The lazy Ljubljanica River strolls through the city, but before it enters it, the river’s path is divided. The artificial channel dug more than 200 years ago makes a shortcut, avoiding the city centre where the natural stream flows. Where the river is divided there are some simple barges serving as bars. We call this place ‘Spica’, which means spike and if seen from above it actually looks like a land spike that points into the water.

It is a green oasis that makes a perfect getaway from the urban hustle and bustle. The short ten minute walk from the centre is worth the effort, no matter which side of the river you take.

The bars offer simple drinks you can drink either on the wooden benches on the shore or on the boat. I would recommend this place to everyone who likes nature and doesn’t mind simplicity. Here you can get a good portion of sun and a pristine smile. At Spica you won’t meet any big shot name, just regular people enjoying the atmosphere and some ducks passing by even in winter.

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Spica | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Coffee € 1.30
Privoz | Rudnik
11:00 – 19:00 daily

This ethno club has brought freshness into Ljubljana when it opened a couple of years ago. One could easily say it is the first ethno club around here. Its name Zlati Zob or Golden Tooth always made me think that this refers to the often seen golden teeth in Gypsy grins. Well, I recently found out it is meant as golden smile, good people, feeling cosy, snacks… A nice environment in short!

The carefully selected decorations are from all over the world and also world ethno music is played here. There is always something going on: dancing performances, concerts, DJ programs, traveler lectures… Dancing lectures of Balkan ‘kolo’ (round dance) are also organized every Tuesday. You should definitely try that, it is unforgettable, believe me.

Another positive thing about that place is that they serve very good Czech draft beer called Bernard and a proper Rakija drink, very well known hard liqueur to any traveler on the Balkans. Quite interesting is also the building itself, which is part of Selo, an 18th century mansion used for different purposes during the history.

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Zlati Zob | Bars, Music, Snacks | Beer € 2.70
Zaloka cesta 69 | Moste | +38659139552
Mon – Thu 19:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 19:00 – 03:00

On the eastern side of Presernov trg square along Petkovskovo nabrezje bank of Ljubljanica River less crowded bars are situated. One of the first here was Caffe Promenada.

This bar shows that it has been here for some time already with quite an old wooden sign. It isn’t the sign that makes you notice the place but the tables and chairs in front of it with promenade passing in between. The café’s front view offers you a beautiful view over the river of Ljubljana’s main market, designed by very important architect for our city, Plecnik.

This place, though situated in exact center of the city, still gives you a reasonably calm option to have coffee and watch the river flow by. If you are more into finding yourself some company, just turn around, people are passing by. The garden is open also during winter and gets quite a lot of sun, even between buildings, during (of course) sunny days.

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Cafe Promenada | Bars, Coffee & tea | Coffee with milk € 1.40
Petkovskovo nabrezje 9 | Center
07:00 – 01:00 daily

Premier is, like Cafe Promenada, on a less crowded Petkovškovo nabrežje embankment very near Prešernov trg square. It has been here for a while and I am sure it will be here for long since it has really wide selection of beer. Beside local beers there is also tap of Guinness and numerous bottled beers. Like tasteful Czech beers, London Pride, London Porter and others.

Mainly none of them need any extra presentation but there is one that most definitely needs it. That is a local beer called Human Fish Beer after a Slovenian special amphibious, animal that is known as Human Fish (But is not actually a fish!). Tasty beer and cozy atmosphere in this bar will make you wanna come again! 

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Premier Pub | Bars | London Pride € 3.60
Petkovškovo nabrežje 17 | Center | +3864305231
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 01:00, Sun 09:00 – 01:00

Roxly is a place for rock fans. It is decorated with rock vinyls, guitars, cymbals, posters with rock stars. They play rock music almost all the time. Roxly isn’t only a coffee bar, but also a decent restaurant with good-tasting food. They serve steaks, pasta, salads and soups. Prices are higher than average, but it’s worth it.

What makes Roxly even more special to me is that every day after nine o’clock in the evening, all the tables and chairs are removed and it turns into a night club with live music concerts and parties. The concerts are performances by various artists, not only rock bands, but also funky, Mexican, Yugo rock and other types of music and they attract a broader audience.

