-golf-bled.com. A smidgen up the hill from the lake in a secluded area of trees, the almost pagoda-looking Hotel Golf’s reputation as a haven of tranquillity is clearly warranted. The cool blue and cream rooms feature en suite facilities with either bath or shower,

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

hotel-krim.si, www.hotel-krim.si. Looking like it just landed from a 1960s spaceship via a makeover in Las Vegas, Krim is your classic Yugoslavian budget threestar hotel awaiting renovation. A welcoming brown lobby acts as the nerve centre for a grand total of 115 rooms complete with balconies, satellite television and ‘possibility for internet connection’. Hmm. Popular with Eastern Europeans visiting Bled for sporting activities, booking in advance during the high seasons is highly recommended. Q 115 rooms (doubles €34-49). HA6LGKDW hhh

Jelovica Svobode 8, tel. 579 60 00, jelovica@hotel-

jelovica.si, www.hotel-jelovica.si. Next to the bus station and less than a five-minute walk from the town centre, this beautiful blast from the past, Yugo-style hotel with its brass ceiling lamps and other bygone beauties may not be the Radisson but at prices like these, especially for one of the unrenovated rooms, you’d be a lunatic to complain. All rooms are basic, coming with en suite facilities, cable television and a few with balconies. Communal extras include a restaurant, bar and indoor swimming pool. Q 100 rooms (singles €61, doubles €42-59, apartments €124-158). AFLGKDXCW hhh

Park Hotel Bled Svobode 15, tel. 579 18 00, hotelpark@

hotelibled.com. A huge waterside hotel from the golden age of Yugoslavia, with splendid balconies, nicely appointed rooms all coming with en suite facilities, an indoor heated pool and a definite emphasis on wellness and fitness in general. All rooms overlooking the lake come with air conditioning, plus there’s a nice choice of bars and restaurants. The hotel is famous for its kremšnita cream cakes, which it boasts it has now made over eight million of. Q 217 rooms (single €125-145, double €150-170, suit €230-250). ARUFLGKDXCW hhhh

Savica Cankarjeva 4, tel. 579 17 00, hotelsavica@

hotelibled.com, www.hotel-savica.com. Due to open its doors at the time of going to press, the magnificently renovated Savica promises to be Slovenia’s first family-friendly hotel. With a grand total of 90 bright, colourful rooms and 14 apartments complete with self-contained kitchen units, facilities include cable television, en suite facilities with a choice of either bath or shower, minibars and balconies in every room. Attractions for families travelling with their children include interconnected rooms, two communal play areas and the occasional children’s entertainment. Q 104 rooms (singles €100, doubles €122). PTARFLKDC hhh

Union Ljubljanska 9, tel. 578 01 50, info@union-bled.

com, www.union-bled.com. A smattering of basic apartments and suites for up to six people at the top of the hill, just a five-minute walk from the lake. Part of a complex that also includes a restaurant and bar, this excellent value accommodation option may not be pandering to the executive class of traveller, but you get what you pay for in this world. Q 3 rooms (singles €29-40, doubles €52-66). A6IFLGKW hhhh

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Vila Bled Svobode 26, tel. 579 15 00, vilabled@ho-

telibled.com, www.vila-bled.com. One of Tito’s former residences, the superb white marble Vila Bled has recently been completely renovated yet manages to retain its grand Yugoslavian 1950s atmosphere. On the edge of the lake amidst a wealth of beautiful trees a couple of kilometres from the town centre, the hotel comes with everything you’d expect from such a classy venture. The rooms and suites have all been thoughtfully decorated with lots of brown touches and interesting carpets. Other attractions number such delights as the sumptuous Belvedere Pavilion & Café, idyllic places to relax outside plus top quality wellness and business facilities. Q 30 (doubles €210-230, suites €230-690). HAR6LGKDW hhhh

Where to eat If you’ve come to Bled for the cuisine then someone’s been pulling your leg and you should kick them the minute you get home, for the town is no Paris or Milan. Having said that, the dining options available aren’t all that bad either. The following provides a brief introduction to some of Bled’s more well-known and interesting places to eat.

Cafés

Jasmin Cesta svobode 10, tel. 574 38 27. Jolly good kremšnita and a pot of tea for shirt buttons inside a modern albeit basic café next to the tourist office. The tea in question comes in lots of different varieties and is served in dainty little pots. An ideal place to bring your aged aunt. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sun 13:00 - 19:00. PAUGBX

Chinese

Peking Narodnih Herojev 3, tel. 574 17 16. Tatty but

fun, with all the classic Chinese restaurant trimmings such as red lanterns and pictures of pagodas, work up an appetite by strolling up the hill and dropping in here. The service is average, the staff are rather giggly, and the food, running the complete classic Chinese spectrum from prawn crackers and spring rolls to sweet and sour chicken to beef chop suey, is both excellent value and authentic. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. (€6-9). PTAUGBXS

International

Bar in restavtacija Chilli Cesta svobode 9, tel./fax

574 30 27. Just like the owner will tell you: ‘we just want to make our customers happy’. This restaurant looks like it originally wanted to sell Mexican food and then realized that it wouldn’t make everyone happy like that, so then decided to offer more. But that’s exactly what’s so special about it. Even though it’s the only restaurant that offers Mexican food in Bled, you can still get Italian and, in general, international dishes here. Having been a professional athlete, the owner travelled extensively and is now obsessed with having the same customer service he has seen around the world, and it shows. He also plans to organize different live events during the summer. Try to spot the giant calculator behind the counter if you order a drink! QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 02:00. AUGB

Juliana Svobode 12, tel. 579 10 00, ghtoplice@ho-

telibled.com. Enjoy a top quality meal on a terrace with a stunning view at Juliana, where you can expect service to treat you like Prince Charles, who’s been sighted here before. It’s not cheap, so make your slow food last extra long. QOpen 18:00 - 23:00. PTALGBX

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Labod Svobode 8a, tel. 579 84 53, info@restavraci-

jalabod.si, www.restavracijalabod.si. If you’re in Bled on pleasure and business this is one of your better choices for a formal lunch or dinner. A little pushed away from the steady flow of happy photo snapping tourist traffic, the classy restaurant offers good quality continental fare in a white table clothed environment. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€13-20). PTAULGBXW

Oštarija Peglez’n Svobode 19a, tel. 574 42 18. A

simple rustic design punctuated with rag dolls, plates, old coffee pots and a broken hat stand in which to feast on a large and highly recommended selection of fish, meat and pasta dishes. The Trout a la Trieste seems to be popular here, as indeed does the octopus salad and ice-cream with hot fruit, the latter two not coming together on the same plate. Once again, everything is complimented with an admirable wine list including reds and whites from both Slovenia and abroad. Q Open 11:00 - 24:00. (€7-27). TA6IGBXS

Okarina Ljubljanska 8, tel. 574 14 58, leo@okarina.

com, www.okarina.com. Sophisticated international dining in a beautiful setting with an Indian twist. Sat alongside a traditional menu of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes sits an ambitious (for Bled anyway) selection of Indian delicacies from pakora to samosa to chicken biryani. Also available are a few tandoori treats plus some fine desserts including apple strudel and a selection of cheeses. QOpen 18:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (€12-30). TA6GBXSW

Panorama Svobode 12, tel. 579 12 75. A vast lake-

side eatery with pink walls and kitsch chandeliers, Bled’s legendary Panorama restaurant inside the Toplice hotel not only offers diners a view to die for but keeps the taste buds happy and jingling at the same time. A combination of buffet food and meals from a varied menu including as one would expect plenty of fish options provide happy sustenance at reasonable prices. Dancing to live music is available during the weekends.QOpen 07:00 - 22:00. (€9-16). TAR6UEGBX

Vila Bled Restaurant Svobode 26, tel. 579 15 00,

vilabled@hotelibled.com, w w w.vila-bled.com. The famous Vila Bled hotel restaurant, inside Tito’s beautiful former lakeside residence, offers both serene surroundings and top-notch cuisine. Known across the country for the excellent food and wine, it’s a smash hit for wedding parties and events. Normal guests can stroll around the grounds before sitting in the stately interior or on the terrace for their meal. QOpen 12:00 - 14:00; 18:00 - 22:00. (€19-30). TALEGBXW

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unravelling the history of the area. With a small bar at the front and a dining area through a small passageway out the back, the traditional menu includes many local favourites including karst ham and assorted peasant sausages. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. (€7-20). TA6GBXS

Union Ljubljanska 9, tel. 578 01 50. An almost hacienda feel inside what’s essentially a classic traditional Slovenian restaurant serving a range of dishes cooked over an open fire or in hot ashes. Summertime sees the opening of a large terrace in the shade of a group of chestnut trees, plus there’s a bar too, and a small selection of suites and apartments upstairs if you’ve eaten and drunk too much to move. QOpen 17:30 - 24:00. TA6ILEGBXSW

Vila Mangart - Restavracija Pungaršek Kolod-

vorska 2, tel. 590 59 136, restavracija@pungarsek. si, http://www.pungarsek.si/. So, you are in Bled and you want to show your loved one how much you care. Then this is definitely the place for you. One of the most romantic restaurants we’ve ever seen, this place is hard to find, but it’s definitely worth it. Everything from the food and the wine to the lighting and music helps you feel like you are in the final scene of a romantic movie just when the two protagonists are about to finally be together despite all obstacles. Bring your partner here for that special occasion, she’ll be thoroughly impressed. QOpen 11:00 - 22:30, Sun 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Tue. PAGK

Wine

Vinarte Svobode 12, tel. 579 10 00, fax 574 18 41, ghtoplice@hotelibled.com, www.vinarte-bled.com. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00, 17:00-23:00. Closed Mon. (€8,8010,50). PARLG

Pizza

Pizzeria Gallus Ljubljanska cesta 4, tel. 57 43 299/040 416 167, fax vinko.traven@siol.net, www.pizzeriagallus.si. Sure, you can come because of the view, which is beautiful. You might also come to enjoy the pizza, which is delicious and comes from a wood-fired oven. But the reason why we enjoy coming here the most is the lively service. Not only will you enjoy their traditional Tuscan food, but you will also be entertained by the waiters who will serve you kindly and take great pride in the restaurant’s food. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sat 11:00 - 24:00. PA

Slovenian

Gostilna Avsenik Begunje 21, tel. 533 34 02, www.

avsenik.com. While Slovenian music might not be sweeping the global charts, you can find a few international celebrities by heading to this restaurant. The Avesnik Brothers are the world’s reining kings of “Oberkrainer” polka (with gold and platinum records abounding), and their centuries-old family restaurant, in their hometown of Begunje, draws crowds from around the world not only for its homemade regional food but also for its regular polka performances, dance floor, and yearly festival (see Culture and Events). Avsenik is a great way to encounter Slovenia’s particular form of Alpine culture, but if you’re looking for a place to dine and chat, this isn’t it; the music is extremely loud and the sound of accordion pierces through everything. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. Closed Mon. (€6-15). TAULGBX

Gostilna Pri Planincu Grajska 8, tel. 574 16 13.

Housed inside a charming traditional house dating from 1903, and one of Bled’s more well-known restaurants, Gostilna Pri Planincu’s Alpine ambience is no coincidence when you start

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Nightlife For whatever reason you’re visiting Bled, if you’re staying the night then you’ll almost certainly need something to do. Also it doesn’t exactly have the cabaret bars of Havana, the nightclubs of Manchester or the bars of Tokyo, Bled will keep you more than happily entertained with its nightlife options. The reviews listed here are far from inclusive. Have fun.

Bars

Art cafe Svobode 7a, tel. 574 34 11. A popular social

hangout for the younger clientele, especially students from the nearby IEDC Bled School of Management who like to stop by and mingle amongst themselves. When there’s an important sports event on TV, the place fills up fast and so do the glasses! The wide, open terrace that overlooks the lake also brings a steady flow of tourists. The gold-framed art work and old spiral staircase adds a touch of charm to its homely interior. Definitely, a satisfying choice for day and night time entertainment.QOpen 07:00 - 02:00, Fri 07:00 - 03:00, Sat 08:00 - 03:00, Sun 08:00 - 02:00. PJA6ILGBXW

Devil Svobode 15. Cheeky cavorting imps seducing naked

women over the bar, organ pipes on the walls, Cuban cigars, toasted sandwiches et all. One of Bled’s most popular spots, not least for the magnificent view over the lake, packs punters in on two floors and a large terrace for daily lunch specials and heavy late-night drinking sessions.

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Grajski Pub 1004 Grajska 22, tel. 041 36 50 08. A fun little bar attached to the Grajski Hostel and out of the town centre close to the bus station, it’s probably not worth hiking all the way up here unless you’re actually staying in the place, but if you do then expect to find a small bar kitted out in oak and a separate room with table football and electronic darts machine. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 08:00 - 22:00. R6LGW

Lake Bled Bled’s most famus feature is the crystal-clear

Irish Pub Tel. 051 322 774, info@bled-connections.

Churches

com. A bumpkin-Slovenian version of Ireland complete with draught Guinness and Kilkenny, the waiting-room atmosphere does brighten up as the place fills up, plus the view’s a real winner. The small terrace becomes a particular hit during the summer season. QOpen 07:00 - 03:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 03:00. PT6GBXS

Pub Bled Svobode 19a, tel. 574 26 22. Bled’s top

party place, especially at weekends when DJs and cocktails create a heady mix and heat the bar up. Attracts a varied mix of tourists, students, weekend lovers and local party animals. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 03:00. PR6EGBXW

Pub Lovec Ljubljanska 6, tel. 576 86 15. Next to and

part of the hotel of the same name, this clean cafeteriafeel establishment features chunky oak furniture and a friendly smile as you walk in the door. Actually split into two, the section to the right acts more as a café, with the left-hand section dedicated to the provision of alcohol in a slightly more bar-like ambience. QOpen 17:00 - 23:00. PTA6LGBX

Casinos

Casino Bled Svobode 15, tel. 574 18 11, info@casino-

lake which has an island crowned by the 55-metre tower of the Baroque Church of the Assumption. The backdrop of mountains makes this view especially irresistable. Visitors can take a boat tour to the island (€12, tel. 041 427 155) on characteristic pletna boats, which include half an hour to wander around or visit the church. Boats leave from the Health Park, at Hotel Park and at the rowing centre.

