Ajdovo Zrno means buckwheat grain. The hidden-courtyard vegan canteen off Trubarjeva runs a single daily plate of soup, salad and main for 8 euros.
Why locals love it: The entrance hides in a courtyard off Trubarjeva. Walk under the arch and the city's anchor vegan canteen is on the left.
Tip: Lunch only, Monday to Friday. Arrive before 13:00 to catch the full main-course selection.
Address: Trubarjeva cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana
Why locals love it: Tucked beside the Town Hall on Mestni trg, you walk past unless you know. The dim room pours one of Slovenia's most respected natural-wine families.
Tip: Order the Lunar orange wine if it's on the by-the-glass board. Movia's most distinctive bottle.
Why locals love it: The closest thing to a working farm in the city centre: rows of vegetable garden cottages between Trnovo and the river, supplying neighbourhood gostilne.
Tip: Walk the gardens before lunch at Pri Skofu and you'll see the produce arriving on your plate.
Why locals love it: Hidden in the renovated Rog bicycle factory complex on the canal east of the centre. Most tourists don't make it past the river.
Tip: Walk in for the bar's tapas plates without a reservation if the dining room is fully booked.
Why locals love it: Andrej Gerzelj's Stari trg sourdough bakery is small enough to miss, fronting onto a quiet cobbled square. The city's best country loaf.
Tip: Saturday morning sells through the daily loaves quickly. Get there before 11:00.
Why locals love it: Alexander Nino Ruiz's single-origin Colombian shop on Gornji trg below the castle. Quiet enough most days to actually get a brew-bar conversation.
Tip: Ask which farm the morning's lot came from. Alexander sources direct.
Why locals love it: The original brewery is in a residential-industrial pocket of Siska well outside the tourist centre. Worth a tram for 10 own beers on tap.
Tip: Take the tram and order a tasting flight before committing to a pint of the Loo-Blah-Nah IPA.
