Slovenia is a small, beautiful country in the heart of Europe. Formerly part of Yugoslavia, it became an independent nation in 1991 and has since developed into one of Europe’s most popular destinations. Rightfully so, as it’s replete with such beautiful landscapes that you’ll want to visit again and again. With a mix of Alpine mountains, Adriatic coastline, vineyards, thermal spas, and charming historic towns, there is something for everyone, including Ljubljana — one of Europe’s greenest capitals — Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, Postojna Cave, and the picturesque Slovenian coast.
Food plays an important role in Slovenian culture, blending Alpine, Mediterranean, Pannonian, and Balkan influences. Traditional dishes include potica (rolled festive cake with various fillings), štruklji (rolled dumplings, sweet or savoury), kremšnita (Bled cream cake), gibanica (a rich layered pastry cake), and jota, a hearty stew made with sauerkraut or turnip, beans, and potatoes. Popular everyday foods also include čevapčiči, pizza, mushroom soup, grilled meats, and seasonal vegetable dishes. Those same influences also lead to where gluten tends to live, with flour-thickened sauces and gravies, breaded-and-fried dishes, and breadcrumbs used as a binder or coating.
Slovenia is small enough to explore in a short period of time, has gorgeous scenery, and an active celiac community. It’s basically the perfect place to visit if you’re gluten free. This guide was written in partnership with a local celiac who lives and eats gluten free in Slovenia every single day, so the recommendations come from her experience and knowledge on the ground. In the sections that follow, you’ll find information on where to enjoy the best gluten free versions of these traditional and popular foods.
A detailed gluten free card for Slovenia
This detailed Legal Nomads Slovene gluten free translation card will help communicate your eating restrictions while visiting Slovenia, and allow you to understand what is safe and unsafe from the menu.
Note: The card is available for purchase via Gumroad, a trustworthy 3rd party site that uses Stripe, so you know your information is safe.
Why is this translation card different?
I used several different translation cards on my travels, and I still got sick. I may be more sensitive than some celiacs, but even a small amount of frying oil that has come into contact with wheat, or a wheat-thickened sauce in the food, is enough to make me ill for days. Let alone the joint pain later that week, and the fatigue. And regardless of whether we feel it or not, ingesting any amount of gluten is a problem if we are celiac.
Why choose a Legal Nomads detailed gluten free restaurant card?
✅ This card is carefully crafted by someone with celiac disease (me!), and was translated by a celiac in Slovenia to ensure accuracy.
✅ Unlike shorter, less-detailed cards, each card lists out local ingredients and dishes that have hidden (and not hidden!) gluten in them. Saying “I can’t have gluten” just isn’t usually enough to keep celiacs safe — many people preparing your food don’t know what ingredients have gluten in them.
✅ It expressly mentions that we cannot eat food from pans, shared fryers, or cooking surfaces that have had cross-contact with gluten.
✅ To ensure the card is taken seriously, it adds an apology for the inconvenience, and emphasizes that avoiding gluten is a medical obligation and not a choice.
✅ It is instantly downloadable in both PNG and printable PDF file formats, to help you eat safely as you travel.
A big thank you to local celiac Adele for translating this card from English, as well as for her collaboration on this guide. Adele works as a translator (Slovene to English) and teaches English part-time at a school. She also volunteers for the Slovenian Coeliac Society, Gorenjska branch, and is the founder and organiser of Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia and Gluten-Free Hub EU.
Gluten free eating in Slovenia
The good news is that, as with many countries in Europe, a great deal of Slovenian cooking is built on naturally gluten free mainstays like meat, fish, buckwheat, polenta, dairy, and vegetables.
The trouble, as always, is in the details: even dishes that appear gluten free can be unsafe due to the following.