Church of the Assumption Bled island. Sticking

out of the island in the middle of the lake, the Church of the Assumption has been much battered by earthquakes and lightning over the centuries. Several churches have occupied this prime location since one was first built here in the 12th century. The current incarnation is from the 17th century. Inside, the impressive altar and the last surviving frescoes from an earlier Gothic church are worth a look.

St. Martin’s Church A white neo-Gothic beauty erected in 1905, St. Martin’s was designed by same architect who designed Vienna’s town hall, and it shows in the sheer verticality of the building. The church is surrounded by the walls which had to protect the earlier church from Ottoman incursions. The interior has frescoes from the late 1930s.

Sports & Leisure Click on the left for a couple more reasons to leave the bustle of the capital and enjoy the relaxing opportunities Bled has to offer.

Golf

bled.si, www.casino-bled.si. For those with spare time and money on their hands, this hotel-basement casino with roulette, card games and plenty of machines provides plenty of opportunities to fritter plenty of both away. Q Open 24hrs. POAEGBX

Golf & Country Club Bled Kidričeva 10c, tel. 537 77

Casino Tivoli Hraška 21, Lesce, tel. 532 55 60, info@

Wellness Živa Cankarjeva 4, tel. 579 17 02, ziva@

casino-tivoli.si, www.casino-tivoli.si. Out near the gas station and a small shopping center in nearby Lesce, Casino Tivoli sits as a glittering bastion of gambling for the truly devoted. There are no croupiers or card dealers here, no VIP for high rollers, just two levels of electronic roulette and electronic slot machines. The price of admission gets you two free glasses of beer or wine, and they keep a chilled self-serve buffet off to the side in case you find you’ve spent your grocery money. Q Open 24hrs. Admission €5 (includes gambling ticket and 2 drinks). PAULEGX

What to see As well as the multitude of relaxing opportunities Bled provides its visitors, there are a few must-see places in the town. Click on the left to start the adventure.

Essential Bled

Bled Castle Tel. 572 97 82, blejski.grad@zkbled.si,

www.blejski-grad.si. Perched quite dramatically high up on a cliff overlooking the lake and town, Bled Castle is the stuff of children’s dreams. Built and added to haphazardly over the ages since conception around 1000AD, the castle is a pretty mash of styles. You can visit period rooms, a 16th century chapel, the cellar, herbal gallery and restaurant. Q Admission €7/3.50.

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16, golfcourses@hotelibled.com, www.golfbled.com. 27 holes in stunning countryside, 4km from Bled.

Wellness

hotelibled.com, www.wellness-ziva.com. Živa means several things in Slovenian, one of them being ‘lively’ - and that’s just how you’ll feel after a full body and soul solution at this wellness centre. Using traditional massage techniques, it’ll leave you more refreshed than a dip in the lake. QOpen 07:00 - 21:00. PTAULG

Directory There’s little more you’ll need whilst in Bled that isn’t already included within these pages. A little further help can be found however by clicking one of the links on the left.

Business schools

IEDC Bled School of Management Prešernova 33,

tel. 579 25 00, info@iedc.si, www.iedc.si. Founded in 1986, this management school was one of the first of its kind to open its doors in Central and Eastern Europe as well as further afield. Schools gallery is attraction itself. See the website for more information.

Car rental

National Ljubljanska 7, tel. 041 40 09 80, national@ avantcar.si, www.nationalcar-slovenia.com. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00.

April - May 2009

Getting around Czech Airlines (OK) Ljubljana Airport, tel. 206 17 50,

Officially part of the Schengen zone since late 2007 and nearly completely surrounded by other Schengen-agreement countries, entering Slovenia has never been easier. With a well-developed system of buses, trains and highways throughout the country, getting around is also fairly easy. The centre of Ljubljana is relatively small, meaning public transport is rarely, if ever, needed when in town.

Airlines

Adria Airways (JP) H-2, Kuzmičeva 7, tel. 369 10

00, fax 436 88 06, booking@adria.si, www.adria.si. Slovenia’s flag carrier. Direct flights to Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Birmingham, Brussels, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Instanbul, Kijev, London Gatwick, Manchester, Moscow, Munich, Ohrid, Oslo, Paris-Charls de Gaulle. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office phone: 04 259 43 38 Open: 05:30-24:00 Air France (AF) B-3, Igriska 5, tel. 244 34 47, fax 244 34 48, mail.cto.lju@airfrance.fr, www.airfrance. si. Flights to Paris CDG. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Airport office tel. (04) 20 61 674 . Open two hours before flight. Austrian Airlines (OS) Ljubljana Airport, tel. 202 01 22, office.ljubljana@aua.com, www.aua.com. Flights to Vienna. QOpen 06:30 - 18:00, Sat 06:30 - 15:30, Sun 06:30 - 10:00. Brussels Airlines (SN) Ljubljana Airport, tel. 206 16 56, www.brusselsairlines.com. Flights to Brussels. QOpen 16:00 - 19:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

lju@czechairlines.com, www.czechairlines.com. Flights to Prague. QOpen 08:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Only by the time of flight is working on Saturday from 05:30-07:00 and Sunday from 13:00-15:00. Easyjet (EZY) Ljubljana Airport, tel. +44 87 06 00 00 00, www.easyjet.com. Flights to London Stansted. Q Airport office tel. (04) 206 16 77. Open two hours before flight. JAT Airways (JU) C-2, Slomškova 1, tel. 231 43 40, jat.airways@jat-lju.si, www.jat.com. Flights to Belgrade. QOpen 08:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Airport office tel. (04) 206 17 80. Open two hours before flight. Luf thansa B-2, Gosposvetska 8, tel. 434 72 46, lufthansa@adria.si, www.lufthansa.de. No Lufthansa flights to and from Ljubljana, but they do have an office selling airline tickets. Q Open 08:30 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Malév (MA) Ljubljana Airport, tel. 206 16 65, www. malev.hu. Flights to Budapest. QOpen 08:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Turkish Airlines (TK) Ljubljana Airport, thyljubljana@ siol.com, www.turkishairlines.com. Flight to Istanbul. Q Airport office tel. (04) 206 16 80.

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National bus schedule From Ljubljana Days First bus Weekdays 06:00 Saturday 06:00 Sunday 06:00 Weekdays 10:15 Saturday 11:35 Sunday 11:35 Weekdays 04:23 Weekdays 14:15 Saturday 14:15 Sunday 17:20 Weekdays 05:30 Saturday 06:27 Sunday 06:30 Weekdays 11:35 Saturday 11:35 Sunday 11:35 Weekdays 05:30 Saturday 05:30 Sunday 11:00 Weekdays 03:25 Saturday 03:25 Sunday 03:25 Weekdays 05:30 Saturday 05:30 Sunday 06:30 Weekdays 05:15 Saturday 05:15 Sunday 06:30 Weekdays 05:30 Saturday 05:30 Sunday 05:20 Weekdays 07:10 Saturday 08:15 Sunday 08:15

Last bus 21:30 21:00 21:30 20:10 19:20 20:10 22:30 17:20 17:20 21:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 17:20 17:00 17:20 23:00 23:00 23:00 21:35 17:00 21:35 19:30 22:30 19:30 23:00 23:00 23:00 19:30 22:30 16:30 22:25 16:40 22:25

City BLED BLED BLED CELJE CELJE CELJE GROSUPLJE MURSKA SOBOTA MURSKA SOBOTA MURSKA SOBOTA POSTOJNA POSTOJNA POSTOJNA MARIBOR MARIBOR MARIBOR NOVA GORICA NOVA GORICA NOVA GORICA KOPER KOPER KOPER JESENICE JESENICE JESENICE KRANJ KRANJ KRANJ KRANJSKA GORA KRANJSKA GORA KRANJSKA GORA NOVO MESTO NOVO MESTO NOVO MESTO

To Ljubljana First bus Last bus 05:00 20:30 05:00 20:30 06:25 20:30 04:50 18:00 04:50 08:50 04:50 18:00 04:23 21:00 04:38 05:45 05:45 05:45 05:45 17:55 06:07 21:20 06:07 21:10 06:07 20:45 06:00 13:35 06:00 07:35 06:52 07:35 04:45 19:45 04:45 19:45 08:30 19:45 04:56 19:30 04:56 18:25 04:56 19:30 05:44 20:44 06:25 19:44 06:25 19:44 04:20 22:15 04:20 22:15 05:10 22:10 05:20 20:20 19:20 16:20 07:20 19:20 05:45 16:30 08:08 16:45 11:08 21:12

Buses per day 18-21 12-13 6-7 10 3 5 61-63 2 1-2 1 19-20 7-9 4-7 4-5 2 1-2 12 4-5 1-2 7-8 3 4-5 14-16 8 6-7 72-73 25-27 14 14-15 8 6-7 9 2-3 2-3

Duration 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:30 0:44 4:00 4:00 4:00 1:00 1:00 1:00 3:00 3:00 3:00 2:30 2:30 2:30 2:00 2:00 2:00 1:30 1:30 1:30 0:40 0:40 0:40 2:00 2:00 2:00 1:00 1:00 1:00

One way (€) € 6,30 € 6,30 € 6,30 € 7,20 € 7,20 € 7,20 € 3,10 € 16,00-10,80 € 16,00-10,80 € 16,00-10,80 € 6,00 € 6,00 € 6,00 € 12,00-12,40 € 12,00-12,40 € 12,00-12,40 € 10,30-10,70 € 10,30-10,70 € 10,30-10,70 € 11,10 € 11,10 € 11,10 € 6,90 € 6,90 € 6,90 € 3,60 € 3,60 € 3,60 € 8,30-8,70 € 8,70 € 8,70 € 7,22 € 7,22 € 7,20-8,30

Schedule valid until 1 June 2009

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Getting around Airport

Ljubljana airport (Letališče Jožeta Pučnika) Zgornji

Brnik 130a, tel. 206 10 00, fax 202 12 20, info@lju-airport.si, www.lju-airport.si. Well connected to the Balkans and the main European destinations, Ljubljana’s tiddly Jože Pučnik Airport, 26km northwest of the city in Brnik, is as small and efficient as the rest of the country. There’s free wifi for internet addicts, a selection of restaurants and bars, banks, a currency exchange office (open 07:00 - 19:00) and a post office (open 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 07:00-12:00, Sun closed). Getting there takes about 35 minutes, either by taxi (€35-45) or by bus (tickets €4.10, first bus 05:20, last bus 20:10). Q Open 24hrs, airport information from 07:00-23:00.

Getting around directly from the driver, but you should always check in the bus station to make sure. The bus station operates many national routes as well as regular international services. QOpen 05:00 - 22:30, Sat 05:00 - 22:00, Sun 05:30 - 22:30.

Car rental The speed limit is 50km/hr in built-up areas, 90-100km/ hr on main roads, 130km/hr on highways. Cars must use headlights at all times and must have a spare wheel, warning triangle, spare lightbulb, first aid kit and, in winter, either snow chains or winter tyres. The alcohol limit is 0.05%. The traffic information centre has road webcams and maps of current traffic problems at www.promet.si.

AGIO rent a car H-1, Celovška cesta 228, tel. 059

Buses Dozens of regular bus connections are available to efficiently whisk you to all corners of the country. See also the national and international bus schedules in this guide.

Bus station (Avtobusno Postajališče) C-1, Trg

Osvobodilne Fronte (OF), tel. 234 46 00, fax 234 46 01, avtobusna.postaja@ap-ljubljana.si, www.ap-ljubljana.si. Essentially a large caravan without any wheels, Ljubljana’s temporary central bus station couldn’t be easier to use. Enter through one of the doors at either end, buy a ticket from one of the kiosks, and away you go. Some tickets can be bought

043 719/031 727 777, fax 059 047 779, agio@t-2.net, prevozi-agio@t-2.net, www.agio.si. Located in the outskirts of the city, Agio offers a full range of vehicles sizes and classes and will deliver your car free of charge within 30km of the company. They also offer a great service where you can rent a car with a driver if you’re not so confident behind the wheel or feel like impressing your friends. QOpen 8:00 17:00, Sat, Sun 8:00 - 12:00. Average age of cars is 6 months. Cars from 30€ per day, without additional duties. Atet H-2, Derčeva 4, tel. 513 70 17, info@atet.si, www. atet.si. Cars from €30 per day. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat, Sun 08:00 - 13:00. Airport office tel. (04) 201 98 48, open 08:00-22.00.

