Sustainable Travel Maribor: Dining Recommendations

Dining in Maribor offers a delightful journey through old food and wine traditions that are still thriving. From cured meats, honey, pickles, and cheese to liqueurs, wine, and traditional desserts like potica and gibanica, the city boasts a rich culinary heritage. Maribor is even home to the Guinness World Record holder for the oldest grapevine, Stara Trta. The affordability of food adds to the appeal.

World Famous Stara Trta grapevine. Over 400 years old and counting.

Living on a Caribbean island with limited culinary choices, the abundance of high-quality and flavourful local foods in Maribor was a welcome change. The café culture, accompanied by an impressive ice cream scene, encourages locals to savour their time in cafés’ and pubs (gostilnas) with friends and family. Unlike the hurried pace in America, don’t anticipate being rushed out of a café. Our initial experience in Maribor left us confused when, after ordering cappuccinos (kava z mlekom), no server returned for at least an hour to inquire about any additional needs or for settling the bill so they could turn the table and rush the next group in. We quickly grew to enjoy the slower pace and the time to enjoy our coffee with no added pressures to buy more or to leave.

Bustling Café culture in Maribor. Taking time to enjoy coffee and companionship.

Sustainability is a key highlight in Maribor’s dining scene. Plastic waste is minimal, with most establishments serving food on reusable dishes and cutlery. Further, most venues provide clean drinking water in reusable glassware so there is no need to buy single-use bottled water. Locally sourced food and wine options are so abundant that every day we found something interesting and new to try.

Being in Maribor for almost two months, working as a digital nomad on a budget, the following dining recommendations were my favourite go-to spots.

My favourite dining spot, for the variety of choices, daily menu changes, and budget-friendliness, was the InterSpar food court in EuroPark Mall. With prices approximately half that of other restaurants in the area (We averaged about 9 Eur each for a drink , salad or hot plate and dessert). Inter-Spar offers quality homemade-style food and an extensive salad bar. The option to choose and pay for salads by weight, accompanied by sauces in refillable bottles, promoted sustainability. Real cutlery and glassware, alongside a refillable soda and juice machine, further minimized environmental impact. Unlike restaurants where wasteful condiments packets are added to an order if you want it or not, there were condiment packets for sale, but the prices were prohibitively steep and I didn’t see anyone using these packets. Hands down the best part of InterSpar was the breathtaking views of the city and Drava river, from the outside patio or floor-to-ceiling windows. We would go around sunset to watch the sun set behind the hills while enjoying our meal. Admittedly, we tried to not eat here every day to avoid looking crazy.

Views of the Drava River at sunset from inside Spar’s food court.

Not budget-friendly but still highly recommended not only for the delicious food but for the experience itself, Sedem restaurant is a must. Sedem is run by a culinary school for aspiring Michelin star chefs (think the next Ana Roš) The food quality and presentation is excellent. The prices, for the style of restaurant, is quite reasonable. The establishment boasts a remarkable selection of wines from local wineries and the service is very friendly and attentive. Ensure to make reservations.

Just a short drive from Maribor, Gostilna Šiker in Lennart, offers a bustling Sunday experience with a fantastic 5-course menu option and wine pairing at a reasonable price. Most ingredients are sourced fresh from the onsite farm, enhancing both the taste and presentation. The server even treated us to complimentary homemade liqueur, to finish the meal. A leisurely stroll down to the scenic pond on the property added to the overall enchanting experience. Reservations are recommended, especially on the weekends . We spent about 35 eur each for a 5 course meal and a few glasses of wine.

5 course meal at Gostilna Šiker in Lennart.

A day trip to the neighboring town of Jeruzalem led us to Tourist Farm Hlebec and Taverna Kupljen. The picturesque rolling hills and delicious food made it a memorable Sunday day trip. Reservations are advisable for weekends due to the high demand. While we didn’t explore the area by bike, my Slovenian friend recommended it as a must-do experience due to the gentle rolling hills and many places to stop for a drink along the way.