- Flour used for thickening sauces or gravies
- Added breadcrumbs
- Shared oil for frying
- Cross-contact in kitchens
A few key Slovenian words to recognize:
- Moka – flour
- Pšenična moka – wheat flour
- Drobtine – breadcrumbs
- Pohano / panirano – breaded
- Testo – dough
- Pšenica – wheat
- Rž – rye
- Ječmen, ješprenj – barley, pearl barley
- Oves – oats
- Pira – spelt
- Kamut – Khorasan wheat
- Pšenični skrob – wheat starch
- Brez glutena – gluten free (the phrase you want to see)
- Vsebuje pšenico / vsebuje gluten – contains wheat / contains gluten
Naturally gluten free Slovenian dishes and ingredients
(when prepared traditionally and without cross-contact)
Soups and Stews
- Gobova juha – A traditional Slovenian mushroom soup, most often made with forest mushrooms, potatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs. In its traditional form, it is thickened by blending potatoes into the broth rather than using flour, which makes it naturally gluten free. Some restaurants may add flour or serve it with bread, so it is still important to ask.
- Goveja juha – A clear beef broth that is typically simmered for hours with beef bones, root vegetables, and herbs. It is naturally gluten free when served plain, but is very commonly paired with wheat noodles, semolina dumplings, or bread, which must be omitted for us to consume it safely. My gluten free card mentions this soup for that reason, to note that the noodles must be omitted.
- Jota – A hearty stew made with sauerkraut or fermented turnip, beans, potatoes, and pork or smoked meat. Traditionally, the thickness comes from the beans and potatoes rather than flour, making it naturally gluten free when prepared according to those recipes — always good to confirm.
Meat and Fish
- Meso na žaru – Grilled meat such as pork, beef, or chicken, seasoned with salt and sometimes garlic or herbs. When grilled without marinades containing soy sauce or flour and cooked on a clean grill, this is a naturally gluten free option.
- Pečenka – Roast pork, typically prepared with garlic, caraway seeds, and pan drippings. The meat itself is gluten free, but care must be taken that it has not been dusted with flour or served with wheat-based sauces.
- Klobase – Slovenian sausages, which vary widely by region and producer. Traditional recipes can be gluten free, but as many versions include breadcrumbs or other fillers, it’s crucial to confirm.
- Čevapčiči – Small grilled rolls of minced meat, usually beef or a beef-pork mix, seasoned simply and cooked on a grill. They are often gluten free, but some producers add fillers, and cross-contact with gluten from shared grills is common.
- Ribe na žaru – Grilled fish, prepared with olive oil, salt, and lemon. When not floured or breaded and cooked on a clean surface, this is naturally gluten free.
- Postrv na žaru – Grilled trout, typically served whole with simple seasoning, and is usually gluten free. Confirm it hasn’t been dusted with flour.
Potatoes and Vegetable Dishes
- Kuhan krompir – Plain boiled potatoes, often served with butter, parsley, or olive oil. This is a basic, naturally gluten free side dish.
- Pražen krompir – Pan-fried potatoes, often prepared with onions. While traditionally gluten free, some cooks add flour for crispness, so this dish should always be checked.
- Pečen krompir – Roasted potatoes, usually cooked with oil and herbs in the oven. These are naturally gluten free unless flour or breadcrumbs are added.
- Zelje / kislo zelje – Fresh cabbage or fermented sauerkraut, commonly served as a side dish or incorporated into stews.
- Repa / kisla repa – Turnip or fermented turnip, especially common in winter dishes. Naturally gluten free and often paired with beans or pork.
- Ajdova kaša – Buckwheat groats, a traditional staple in many regions. Buckwheat is naturally gluten free, but in Slovenia, it is sometimes processed on shared equipment with wheat, so sourcing matters.
Dairy and Eggs
- Jajca – Eggs prepared boiled, fried, or scrambled.
- Skuta – A fresh curd cheese similar to cottage cheese or quark, often used in both savoury and sweet dishes. Plain skuta is naturally gluten free.