Flight schedule From Ljubljana Days Dep. 1 2 3 4 5 – – 07:15 – – 3 4 – – 7 18:20 – – – – – 6 – 08:15

Arr. 09:15 20:20 10:15

––––––7 –2–4––– –––4––– ––––––7 1234––– ––––5–– ––––––7 12345–– –––––67 ––––––7 12345–– 12345–– ––––––7 1–3–5–7

12:45 13:15 07:25 18:25 10:30 17:40 06:05 06:45 08:05 14:00 15:55 18:20 20:00 13:30

14:50 15:20 09:30 20:30 11:50 19:00 17:25 08:35 09:55 15:50 17:45 20:10 21:50 15:00

12345–– 12345–7 –––4–6– –2––––7 1234567 12345–– 12345–7 1234567

09:45 20:00 07:30 18:45 07:55 12:15 17:00 20:00

10:55 20:55 09:25 20:40 09:20 13:40 18:25 21:25

– 2 – 4– – – – ––3–5–– ––––––7 ––––––7 1–––––– 1234567 –2––5––

12:25 13:50 15:30 23:45 23:45 23:55 11:35

16:50 17:00 18:40 02:50 02:50 03:00 14:40

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

City AMSTERDAM (JP) AMSTERDAM (JP) AMSTERDAM (JP) AMSTERDAM (JP) ATHENS (JP) ATHENS (JP) BARCELONA (JP) BARCELONA (JP) BELGRADE (JU) BELGRADE (JU) BELGRADE (JU) BRUSSELS (JP) BRUSSELS (JP) BRUSSELS (JP) BRUSSELS (SN) BRUSSELS (JP) BRUSSELS (JP) BUCHAREST-OTP (JP) BUCHAREST-OTP (JP) BUDAPEST (MA) BUDAPEST (MA) COPENHAGEN (JP) COPENHAGEN (JP) FRANKFURT (JP) FRANKFURT (JP) FRANKFURT (JP) FRANKFURT (FRA) FRANKFURT (FRA) ISTANBUL (TK) ISTANBUL (TK) ISTANBUL (TK) ISTANBUL (JP) ISTANBUL (JP) ISTANBUL (JP) KIEV (JP)

To Ljubljana Days 1–345–– ––34––7 –2––––– –––––6– ––––––7 –2–4––– –––4––– ––––––7 1234––– ––––5–– ––––––7 12345–– –––––67 ––––––7 12345–– 12345–– ––––––7 ––––––7 1–3–5–– 12345–– 12345–7 –––4–6– –2––––7 1234567 12345–– 12345–– 1234567 ––––5–– –2–4––– ––3–5–– ––––––7 12––––– ––3–5–7 1–––––– –2––5––

Dep. 09:55 20:55 10:15 10:55 15:35 15:50 10:05 21:10 08:20 15:30 14:20 09:05 10:25 16:20 18:30 20:55 22:20 15:30 15:45 08:05 18:20 09:55 21:10 10:30 11:45 19:05 22:10 22:30 10:20 10:30 13:15 05:20 05:30 05:30 15:30

Seasonal flights Arr. 11:40 22:40 12:00 12:40 17:35 17:50 12:00 30/10-18/12 23:05 26/10-04/01 09:40 16:50 15:30 10:45 12:05 18:00 20:10 22:35 23:59 17:15 17:30 09:15 19:30 11:45 23:00 11:45 13:00 20:20 23:25 23:45 11:35 13:00 14:30 06:30 06:40 06:40 16:40

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Flight schedule continued –––4––7 1–3–56– –2––––7 –––45–– ––––5–– ––––– –7 1234567 1234567 12345–– 1234567 1234567 123456– 123456– 1234567 ––––––7 123456– 1234567 1–3–––– –––4––– ––––5–– ––––––7 123–56– 12345–7 1234567 1234567 ––––––7 –––4––– 123–56– 12345–7 1234567 1234567 –2–45–– ––3–––7 1234567 –23–––7 1234567 12–45–7 1234567 –––––6– 12345–7

13:40 07:05 18:30 20:15 20:15 20:55 11:25 06:50 10:15 12:40 18:40 07:15 12:40 17:50 07:15 07:35 18:05 13:30 13:30 15:20 17:30 06:30 14:25 13:15 23:35 12:20 14:05 14:05 20:50 13:25 23:30 06:55 18:05 13:15 23:55 07:55 11:40 15:25 18:10 18:15

16:45 08:25 19:50 22:30 22:30 23:10 16:20 07:50 11:15 13:40 19:40 09:20 14:45 19:55 09:10 09:30 20:00 14:45 14:45 16:20 18:30 07:55 15:50 15:00 01:20 13:15 15:00 15:00 21:45 15:00 01:05 09:30 20:40 14:40 01:20 08:45 12:30 16:15 19:00 19:05

123–––– ––––5–– –––4––– 1234567 12345–7 1234567

07:30 17:10 19:15 07:45 14:30 18:20

09:05 18:45 20:50 09:00 15:45 19:35

KIEV (JP) LONDON-LGW (JP) LONDON-LGW (JP) LONDON-STN (EZY) LONDON-STN (EZY) LONDON-STN (EZY) MOSCOW-SVO (JP) MUNICH (JP) MUNICH (JP) MUNICH (JP) MUNICH (JP) PARIS-CDG (AF) PARIS-CDG (AF) PARIS-CDG (AF) PARIS-CDG (JP) PARIS-CDG (JP) PARIS-CDG (JP) PODGORICA (JP) PODGORICA (JP) PODGORICA (YM) PODGORICA (YM) PRAGUE (OK) PRAGUE (OK) PRISTINA (JP) PRISTINA (JP) SARAJEVO (JP) SARAJEVO (JP) SARAJEVO (JP) SARAJEVO (JP) SKOPJE (JP) SKOPJE (JP) STOCKHOLM-ARN (JP) STOCKHOLM-ARN (JP) TIRANA (JP) TIRANA (JP) VIENNA (JP) VIENNA (JP) VIENNA (JP) VIENNA (JP) VIENNA (JP) VIENNA (JP) WARSAW (JP) WARSAW (JP) WARSAW (JP) ZURICH (JP) ZURICH (JP) ZURICH (JP) ZURICH (JP)

–––4––7 1– 3 – 5 6 – –2––––7 –––4––– ––––5–– ––––– –7 1234567 1234567 12345–– 1234567 1234567 123456– 1234567 1234––– ––––––7 123456– 1234567 1–3–––– –––4––– ––––5–– ––––––7 12345–7 12–45–7 1234567 1234567 123456– –––4––– ––––––7 123–56– 1234567 1234567 – 2 – 4 5– – ––3–––7 1–34––– 1234567 1234567 ––––––7 12–45–– 1234567 –––––6– 12345–7 123–––– ––––5–– –––4––– 1234567 ––––––7 12345–– 1234567

17:35 09:25 20:50 17:35 17:35 18:15 17:05 08:50 11:55 14:35 20:40 09:25 15:30 19:55 09:55 10:15 20:45 15:15 15:15 13:40 15:50 11:45 21:35 05:00 15:45 06:15 15:30 13:45 15:30 05:20 15:45 10:15 21:25 04:45 15:10 09:55 13:10 13:40 17:05 19:35 21:00 09:35 19:15 21:20 10:00 16:40 16:45 20:30

18:45 12:30 23:55 19:50 19:50 20:30 18:15 09:40 12:45 15:25 21:30 11:15 17:20 21:45 11:45 12:05 22:35 16:30 16:30 14:40 16:50 13:10 23:00 06:50 17:35 07:10 16:25 14:40 16:25 06:50 17:15 12:45 23:55 06:05 16:30 10:45 14:00 14:30 17:55 20:25 21:50 11:10 20:50 22:55 11:10 17:50 17:55 21:40

01/01-27/03 12/12-27/03 09/11-22/03

19/12-28/03

Airline codes: AF Air France; AY Finnair; AZ Alitalia; EZY EasyJet; JP Adria Airways; JU Jat Airways; MA Malev; OA Olympic Airways; OK Czech Airlines; OS Austrian Airlines; SN Brussels Airlines; TK Turkish Airlines; YM Montenegro Airlines. Schedule is valid until June 1, 2009. The numbers indicate days of departure: 1 is Monday, 2 is Tuesday, etc. Check all details before flying.

AutoRent C-1/2, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte (OF) 5, tel.

234 46 50, ljcity@rentacarslo.com, www.rentacarslo. com. Cars from €36 per day. QOpen 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 238 24 14 , open 08:00-22:00. Avant H-1, Dunajska 140, tel. 589 08 50, national@ avantcar.si, www.nationalcar-slovenia.com. Cars from €35 per day. QOpen 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 589 08 68, open 08:00 - 22:00. Avis C-2, Čufarjeva 2, tel. 583 87 72, rez.center@avis. si, www.avis.si. Cars from €40 per day. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00, Sat 07:00 - 13:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 23 65 000, open 08:00-22:00.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Budget Rent a Car B-2, Miklošičeva 3, tel. 421

73 40, ljubljana.dt@budget.si, www.budget.si. Cars from €40 per day. Q Open 08:00 - 16:00, Sat, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 201 43 00, open 07:00-23:00. Carrent D-1, Štihova 13, tel. 433 30 82. Cars from €40 per day. QOpen 09:00 - 16:00, Sat 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun. Europcar C-2, Dalmatinova 15, tel. 031 38 20 52, reservations@europcar.si, sl.europcar.si. Cars from €36 per day. QOpen 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 08:00 - 15:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 236 79 90, open 08:00-21:00.

April - May 2009

Getting around

Getting around - 19:00, Sat 09:30 - 12:00. Closed Sun. Kažipot B-2, Čopova 5a, tel. 425 44 91, info@kazipot. com, www.kazipottours.si. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:30 - 13:00. Closed Sun. Kompas C-2, Pražakova 4, tel. 200 63 33, prazakova@ kompas.si, www.kompas.si. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat

09:00 - 12:30. Closed Sun. Relax B-2, Slovenska 51, tel. 234 56 90, relax.lj@ relax.si, www.relax.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun. Tao C-2, Petkovškovo Nabrežje 5, tel. 230 63 20, info@ taoturizem.si, www.tao-tt.si.

International train schedule From Ljubljana

Taxi in Ljubljana

Hertz B/C-2, Trdinova 9, tel. 434 01 47, ljubljana@ hertz.si, www.hertz.si. Cars from €38 per day. QOpen

07:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 201 69 99, open 08:00-22:00. Sixt C-1/2, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte (OF) 7, tel. 234 46 50, info@sixt.si, www.sixt.si. Cars from €34 per day. Q Open 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00. Airport office tel. (04) 238 24 14, open 08:00-22:00. Technoplus Bratov Kunovar 6, tel. 563 50 24/041 679 042, fax 563 50 25, info@rentacarplus.si, rentacarplus. si. Cars from 28€ per day. Thrifty Zgornji Brnik 130 A, reservation@subrosa.hr, www.thrifty.si. Q Airport office tel. (04) 236 57 50, open from 07:00-21:00. Cars from €33 per day.

Public transport Ljubljana’s compact but excellent network of buses is easy to use - though most visitors get around most sights by walking. Buses run between 03:30 and 00:20. One-way tickets cost €0,80 when purchased at kiosks, the LPP ticket offices or at post offices; on the bus a ticket costs €1. Public transport passes cost €4 per day, €15 per week, €17-42.50 per month and €420 per year. See also the public transport map. LPP (Ljubljanski potniški promet) B-2, Slovenska 56, tel. 430 51 74, mail@lpp.si, www.lpp.si. Ljubljana’s urban and suburban public transport company. There are LPP ticket sales offices at Slovenska 56, Celovška 160, Bavarski dvor and at the central bus station. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00, Sat 07:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Newhapster

Metro Taxi Tel. 080 11 90. Protocol Tel. 041 62 15 04, info@protocol.si, www. protocol.si.

Rumeni Taxi , tel. 041 73 18 31, info@rumenitaxi.com, www.rumenitaxi.com. QOpen 00:00 - 24:00. Taxi Društvo Ljubljana Tel. 234 90 00, info@taxiljubljana.si, www.taxi-ljubljana.si.

Taxi Intertours , tel. 520 97 04, info@taxi-intertours. si, www.taxi-intertours.si. Taxi Laguna Tel. 080 11 17.

Trains Slovenian Railways (Slovenske železnice) does an admirable job of running an efficient network with clean trains, which are usually on time. Their website at www. slo-zeleznice.si contains a wealth of information in English including live information on train delays as well as an online timetable. See the national and international train schedules in this guide for the main destinations.

Train Station (Železniška postaja) C-1, Trg Osvo-

bodilne Fronte (OF), tel. 291 33 32, potnik.info@slozeleznice.si, www.slo-zeleznice.si. Full of nice touches such as little conveyor belts for taking heavy bags up to the platforms, Ljubljana’s reasonably central train station just north of the main action is slated for demolition, to be replaced by a truly fabulous new building in 2010. See Arriving for information on several of the station’s facilities, plus, if you’re planning on leaving town, the ticket office straight out of a 1970s disco movie is to the left of the main entrance, with signs and departure screens in English.

Taxis

Travel agents

Ljubljana’s taxis are safe, clean and generally reliable. The starting rate is €1, the rate per kilometre between €1-1.70, with no extra charge at night. Waiting costs €15-20 per hour. Ordering a taxi by phone will get you lower rates.

For all your flight and hotel bookings, and tours.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Avantura B-2, Slovenska 40, tel. 242 00 00, fax 242 00 04, info@avantura.si, www.avantura.si. QOpen 09:00 ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Dep. 06:15 08:15 14:35 21:15 02:00 08:05 12:13 16:00 17:25 09:27 15:25 23:50 06:20 14:53 09:27 20:41 06:33 06:20 14:53 09:27 15:25 23:50 02:30 05:45 12:13 17:25 07:26 09:27 11:28 15:25 16:52 20:48 23:50 02:00 06:15 08:15 14:35 18:35 17:45 21:15 20:48

Arr. 15:46 17:18 23:21 06:21 10:58 11:23 15:23 19:23 21:23 15:35 21:35 06:15 08:51 17:14 23:50 11:45 10:51 08:51 17:25 13:48 19:48 04:09 07:16 12:05 18:05 00:05 09:06 11:03 13:06 17:03 18:32 22:32 21:30 04:18 08:34 10:34 16:57 20:55 20:04 23:34 08:20

To Ljubljana

City BELGRADE BELGRADE BELGRADE BELGRADE BUDAPEST GRAZ GRAZ GRAZ GRAZ MUNICH MUNICH MUNICH OPATIJA OPATIJA PRAGUE PRAGUE PULA* RIJEKA RIJEKA SALZBURG SALZBURG SALZBURG VENICE VIENNA VIENNA VIENNA VILLACH VILLACH VILLACH VILLACH VILLACH VILLACH VILLACH ZAGREB ZAGREB ZAGREB ZAGREB ZAGREB ZAGREB ZAGREB ZURICH

Dep. 05:50 10:35 13:00 21:50 16:35 06:34 10:36 14:36 18:37 08:27 12:21 23:40 13:08 20:56 07:14 17:11 18:10 12:57 20:45 01:34 10:12 14:12 21:20 07:56 11:56 15:57 04:07 06:26 10:52 12:54 16:54 14:52 16:29 05:00 07:00 09:00 13:00 21:10 21:05 23:35 21:40

Arr. 15:18 20:40 23:27 07:22 02:12 10:09 14:06 17:38 21:38 14:30 18:30 06:05 15:25 23:22 18:30 06:05 22:41 15:25 23:22 06:05 14:30 18:30 01:41 14:06 17:38 21:38 06:05 08:10 12:32 14:30 18:30 19:27 21:08 07:22 09:19 11:21 15:18 23:27 23:28 02:12 08:10

One way € 44,20 € 44,20 € 44,20 € 44,20 € 49,80 € 31,40 € 31,40 € 31,40 € 31,40 € 72,40 € 72,40 € 72,40 € 11,80 € 11,80 € 91 € 91 € 19 € 11,80 € 11,80 € 43,40 € 43,40 € 43,40 € 25 € 61,80 € 61,80 € 61,80 € 18,20 € 18,20 € 18,20 € 18,20 € 18,20 € 18,20 € 18,20 € 12,20 € 12,20 € 12,20 € 12,20 € 12,20 € 12,20 € 12,20 € 89,60

* Runs from 25/4-3/5 - All trains depart daily. Schedule valid until June 1, 2009

From the 1st March 2009, you will now be able to buy a day train travel card, with which you can use for traveling in between Ljubljana’s 15 train stations (Ljubljana, Ljubljana Zalog, Ljubljana Polje, BTC, Ljubljana Rakovnik, Ljubljana Vodmat, Brezovica, Ljubljana Tivoli, Medno, Ljubljana Vižmarje, Ljubljana Stegne, Litostroj, Ljubljana Črnuče, Ljubljana Ježica and Ljubljana Brinje). The price is 2€ for an adult and 1€ for children between the ages of 6-12 years old. It is valid for 00:01 – 24:00 on the day of purchase.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

April - May 2009

Shopping

Europe’s leading publisher of locally produced city guides

Art Market Like all flourishing Central European cities, Ljubljana is currently having something of a retail explosion, especially with the rise in huge new shopping centres and malls springing up in the suburbs. The range and quality of the shops in the city centre remains average, with a few exceptions. If it’s only basics you need, you’ll find little reason to hit the shopping centres, unless you want to make a day of it. Many excellent art and antique shops can be found towards an in the old town, providing some high quality gifts and souvenirs.

