Restaurant Slon 1552

The culinary character of Restaurant Slon 1552 is defined by Slovenian and Mediterranean dishes prepared according to traditional recipes and complemented with the latest culinary trends. When creating new dishes, we are guided by the "less is more" principle, which inspires us to bring out the best out of the highest quality ingredients and offer our guests a true culinary experience accompanied by superior wines, all of which are available by the glass.

All dishes follow the concept of the restaurant - tradition presented in a unique way.

We wanted to surpass the traditional frame of a hotel restaurant, so we are extremely pleased that Slon 1552 has established itself as a favourite choice of the people of Ljubljana. They recognized our restaurant as a place that offers the perfect balance between price and quality in the city centre. They like to visit our restaurant during lunch hours while the impeccable service and atmosphere make an impact when marking special occasions.

The end of 2018 saw the publication of Slovenia's first Gault & Millau restaurant guide. We were awarded the prestigious two toques, which places us among top Slovenian restaurants.

The restaurant was named after an extraordinary event that took place in 1552. At that time, Habsburg Archduke Maximillian II brought a magnificent elephant to Ljubljana (the Slovenian word for elephant is slon) and the elephant rested at the very site of today's Hotel Slon. Being extraordinary remains our guiding principle to this day. We strive to create an extraordinary event from a perfect harmony of flavours and the culinary experience as a whole - which includes an attractive interior.

The interior of Restaurant Slon 1552 is defined by elegance and soft minimalism - the clean and straight lines are softened by warm materials, greenery and the choice of lighting. The eclectic mix of objects that come from the former bistro or were collected from here and there – for example, the two handmade kilims from Afghanistan bought at a vintage store, the mirror from an antique shop in Belgrade, the movable wood panels hinting at Asia and the copper dishes displayed à la cuisine française-style over the bar, leading the eye towards the heart of the kitchen - places emphasis on the details, designed and built specifically for the occasion.

All wall-mounted lighting was made to order, as were the shelves, the seating (reminiscent of the Charles Eames Eiffel Chair) and the monolithic bar made of Istrian stone. The waiting area next to the entrance with book and magazine shelves leads to a more casual area with lower seating and a display of herbs that are used in the kitchen. The walls display photographs of old Ljubljana and the interiors of the former Restaurant Slon featuring Thonet chairs and the bistro area with the bar. Bar stools are a tradition that remains from the former bistro, allowing people to come for a quick lunch alone and eat at the bar.

The back room provides more privacy and is perfect for business lunches and long meetings, while the special VIP area features tables set with long tablecloths and the most comfortable chairs with armrests.