Before you read this article, there’s something that you need to know. Slovenes have mastered their neighbor’s art of making pizza. When in Slovenia, you should eat pizza!

So, let’s take your globetrotting tastebuds on a historical trip to an urban project designed by one of Slovenia’s most prominent architects, Edvard Ravnikar. Locals refer to it as “Pasaža Maximarket” (this name might help you when asking for directions, you know, that old-school activity we engaged in before Google maps was a thing). It’s here where Ljubljana’s very first pizzeria is located.

We all know about classic large pizzas with traditional names, toppings, and thin crusts. But this unique remnant of Slovenia’s Yugoslav past, which has been around since 1974, has its own version of the basic flatbread with several toppings.

The pizzas are small, non-conformist, surprisingly filling, and have a thick crust. Parma’s original topping combinations are unparalleled in Ljubljana. Moreover, the food they serve is delicious and unpretentious. To this day, it remains popular with locals and ex-pats like me.

Therefore, when I’m too lazy to cook, I just come here, sit down at the counter, as the locals used to and still do, and order myself an “iOs” and a blueberry juice—a must-order when having a pizza here.

Culinary critics might disagree with me and recommend you visit a more upscale pizzeria instead. But let me tell you that you might miss out because no other place offers you a blast from the past as a side dish.