Art & Antiques

Carniola Antiqua B/C-3, Trubarjeva 9, tel. 231 63 97. QOpen 10:00 - 13:00; 16:00-19:00, Mon 16:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 13:00. Fortuna B-3, Gornji Trg 1, tel. 425 01 87. Laura C-3, Ciril Metodov Trg 20, tel. 433 83 70. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Porcelain Catbriyur iril-Metodov trg 19, tel. 459 594,

porcelan@siol.net, www.catbriyur.net. This petite but elegant porcelain shop has a small collection of handmade items, mostly teacups and saucers but a few figurines as well. Ranging from 29 to 99 Euros per piece, you may want to stop in for a quick look if stylish, handcrafted porcelain is your thing. QOpen 10:00 - 13:00, 16:00-19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 13:00.

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E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S

Trgovina Ika C-3, Ciril-Metodov Trg 13, tel. 1 232 17 43,

info@trgovina-ika.si, www.trgovina-ika.si. Shop Ika puts the creativity of local Slovenian artists and fashion designers in the forefront of her shelves, exhibiting a wonderful selection of products such as paintings, ceramics, jewellery and fashion. You can pick up a wonderful souvenir here as a lot of the products represent the beauty of Ljubljana in artistic forms, or if you like to be in possession of a unique garment or piece of art, you’ve come to the right place. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Books

B. Jakse & S. Jersic

Antikvariat B-3/4, Gallusovo Nabrežje 21, tel. 425 40 07. A small selection of second-hand books including a few novels in English. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 14:00.

Konzorcij B-3, Slovenska 29, tel. 241 06 50, www.

mladinska.com/konzorcij. Mainly Slovenian books, but there are regular events and there’s free wifi. QOpen 09:00 - 19:30, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun. Oxford Center C-3, Kopitarjeva 2, tel. 360 37 89, knjigarna.oxford@mk-trgovina.si. Lots of novels in English, plus a wide selection of dictionaries, maps and guidebooks.QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun. Vale Novak B-3, Wolfova 8, tel. 422 34 10, knjigarna@ vale-novak.si, www.vale-novak.si. This is an excellent bookshop with friendly, helpful staff and a good selection of titles in English. The English language section has everything from classics to crime, but many other titles are scattered throughout the store in the areas dedicated to film and music, travel and art, sport and children’s books. There are also CDs and DVDs, postcards and books on Slovenia and a wide selection of magazines. In short, Vale Novak is one of those bookshops where you can browse to your brain’s content. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00, Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

Fair Trade

3 Muhe B-3, Stari Trg 30, tel. 421 07 15, 3muhe@

umanotera.org, www.3muhe.si. Hippie colours, funky clothes, wooden statues, bongos and incense sticks are the main focal point of choice in 3 Muhe. There is always a chance of finding something unique to take back home with you, however in the least bit Slovenian. Not really for souvenir shoppers as there are far more bigger and better choices elsewhere. 3 muhe is certified for fair trade sales. QOpen 10:00 - 19:30, Sat 10:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

April - May 2009

Shopping

Shopping H & M B-2, Čopova 2, tel. 241 04 20. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 09:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun.

Lili in Roza B-3, Stari trg 30. Just one street away from

Flowers

Gardenia B-2, Nazorjeva 1, tel. 251 03 56, gardenia@ gardenia.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00.

the river in the old town, Lili in Roza is the only clothing store in the city to specialize in Oilily products. The staff is pleasant and helpful, even if they cram the shelves with a little too much merchandise. Dealing exclusively in women’s and children’s clothing, this little shop is a great place to pick up something for the kids, then take them for an ice cream right next door.

Closed Sun.

Mandarina Duck, Kipling Store B-3, Wolfova ulica 1, tel. 1 251 10 10. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00

Sat 07:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

- 13:00. Closed Sun.

Max Mara B-2, Miklošičeva 6, tel. 426 58 80. QOpen 09:00 - 19:30, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Midas B-2, Ajdovščina 3, tel. 300 46 00, info@midas. si, www.midas.si. When Midas opened in October 2007 Ljubljana let out a sigh of relief. Finally the top international brands were available in Slovenia. Now you can find the latest collections from houses such as Giorgio Armani, Blumarine and Givenchy to the more fashion collections of Marc by Marc Jacobs, McQ by Alexander McQueen and See by Chloe. In Midas you can fully immerse yourself in your favorite brand from underwear, clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, sunglasses and perfumes. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

Naf Naf B-2, Nazorjeva 2, tel. 241 56 90. QOpen 09:00 - 19:30, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Oktober A-3, Tobačna 5, tel. 425 40 68, info@ kabinet01.net, http://www.oktober.eu. QOpen 10:00

Nova B-4, Levstikov Trg 7, tel. 426 04 10. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Food & Drink

Žak France Style Dalmatinova 1. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00, Gaj Zdravja B/C-3/4, Gornji Trg 17, tel. 423 42 52. A

small organic supermarket in the old town. Everything from peanut butter to cabbages to tinned baby food is on offer. QOpen 08:30 - 20:00, Sat 08:30 - 15:00. Closed Sun.

Mercator B-2, Cigaletova 2, tel. 234 21 90, info@ mercator.si, www.mercator.si. QOpen 07:00 - 20:00, Sat 07:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Spar C-3, Poljanski Nasip 8, tel. 282 18 03, sm13.ka-

pitelj@spar.si, www.spar.si. A well-stocked supermarket. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

Gifts & Souvenirs

Čokoladnica Cukrček B-3, Mestni Trg 11, tel. 519 92 86, info@benedict.si, www.cukrcek.si. A charming, family-run business with three shops in the city, Čokoladnica Cukrček has been delighting adults and making children happily sick for a decade and a half. Among the many fine examples of chocolate for sale include special Ljubljana dragons in souvenir wooden boxes, fruit covered in chocolate and even chocolate flavoured with salt. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sun 10:00 - 19:00.

Fashion

- 22:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

09:00 - 22:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

iceva@peko.si, www.peko.si. This new and nicely laid out shoe shop has everything for the feet, from flash trainers to leather boots to handmade Italian loafers, with stockings in stock as well. And because a new pair of shoes needs a new accessory to go with them, Peko stocks a range of handbags as well. So if you break a heel on the cobblestones or just feel the need for some retail therapy pop into Peko to invigorate your soles and your soul.

Črna Luknja C/D-3, Poljanska 19, tel. 280 22 20,

Pletilni Studio Draž C-4, Gornji Trg 9, tel. 426 60 41,

tel. 059 0 25 727, dusan.orel@amis.net. Attached to Grand Union Hotel, in Ljubljancek you can take a look through souvenirs of plates, photos, art and gadgets in relation to the town of Ljubljana. It is worth stopping by if you’re looking to buy souvenirs and gifts for your family back home. QOpen 08:00 - 14:00, 15:00-19:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00, 14:00-18:00, Sun 08:00 - 12:00.

Avantagarde B-3, Stari Trg 7, tel. 425 04 55. QOpen Butik La Vision C-2, Prečna ul. 4, tel. 232 16 80, info@la-vision.net. When I first heard about this place two things happened: I realized I needed a helpful female fashion expert and I immediately thought I’d feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman with older women wondering if we could reall y afford their precious garments. M y preconception was completely wrong. The tiara-wearing clerk was attentive, showed great style herself and lacked any hint of condescending attitude. According to my expert consultant the items on display were designer labels at very good prices, considering what you’re getting. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00.

Peko Miklošičeva 14, tel. 59 089 068, ljubljana.miklos-

Closed Sun.

www.drazdraz.com. Slovenia counts Italy as a close neighbor and while Slovenians are becomingly increasingly more fashion conscious, Ljubljana has not emerged as a fashion capital yet. However, great fashion designers lihe those at Pletilni Studio Draž aim to change that. This small boutique features many of their inspired creations and you can often find the designers in the shop. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00;15:0019:00, Sat 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Cesare Paciotti B-2, Slovenska 46, tel. 439 85 70. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Rašica B-2, Gosposvetska 3, info@rasica.si, www. rasica.si. Q Open 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00.

Calzedonia B-2, Cankarjeva 4, tel. 230 17 99, calzedonia@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 19:30, Sat 08:30 - 13:00.

Flat C-2, Miklošičeva 18, tel. 1 2322055/1 2322056, info@flat.si, www.flat.si. Sprouting creativity and a fresh new concept through the creation of innovative furniture and accessories for home or office. Browse through the selection of incredibly large wall clocks, hand crafted and painted bed side tables and hanging chairs made of bamboo. A unique, modern and humorous collection for a post-modern home. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Closed Sun.

Stiefelkönig B-2, Cankarjeva 3, tel. 421 54 70. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Urko B-3, Stari Trg 11, tel. 251 22 35, www.urko.si. QOpen 09:00 - 19:30, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun. Zara B-2, Cankarjeva 2, tel. 421 45 00, www.zara.si. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 09:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun. ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

info@crnaluknja.si, www.crnaluknja.si. Slovenian geek heaven. A small shop selling role-playing detritus of all varieties. Interesting only for those who are already addicted to this strange little sub-culture, find boxes and boxes of classic games translated into Slovenian. QOpen 11:00 - 19:30, Mon 13:00 - 19:30, Sat 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.

Ljubljanček C-2, Miklošičeva 1, (Grand Hotel Union),

Piranske soline B-3, Mestni trg 19, tel. 425 01 90,

www.soline.si. Times have changed since Roman soldiers were paid in salt but this mineral still ranks as one of life’s essentials. Here at Piranske soline the canvas bags that fill the windows and the shelves are full of the stuff. There is salt for cooking, including the famous Piran salt, hand-scraped from coastal deposits, along with salted chocolates and a wide range of salt-related accessories such as salt mills and containers. And, if all the walking, gawking and talking you’ve done has made you feel a little weary, pick up some pick-me-ups in the form of bath salts and scrubs where the cleansing and invigorating properties of salt are combined with soothing eucalyptus and rosemary oils. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00, Sun 10:00 - 15:00.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

April - May 2009

Shopping Rustika C-3, Ljubljanski Grad (Ljubljana Castle)/031 38

32 47. Everything from ghastly ceramic dragons to traditional paintings on glass to wooden spoons to jewellery inside the castle’s very own little gift shop. They also have a shop in the center (Stritarjeva 9, B-3) Q Ljubljana castle: daily: 09:00-20:00 (in the winter 10:00-19:00) In the centre: Mo.-Fr.: 09:00-20:00, Sa.: 10:00-14:00 , 15:0019:00, Su.: 10:00-14:00

STIC Krekov trg 10, tel. 306 45 75, stic@visitljubljana. si, www.visitljubljana.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.

Tourist Information Centre C-3, , tel. 306 12 15. Trinkets, T-shirts, mugs and more. QOpen 08:00 - 21:00. Vinoteka Vinarte Bled C. svobode 12, tel. 04 579 10 00, ghtoplice@hotelibled.com, www.vinarte-bled.com.

Kids

Baby center Šmartinska 153, pe2@baby-center.si,

www.babycenter.si. Filled with almost any and all toys and clothing items your child could ever dream of wanting, if you’re short on time, you’d think twice before entering this shop. From a play area in the entry way to an inside corner stuffed with oversized stuffed animals, this three-level shop will hold the attention of your younger ones for quite some time, probably much longer than you’ll want. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun.

pianos, ukeleles, spares etc. A veritable little orchestra of a shop in fact. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Hartman B-2, Vošnjakova 16c, tel. 439 31 30. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00.

Photography

Foto Grad C-2, Miklošičeva 36, tel. 439 29 00, info@

fotograd.com, www.fotograd.com. A small but decent selection of accessories plus developing and passport photographs on request. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Foto Maxi A/B-3, Tr g Republike 2, tel. 252 74

50, f otomaxi@siol.net, w w w.f otomaxi.com. I f y o u c a n ’ t wa i t t o ge t h o m e t o s t a r t go i n g t h r o u g h your la te s t h oli da y ph o tos, t hi s ph o to sh op in si d e t h e Ma xi sh oppin g c en ter, offers fa s t an d e ff i ci en t s er vi c e s for di gi tal an d manual snapp ers. Q Op en 09:00 - 20:00, Sa t 09:00 - 14:00. Close d Sun.

Foto Tivoli B-2, Cankarjeva 7, tel. 422 36 30, info@

foto-tivoli.si, www.foto-tivoli.si. One of the better photographic shops in the city centre selling not only the usual supply of cameras and accessories but also a wide range of photographic paper and chemicals. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Ristanc B-3, Gallusovo nabrežje 11, tel. 425 24 36.