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Roxly | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Restaurants (Intern.) | Menu from € 14
Mala ulica 5 | Center | +38614301021
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 03:00

Well hidden behind the corner of Peglezen, a house build by Jože Plečnik, who is a famous Slovenian architect, is a little bar called Green Moon. It could be just another of many similar bars in Ljubljana, but it is special because it is gay friendly. In fact, they say it is straight friendly. Anyway it is a nice place to visit regardless of your sexual orientation.

Outside there are only a few tables, but it is interesting to sit inside, because the walls are painted with drawings of Aztec and Mayan gods. The waitresses are kind and friendly. The bar offers coffees, beers and other beverages. I recommend you try the Agwa cocktails, which are their specialty. Every Thursday they organize student events with special discounts on drinks.

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Green Moon | Bars, Coffee & tea | Cocktails from € 3.50
Kapiteljska ulica 5 | Center | +38640251152
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 17:00 – 01:00

One great pub was already mentioned here. But Sir William’s pub is in my opinion much better. I may drink literally anything I want, because I can decide among more than 70 different beers from Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, Slovenia and other countries. Not to mention 30 different wine and whiskey brands.

It is also a more peaceful environment than in Patrick’s Pub. It is visited mainly by people who cherish good beer and wine and don’t appreciate “fast getting drunk” crowds.

Their specialty is the monthly organized beer tasting. It is an extraordinary occasion in which I once participated. I paid 20 euro and tasted from 7-10 different beers, just like a real enologist. I recommend you trying Slovenian brewed beer, ale or stout, called Human Fish.

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Sir William’s Pub | Bars | Draft beer from € 2.80
Tavčarjeva ulica 8a | Center | +38659944825
08:00 – 01:00 daily

Sax pub is located on Eipprova Street. It was the first pub in the street. After that, a lot of other cafes and restaurants opened their doors but despite others you can’t really miss Sax pub. It’s a small house covered with graffiti.

You could call it the second jazz club in Ljubljana as it has a stage smaller than a normal toilet. It’s well known for great atmosphere, especially during the summer, when they have concerts on a stage near Gradascica River, which was made by Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik.

The place is perfect for a break from the center if you don’t have enough time to go somewhere further away. You will find Eipprova Street south of the center in the city part called Trnovo. It is also possible to walk there from Preseren’s square, if you just walk along Ljubljanica River.

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Sax pub | Bars, Music, Snacks | Beer € 2.50
Eipprova ulica 7 | Vic | +38651804450
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 01:00

I am well aware of the fact that you can find an Irish pub literally everywhere on this planet, but the true beer lovers know that an Irish pub in all those places is always a mixture. A mixture of Irishness and local atmosphere.

For all the beer lovers it is really important to know that they offer more than 80 different beers and it is also home to a special Slovenian beer called Human Fish Beer. Not to forget whiskeys are their specialty also. I was told they have more than 30 different kinds. With good drinks (and with that humongous beer selection there always is) I like to hear nice music, which they have live almost every Thursday from September to May.

This bar is also a good option if you are a sport lover, since they have a big screen TV for watching sports, like rugby, football, ice hockey, cricket and many more. Their lovely slogan is: There are no strangers here, only friends who haven’t met!

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Patrick’s Pub | Bars, Music, Snacks | Guinness 0.56L € 4.40
Prečna ulica 6 | Center | +38640350475
Mon – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 01:00, Sun 16:00 – 00:00

By the Koseski bajer pond (see the Koseski bajer pond article), bar Pri Cvicku is situated. The lovely bar is called after Dolenjska’s (Lower Carniolia – Slovene region) great “Cvicek” wine. It offers great views of the pond.

Gostilnica Pri Cvicku is a simple bar, quite well known among the locals and it attracts a crowd that wants to enjoy their coffee or a glass of Cvicek wine. This rosé wine is bought directly from wine producers so you shouldn’t be disappointed, but be prepared, this wine could be quite dry for some tastes.

They also offer dried sausage with minced lard, which is traditional Slovenian, but obviously it is not suitable for vegetarians since it’s made of bacon and spices.

Bar Pri Cvicku can be an excellent stop on your way around Ljubljana on The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship.

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Gostilnica Pri Cvicku | Bars, Coffee & tea | Coffee € 1.30
Marjekova Pot 23 | Siska | +38615174095
09:00 – 22:00 daily