Where to stay in Ljubljana

We received a warm (literal) and friendly welcome as we arrive at Vander Urbani Resort in Ljubljana.

It was the perfect antidote after 5 hours of traveling and a brush with the windy autumnal weather. Huddling together in the cozy reception area, we instantly knew we'd made the right choice on where to stay in Ljubljana.

Our first impression of the hotel was a good one. To the left of the reception we spotted the À la carte restaurant, while to the right was Bubbles Bar.

A modern and fun décor, it very much encapsulated the concept of a design hotel.

Where to stay in Ljubljana old town

The biggest selling point of Vander Urbani Resort is its excellent location. Situated in the heart of Ljubljana old town, the hotel also happens to be right by the river.

Vander Urbani Resort is the result of four former townhouses transformed into a boutique hotel. It sits on the banks of the River Ljubljanica in Ljubljana Old Town.

The hotel’s one minute to the main road of Ciril Metodov trg. It’s the street where you’ll find main attractions in the capital such as Ljubljana Cathedral.

Its history

The building’s history is an interesting one. There was once an embankment on the river during Roman times, which was reinforced by a jetty. This was used as a small harbor and was frequented by tailors and shoemakers in the Middle Ages.

The outside façade of Vander Urbani Resort gives away its former residential roots. Inside, however, is a décor far different than the townhouses from days past.

Step inside a design hotel

There are 20 rooms at the hotel, a number that reinforces its boutique status. Chic and edgy, the rooms’ design embraces comfortable living.

Rooms are unique, contemporary and, if you manage to get a river view, also pretty romantic. Accommodation types include Vander small, Vander large, Zen rooms and river rooms.

Rooms types at Vander Urbani Resort

Make mine a large

We stayed in a Vander large room with street facing views.

Upon entering, the warm heating embraced us into a cozy cocoon. A room spacious in size (large ranges from 23 to 28m2) we wasted no time exploring our temporary abode.

The first of many surprises during our stay at Vander Urbani Resort was a welcome fruit bowl and personalized note. Though a simple offering, it’s these kinds of small touches that make up the overall experience.

The first piece of furniture to catch our eye in the room was the unique white leather armchair. Designed by Italian firm, Moroso, it’s elegant in design, yet is also functional too. Relax, read, or even work; this armchair’s good for more than just looking pretty.

Other noteworthy features of the Vander large room include:

• super king bed (200x210cm)
• luxury toiletries
• fluffy cotton bathrobe and towels from designer brand, Frette
• ergonomic and anti-allergy pillows and blankets (upon request), and
• complimentary WiFi

Maintain your Zen at Vander Urbani Resort

The mysterious sounding Zen room is another type of accommodation offered at Vander Urbani Resort.

Measuring 18m2, the room’s slightly smaller than the Vander large, but no less lacking in comfort.

The reason behind its name, and the room’s selling point, is the bed. A super queen bed (160x200cm) provides ample space to practice zen yoga while the sun rises over Ljubljana. The bed’s also big enough if you fancy booking an in-room massage (on request).

Zen rooms also come with a writing desk, separate bathroom and an LCD TV.

Water views all the way

If your budget allows, and you enjoy waking up to river views, consider booking into one of these rooms.

The River side room is similar in size to the large, ranging from 23 to 28m2. Inside, is a super king long bed (200×210cm), Moroso armchair, and the star feature, a view of the Ljubljanica River.

The features

The River front room is larger, ranging from 28 to 38m2.

Rooms come with a double bed, or a super king long bed if you choose the suite. River rooms also come with the same facilities as other accommodation types at Vander Urbani Resort. Room service is available from 8.30am to 11pm.

Standard check-in at the hotel is 3pm, and the standard check-out is a very generous 12pm.* Early check-ins and late check-outs are subject to availability.

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Map of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dining at Vander Urbani Resort

I’m always curious to find out what a hotel will serve for breakfast. The most important meal of the day starts from 7am to 11am*, giving you enough time for a lazy lie-in.

Start with breakfast

Vander Urbani Resort didn't disappoint with their breakfast spread in the À la carte restaurant. An elegant and inviting setting, our eyes immediately darted towards the spread laid out on the table and sides.