Recorded music

To Je to B-3, Gallusovo Nabrežje 29, tel. 425 67 84,

Nabrežje 13, tel. 251 10 18, spinvinyl33@masicom.net, www.spinvinyl.si. Ljubljana’s cult old town second-hand record shop not only stocks a magnificent collection of 12inch oddities including copies of what’s generally considered to be the first punk album released behind the Iron Curtain (from the legendary Slovenian outfit, Pankrti) but is also the best place to stock up on information concerning what’s happening in and around the alternative music scene in the city. Basically, it functions as Ljubljana’s alternative cultural information centre and is well worth popping in for a chat with the friendly proprietors if this is one of the things you’ve come here to discover. QOpen 10:30 - 19:00, Sat 10:30 - 14:00, Sun 10:30 - 13:00.

This tiny toyshop along the river is stocked with old-fashioned wooden toys, games, and puzzles which probably have littleto-no appeal to most video-game era children. With not much room to play or look around you’ll have no trouble clearing the kids out of here in a hurry. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00, Sun 09:00 - 13:00.

ristanc@volja.net, www.tojeto.info. This tiny toyshop along the river is stocked with old-fashioned wooden toys, games, and puzzles which probably have little-to-no appeal to most video-game era children. With not much room to play or look around you’ll have no trouble clearing the kids out of here in a hurry. QOpen 09:30 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00, Sun 10:00 - 13:00.

Markets

BTC Market J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 585 14 56. A classic food produce market, modernised and brought up to date by the large BTC group. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 07:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.

Central Market (Glavna tržnica) C-3, , tel. 300 12

00, info@lj-trznice.si. Food and local produce in a covered space and an open market square just northeast of the Dragon Bridge.

Flea Market C-3, Cankarjevo Nabrežje. Held every Sunday morning along the riverside close to the Cobbler Bridge, find an extraordinary range of antique goods and bric-a-brac from stamps to sofas. Q Open Sun 08:0014:00.

Musical instruments

Avtotehna Oprema B-2, Slovenska 64, tel. 474 80 85, www.glasba.at-oprema.si. Synthesisers, upright

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Spin Vinyl Rock’n’Roll Ploščarna B-3, Gallusovo

Vom Second Hand B-2, Čopova 14, tel. 252 79 21, vom@vom.si, www.vom.si. A tiny shop found down an equally small alleyway and brimming with a large selection of mostly but not exclusively second-hand vinyl and CDs. Music on offer includes classic rock and some gems from some of the stars of the former Yugoslavia. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Shopping centres

BTC City J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 585 22 22, info@

btc.si, www.btc-city.com. The biggest thing of its kind in the country, the positively humungous BTC features not only some 450 shops selling everything you could possibly imagine, but also boasts restaurants galore, bars, a post office, multiplex cinema, indoor go-cart racing, a comedy theatre, billiards, volleyball courts, an enormous water park, conference facilities and its very own business district housing some of the best known local and international companies. There’s free parking for more than 8,000 vehicles too, all just a couple of kilometres out of the centre of the city in the general direction of Maribor. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Shopping Citypark J-2, Šmartinska 152g, tel. 587 30 50, info@cit-

ypark.si, www.citypark.si. A large, modern shopping centre in the northeast of the city selling everything from socks to suitcases. Plenty of opportunities to eat and drink as well. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00.

Harvey Norman J-2, Letališka 3d, tel. 585 50 00, www.harvey-norman.si. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 09:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun.

Maxi Market B-3, Trg Republike 1, tel. 476 68 74,

www.maxi.si. The quintessential Yugoslavian shopping centre experience, dating from 1971 and brought slightly up to date but still retaining most of its original exterior charm. Maxi Market is perhaps the best one-stop-shop experience in the city centre. As well as a fairly good selection of clothes shops, it also has a number of other shopping surprises as well as a handful of interesting bars and cafés. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

M Center tehnike in gradnje Črnuče H-1, K sejmišču 32, tel. 560 61 00, info@mercator.si, www.mercator.si. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun.

Mercator Center Ljubljana H-1, Cesta Ljubljanske

Brigade 33, tel. 513 99 52, info@mercator.si, www. mercator.si. A huge, modern shopping centre with plenty of underground parking. Find all your favourite shops in here plus several restaurants and even some banks. In the north of the city, 15 minutes from the centre. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00.

Modna Hiša B-2, Cigaletova 10, tel. 241 40 68. In the city centre. Famous for its huge range of textiles. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Nama B-2, Tomšičeva 1, tel. 425 83 00, info@nama.si,

www.nama.si. Just southwest of the Slon hotel, this well established department store provides several floors of clothing for men and women, plus household items and somewhere to eat in the basement. QOpen 08:30 - 20:00. Closed Sun.

Supernova J-3, Jurčkova 223, tel. 428 88 83, info@

supernova.si, www.supernova.si. It’s been a while since the last time a completely new shopping centre opened in Ljubljana. The result is basically a monopoly. Whether that’s good or bad is up for debate, but it’s certainly nice to be able to go to a completely different area and venue and find stores and restaurants we’re maybe not so familiar with. Located in Rudnik, in the outskirts of the city, it offers plenty of space to leave your car waiting for you while you go enjoy spending your hard-earned cash.QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00.

Sport & Leisure

Intersport B-3, Šubičeva 2, tel. 242 77 57, intersport@ mercator.si, www.intersport.si. Everything you need from table tennis balls to skis. Sports fashion too. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

Patrick Sport d.o.o. H-2, Celovška cesta 34, tel. 439

10 15, fax 439 10 10. Whether you are skier, you love hiking or any of the sport activities that are popular in Slovenia, you should check out this specialised store. A small sporting goods store with a wide selection of equipment for various activities. They concentrate on brands of very high quality like the Kelme brand of football apparel and Hi-Tech gear for the outdoorsy types. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Mail & Phones Debitel Tel. 306 01 00, center@debitel.si, www.

Postal rates Slovenia Abroad

Letters <20g € 0,24 € 0,45

Postcards € 0,20 € 0,40

Together with Estonia, Slovenia has the most advanced telecommunications system of any of the countries that broke free from the clutches of Lenin. So there’s no reason not to let your granny know how the trip is going.

debitel.si. Mobitel D-1, Vilharjeva 25, tel. 472 23 20, info@mobitel.si, www.mobitel.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 12:30. Closed Sun. Tušmobil J-2, , tel. 080 700 700, www.tusmobil.si. Vodafone Simobil B-3, Čopova 4, tel. 426 71 02, info@ simobil.si, www.simobil.si. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Post

Express mail

Efficient and affordable, there’s little chance of your mailings getting lost.

pen 07:00 - 18:00, Sat 08:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun. FedEx J-2, Ob Železnici 14, tel. 547 33 86. QOpen 08:30 - 15:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Kurirček Tel. 080 1881/051 444 555, narocila@ kurircek.si, http://www.kurircek.si/. QOpen 07:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Tine Express J-1, Ulica Nadgoriških Borcev 34, tel. 56 17 000, www.tine.si. QOpen 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. TNT Express J-2, Šmartinska 152, tel. 587 83 00, info@ tnt.si, www.tnt.si. QOpen 08:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. UPS Intereuropa Ljubljana Airport, tel. 281 12 00, www. ups-slovenia.com. QOpen 07:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Main post office (Glavna pošta) B-2, Slovenska 32, tel. 243 19 60, www.posta.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00,

DHL Špruha 19, Trzin, tel. 588 78 00, www.dhl.si. QO-

Laptop login Travellers can easily hook up to Slovenia’s wifi network by surfing to www.neowlan.net; there are hotspots allover the country, and payment is by prepaid NeoWLAN cards, for sale at kiosks and post offices, or by credit card. Charges are €3 per half hour, €9 per 2 hours or €15-19 per 24 hours. With a local Mobitel SIM card you can also connect via your mobile, charged at €0.21 per 5 minutes. Many hotels offer free wifi for their guests, but there’s also an number of free public wifi locations in Ljubljana, including at the airport and in the Konzorcij bookshop (Slovenska 29). See www.hotspot-locations.com for a full list of paid and unpaid hotspots.

Mobile phones There are several mobile phone networks in Slovenia, the most important being Debitel (all 041, 051 numbers), Mobitel (031, 041, 051), Tušmobil (070) and Vodafone Simobil (040). They’re pretty similar in price, quality and coverage. To avoid roaming costs from your foreign home provider or to have a handy local telephone number, travellers can purchase a prepaid SIM card to use in a GSM handset. SIM cards are for sale in all post offices, petrol stations and at 3Dva kiosks as well as at the providers’ shops listed below, with M-mobil cards sold in all Mercator shops. The SIM start-up costs for all companies are between €5-17, including some phone credit. After getting the SIM card you can top up the card balance with vouchers. ID is not necessary when purchasing a SIM card.

City codes When calling from abroad, prefix with +386 and drop the zero. Celje 03 Murska Sobota 02 Koper 05 Nova Gorica 05 Kranj 04 Novo mesto 07 Krško 07 Postojna 05 Ljubljana 01 Ravne na Koroškem 02 Maribor 02 Trbovlje 03

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Public internet access Internet cafés and similar ventures.

Drog-Art C-2, Kolodvorska 20, tel. 439 72 70. Internet access for €1,67 per hour. Q Open Tue 15:00-18:00, Thu 09:00-12:00. .

Oton Zupancic Library C-1, Train Station,Trg OF 10, tel.

29 123 96, kolodvor@koz.si, www.koz.si. Internet access for €2/hour in the train station library. Become a member (€12,50) and it’s free. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Xplorer C-3, Petkovškovo Nabrežje 23, tel. 430 19 91. Ten machines and a fridge full of cold drinks. Access for €4 per hour, €2.40 per hour if you buy a 5-hour voucher.

Public telephones Telekom Slovenije has card phones with English-language instructions dotted all over Slovenia. Phone cards are for sale at post offices and kiosks, and are available in four flavours: €2.92, €4.18, €7.09 and €14.61.

Telephone calls To make a call within Slovenia, dial the two-digit city code (if you are not in that city), or the mobile phone code, followed by the 7-digit subscriber’s number. From local mobile phones, the city code always needs to be dialled. To call to Slovenia, dial the international access code, the country code 386, the city code without the zero and the subscriber’s number. To call abroad, dial 00 followed by the country code, the city code and the subscriber’s number.

Country codes Albania 355 Australia 61 Austria 43 Belarus 375 Belgium 32 Bosnia-Herz. 387 Bulgaria 359 Croatia 385 Czech Rep. 420 Denmark 45 Estonia 372 Finland 358 France 33 Germany 49

Greece Hungary Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Norway

30 36 353 972 39 81 381 371 370 389 373 381 31 47

Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey UK Ukraine USA

48 351 40 7 381 421 386 34 46 41 90 44 380 1

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Lifestyle

BUSINESS Design

Business directory

1 5401833, info@ultimoimperio.com, www.ultimoimperio.com.

Whether you’re visiting Ljubljana for business or pleasure, these pages should provide you with the contacts you need. If you can’t find it anywhere else then it’s probably here.

Ultimo Imerio J-2, Zaloška 24, tel. 041 512 565, fax

Dry cleaners

Femiks C-2, Kotnikova 18, tel. 230 18 20, femiks@amis. net. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Chemo Express B-3, Wolfova 12, tel. 251 44 04. QOpen 07:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Labod H-1, Cesta Ljubljanske Brigade 33, tel. 518 43 26, labod.cistilnica@siol.net, www.cistilnica-labod.si. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00. Mehurček Viška 54, tel. 256 77 08, mehurcek@mehurcek.si, www.mehurcek.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

Hairdressers

Mič Styling B-3, Kongresni Trg 4, tel. 241 40 40, www.micstyling.com. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00

View of Ljubljana

D. Wedam

Lifestyle directory Beauty & Wellness

CHAOTHAI masaže za boljše počutje F-3, Jana Husa

3, tel. 040 83 73 63, chaothai.si@gmail.com, www. chaothai.si. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00. Massage Corner H-1, Dunajska 111a/040 97 14 67. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Sense Welness Club B/C-3, Dunajska 154, tel. 588 2600/030 388 388, administration.ljubljana@austria-trend.at, w w w.sense-club.com. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.

Clinics

Barsos-MC B-3, Gregorčičeva 11, tel. 1 242 07 00, fax 1 242 07 44, barsos.ordinacija.net. Health Centre Metelkova D-2, Metelkova 9, tel. 472 37 00, www.zd-lj.si. Kirurški Sanatorij Rožna dolina H-2, Rožna dolina IV/45, tel. 477 94 00, info@kirurski-sanatorij.si, www. kirurski-sanatorij.si. University Medical Centre Ljubljana D-2, Zaloška 2, tel. 522 50 50, info@kclj.si, www2.kclj.si.

Dentists

Babit Kolezijska 25, tel. 283 23 73, info@babit.si, www. babit.si. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Dental clinic Zaloška 2, tel. 522 53 46. QOpen 08:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun.

Health Centre center C-2, Kotnikova 36, tel. 300 96 74, www.zd-lj.si. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun. Health Centre Metelkova D-2, Metelkova 9, www. zd-lj.si. QOpen 20:30 - 04:30. Ljubljana In Your Pocket

- 14:00. Closed Sun. Salon Mali C-2, Prečna 6, tel. 434 05 52, frizerski. salon.mali@gmail.com, www.salon-mali.com. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun. Simple, Ljubljana E.Leclerc J-3, Jurčkova cesta 225, tel. 428 98 98, info@simple.si, www.simple.si. QOpen 8:30 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00. Simple, Ljubljana SUPERNOVA J-3, Jurčkova cesta 223, tel. 427 40 98, info@simple.si, www.simple. si. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00. Stevo C-2, Trubarjeva 44, tel. 431 51 38, stevo@siol. net, www.stevo-sp.si. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun. Studio Christian B-2, Vošnjakova 1, tel. 041 98 77 17. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Opticians

Mestna optika B-3, Kongresni Trg 9, tel. 251 41

56, matija.kopac@mestna-optika.si, www.mestnaoptika.si. Q Open 08:30 - 20:00, Sat 08:30 - 17:00. Closed Sun. Optika FELIKS A-3, Igriška 14, tel. 425 00 02/040 206 070, info@optikafeliks.com, w w w.optikafeliks.com. Q Open 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun. Optika FELIKS, PE: SUPERNOVA J-3, Jurčkova cesta 223, tel. 427 31 03/031 835 500, supernova@optikafeliks.com, www.optikafeliks.com. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 15:00. Optika Zajec B-2, Puharjeva 3, tel. 252 72 82, info@ zajec-optika.si, www.zajec-optika.si. Q Open 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun.