- Sir – Cheese, including local cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk varieties. Most natural cheeses are gluten free, though flavoured or processed cheeses should be checked.
- Kisla smetana – Sour cream, commonly used as a topping or ingredient. Plain versions are gluten free.
- Jogurt – Plain yoghurt
Grains & Staples
These are naturally gluten free, but always check how they are prepared!
- Ajda – Buckwheat, used in porridge, groats, and flour. Naturally gluten free, but cross-contact is possible if processed alongside wheat.
- Koruzni zdrob / polenta – Cornmeal or polenta, traditionally cooked into a soft porridge or sliced and pan-fried. Naturally gluten free when made from pure cornmeal.
- Proso – millet
- Riž – Rice, used as a side or in simple dishes. Naturally gluten free unless cooked with gluten-containing stocks or sauces.
Traditional Desserts (ONLY if prepared GF)
These are not traditionally gluten free, but Adele wanted to share them so that those of you heading to gluten free bakeries know the specialities to ask for!
- Potica – A festive rolled cake filled with walnuts, poppy seeds, tarragon, or other fillings. Traditionally made with wheat dough and only safe when specially prepared gluten free.
- Kremšnita – The famous Bled cream cake, layered with custard, cream, and pastry. Traditionally wheat-based and only safe in dedicated gluten free versions.
- Štruklji – Rolled dumplings that can be sweet or savoury, filled with cheese, herbs, or fruit, that can be found in gluten free versions at dedicated bakeries.
- Gibanica – A rich layered pastry cake with poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, and cheese. Always wheat-based in its traditional form, and only safe when fully adapted to be gluten free.
Grocery stores and shops for gluten free products in Slovenia
In Slovenia, products that are marked “Gluten-free” must contain less than 20 mg/kg (equivalent to 20 parts per million/ppm), and the use of the logo to the left is protected by the European celiac associations that are members of the AOECS (Association of European Coeliac Societies). In Slovenia, the society is called Slovenian Celiac Society (Slovensko društvo za celiakijo). Products bearing the “crossed grain” logo are therefore certified as gluten free. The Slovenian Celiac Society also has its own logo:
Another great resource is Gluten-Free Hub EU, the platform that Adele co-founded. There, you can find up-to-date information and opening hours for gluten free restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and more in Slovenia (and soon, in other EU countries as well). The platform is available in four languages: Slovene, English, German, and Italian.
Eurospin is the Italian equivalent of Lidl or Aldi. There are stores throughout Slovenia.
Eurospin is known for its own brands at low prices. It offers a range of basic gluten free products (bread, bread/pizza mix, pasta, etc.), as well as frozen pizzas, fresh puff pastry and gnocchi, muffins, biscuits, and more. The range is continually supplemented with new products through premium private labels such as Amo Essere Senza Glutine. The prices are surprisingly low, which is no small feat given how expensive gluten free staples tend to be.
Other supermarkets that stock gluten free products and have dedicated gluten free aisles are Spar, Mercator, and TUŠ. In general, the larger the store, the greater the choice.
Lidl and Hofer sell some gluten free products, but they are not in a dedicated section in-store.
In addition to supermarkets, the DM and Mueller drugstores, with branches throughout Slovenia, sell a range of gluten free food.
Gluteno was founded in 2020 with a vision to create high-quality, gluten free products made with organic ingredients. The company specializes in producing gluten free pasta, and theirs is certified organic and comes in a wide variety of shapes, colours, and textures. They also make a range of breads, cakes, snacks, spreads, and more that are available for purchase and/or delivery. You can also see their Facebook page here.
Gluteno products can be found in the following stores:
- SPAR Slovenija. Notably, in 2026 they introduced a programme delivering fresh gluten free bread and rolls every Friday to a large number of stores across the country.