The long table in the center was filled with cold meats, cheeses, jams and butter. To the side were loaves of freshly baked bread and pastries. Hot drinks were served on a separate table.

Along with the breakfast buffet items, Vander Urbani Resort also offered a separate menu. Dishes on the menu included Vander muesli, fresh fruits and pancakes with jam or with Nutella.

For hungrier tummies, there were also omelettes on the menu, as well as local Slovenian breakfast options.

Another good reason why Vander Urbani Resort is worth considering on where to stay in Ljubljana is the choice. Local breakfast dishes like yellow polenta with milk, buckwheat porridge and pork cracklings and Vander granola are also offered.

Long lazy lunches at Vander

There are 2 places to stop for lunch at Vander Urbani Resort. Along with the À la carte restaurant, they also have the Haus Restaurant.

The menu’s a mix of Slovenian as well as international dishes. To give you an idea, one of the starters is fried Dolenjska cheese served with a creamy herb mayonnaise. It’s a product that comes from the lower Carniola region.

The area's known for making a variety of Slovenian wine and for also being home to some of Slovenia's best tourist farms.

Main courses showcase the international flavors of Haus restaurant. Australian grass-fed ribeye steak and a Japanese gourmet wagyu beef burger are just two of the dishes on the menu.

Haus Restaurant is more informal than the À la carte restaurant, and there’s also the option to dine outside.

It’s open every day from 12pm to 11pm.*

In comparison, the lunch menu at the À la carte restaurant is slightly more traditional. Typical dishes include potato soup with truffles, and pork tenderloin with horseradish sauce, apple and onion chutney and baby potatoes.

Quality ingredients for a quality dinner

All of the eateries at Vander Urbani Resort take pride in using local and fresh ingredients in their dishes. Most of the produce comes from nearby markets in Ljubljana directly from Slovenian farmers.

The hotel embraces the concept of farm to table, and you can eat well knowing that everything’s been locally sourced.

Dinner at the À la carte restaurant begins from 5pm and closes at 10pm.* However, you should note that the kitchen closes about 30 minutes before official closing time.

Like in Tallinn (see guide on visiting Tallinn), we found that many restaurants in Ljubljana close early. Saying that, come earlier than later to avoid disappointment.

A sample dinner menu at the À la carte restaurant included beef tartare with confit and grilled salmon fillet. For dessert, there was a coconut Panna Cotta with mango and basil gel.

Where champagne and comfort come together

To the right of the reception area is the Bubble Bar. As its name suggests, it’s a stylish place to relax with a glass of fizz, or drink of your choice.

All guests staying at the hotel are given a complimentary welcome drink of sparkling wine, wine or a hot drink.

Swim, sun or bathe

Depending on the time of year you visit, I urge you to visit the fabulous pool on the roof terrace. Given our visit took place in the depths of autumn, there was no chance (or desire) to fully appreciate it.

Summertime in Ljubljana is an altogether different matter. The pool terrace’s open from 9am to 6pm, and everyone’s welcome.

Along with being a place to relax, the pool terrace is also ideal for booking events. Sit, soak or sun it up: it’s an idyllic setting to watch Ljubljana life from above.

Attractions right outside your door 

You don’t have to go far from the front door of Vander Urbani Resort to see some of Ljubljana’s top sights. Its central location's makes it a top choice when looking for where to stay in Ljubljana.

As mentioned above, the cathedral’s an easy-peasy 3-minutes on foot. If you continue walking down Ciril Metodov trg, you’ll meet the cobbled streets of the old town.

Shops, cafes and restaurants line both sides, many of the exteriors maintaining its historic charm.

Another one of my favorite attractions in Ljubljana are the markets. There’s a covered, and an open-air, market, both of which are open every day.

You can’t visit Ljubljana without seeing its castle. Vander Urbani Resort is around 5 minutes on foot to the funicular ticket office. Here, you can to explore the castle (funicular ride optional) at your own pace.

Book: Ljubljana Castle entry ticket with optional funicular ride

What do you think about Vander Urbani Resort? Does it look like a good choice on where to stay in Ljubljana? Let me know in the comments below.

*Information correct at time of publishing

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