Pharmacies

Central Pharmacy (Centralna lekarna) B-3,

Prešernov Trg 5, tel. 244 23 60, lekarna.ljubljana@ lekarna-lj.si, www.lekarna-lj.si. QOpen 07:30 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun. Lekarna Ljubljana D-2, Prisojna 7, tel. 230 62 30, lekarna.ljubljana@lekarna-lj.si, www.lekarna-lj.si. Q Open 24hrs. Lekarna Miklošič C-2, Miklošičeva 24, tel. 230 62 52, lekarna.ljubljana@lekarna-lj.si, www.lekarna-lj.si. QOpen 07:30 - 19:30, Sat 07:30 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Banks

Abanka B-2, Slovenska 50, tel. 300 15 00, fax 230 26 40, info@abanka.si, www.abanka.si. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Bank Of Slovenia B-2, Slovenska 35, tel. 471 90 00, fax 251 55 16, bsl@bsi.si, www.bsi.si. Deželna Banka Slovenije C-2, Kolodvorska 9, tel. 472 71 00, fax 472 74 05, info@dbs.si, www.dbs.si. QOpen 08:00 - 12:00;13:30-16:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Hypo Group Alpe Adria B-3, Slovenska 29, tel. 580 41 40, fax 425 50 38, hypo-bank-ct@hypo.si, www. hypo-alpe-adria.si. QOpen 08:30 - 12:30;14:00-16:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Nova Ljubljanska Banka B-3, Trg Republike 2, tel. 476 39 00, fax 252 25 00, info@nlb.si, www.nlb.si. QOpen 08:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Raiffeisen Bank C-3, Pogačarjev Trg 2, tel. 234 98 18, fax 234 98 19, info@raiffeisen.si, www.raiffeisen.si. QOpen 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 08:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun. Skb B-2, Ajdovščina 4, tel. 471 59 58, fax 471 57 60, skb.net@skb.si, www.skb.si. QOpen 08:30 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Unicredit Banka Slovenija B-3, Wolfova 1, tel. 587 64 72, fax 587 64 81, info@unicreditgroup.si, www.unicreditbank.si. QOpen 08:30 - 16:30. Closed Sat, Sun.

Business centres

Ljubljanski Univerzitetni Inkubator H-1, Vojkova 63,

tel. 620 34 80, fax 620 34 97, info@lui.si, www.lui.si. Tehnološki Park Ljubljana H-2, Teslova 30, tel. 477 66 13, fax 426 18 79, info@tp-lj.si, www.tp-lj.si.

The Business Center (Virtual Office and Business Center) B-2, Slovenska 34, tel. 1 4701 690, info@thebusinesscenter.si, www.thebusinesscenter.si. World Trade Center Ljubljana H-1, Dunajska 156.

Computers

Comshop BTC J-2, Šmartinska 152/9/051 34 59 11, btc@comshop.si, www.comshop.si. QOpen 09:00

- 20:00. Closed Sun. Tech Trade B-2, Vošnjakova 5, tel. 434 01 08, info@ techtradecenter.si, www.techtradecenter.si. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.

Consultants

IQbator B-2, Drenikova 33, tel. 041690666, info@iqba-

tor.si, www.iqbator.si. MM-konto H - - 1, Devova 5, tel. 515 50 22, info@mmkonto.si, www.mm-konto.si. Par H-3, Tbilisijska 128, tel. 423 15 06, par@par.si, www.par.si. QOpen 07:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Pro-Eco H-1, Vodovodna 99a, tel. 565 45 67, info@ pro-eco.si, www.pro-eco.si. Tax-Fin-Lex C-1, Dunajska 20, tel. 432 42 43, fax 432 43 15, info@tax-fin-lex.si, www.tax-fin-lex.si.

Currency exchange

Menjalnica AŽUR C-2, Kolodvorska 2, tel. 786 08 80. ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

QOpen 08:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Primus Group C-1/2, Trg OF 6, tel. 432 10 14, menjalnica@siol.net. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00. Publikum FIN C-2, Miklošičeva 34, tel. 300 60 80, menjalnica@publikum.si, www.publikum.si. Q Open 09:00 - 19:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Foreign representations

Albania J-2, Zaloška 69, tel. 547 36 50, embassy. ljubljana@mfa.gov.al.

Australia (Consulate) H-2, Dunajska 50, tel. 425

42 52, fax 426 47 21, austral.cons.sloven@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Austria A-3, Prešernova 23, tel. 479 07 00, fax 252 17 17, laibach-ob@bmaa.gv.at, www.bmaa.gv.at./laibach. QOpen , Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 8:00 - 12:00, Fri 8:00 - 10:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Belgium B-3, Trg Republike 3/ IX, tel. 200 60 10, fax 426 63 95, ljubljana@diplobel.org, www.diplomatie. be/ljubljana. QOpen , Mon 08:30 - 12:30 13:30-16:00, Tue 08:30 - 13:30 13:30-16:00, Wed, Thu, Fri 8:30 - 12:30 13:30-16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Bosnia & Herzegovina H-1/2, Kolarjeva 26, tel. 234 32 50, fax 234 32 61, ambihlju@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Brazil (Consulate) B-3, Kongresni trg 3, tel. 588 31 08, fax 588 31 14. Bulgaria H-2, Rožna dolina, cesta XV/ 18, tel. 423 24 51, fax 425 88 45, bgembassysl@siol.net. QOpen 8:30 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Canada (consulate) B-2, Trg republike 3, tel. 252 44 44, fax 430 35 75, canada.consul.ljubljana@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Croatia C-4, Gruberjevo nabrežje 6, tel. 200 44 01, fax 425 81 06, croemb.slovenia@mvpei.hr, si.mvp.hr. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Cyprus B-2, Komenskega 12, tel. 232 15 42, fax 308 10 15, embassy.cyprus@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Czech Republic A-3, Riharjeva 1, tel. 420 24 50, fax 283 92 59. QOpen , Mon, Wed, Fri 08:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Denmark B-1, Tivolska 48, tel. 43 80 800, fax 43 17 417, ljuamb@um.dk, www.ambljubljana.um.dk. Consulate: Komenskega 36, tel. 300 76 60. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Egypt B-2, Miklošičeva 3, tel. 308 18 50, fax 308 18 43. Finland B-2, Ajdovščina 4/ VIII, tel. 300 21 20, fax 300 21 39, sanomat.lju@formin.fi, www.formin.fi. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. France B-4, Barjanska 1, tel. 479 04 00, fax 425 04 10, info@ambafrance.si, www.ambafrance.si. QOpen 08:30 - 12:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Germany A-2, Prešernova 27, tel. 479 03 00, fax 425 08 99, germanembassy-slovenia@siol.net. Q Open , Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 09:00 - 12:00, Fri 09:00 - 11:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Greece C-4, Trnovski Pristan 14, tel. 420 14 00, fax 281 11 14, emb.gr.slo@siol.net. QOpen 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Hungary G-1, Ulica Konrada Babnika 5, tel. 512 18 82, fax 512 18 78, huemblju@siol.net. QOpen 08:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Chile (consulate) G-2, Brdnikova 34b, tel./fax 423 96 70, matjaz.medvedsek@siol.net. QOpen 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. China E-2, Koblarjeva 3, tel. 420 28 55, fax 282 21 99, kitajsko.veleposlanistvo@siol.net. QOpen 08:00 - 12:00

April - May 2009

Business 14:00-16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. India B-2, Maurerjeva 29, tel. 513 31 17, fax 513 31 16. QOpen 08:30 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Indonesia (consulate) A-3, Prešernova 11, tel. 200 51 77, fax 200 51 71, arne.mislej@almis.si. QOpen , Tue 14:00 - 16:00, Thu 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun. Ireland C-3, Poljanski nasip 6, tel. 300 89 70, fax 282 10 96, ljubljanaembassy@dfa.ie, www.dfa.ie. QOpen 09:30 - 12:30; 14:30-16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Israel (consulate) H-1, Dunajska 119, tel. 566 10 20, fax 566 10 21. QOpen 09:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Italy A-3, Snežniška 8, tel. 426 21 94, fax 425 33 02, amblubiana@siol.net. Q Open 09:00 - 11:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Japan B-3, Trg republike 3/ XI, tel. 200 82 81, fax 251 18 22, info@embjp.si. QOpen 08:30 - 17:00. Jordan (consulate) J-2, Zaloška 159, tel. 546 15 00/041 67 93 33, fax 546 15 05, samir.amarin@siol. com. QOpen 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Latvia B-2, Ajdovščina 4/040 22 91 71, juris.poikans@ mfa.gov.lv, www.mfa.gov.lv. Q Open 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Lithuania B-3, Kongresni Trg 3, tel. 244 26 11, Amb. si@urm.lt. QOpen 08:30 - 16:45, Fri 08:30 - 15:15. Closed Sat, Sun. Luxemburg (consulate) B-3, Slovenska 27, tel. 470 70 15, fax 476 29 30, joze.filipic@nlb.si. Macedonia A-3, Prešernova 2, tel. 421 00 21, fax 421 00 23, makamb@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00. Malta (consulate) B-2, Kersnikova 11/041 44 40 14, sklesnik@yahoo.com. Mehico ((consulate)) B-3, Trg republike 3, tel. 470 70 35, fax 328 91 88. Montenegro C-2, Resljeva 40, tel. 439 53 64, fax 439 53 60. QOpen 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Morocco (consulate) H-2, Bizjanova 2, tel. 581 63 00, fax 581 63 40, riko@riko.si. Netherlands C-2, Poljanski nasip 6, tel. 420 14 61, fax 420 14 70, lju@minbuza.nl, www.minbuza.nl. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. New Zealand (consulate) H-1, Verovškova 57, tel. 580 30 55, fax 568 10 86, janja.bratos@sandoz.com. QOpen 08:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Norway B-2, Ajdovščina 4/ VIII, tel./fax 300 21 40, emb.ljubljana@mfa.no, www.mfa.no. Consulate: Dalmatinova 10, tel. 232 74 10. QOpen 10:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Philippines (consulate) H-1, Ulica Bratov Učakar 50, tel./fax 518 15 84, kastelic.joze@volja.net. QOpen , Wed, Thu 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun. Poland H-2, Bežigrad 10, tel. 436 47 12, fax 436 25 21, ambpol.si@siol.net, www.lublana.polemb.net. QOpen , Mon, Wed, Fri 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Portugal B-3, Trg Republike 3/X, tel. 479 05 40, fax 479 05 50. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00; 14:30-17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Romania H-1, Podlimbarskega 43, tel. 505 82 94, fax 505 54 32, embassy.of.romania@siol.net. QOpen , Mon, Fri 09:00 - 12:00, Wed 12:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Russia A-2, Tomšičeva 9, tel. 425 68 75, fax 425 68 78, ambrus.slo@siol.net. Serbia C-2, Slomškova 1, tel. 438 01 10, fax 434 26 88, amba.srbije.lju@siol.net. Q Open 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Seychelles (consulate) Tržaška 19a, Logatec, 30km southwest of Ljubljana, tel./fax 754 29 46, marko.smole@ artcom.si. QOpen 09:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Slovakia A-3, Tivolska 4, tel. 425 54 25, fax 425 05 24, embassy@lublana.mfa.sk, www.lublana.mfa.sk. QOpen

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Business , Mon, Wed, Fri 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. South Africa (consulate) C-2, Pražakova 4, tel. 200 63 00, fax 200 64 34. South Korea (consulate) B-3, Trg Republike 3, tel. 252 71 17, fax 425 92 94. Spain C-4, Trnovski pristan 24, tel. 420 23 30, fax 420 23 33, emba.espa.eslovenia@siol.net. QOpen 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Sweden B-2, Ajdovščina 4/ VIII, tel. 30 00 270, fax 30 00 271, ambassaden.ljubljana@foreign.ministry. se, www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2059. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Switzerland B-3, Trg republike 3/ VI, tel. 200 86 40, fax 200 86 69, lj.vertretung@eda.admin.ch, www.eda. admin.ch. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Thailand (consulate) C-2, Pražakova 12, tel. 432 84 07, fax 433 31 93, kokon@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Turkey B-1, Livarska 4, tel. 236 41 50, fax 436 52 40, vrturcije@siol.net. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. UK A-3, Trg Republike 3/ 4, tel. 200 39 10, fax 425 01 74, info@british-embassy.si, www.british-embassy.si. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Ukraine H-2, Teslova 23, tel. 421 06 04, fax 421 06 03, embassy.ua@siol.net. QOpen , Mon, Wed, Fri 09:00 - 12:00. Closed Sat, Sun. USA A-2, Prešernova 31, tel. 200 55 00, fax 200 55 55, usembassyljubljana@state.gov, www.usembassy.si. Q There is no opening hours, but you have to announce. Vatican C-3, Krekov Trg 1, tel. 433 92 04, fax 431 51 30. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Libraries

NGOs

2, Kersnikova 2, tel. 600 13 00, info.koz@koz.si, www.koz. si. The regional library for central Slovenia is the most popular library in the country, and has a wide range of English literature. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 13:00. Closed Sun.

93 77, amnesty@amnesty.si, www.amnesty.si. Cnvos F-3, Povšetova 37, tel. 542 14 22, info@cnvos. si, www.cnvos.si. Lic F-3, Povšetova 37, tel. 521 18 88, pic@pic.si, www.pic.si. Peace Institute D-2, Metelkova 6, tel. 234 77 20, info@mirovni-institut.si, www.mirovni-institut.si. Red Cross (Rdeči Križ) B-4, Mirje 19, tel. 241 43 00, rdeci.kriz@rks.si, www.rks.si. Sonček H-1, Rožanska 2, tel. 534 06 67. Yhd D-1, Neubergerjeva 7, tel. 431 20 54, yhd-drustvo@ yhd-drustvo.si, www.yhd-drustvo.si. Zveza AIESEC Slovenija B-2, Kersnikova 4, tel. 051 299 863, info@si.aiesec.org, www.aiesec.org/slovenia/. Zveza prijateljev mladine Slovenije B/C-2, Miklošičeva 16, tel. 239 67 20, info@zpms.si, www.zpms.si.

