The biggest culinary secret in the world - Slovenia - a country with an extraordinary number of Michelin stars per inhabitant?!

In a world where every country is known for something special, Slovenia has become a synonym for an exceptional culinary experience. But how is it that this small country, which most people can't even find on a map, has become so big in the world of gastronomy?

Slovenia! A country where the number of sheep exceeds the number of inhabitants (well, maybe we're exaggerating a bit) and where every village is known for its own specialty - lokan. But did you know that Slovenia has become one of the hottest culinary destinations in the world? Yes, you heard that right! That is - the biggest culinary secret in the world!

It started with Ana Roš, a chef with her own restaurant Franko's house put Slovenia on the culinary map. Her story was so inspiring that she became a part Netflix series “Chef's Table”. And if you think that this is all that Slovenia has to offer, you are wrong.

Besides House of Franko Slovenia is home to many other Michelin-starred restaurants. And no, we're not just talking about restaurants in Ljubljana. We are talking about restaurants located in the heart of alpine valleys, on the edge of emerald rivers and in the heart of wine-growing hills.

Michelin star 2023: Hiša Franko 3 stars, the others are a big improvement

In the land where it is Kranjska sausage queen and potica is king, the Michelin star is something like an Oscar in Hollywood. And this year, Slovenia has become a real star destination with 59 restaurants, which were included in the Michelin guide for 2023. And as many as 9 restaurants with at least one star. If we had a euro for every restaurant, we would have... Well, we would have 59 euros. But that's not the point.

The star of the day, week, month and probably the whole year is Hiša Franko with Ana Roš. Three Michelin stars! And one green star! With that, Ana became something The Beyoncé of Slovenian cuisine. If she was Franko's house music album, would definitely be "Lemonade". Ana said that this is the dream of everyone in the Franko House. Well, my dream is to eat there every day, but who understands my dream.

And then there is Milka restaurant with David Žefran. Last year one star, this year two. David, what's your secret? A double portion of love in every dish or maybe a double portion of butter? Joking aside of course! Because it's not tasty.

The biggest culinary secret in the world

So seven restaurants have kept their star, which is like keeping your Instagram status. And then there are the green stars, which are kind of like gold stars in elementary school. One new restaurant was even marked with a green star. Well done!

Slovenia has reached a new peak in the culinary world. Franko's house with Ana Roš at the helm, it became the first Slovenian restaurant with three Michelin stars, which in the gastronomic world is equivalent to winning Oscar. But Ana is not the only one who stunned the critics. Milka restaurant with David Žefran, she received two stars, which is like winning a Golden Globe. Seven restaurants, including COB with Filip Matjaž, Dam restaurant with Uroš Fakuč and Inn at Lojzet with Tomaž Kavčič, it kept its star. In addition, there are seven restaurants, including Hiša Franko and House Linhart, maintained or obtained the Michelin green star, which highlights sustainable gastronomic practices. Among them is this year's newcomer, Špacapan's House with Ago Špacapan.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that the guests are satisfied. And that the food is good. And that there is enough wine. And yes… Oh, you get the idea. Congratulations to all the stars!

What is the secret of Slovenia as a culinary destination - the biggest culinary secret in the world!

But what makes Slovenian cuisine so special? Perhaps it is the combination of fresh local ingredients, traditional recipes and modern culinary techniques. Or maybe the fact that Slovenians really love good food and drink.

And if you still have doubts about Slovenian culinary sophistication, we challenge you to try some traditional Slovenian dishes. Perhaps kremšnita from Bled, tünka from Prleš or gibanica from Prekmurje. And don't forget Slovenian wines, which have also conquered the world!

Finally, if you are looking for a new culinary destination that will pamper your taste buds, Slovenia is the right address for you. And don't worry, even if you don't know how to pronounce "Štruklji", Slovenians will always be ready to help!

Slovenia may not be the largest country in the world - but it is the 10th in the world by the number of Michelin stars per inhabitant. But when it comes to culinary delights, it is definitely one of the best, even better than it appears on the list.
So, when will you visit this culinary mecca and indulge in gastronomic delights?

Countries with the most Michelin stars per capita - Slovenia in 10th place!

According to available information, we searched the world rankings and found Slovenia at 9th place among all countries!

1. Switzerland: 15.06 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇨🇭
2. Belgium: 12.00 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇧🇪
3. Hong Kong: 10.27 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇭🇰
4. France: 9.62 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇫🇷
5. Singapore: 9.32 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇸🇬
6. The Netherlands: 7.24 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇳🇱
7. Italy: 6.44 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇮🇹
8. Denmark: 5.52 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇩🇰
9. Spain: 5.28 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇪🇸
10. Slovenia: 4.29 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇸🇮
11. Germany: 3.95 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇩🇪
12. Portugal: 3.63 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇵🇹
13. Norway: 3.52 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇳🇴
14. Japan: 3.31 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇯🇵
15. Ireland: 3.47 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇮🇪
16. Sweden: 1.88 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇸🇪
17. Austria: 1.80 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇦🇹
18. Taiwan: 1.55 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇹🇼
19. Croatia: 2.68 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇭🇷
20. United kingdom: 2.75 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇬🇧
21. Greece: 0.87 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇬🇷
22. Hungary: 0.72 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇭🇺
23. USA: 0.67 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇺🇸
24. South Korea: 0.67 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇰🇷
25. Canada: 0.61 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇨🇦
26. Thailand: 0.50 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇹🇭
27. Czech Republic: 0.19 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇨🇿
28. China: 0.09 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇨🇳
29. Poland: 0.05 restaurants per million inhabitants 🇵🇱

Gwendal Poullennec, Chief Executive Officer at MICHELIN, said: "Since we arrived in Slovenia, we are more excited every year. In this small but vibrant country, chefs and their teams do their best every day to surprise us. They bravely tackle new ideas, are not afraid of experimentation and are proud of local ingredients. Not only that, they still find time to incorporate a little worldly flair into their dishes. Truly, these master chefs are like the rock stars of Slovenian cuisine. And the world should take notice!”

Editor's tip – Linhart House and master chef Urošš Štefelin

In the heart of picturesque Slovenia - not far from Lake Bled - a real romantic oasis is hidden, where tradition and modernity intertwine - Linhart House. Under the tutelage of the talented chef Uroš Štefelin, culinary masterpieces are created in this magical house, which received recognition in the form of Michelin stars. But that's not all. House Linhart also received a Michelin green star, which confirms their commitment to sustainable gastronomic practices. Every meal here is like a love song that chef Uroš writes to his guests. In Hiša Linhart, you will not only eat your fill, but you will experience a real romantic culinary adventure. Highly recommended! Reservations via this link!