Image by Jost Derlink

France Preseren’s art and cultural center is one of the most important locations of Ljubljana alternative scene. It is located in Trnovo, near Plecnik museum and Trnovo church. In the building of this center you will find a gallery, a bar and a stage.

KUD also houses the studio of Radio Student. On the stage of the center there are a lot of different events going on throughout the whole year, for example improv theater, different concerts, workshops and movies.

Since the summer of 1992, KUD France Preseren hosts the international Trnfest festival on the courtyard of the center in August. It’s the main event in Ljubljana in that month. There, a lot of bands and theatre groups from Slovenia and abroad, are performing.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
KUD France Preseren | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Beer € 2.00
Karunova ulica 14 | Vic | +38612832288
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 01:00, Sun 14:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Jost Derlink

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Sax pub | Bars, Music, Snacks | Beer € 2.50
Eipprova ulica 7 | Vic
Mon 12:00 – 01:00, Tue – Sat 10:00 – 01:00, Sun 16:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Jošt Derlink

Šiška is becoming a better and better place to live and CUK (center urbane kulture / center for urban culture) Kino Šiška earns much of the credits for this. It opened in fall 2009, but already has a huge impact on the Ljubljana scene.

In the last few months it hosted a lot of important musicians from Slovenia and abroad (Josipa Lisac, Lollobrigida, Isis, Pan Sonic, Juno Reactor, Florence and The Machine, New Young Pony Club…). They have mostly music events, but also photo exhibitions, theater and dance events, some workshops…

In the past Kino Šiška was a cinema (kino in Slovene) and was built as a part of the Šiška municipality center. When Ljubljana got a new cinema complex in 2001, the majority of smaller cinemas closed their doors. They wanted to renovate Kino Šiška into a multipurpose hall for different kinds of contemporary events and almost a decade later we finally got it!

My favorite events in Kino Šiška are YU GO! Nights. Each of them presents 3 or 4 bands from ex-Yugoslavia area and can also be tagged as nu yu scene.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kino Šiška | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters, Festivals & events
Trg prekomorskih brigad 3 | Siska | +38630310110
Depends

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Tjaša Janovljak

“Stara elektrarna” literally means and is an old power station. It is a technical monument and as such protected. It was built approximately hundred years ago and has worked till after second world war. In eighties and nineties the building was discovered by artists and since then it attracts all sorts of performers.

I usually go here a few times a year when they are hosting some – usually quite crazy – shows. It can vary from modern dance to theatre and other kinds of scene performing. Sometimes they organize artistic or technical (that concern scene performing: scenery, lights…) workshops, lectures, round-table discussions and similar. Rarely you can get into a nice party but if you happen to be invited on one, don’t say no. Their biggest happening there is Festival “Mladi levi” at the end of August.

The main hall has a spacious stage to which you get after beautiful entrance hall which is preserved as a museum. Here you can see part of a big chimney, turbine and some measuring tools that were used in the power plant.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Stara elektrarna | Art & culture, Music, Theaters
Slomškova ulica 18 | Center | +38651269906
Depends on the show

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Tjasa Janovljak

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Tjasa Janovljak

This used to be a bicycle factory ROG, founded after the Second World War. It is today in temporary use by whomever is in need of a working and creation place. Big halls are offering a lot of space even for dance practices. But for me and for most of you this is another really cool place to hang out. I could easily say this is the real alternative place to go to.

There are mainly three options, first and the most permanent is a gallery Kljub vsemu (Nevertheless), which is on the left hand side after you enter the Rog walls. In the building behind it a new thing is forming. You should check it out. On the other, right hand side there is small building that has smaller events, like debates, film projections, alternative Erasmus hanging spot (the first one is usually in main stream bars and organized), smaller concerts and whatever you can think of.