Chambers of Commerce

Ministries

H-1, Dimičeva 13, tel. 589 80 00, fax 589 81 00, info@ gzs.si, www.gzs.si.

478 90 00, gp.mkgp@gov.si, www.mkgp.gov.si. Culture D-2, Maistrova 10, tel. 369 59 00, gp.mk@gov. si, www.mk.gov.si. Defence H-1, Vojkova 55, tel. 471 22 11, glavna.pisarna@mors.si, www.mors.si. Economy C-2, Kotnikova 5, tel. 400 33 11, info.mg@ gov.si, www.mg.gov.si. Education and Sport C-2, Kotnikova 38, tel. 478 42 00, gp.mms@gov.si, www.mss.gov.si. Environment and Spatial Planning H-2, Dunajska 48, tel. 478 74 00, gp.mop@gov.si, www.mop.gov.si. Finance B-2, Župančičeva 13, tel. 369 66 10, gp.mf@ gov.s, www.mf.gov.si. Foreign Affairs A-3, Prešernova 25, tel. 478 20 00, info.mzz@gov.si, www.mzz.gov.si. Health B-2, Štefanova 5, tel. 478 60 01, gp.mz@gov. si, www.mz.gov.si. Higher Education, Science and Technology D-1, Kotnikova 38, tel. 478 46 00, gp.mvzt@gov.si, www. mvtz.gov.si. Interior B-2, Štefanova 2, tel. 428 40 00, gp.mnz@gov. si, www.mnz.gov.si. Justice B-2, Župančičeva 3, tel. 369 52 00, gp.mz.@ gov.si, www.mp.gov.si. Labour, Family and Social Affairs C-2, Kotnikova 5, tel. 369 77 00, gp.mddsz@gov.si, www.mddsz.gov.si. Public Administration H-2, Tržaška 21, tel. 478 83 30, gp.mju@gov.si, www.mju.gov.si. Transport H-2, Langusova 4, tel. 478 80 00, gp.mzp@ gov.si, www.mzp.gov.si.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

Insurance companies

Adriatic Slovenica C-2, Miklošičeva 20, tel. 439 81

80, adriatic.zara@siol.net, www.adriatic-slovenica.si. Generali H-2, Kržičeva 3, tel. 475 71 00, info@mail. generali.si, www.generali.si. Kd Življenje H-1, Celovška 206, tel. 58 26 522, info@ kd-zivljenje.si, www.kd-zivljenje.si. Triglav C-2, Miklošičeva 19, tel. 474 73 20, info-triglav@ triglav.si, www.triglav.si.

Language courses

Ars Linguae C-1, Dunajska 10, tel. 300 27 11, info@

ars-linguae.com, www.ars-linguae.com. Much H-3, Koprska 94, tel. 423 78 60, darja.habjanic@ much.si, www.much.si.

Lawyers

Janez Pejovnik B-3, Slovenska 29, tel. 200 76 86, odvetnik-pejovnik@siol.net.

Odvetniška družba Mramor, Sorta, Bilić & Holec

C-2, Komenskega 4, tel. 059 93 77 00, info@msbh.si, www.msbh.si. Odvetniška pisarna Miro Senica in odvetniki B4, Barjanska 3, tel. 252 80 00, odvetniki.attorneys@ senica.si, www.senica.si. Peter Mele odvetniška pisarna C-2, Resljeva 25, tel. 430 04 61, mele.peter@siol.net, www.odvetnikmele.si.

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Knjižnica Otona Župančiča (Metropolitan Library) B-

Narodna In Univerzitetna Knjižnica (National & University Library) B-3, Turjaška 1, tel. 200 11 88, info@nuk. uni-lj.si, www.nuk.uni-lj.si. Home of Slovenia’s written cultural heritage, this well-organised library is every researcher’s dream. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sun.

Media

Delo B-1, Dunajska 5, tel. 473 77 00, info@delo.si, www.delo.si. Dnevnik C-3, Kopitarjeva 2 & 4, tel. 308 21 00, info@ dnevnik.si, www.dnevnik.si. Pro plus J-1/2, Kranjčeva 26, tel. 589 32 00, info@ pop-tv.si, www.24ur.com. Radio Slovenia International Ilichova 33, Maribor, tel. 02 429 92 79. Rtv Slovenija C-2, Kolodvorska 2, tel. 475 21 11, info@ rtvslo.si, www.rtvslo.si. Slovenian Press Agency B-1, Tivolska 50, tel. 24 10 10, desk@sta.si, www.sta.si. Svet & Ljudje F-1, Peričeva ulica 17, tel. 431 8170, savina.dreu@svetinljudje.si, www.svetinljudje.si. The Slovenia Times A-3, Trg Mladinskih Delovnih Brigad 12, tel. 520 50 84, info@sloveniatimes.com, www.sloveniatimes.com.

Agriculture, Forestry and Food H-2, Dunajska 58, tel.

www.inyourpocket.com ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Amnesty International B-2, Beethovnova 7, tel. 426

Notaries

Košak ml. Miro B-3, Trg republike 3, tel. 244 25 00, tajnistvo@notar-kosak.si. QOpen , Mon, Tue, Thu 09:00

- 12:00, 13:00-16:00, Wed 09:00 - 12:00, 13:00-17:00, Fri 09:00 - 12:00, 13:00-14:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Nevenka Tory B-2, Beethovnova 14, tel. 242 96 80, nevenka.tory@siol.net. QOpen , Mon, Tue, Thu 09:00 - 12:00, 13:00-16:00, Wed 09:00 - 12:00, 13:00-17:00, Fri 09:00 - 12:00, 13:00-14:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Real estate

Abc Nepremičnine B-1, Tivolska 48, tel. 300 00 00,

abc@abc.si, www.abc.si. Agencia Zaloška 69, tel. 521 15 65, info@agencia.si, www.agencia.si. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Ljubljana Nepremičnine B-2, Cankarjeva 10, tel. 080 81 81, info@ljubljananepremicnine.si, www.ljubljananepremicnine.si. Luster H-2, Tržaška 124, tel. 200 49 54, fax 200 59 55, info@luster.si, www.luster.si. Royal Nepremičnine B-2, Cigaletova 5, tel. 300 73 70, Royal@Royal-nepremicnine.com, www.royal-nepremicnine.com.

Relocations

Relokacije H-1, Vojkova 63, tel. 565 50 61, info@

sloveniarelo.com, www.sloveniarelo.com. Selitveni servis Repič H-1, Tesovnikova 47, tel. 565 69 50. Vatovec C-2, Čufarjeva 5, tel. 430 13 40, info@vatovec. si, www.vatovec.si.

Translators

Alkemist Obirska 4, tel. 514 16 78, info@alkemist.si,

www.alkemist.si. Berlitz B-2, Gosposvetska 2, tel. 433 13 25, berlitz. ljubljana@berlitz.si, www.berlitz.si. MultiLingual Komenskega 6, tel. 430 48 27, prevajanje@multilingual.si, www.multilingual.si. Q Open 00:00 - 24:00.

Travel Agency

TJ’s Travel Agency l Pot Draga Jakopiča 6, tel. 041

786 168, fax 1 5611 039, info@roundabout.si, www. roundabout.si. QOpen 08:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

April - May 2009

Street register Adamič-Lundrovo B/C-3 Ajdovščina B-2 Ambrožev trg D-3 Aškerčeva A-3/4, B-4 Avčinova C/D-1 Barjanska B-4, H2/3 Bavdkova F-1 Bazoviška F-1 Beethovnova B-2/3 Bernekerjeva E/F-1 Bezenškova E/F-1 Bogišičeva A-4 Bohoričeva D/E-2 Bolgarska D-1, E-1/2 Borštnikov trg A-3 Breg B-3/4 C. 27. Aprila A-3 Cankarjeva A/B-2 Cankarjevo B-3 Celovška G-1, H-1/2 Celovška cesta A/B-1, B-2 Cigaletova B/C-2 Cimpermanova C-4 Ciril-Metodov trg C-3 Čopova B-2/3 Črtomirova D-1 Čufarjeva C-2 Dalmatinova B/C-2 Dolenjska H/J-3 Društvena F-2 Dunajska B/C-1, H-1/2 Dvorakova B-2 Dvorni trg B-3 Eipprova B-4 Emonska B-4 Erjavčeva A/B-3 Finžgarjeva A-4 Frankopanska A/B-1 Gallusovo B-3/4 Gasparijeva E/F-2 Glonarjeva E-3 Gornji trg B/C-3, C-4 Gortanova F-3 Gosposka B-3/4 Gosposvetska B-2 Grablovičeva E-1/2, F-2/3

Gradaška A/B-4 Grajska planota C-3/4, D-4 Gregorčičeva A/B-3 Groharjeva A-4 Grudnovo nabrežje B-4 Gubčeva A-1 Hacquetova D-1 Hajdrihova A-4 Hradeckega D/E/F-4 Hrenova C-4 Hribarjevo B-3 Hrvatski trg D-2 Igriška A/B-3 Ilirska C/D-2 Ižanska C/D-4, H-3 Jakopičeva F-2/3 Jakopičevo sprehajališče A-1 Jamova A-4 Janežičeva C-4 Japljeva E-2 Jenkova D/E-2 Jurčičev trg B-3 Kajuhova J-2 Karlovška cesta C-4 Karunova B-4 Kavčičeva E/F-1 Kersnikova B-2 Klunova F-2 Knafljev prehod B-3 Koblarjeva E-2/3, F-3 Kolezijska A/B-4 Kolinska E-1 Kolodvorska C-2 Komenskega C-2 Kongresni trg B-3 Kopališka A-4 Kopitarjeva ulica C-3/4 Korytkova E-1/2 Kosovelova F-2/3 Koširjeva F-3 Kotnikova C-2 Krakovska B-4 Krakovski nasip B-4 Krekov trg C-3 Križevniška B-4 Kumanovska D-3

Tourist-Train

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Langusova A-4 Lepi pot A-4 Levstikov trg B-4 Levstikova A-3 Likozarjeva B-1 Linhartova H/J-2 Lipičeva D/E-3 Litijska cesta F-3, J/K-2, K-3 Livarska B-1 Maistrova D-2 Majaronova E-1 Mala C-2 Malejeva F-2 Malenškova E-2 Malgajeva A-1 Mali trg C-2 Masarykova C-1, D-1/2 Medvedova A/B-1 Mencingerjeva A-4 Mesarska E-3 Mestni trg B-3 Metelkova D-2 Miklošičeva B/C-2 Mirje A/B-4 Močnikova E-2 Murnikova A-4 Nazorjeva B-2 Neubergerjeva D-1 Njegoševa cesta D-2 Novakova D-1 Novi trg B-3 Ob Ljubljanici E/F-2 Ob Zeleni jami E-1 Parmova B-1 Partizanska F-1/2 Perčeva F-1 Peternelova B-3 Petkovškovo nabrežje C-2 Pivovarniška B-1 Plečnikov trg B-3 Pleteršnikova B-1 Pod ježami E/F-1 Pogačerjev trg C-3 Pohlinova E/F-1 Pokopališka F-1 Poljanska C/D/E-3, H/J-2

Poljanski nasip C/D/E-3 Poljedelska F-1 Potočnikova E-3 Potrčeva E-2 Povšetova E-3, F-2/3 Praprotnikova C-4 Pražakova B/C-2 Prešernov trg B-3 Prešernova A-2/3 Prijateljeva C-4 Prisojna D-2 Privoz C-4 Proletarska c. F-1/2 Prule C-4 Prvomajska F-2 Pugljeva F-2 Puharjeva B-2 Resljeva cesta C-2 Ribji trg B-3 Riharjeva A-4 Rimska A/B-3 Robbova C-1 Roška cesta D-3/4 Rozmanova D-2/3 Ruska A/B-1 Salendrova B-3 Sketova E-1/2 Slomškova C/D-2 Slovenska cesta B-2/3, H-2 Snežniška A-3/4 Središka E/F-1 Stari trg B-3 Streliška C-3, D-3/4 Strossmayerjeva C-3 Stritarjeva B-3 Šlajmerjeva E-2 Šmartinska E-1, J-1/2,K-1 Štefanova B-2 Štihova D-1 Šubičeva A/B-3 Tabor D-2 Tavčarjeva B/C-2 Teslova A-4 Tivolska cesta A-2/3,B-1/2, H-2 Tomšičeva A/B-2

Topniška D-1 Tovarniška E/F-1 Trdinova B/C-2 Trg Fr. revolucije B-3 Trg mladinskih del. brigad A-3 Trg OF C-1 Trg Republike A/B-3 Trnovska B-4 Trnovski pristan B/C-4 Trubarjeva C/D-2 Tržaška A-3, H-2/3,G-3 Turnsko nabrežje F-3 Ul. G. Delčeva F-2/3 Ul. J. Husa F-2/3 Ul. St. Pravde C/D-4 Ul. Talcev C/D-4 Večna pot G/H-2 Vegova B-3 Veselova A-3 Vilharjeva cesta C/D-1, H/J-2 Vodmatska F-2 Vodnikov trg C-3 Vogelna B-4 Vošnjakova B-2 Vrazov trg D-3 Vrhovčeva D-2 Vrtača A-3 Vurnikova D-1 Wolfova B-3 Za gradom C/D-4 Zadobrovška K-1/2 Zaloška cesta D/E/F-2, J/K-2 Zarnikova D-3 Združna F-2 Zeljarska A-4 Zemljemerska D-3/4 Ziherlova B/C-4 Zoisova B-4 Zrinjskega C/D-4 Zvezna F-1 Zvonarska C-4 Žabjak B/C-4 Železna C-1 Žibertova A-1 Židovska B-3 Župančičeva B-2

