Award-Winning Restaurants & Fine Wines

A Slovenia Culinary Holiday

DAY 1 International Flight

Your Slovenia culinary holiday begins today with a direct two-and-a-quarter-hour flight to Ljubljana from London at around lunchtime. On arrival, you will be met at the airport by your private driver and transferred 90 minutes to your hotel in the pretty seaside town of Portoroz. Check in and freshen up before meeting your guide in the lobby for a private afternoon tour of Piran, which is just a ten-minute drive away.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful towns on the Slovenian coast, Piran oozes charm and authenticity with its medieval walled centre, historic church and terracotta-roofed houses. During your tour, you'll get to explore the narrow streets of the Old Town, wander around Tartini Square and enjoy a short walk by the sea.

Return to your hotel this evening ready for a delicious dinner at its fine dining restaurant. Tuck into a seasonal menu that features refined Mediterranean cuisine and sample the extensive wine list as the hotel's sommelier tells you about the local varietals.

DAY 2 Fine Dining in The Goriska Brda Wine Region

Today, for the first full day of your Slovenia culinary holiday, enjoy a bountiful breakfast at your hotel before meeting your driver and travelling inland to Vipava, approximately one hour away. Your first stop is the Zemono Manor House where you will get to sample the delights of its Michelin-starred restaurant - Gostilna pri Lojzetu. Considered one of the top culinary spots in the whole country, this is a food lover's haven with a magnificent menu designed around the finest fresh seasonal flavours.

After lunch, drive forty-five minutes to the Goriska Brda wine region where you will check into your next hotel, a luxurious former palace. Unpack and freshen up, then meet your private guide who will take you on a tour of the area which includes a visit to the view tower of Gonjace, a wander around the historic village of Smartno and a trip to Dobrovo Castle.

After your tour, you will be taken to a local wine producer where you will enjoy a private wine tasting experience led by a professional sommelier. Come dinnertime, return to your hotel to indulge in your second Michelin-starred meal at the renowned Gredic restaurant.

DAY 3 To Soca Valley

Enjoy a slow start today with a tasty breakfast and morning at leisure at your hotel before being transferred 50-minutes by car to Kobarid, a peaceful area surrounded by lush green countryside and towering mountain peaks. Your accommodation for the night is a charming countryside inn which is home to a two Michelin star restaurant where we'll reserve you a table for dinner. The owners are closely knit with the area's community of foragers, shepherds, cheese makers, hunters and fishermen, so you can expect some of the finest and freshest food around for your dinner tonight.

DAY 4 To Ljubljana Via Bled

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven two hours through lush green countryside to Vila Podvin - the next Michelin star restaurant on your Slovenia culinary holiday. A former stables which have been converted into a beautiful restaurant, Vila Podvin has a reputation as a fantastic foodie spot. Traditional dishes and the finest local ingredients are the stars of the show here as the head chef revives recipes that have nearly slipped into oblivion.

Next, you will visit the beautiful Lake Bled en route to the country's capital, Ljubljana. Surrounded by the towering peaks of the Slovenian Alps and with a small island in the centre of the lake - home to Bled Castle - this is a truly idyllic spot.

Boat out to Bled Island on a traditional wooden pletna boat to take a tour of the mighty castle, wander around the lush green grounds, and visit the Church of Assumption. Don't miss the chance to taste the famous Bled cream cake and then boat back to shore where your driver will transfer you the rest of the way to Ljubljana, a journey that takes approximately one hour.

Check into your hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant, or head into town where we can make reservations at one of the many excellent eateries.

DAY 5 Explore Ljubljana

Get up bright and early this morning ready for a full day spent exploring the beautiful city of Ljubljana. Meet your guide in the lobby and set off on a private walking tour around the Old Town where you will see some of Ljubljana's main attractions - including the Town Hall, Krizanke open-air theatre, the Napoleon monument and Central Food market - as well as the prettiest squares and bridges.

After your walking tour, hop into a traditional wooden boat to continue your sightseeing along Ljubljanica river. A ride lasts just under an hour and covers the majority of the old town's major sights from a unique vantage point.

Next, you will get a chance to ride the city's funicular railway to the castle - Ljubljana's most prominent landmark. Accompanied by a guide, take a tour of the castle and learn about its long history. After your tour, refuel with a magnificent Michelin-star meal at Strelec Restaurant in Ljubljana Castle. Headed up by one of the top chefs in the country, dining here is a real experience with tasty traditional recipes served alongside more contemporary fare.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Continue exploring the pretty streets at your own pace and then return to your hotel for dinner, or we can recommend some other excellent restaurants to try during your Slovenia culinary holiday.

DAY 6 From Ljubljana to Maribor

After breakfast at your hotel this morning, meet your driver and set off to Maribor - Slovenia's second-largest city - which is approximately one-and-a-half-hours away. Check into your hotel in the heart of the city and freshen up and then, accompanied by an experienced sommelier, enjoy a wine tour which includes a drive past some of the region's vineyards; a wine tasting experience in the Vinag Wine Cellar (one of the largest and oldest wine cellars in Europe); and a visit to the Old Vine House in the centre of Maribor.

From Maribor, it's a short 15-minute drive to the Michelin starred Hisa Denk restaurant where we've made you a reservation for lunch. The dishes here are designed around traditional recipes with a modern twist and are accompanied by an extensive wine list.

Return to your hotel this afternoon for an evening at leisure in Maribor.

DAY 7 To Otocec Castle

Enjoy a leisurely start today with a morning at leisure in Maribor and then drive two hours to Otocec Castle, a beautiful old building set on a picturesque river island which has been transformed into a luxurious Relais and Chateaux hotel complete with a fine dining restaurant. Unpack and get settled in and then enjoy a private wine tasting experience in the castle's winery. The Dolenjska region is known for its superb wine which has been produced here for centuries, and you'll get to learn about (and taste) some of the local varietals.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at leisure in the hotel's beautiful grounds and then take a seat in the restaurant for the final meal of your Slovenia culinary tour. The food here is as fresh as it gets with seasonal vegetables and berries and herbs collection from the castle's organic garden.

DAY 8 Home Time

Sadly, today is the final day of your Slovenia culinary holiday. After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will take you back to Ljubljana, approximately one hour away, to catch your two-hours-and-15-minutes afternoon flight home.