But if you go towards the tallest building, that looks like a factory hall and you follow the noise you will enter the concert hall. In this biggest hall they sell also drinks when there is an event, but you are always allowed to bring some with you. Next to the entrance to the concert hall there is a bar/club that changes names quite regularly…It could be Trocky, Ultima or … Be surprised!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
ROG | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Beer € 2.00
Trubarjeva cesta 72 | Center
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

Krizanke is an open air place for concerts and festivals, with “old Ljubljana” spirit and relaxed atmosphere. The final touch was made by city architect Joze Plecnik in 1956, who successfully created an environment that is popular among old and young.

During concerts you can see many people sitting around the wall under the trees, listening the music from outside with a bottle of wine from the nearest shop. I suggest you do the same, if you are lucky enough to catch a concert; it is the best way to spend easy summer evening and mingle among locals.

If you find something you would really like to hear and see you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to experience it from inside. Two best known festivals are Jazz festival and Festival Ljubljana, both going on in summer. You can get information about program and tickets on the spot or in Cankarjev dom.

In colder months concerts and music events are located in the smaller indoor hall. You can check the program here: program Križanke.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Krizanke | Art & culture, Music | Ticket € 40.00
Trg francoske revolucije 1 | Center | +38612416026
See program

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

Metelkova is home of Ljubljana’s alternative scene, home of artists, musicians and similar crowd. Created with transforming and rebuilding ex army barracks whose walls now serve as canvas for street artists and its outdoor space as contemporary forma viva, surprise every time with new installations and creations. Here architecture has its own rules.

People gather here mostly because of numerous music events, but also just to drink a beer and hang out with friends. There is always something going on, especially before and after summer break, when the weather is nice and people crave for an outdoor happening.

The place itself is a conglomerate of different clubs (Gala Hala, Channel Zero, Klub Gromka…), galleries (Alkatraz, Mizzart), hostel (Celica) and bars (Jalla Jalla…).

In Jalla Jalla you can get the cheapest beer in the city (hurray!) and if it is your first time in Slovenia you just have to try delicious honey schnapps called Medica, or a red liquor shot called Medvedova kri (bears blood).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Metelkova | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Beer in Jalla Jalla € 1.50
Metelkova street | Moste
See website for program

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

You know the saying; the same crowd on a bus leads to atmosphere in a bar. Well, that is definitely true in K4!

It is always crowded there because of two things: the program is good and the place is small. Well, small in comparison with giant clubs in other capitals, but 2 floors or better 2 rooms are more than enough for me and obviously for all the other regular visitors. I love the intimacy and the comfortable feeling that you always know where you and your friends are located.

They introduce modern electronic music and urban culture to the people, promote visual artists, DJs, musicians and graphic designers. My favorites are d’n'b and break beat evenings, but I promised myself that I will also try something new this season. Sometimes it is good you don’t know exactly, what you’re going to get.

It is also one of the rare places that hosts gay&lesbians evenings – more known as “Pink nights” every Sunday evening.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Club K4 | Bars, Music | Entry fee € 10.00
Kersnikova 4 | Center | +38614380261
See the program | Jul – Aug closed

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

Gajo was founded by Drago Gajo, ‘a guy who’s always there’, a guy that leads, develops and represents the majority of Slovenian jazz scene. The place is, in a way, his ‘child’, 16 years old if we are precise, where many jazz lovers feel at home.

During the summer everything happen outdoors in a garden in front of national gallery. During the winter, logically, because we don’t want to see musicians with frozen fingers, shows are indoors. Now they are temporarily performing in Hotel Slon’s saloon, while they are looking for the new place to be their home-base.

Every Monday club Gajo hosts student jam sessions, and sometimes, when the atmosphere is just right, Gajo joins the session by playing drums. Live concerts are mostly on Thursdays or Fridays, but sometimes things happen also on other days, so check the program on their website in advance.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Jazz club Gajo | Bars, Music | Beer 3 dcl € 2.00
Beethovnova 8 | Center | +38614253206
Programming on the website

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana