A Sweet Leap into the New Year

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Festive December is behind us, and the first days of the new year have already brought a generous blanket of snow. It has conjured up a true winter fairy tale, awakening a sparkle of childlike joy in the hearts of the city’s residents. So instead of restrictive New Year’s resolutions, let’s carry on through January in the spirit of enjoying genuine happiness inspired by life’s little pleasures and treat ourselves to an extra sweet bite (or sip) during these cold days. After all, we all know that sweets are the best remedy for winter blues, filling us with optimism and energy to help us wait for the longer, brighter days that are slowly approaching.

A Cup of Steaming Cocoa Is Liquid Happiness!

Hot chocolate has everything we need on a cold, foggy, dark January day. Whether you’re a fan of the classics or prefer trendy, more extravagant flavours, Ljubljana’s cafés and patisseries have something for everyone: from white to dark, with whipped cream or foam, and additions like cinnamon, caramel, coconut, pistachio, ginger, and more. The combinations are endless! For a dose of liquid happiness, we recommend stopping by Cacao cafés, Vigò patisseries, Zvezda cafés, the Chocolarium chocolate museum, the Pri vodnjaku patisserie, Gelateria Romantika, Kavarna Tiskarna, or the Hiša pod gradom inn. And if you’d rather make hot chocolate at home, you can find ready-made mixes, for example, at Čokoladnica Ljubljana.

Small Bites, Sweet Smiles

Sometimes a small sweet treat is all it takes to chase away seasonal gloom. On your next winter stroll through Ljubljana, brighten and sweeten your walk by nibbling on torroncini from Yauya Patisserie, amaretti from Brot bakery, Zebra’s macarons, pralines from Čokoladnica Cukrček, Zvezda’s hedgehog-shaped pastries, or the little fluffy pancakes made at Fluffy Li’l Pancakes. We guarantee your mood will instantly lift!

A Touch of Nostalgia for a Pinch of Winter Magic

On winter days, nothing warms the soul quite like desserts seasoned with childhood memories - fragrant apple strudel, generously filled walnut potica, juicy gibanica, fluffy doughnuts, the perfect cream slice, or delicious pancakes. You can explore Ljubljana’s nostalgic dessert offerings, among other places, at Domača peka, Sladka jama, the LePotica boutique, Rašica patisserie, Makramé café, and Cafe Romeo.

Elegant Sweets for January Delights

When the occasion or your mood calls for a bit more elegance, and you crave desserts that are not only superb flavor combinations but also aesthetic masterpieces, the capital’s outstanding pastry chefs have plenty to offer. Look for display cases brimming with sweet delights that are a feast for the eyes as well at Fetiche Patisserie, La Mousse Goose, Yauya Patisserie, Jul’s Pâtisserie, or Gelateria DiMatteo.

And What About Sweet-Toothed Adventurers?

Are you among those who, even when it comes to desserts, prefer a bit more boldness, exotic flair, or culinary experimentation? No worries - seekers of intriguing gourmet experiences can also satisfy their sweet curiosity in Ljubljana’s restaurants. At TaBar, you can enjoy pancakes with potato ice cream for lunch; Fetiche Patisserie will impress you with its charcoal-black cake made with black sesame and yuzu; Veganika will surprise you with sponge cake paired with parsnip cream and apples with miso caramel; at Aftr, discover how quince pairs with tahini, yogurt, honey, and walnuts; and head to NiamNiam Garden if you want to find out what authentic mochi is really like.

We wish you a sweet and cheerful New Year!