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.
Address: Krakovski nasip, 1000 Ljubljana
Why locals love it: Down a tiny Krakovo back street, female-run with garden produce from neighbouring allotments. Only 25 seats, reservations essential.
Tip: Reserve at least three days ahead, especially for Saturday lunch. The room turns over twice.
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.
Why locals love it: Down a tiny Krakovo back street, female-run with garden produce from neighbouring allotments. Only 25 seats, reservations essential.
Tip: Reserve at least three days ahead, especially for Saturday lunch. The room turns over twice.
Why locals love it: A social-enterprise gostilna on Stari trg employing adults with special needs. Tourists pass it for the obvious tourist gostilne nearby.
Tip: Lunch menus from 6 to 8 euros and the courtyard garden in summer beats every paid riverside terrace.