M.Tančič

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Index 3 Muhe 79 89 Abanka 91 Abc Nepremičnine 48 Abecedarium 73 Adria Airways 90 Adriatic Slovenica 91 Agencia 74 AGIO rent a car Agriculture, Forestry and Food 91 32 Ahotel 73 Air France 38 Ajda 89 Albania 42 Al Capone 34 Alibi Hostel 35 Alibi M14 Hostel 91 Alkemist 42 Allegria 91 Amnesty International 40 Angel 79 Antikvariat 31 Antiq Arena Vodafone live! - Gladiator 28 (BTC Center) 36 Argentino 90 Ars Linguae 70 Art cafe 34 Asdom Apartments 55 As Lounge 67 Astoria 74 Atet 27, 28 Atlantis Water Park 89 Australia 89 Austria 73 Austrian Airlines 30 Austria Trend 75 AutoRent 75 Avant 80 Avantagarde 76 Avantura 75 Avis 82 Avtotehna Oprema 88 Babit 82 Baby center 55 Bachus 40 Bachus Center 48 Bachus Lounge 69 Bar in restavtacija Chilli 88 Barsos-MC 48 Bazilika Shop & Cafe 89 Belgium 91 Berlitz Best Western Premier Hotel 68 Lovec Best Western Premier Slon 31 52 Bi-Ko-Fe 48 Bife Jež 27, 28 Biosfera 34 Bit Center 71 Bled Castle 66 Boat tours 89 Bosnia & Herzegovina 66 Botanical Gardens 89 Brazil Breskvar Tennis Academy 28 63 Brewery Museum 73 Brussels Airlines 82 BTC City 82 BTC Market 75 Budget Rent a Car 89 Bulgaria 74 Bus station 80 Butik La Vision 48 Cacao 48 Café Antico 49 Cafe Open 40 Café Romeo

ljubljana.inyourpocket.com

Cafetino 49 49 Caffe Ljubljana 80 Calzedonia 89 Canada (consulate) 24 Cankarjev dom 44 Cantina Mexicana 79 Carniola Antiqua 75 Carrent 52 Casablanca 71 Casino Bled 71 Casino Tivoli 66 Castle funicular 35 Celica 31 Central hotel 82 Central Market 88 Central Pharmacy 80 Cesare Paciotti 39 Cesarsko mesto 49 Čez Cesto Chamber of Commerce and 90 Industry of Slovenia CHAOTHAI masaže za 88 boljše počutje 88 Chemo Express 89 Chile (consulate) 89 China 39 China Fast Food Church of the Assumption 71 32 City 27, 63 City Museum 84 Citypark 24 City Theatre 55 Club OZ2 49 CN7 91 Cnvos 61 Cobbler's Bridge 49 Coffe Project 81 Čokoladnica Cukrček 51 Čolnarna 52 Compañeros Café 89 Comshop BTC Contemporary History Museum 63 49 Corso Bar 81 Črna Luknja 89 Croatia 40 Cubo 91 Culture 57 Cutty Sark 22 Cvetličarna Mediapark 89 Cyprus 73 Czech Airlines 89 Czech Republic 36 Da bu da 86 Debitel 91 Defence Delikatesa Ljubljanski Dvor 38 91 Delo 89 Denmark 88 Dental clinic 70 Devil 89 Deželna Banka Slovenije 86 DHL 66 Digital Tour Guide 91 Dnevnik 86 Drog-Art 58 Dvorni Bar 91 Economy 91 Education and Sport 89 Egypt 34 Emonec 55 Emonska klet 58 Enoteca 56 En Pub Environment and Spatial 91 Planning 59 Escape 24 ESITI

Europcar 75 61 Evangelical Church 24 Eventim Exhibition and Convention 22 Centre 38 Falafel 43 Favola 86 FedEx 88 Femiks 22 Festivalna Dvorana 52 Fétiche 91 Finance 89 Finland 28 Fit&Fun Center 80 Flat 82 Flea Market 44 Foculus 91 Foreign Affairs 79 Fortuna 82 Foto Grad 82 Foto Maxi 82 Foto Tivoli 89 France 62 France Prešeren 61 Franciscan Church 43 Fresco 27 G-rega Institute 56 Gajo Jazz Club 81 Gaj Zdravja 24 Ganes Pratt 81 Gardenia 52 Gas Station 90 Generali 89 Germany 24 Goethe-Institut 71 Golf & Country Club Bled 28 Golf klub barje 28 Golf Trnovo 70 Gostilna Avsenik 45 Gostilna Figovec 45 Gostilna Kovač 38 Gostilna Krpan 45 Gostilna Lovec 70 Gostilna Pri Planincu 46 Gostilna Zlata Ribica 28 Gradiant 71 Grajski Pub 1004 68 Grand Hotel Toplice Grand Hotel Union Business 31 Grand Hotel Union Executive 30 89 Greece 57 Guinness Pub 80 H & M 22 Hala Tivoli 59 Hard core Cafe 82 Hartman 84 Harvey Norman 91 Health 88 Health Centre center Health Centre Metelkova 88 76 Hertz Higher Education, Science and 91 Technology 62 Holy Trinity Church 68 Hotel Golf 68 Hotel Krim 38 Hot Horse House of Experiments 27, 64 89 Hungary 55 Hvala za rože 89 Hypo Group Alpe Adria IEDC Bled School of 71 Management 90 India 90 Indonesia (consulate) 24 Institut Français 24 Instituto Cervantes

Interior 91 International Centre of Graphic 63 Arts 84 Intersport 89 IQbator 90 Ireland 71 Irish Pub 90 Israel (consulate) Istituto Italiano di Cultura 24 90 Italy 90 Janez Pejovnik 90 Japan 69 Jasmin 73 JAT Airways 68 Jelovica Jewish Community of Slovenia 62 38 Jež 44 Joe Peña's 90 Jordan (consulate) 38, 52 Juicebox 69 Juliana 40 Julija 40 Jurman 91 Justice 52 Kamera Klub 38 Kantina Peperončin 47 KavaČaj 43 Kavalino Kavarna in slaščičarna Zvezda 51 32 Kavarna Maček Rooms 50 Kavarna Tromostovje 24 Kavarna Union 77 Kažipot 90 Kd Življenje 22 Kino Dvor 22 Kinoklub Vič 22 Kinoteka Kirurški Sanatorij Rožna dolina 88 39 Kitajska Zvezda 56 Klub 12 28, 55 Klub300 59 Klub Slon 55 Klub SubSub 56 KMŠ Knjižnica Otona Župančiča 91 28 Kodeljevo 28 Kodeljevo sports park 22 Kolosej 53 Kolovrateater 77 Kompas 22 Komuna 38 Konkurenca 79 Konzorcij 91 Košak ml. Miro Križanke Open Air Theatre 24 24 KUD France Prešeren 86 Kurirček 69, 88 Labod Labour, Family and Social 91 Affairs 28 Laguna Spa & Fun 71 Lake Bled 43 La Storia 90 Latvia 88 Lekarna Ljubljana 88 Lekarna Miklošič 53 Lepa žoga 30 Lev 91 Lic 80 Lili in Roza 90 Lithuania 74 Ljubljana airport 60 Ljubljana Castle 27 Ljubljana Mini Theatre 91 Ljubljana Nepremičnine 66 Ljubljana Night & Day 27 Ljubljana Puppet Theatre

April - May 2009

Index Ljubljana Zoo 27, 66 81 Ljubljanček 40 Ljubljanski Dvor Ljubljanski Univerzitetni 89 Inkubator 73 Lufthansa Luka Gourmet café & 40 restaurant Evropa Luka Gourmet Lunch Cafe 44 91 Luster 90 Luxemburg (consulate) 90 Macedonia 50 Maček 86 Main post office 73 Malév 90 Malta (consulate) Mandarina Duck, Kipling Store 80 41 Manna 88 Massage Corner 41 Maxim 58 Maximal 80 Max Mara 38 McDonald's M Center tehnike in gradnje 84 Črnuče 34 Medno 90 Mehico 88 Mehurček 46 Mencigar Nobile 89 Menjalnica AŽUR 81 Mercator Mercator Center Ljubljana 84 24 Mestna galerija 1 88 Mestna optika 60 Mestni Trg 50 Metropol 76 Metro Taxi 31 M hotel 88 Mič Styling 80 Midas 89 MM-konto 86 Mobitel 84 Modna Hiša 32 Mons 90 Montenegro 90 Morocco (consulate) 58 Movia 90 Much 91 MultiLingual 53 Na Balanci 80 Naf Naf 84 Nama 40 Namaste Narodna In Univerzitetna 91 Knjižnica 71 National 24 National Drama Theatre 63 National Gallery 63 National Museum 64 Natural History Museum 90 Netherlands 91 Nevenka Tory 90 New Zealand (consulate) 37 Nobel Burek 90 Norway 81 Nova 89 Nova Ljubljanska Banka Odvetniška družba Mramor, 90 Sorta, Bilić & Holec Odvetniška pisarna Miro Senica 90 in odvetniki 69 Okarina 80 Oktober 53 Opera Bar 38 Operna Klet 88 Optika FELIKS Optika FELIKS, PE: SUPERNOVA 88

Ljubljana In Your Pocket

Optika Zajec 88 56 Orto Bar 69 Oštarija Peglez'n 24 Österreich Institut 86 Oton Zupancic Library 79 Oxford Center 45 Paninoteka 69 Panorama 89 Par 68 Park Hotel Bled 57 Parlament Pub 44 Parma 44 Pasta Nona 58 Patrick's 84 Patrick Sport d.o.o. 91 Peace Institute 69 Peking 80 Peko Peter Mele odvetniška 90 pisarna 22 Philharmonic 90 Philippines (consulate) 56 Piano Bar 44 Piazza 81 Piranske soline 70 Pizzeria Gallus 46 Pizzicato 28 Plavalni klub Ilirija 53 Playa 64 Plečnik House 80 Pletilni Studio Draž 36 Pod Rožnikom 90 Poland 79 Porcelain Catbriyur 36 Portal 90 Portugal 60 Postojna Cave 50 Pr' Fotru 46 Pr' potic 60 Prešernov Square 37 Pri Jovotu 89 Primus Group 41 Pri Vitezu 46 Pri Vodniku 53 Pri zelenem zajcu 89 Pro-Eco 91 Pro plus 76 Protocol 54 Pr Skelet 71 Pub Bled 91 Public Administration 89 Publikum FIN 71 Pub Lovec 58 Pub Premier 24 Puppet Theatre 64 Puppet Theatre clock Radio Slovenia International 91 89 Raiffeisen Bank 64 Railway Museum 80 Rašica Recreational Center Tivoli 28 91 Red Cross 38 Red Hot Horse 77 Relax 91 Relokacije 66 Republic Square 38 Restaurant 2000 41 Restaurant Most 41 Restaurant Plato 82 Ristanc 42 River House 63 Robba Fountain 54 Rollbar 90 Romania 54 Roxly 91 Royal Nepremičnine 54 Roža

Rtv Slovenija 91 35 Rugby Pub & Hostel 58 Rugby Pub & Lounge 76 Rumeni Taxi 45 Ruska Pravljica 90 Russia 82 Rustika 54 Salon 88 Salon Mali 28 Salsoteca 43 San Martino 68 Savica 37 Sax House 57 Sax Pub 91 Selitveni servis Repič 88 Sense Welness Club 90 Serbia 90 Seychelles (consulate) Simple, Ljubljana E.Leclerc 88 Simple, Ljubljana 88 SUPERNOVA 76 Sixt 89 Skb 28 SKOK ŠPORT d.o.o. 42 Skriti kot 24 Škuc Gallery 66 Skyscraper 34 Slamič 37 Slast Slon Restaurant & Lounge 54 90 Slovakia Slovene Ethnographic Museum 64 Slovenian Ethnographic 27 Museum Slovenian National Opera & 24 Ballet Theatre 91 Slovenian Press Agency Slovenian Tourist 60 Information Center 42 Smrekarjev hram 37 Sofra 28 Sokol Group d.o.o. Sokol Tivoli Fitness center 28 91 Sonček 90 South Africa (consulate) 90 South Korea (consulate) 90 Spain 47 Špajza 81 Spar Spin Vinyl Rock'n'Roll 82 Ploščarna 54 Sputnik 71 St. Martin's Church 47, 54 Stara Mačka 44 Stari Tišler 14, 50 STA travel cafe 88 Stevo 82 STIC 80 Stiefelkönig 62 St Joseph 62 St Peter 88 Studio Christian 28 Sunny 84 Supernova 43 Sushimama 91 Svet & Ljudje 90 Switzerland 62 Synagogue 59 Tanga 77 Tao 43 Tartuf 38 Taverna Tatjana 89 Tax-Fin-Lex 76 Taxi Društvo Ljubljana 76 Taxi Intertours 76 Taxi Laguna

TeatroKlub 56 64 Technical Museum 76 Technoplus 89 Tech Trade 89 Tehnološki Park Ljubljana 27 Tennis Breskvar 28 TG Sportlife 36 Thai Inn Pub 90 Thailand (consulate) The Business Center (Virtual Office and Business Center) 89 91 The Slovenia Times 76 Thrifty 86 Tine Express 61 Tivoli Park 91 TJ's Travel Agency l 86 TNT Express 64 Tobacco Museum 82 To Je to 39 Tomato 54 Tombstone Saloon Tourist Information Centre 24, 82 76 Train Station 39 Tramvaj Ekspres Pizzeria 91 Transport 79 Trgovina Ika 90 Triglav 61 Triple Bridge 44 Trnovski Zvon 50 Trubadur 90 Turkey 86 Tušmobil 90 UK 90 Ukraine 88 Ultimo Imerio 56 Ultra Unicredit Banka Slovenija 89 68, 70 Union University Medical Centre 88 Ljubljana 86 UPS Intereuropa 80 Urko 90 USA 47 Valvasor 90 Vatican 91 Vatovec 47 Vegedrom 59 Venera Shop 69 Vila Bled 69 Vila Bled Restaurant Vila Mangart - Restavracija 70 Pungaršek 34 Vila Minka 35 Vila Veselova 70 Vinarte 82 Vinoteka Vinarte Bled 86 Vodafone Simobil 47 Vodnikov Hram 82 Vom Second Hand 71 Wellness Živa 58 William's Pub 58 Wine Cellars of Slovenia 86 Xplorer 42 XXI 91 Yhd 81 Žak France Style 60 Žale Cemetery 80 Zara 35 Zeppelin Hostel 39 Zhong Hua 54 Zlata Ladjica 56 Zlati Zob 55 Žmauc 91 Zveza AIESEC Slovenija Zveza prijateljev mladine 91 Slovenije 51 Zvezda

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