Surrounded by a canopy of chestnut trees, Manna has been around for nearly 200 years. Proud locals will jump to tell you that among the thousands of guests the restaurant has hosted over the decades, Laura Bush and the Queen of England both feature. Specializing in a fusion of Slovenian and Mediterranean cuisine, the restaurant’s menu features meats that have all been cured in house for at least 30 days.

Expect exceptional food and service at this pleasant well-known eatery just three minutes from the city center. Every dish on the menu is sure to please, and there's an excellent wine list. Enjoy the array of outdoor seating: in the garden, along the lively promenade on Eipprova, or in the back of the house on the funky summer terrace.

Very Expensive -- Considered by some to be the top eatery in Ljubljana, Manna, Eipprova 1a (tel. 01/283-5294), serves up expensive international fare with great flare and at expectedly upmarket prices. In some respects, the sparkling decor outshines the authenticity of the often over-elaborate cuisine which tends to favor exotic choices. Nevertheless, this was where First Lady Laura Bush was treated to lunch on her visit to the capital (and where you can -- for 75€/$95 -- sample the menu created especially for her).

Ljubljana guest houses are definitely a nice, safe option for a place to stay as they are comfortable and homely with owners who take an interest in their guests. Many guesthouses have a good on-site restaurant and offer not only delicious breakfasts, but also a wide range of meals for lunch and dinner. There are more than 40 guest houses in Ljubljana, so read on and find out which one would best suit your needs, style and budget.

Without even knowing it, we organized our trije prašički reunion on the opening weekend of the “Ljubljana restaurants’ week” initiative, which allows you to book special tasting menus all around Ljubljana’s best restaurants at special prices. We took advantage of this promotion at Manna, an elegant restaurant in Trnovo neighbourhood, where we booked both menus available: one based on fish and one based on meat.

While the food was delicious, the atmosphere was quite dated and even though the Queen of England and Laura Bush have both dined here, it wasn’t exactly our style, but it certainly didn’t keep us from enjoying the Creamy Roasted Garlic Soup topped with a celery foam, grilled fish, fresh local asparagus and of course …Orange Wine!

Manna has been open since 1854, so they must be doing something right. It’s tucked away from the main tourist hub, serving wholesome dishes with locally sourced ingredients in a warm ambiance. The menu is mostly European and Slovenian cuisine, with more seafood options than anything else.

The restaurant may not look very impressive on the outside and the interior decoration in a bit old fashioned but the tables are set beautifully and the staff is wonderful. Most importantly, the food is excellent and the wine list is one of the best.

The first night was at Manna, in the neighborhood of the architect's house. It was a nice walk along the river to get there. we were seated upstairs, on a room decorated with warm colors and soft light ( but not dark).