- Selected TUŠ supermarkets
- Mueller Slovenija
- Trgovine KZ Trebnje – Krka
- Trgovine Drinx
- Leclerc hypermarket (Ljubljana, Maribor)
- Trgovine Agraria Koper
- Trgovine Norma
- 10+ boutique food stores throughout Slovenia
Gluten free restaurants and bakeries in Slovenia
The number of venues offering gluten free food in Slovenia has risen rapidly over the past few years. While there are still only a handful of 100% gluten free restaurants, a number of bakeries and cake shops have opened, in addition to restaurants that, while not fully gluten free, adhere to the required procedures and regulations for providing gluten free food. At the latter, it is crucial as always to make the restaurant staff aware of your strict dietary requirements.
Gluten free restaurants and bakeries near Bled
- Restavracija in picerija Center is a popular local restaurant and pizzeria with a dedicated gluten free menu. They offer a range of gluten free pizzas, burgers and salads. Great choice for lunch, dinner, or a casual meal near Bled.
- LINCER Diete BGMJ is a family-run gluten free cake shop offering a wide selection of gluten free products, including bake-at-home potica, fresh cakes (including kremšnita), frozen cakes (including gibanica), various types of strudel, and many other frozen sweets. There are also savoury dishes, including lasagna and goulash. Many of the dishes and products are also dairy-free, lactose-free, sugar-free and vegan.
- Hiša Linhart, one of Slovenia’s most celebrated restaurants, is located in the historic town of Radovljica, approximately 6km from Bled. Hiša Linhart has earned a Michelin star, along with a Michelin Green Star for sustainability, and is known for its refined, modern cuisine, with a strong focus on local, seasonal ingredients. They offer dedicated gluten free menu options and are experienced in catering to celiacs and gluten free diners at a high level. Perfect for a special occasion or fine-dining experience while visiting the Bled area.
Gluten free restaurants and bakeries in Ljubljana
- Dežela okusov is a 100% gluten free restaurant and bed-and-breakfast in downtown Ljubljana. The menu features gluten free versions of traditional Slovenian dishes, such as štruklji, as well as more exotic dishes. The homemade bread, served warm, is a special treat for celiacs!
- Slaščičarna Aurora is a 100% gluten free café and take-away bakery in downtown Ljubljana, best known for its gluten free croissants. There are lots of other GF sweets to choose from, including cookies, cakes, brownies, and more.
- The Cojzla Deli is located in one of Slovenia’s largest shopping centres (BTC) in Ljubljana. It is a fully gluten free venue, offering dishes such as buckwheat noodles and pancakes, burgers, chicken fingers, various salads and vegetable dishes.
- Glutines is a 100% gluten free cake shop in downtown Ljubljana. In addition to cakes, it sells a wide range of other gluten free products.
Gluten free dining in Kranj
- Kotiček dobrot is a small boutique shop that supports eco-friendly, local Slovenian products. All products are 100% gluten free, and some are also free of dairy, lactose, and sugar, making them suitable for vegans. Among the gluten free products, choose from flours, semolina, grains, polenta, pasta, tortillas, ravioli, sweet products, pinsa, pizzas, bakery products, spreads, phyllo pastry, and more. In addition to food, Kotiček dobrot also offers high-quality dietary supplements, gift items, and general wellness products.
Gluten free dining in Maribor
- Slovenka is a 100% gluten free vegetarian café. It primarily offers take-away food but has a small seating area inside.
Gluten free dining in Celje
- Aloria offers premium gluten free, sugar-free and vegan treats. The range includes fresh bread and rolls, a wide range of cakes and other desserts, dry and frozen products, as well as custom-made items – all prepared with a focus on health and well-being.
- Gostilna Stara Brajda is another 100% gluten free restaurant in Celje. Originally a restaurant that served dishes with gluten, the idea to transition to an entirely gluten free restaurant came about at the end of July 2025. In August, following a complete deep clean and a new menu using exclusively gluten free ingredients, it became a reality. Today, it features a warm and cosy atmosphere and gluten free meals prepared according to local tradition. Note: Gostilna Stara Brajda also has a small gluten free shop on the premises, called Trgovina Zate, which offers a wide range of gluten free products, including frozen items from the Hungarian company Pekinas.
