Where to work in Ljubljana
Ie. one of my most underrated destinations yet! And I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I didn't really do a lot of research before arriving in town.
Truthfully, while Slovenia was somewhere on my travel list, the main reason for my trip coming about was because it was more cost effective to fly to Slovenia first, before heading on to where I am now: Croatia.
But as I discovered on my first day when the lovely Sandra and Helene gave me a personal tour of Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, I already knew I had more to see of this tiny, but beautiful country!
Across the weekend, recommendations for sites to see and coffee places to visit came flooding in! And the brilliant thing in Slovenia is that there is a bit of laptop cafe culture and you could seem to sit for a decent couple of hours without being asked if you wanted to order anything else or get asked to leave.
You’re also given a big glass of water with your coffee at cafes and restaurants, which for someone who forgets to drink water if I don’t have a Chilly Bottle with me, was perfect! It wasn’t like the small glasses you’re given in Spain or Portugal to cool down your coffee either. They were full on, ‘stay hydrated babes’ glasses of water.
Another thing I definitely overlooked was the amount of things there are to see and do in the city during a lunch break or a general couple of hours away from the laptop. Like walking tours of the centre, museums, shopping and having coffee and cake with a friend (tip: give the cream cake a go).
One of my big priorities for my Slovenia trip was to take a day trip skiing, and coupled with the day trip to the lakes and the fact that it’s frowned upon to work on a Sunday in Slovenia, it left little time to explore many of the places I got recommended to work from.
But here are some of the highlights:
Pritličje
Recommended to me by Helene, this popular student spot is right next to the Town Hall at the centre of the city.
A couple of coffees and a sandwich cost a mere €6 - which if you’re used to London and other more expensive West Europe city prices is great news. And there were several people with their laptops out, so I felt completely comfortable chilling there for the morning. (Apparently it was a lot quieter that week because the students were in exams, so potentially one for the people who can work in more of a bustle).
Personally I used my hotspot to work, but you could ask for the wifi password and there were plugs: always a win!
Le Petit Cafe
One recommended by a couple of content creators, although I personally only had enough time for breakfast and a plan session before needing to head off.
It’s easy to see why it appeals though, with a variety of breakfast options (personally I opted for the €7 Le Petit Breakfast and a coffee) and a cute charm to it. I didn’t see a wifi account pop up, but I could hotspot very easily from my phone.
There seemed to be a bit of a ‘laptop corner’ of individuals on one side of the cafe, which I think was part of the reason I sat where I did. But if you do try Ljubljana in January, head further into the cafe so that you don’t get hit with the chilly breeze that wafts in every time the door opens!
Stow
I wish I had checked out this cafe sooner! Nestled in one of the city’s heritage museums with a bit of an open cave feel to it, this was a laptop club dream for me.
With plenty of coffee to choose from, easy to access wifi and plugs, it really was the whole package! Plus, the waiters would keep you topped up with water and didn't check for further orders unless you asked.
A cup of coffee cost about €2 and for the coffee lovers, there was a plethora of roasts and beverages to choose from.
Nebotičnik
One of my general rituals when I get to a new location is to look for the best viewpoints of the place, or the best sunrise/sunset. (And honestly I’m not entirely sure how I came across this skyscraper, but I did, and I’m so happy I did).
Although it’s advertised as pricey, it’s definitely an excellent alternative to the Ljubljana Castle for incredible views of the city. With the Alps wrapping around about three quarters of the view, the Ljubljana castle in plain view on one side, the Tivoli Park on another and all round beautiful 360º degree views of the city, this one needs to be on the list regardless. Laptop club, a meal or just a coffee (which cost €2 each, so you understand my confusion for the ‘£££’ on Google, right?)
Determined to get a specific view of the sunset, I sat away from the heaters, but you could be sensible and sit next to heaters all afternoon and evening if you wanted to. The -2ºC chill phased no one except me on that terrace, so put on your cosiest outer wear and give it a go!
Other mentions:
Go to Pop’s Place and Moji štruklji (My Dumplings of Slovenia) where I managed quick lunches, but didn’t have time to get the laptop out. And Gostilna Vida where I had a slow Sunday lunch, attempting not to work but still editing photos - and would have definitely made for a cosy actual work sash!
Research COVID restrictions:
With the restrictions and regulations changing quite a bit still, it was important to be aware of the latest guidelines. Which in Slovenia also includes which type of masks to wear (ie. no cloth masks allowed) and passes you need to show in cafes and restaurants.
Take a look at your local government guidelines as well as the local government and tourism sites for the latest updates.
So, is Ljubljana, or Slovenia in general, on your list yet?
Han x