Gluten free restaurants and bakeries in the rest of Slovenia
- Gostilna Repolusk is located in Mislinja, in northern Slovenia. This traditional Slovenian restaurant is a long-established, family-run establishment with over 100 years of history. What makes it particularly reassuring for celiacs is that the owner has first-hand experience of celiac disease, meaning there is a strong understanding of gluten free requirements and cross-contact risks. The menu focuses on traditional Slovenian dishes, prepared with local, seasonal ingredients, and clearly marked gluten free options are available. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and informal, ideal for celiac travellers looking for authentic Slovenian food that is also safe to eat.
- You’ll find Vitapek Bakery in Murska Sobota, in northeastern Slovenia. This dedicated gluten free bakery has many years of experience in producing delicious baked goods. All products are made in a dedicated / gluten free environment, making it a very safe choice for those of us with celiac disease. They offer bread, rolls, pizzas, sweet baked goods, and seasonal products, ideal for breakfasts, picnics, or stocking up while travelling.
- Hiša Fink is in Novo Mesto, in southeastern Slovenia. Offering a more upscale dining experience with a strong focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and creative presentation, the kitchen is experienced in catering for special dietary requirements, including gluten free dishes. Reservations are recommended here, and you can inform the staff while booking that you will be eating gluten free.
What dishes are not gluten free in Slovenia?
While Slovenian cuisine includes many naturally gluten free dishes, wheat and breadcrumbs are widely used, especially in traditional cooking. The following foods and ingredients are generally unsafe for celiacs unless explicitly marked gluten free or specially prepared.
Bread and other baked goods
- Kruh – bread (all standard varieties)
- Žemlja / kajzerica – bread rolls
- Pecivo – pastries
- Kifeljčki, rogljički – croissants and rolls
- Burek – filo pastry, most often filled with meat or curd cheese
- Pita / zavitek – strudel or filo-based pastries
- Potica – traditional rolled cake
Pasta, Dumplings and Dough-Based Dishes
- Testenine – pasta
- Njoki – gnocchi
- Cmoki – dumplings
- Štruklji – rolled dumplings
- Žličniki – spoon dumplings, usually served in soup
- Idrijski žlikrofi – traditional Idrija filled dumplings
Breaded and Fried Foods
- Dunajski zrezek – Wiener schnitzel
- Ocvrto meso – fried meat
- Ocvrta zelenjava – fried vegetables
- Pohani sir – breaded fried cheese
- Pohane gobe – breaded mushrooms
- Panirano / pohano – anything described this way is breaded
- Drobtine – breadcrumbs
Soups, Stews, and Sauces
- Goveja juha z rezanci – beef soup with noodles
- Juhe z zakuho – soups thickened with flour or dumplings
- Omaka – sauces may be thickened with flour
- Golaž – often thickened with flour
- Obara – stews may contain flour
- Ričet – not gluten free (contains barley)
Processed Foods and Ingredients to Watch
- Sendviči – sandwiches
- Sojina omaka – soy sauce (unless gluten free)
- Mesni izdelki – sausages, salami, pâté (may contain breadcrumbs or other fillers)
- Sladice – desserts unless clearly gluten free
Further Reading About Slovenia
For those of you planning to visit Slovenia, here are two books to help you plan your trip:
- Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia by Sam Baldwin is part memoir, part travelogue. The true story of an Englishman who falls for Slovenia and begins a new life there, it’s a love letter to the country and an interesting read before a visit.
- While not a dedicated gluten free cookbook, The Food and Cooking of Slovenia by Janez Bogataj is a fantastic guide to the local dishes of the country, including classic ingredients; from root vegetables to mountain fruits, sauerkraut to sausages, you’ll learn a lot about this little-known cuisine.
