Grand Hotel Union – A really “Grand” experience

A good friend of mine once told me that she followed the advice of her dad and spent the night in a hotel in her own city. Being a tourist in your hometown can open up so many new possibilities to discover it over and over again. The idea of “staycation” has been on my list for a while. I primarily meant it for Paris, which I like to call my home. However, a perfect opportunity for this opened up during my quick break in Slovenia.

One of the highlights from the last trip to Slovenia was definitely our stay at the Grand Hotel Union. Amazingly located in the mere city center of Ljubljana, only a few steps away from Prešeren Square and the beautiful Triple Bridge, it offers the perfect immersion into the life of a city center local.



Opening the window in the morning, overlooking the Miklošičeva Street, took my breath away. Seeing people heading to the local market, friends meeting for a morning coffee and cyclists riding their bikes around makes you feel something very unique. You just want to run outside and be part of this pleasant hustle and bustle of this lovely city.



But then you turn around and never want to leave the hotel again. This high-end hotel offers simply but beautifully furnished rooms with an amazing attention to details. To mention just two of those – on the table awaits a beautiful package of the superior blend of coffee “Cankar’s Cup of Coffee” (Ivan Cankar, the greatest Slovene writer, was a frequent visitor of the Grand Hotel Union Cafe); the personal care amenities in the bathroom offer a hint of fun with amusing personalized titles. Such details make you feel more at home and less at “just another hotel”.



When the hotel has already won you over with everything of the above, it takes it all to a whole new level with food. Breakfast or lunch there is not just a meal, it is an experience. The hotel makes sure that it is easy for anyone to indulge in the Slovene culinary world while keeping all of the essential international meals. Lunch is served at the garden restaurant Unionski vrt in a pleasant shade of chestnut trees. Could you even ask for more?



Our flight back to Paris was just two hours after our lunch there so we didn’t have the time to enjoy any of their delicious deserts. We’ve heard the cakes are heavenly good at the Café. We know where to go first when we arrive to Ljubljana again!

INFO
Grand Hotel Union
Address: Miklošičeva cesta 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Webpage: http://www.union-hotels.eu/

Antiq Palace Hotel & Spa, a boutique hotel in the centre of Ljubljana

If you’ve had some time to discover Ljubljana and its architecture, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of buildings in the old town hide a beautiful courtyard. One of my favourite examples of this is the beautiful building of the Town Hall. If you’ve ever wondered how it was to live in one of those stunning buildings, you should check out the Antiq Palace Hotel & Spa and stay there during your visit in Ljubljana.

This luxury hotel is located in the mere city centre just a step away from the National library and the Novi trg. But what is even more – it is located in a beautiful 16th century palatial city residence that was originally built for nobility. When you enter the building, you enter a whole new world. My favourite part of the hotel is the beautiful inner courtyard. It is so peaceful and makes it a perfect spot for a morning coffee.

This hotel is a boutique hotel with only 18 spacious suites and boutique rooms. Everything there seems to be individually designed and unique for your stay to be as beautiful as possible. The blend of preserved old in a modern context is just stunning. The rooms are full of protected architectural heritage landmarks such as frescoes and architectural details. This all makes it easy to pretend to live in the 16th century’s Ljubljana! Breakfast is as beautiful as everything else in this small luxury hotel, offering champagne and perfectly made coffee among others.

We were staying in a bright spacious suite with high ceilings and an amazing view on the Ljubljana castle. There is this special room in the hotel that showcases all the famous people who stayed at this hotel at some point. It is an interesting way to honor the special place and all the people who have shaped it throughout the past. Last but not least, the staff is extremely nice. They are ready to help you with any question you might have, they offer a great variety of recommendations regarding the landmarks, restaurants and trips. If you are longing for a calm stay in the centre of Ljubljana in a boutique hotel, do give Antiq Palace Hotel & Spa a go, you won't regret it.

INFO
Antiq Palace Hotel & Spa
Address: Gosposka ulica 10, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Webpage: http://www.antiqpalace.com/

Romantic traditional Slovenian restaurant close to Bled

If you've ever googled Slovenia, you've come across the photos of a beautiful small island in the middle of the lake with the stunning Alps in the background and the castle on a cliff, overlooking this beauty. This romantic place is called Bled. It is a must for anyone who visits Slovenia. Some people even prioritize Bled to Ljubljana, so special this place is. You can read more about here, but now I'd rather tell you about this amazing restaurant just a few kilometers away from this place, which makes it a perfect place for lunch or dinner on the way to or from Bled.

Indulging in delicious food at Lectar is an experience that is not to be missed. Put in a traditional Slovenian family house, it makes it a special environment for lunch or dinner, offering a special interior of a traditional Slovenian house from the region, with the stunning view over the Alps in the background, surrounded by the nature.

Before you even have a look at the menu, you realize that this restaurant doesn't only offer traditional Slovenian dishes but also a special environment that unveils to you the way Slovenian people lived their every day lives. The decoration in the restaurant makes this so beautifully and subtly it is almost hard to spot all the details they put attention to. It goes from the table decoration to the old skis that are hung up on the walls. Their pots, kitchen materials and all the little objects give a romantic atmosphere to this restaurant with a lot of tradition.

The choice of food is very rich and goes from the traditional Slovenian dishes to more "ordinary" choices. Apart from good food, a wide selection of premium Slovenian wines offers you a perfect opportunity to try some of those yourself. We started with some delicious mash room and pumpkin soups and then tried a variety of Slovenian typical dishes. We chose meat and fish dishes, blended with hard-boiled buckwheat flour mush (žganci), sauerkraut and delicious rolled dumplings (štruklji), my favorite.

A plus to this great place? Their beautiful Gingerbread Museum! This restaurant has a functioning workshop where products of an old Slovenian craft called »lectarija« are produced. The workshop also functions as a Gingerbread Museum, where visitors can see the process of lect making in person. It is an old tradition that started with a honey-bread bakery and a chandlery in 1766. This is also how the restaurant got its name, Lectar, and the house its symbol – a left heart. The girls in the museum told us a lot of interesting stories related to this tradition and we left with some ginger hearts that will make a beautiful decoration in our apartment.

INFO
LECTAR
Address: Linhartov trg 2, 4240 Radovljica
Webpage: http://www.lectar.com/

Amazing restaurant Veduta Bernardin, Slovenia

I was never a big fan of seafood. When I was little, my mom was usually quite upset when we went to a restaurant at the seaside. Everyone at the table ordered something sea-like, at least the seafood pizza if not a fish or calamari. I on the other hand wasn’t much of an experimenter so I simply went with the Wiener Schnitzel and fries (and I’m not even such a meat eater, haha).

I’ve grown up a bit since, but I’m still not a big seafood fan. However, every now and then I let myself be seduced by the things I usually don’t really like. This is how I got to eat the best calamari ever during the holidays at the Slovene seaside with my boyfriend.

Morska hrana nikoli ni bila moja najljubša hrana. Ko sem bila mlajša, se je moja mama na morju pogosto jezila, ko smo šli v restavracijo. Vsi so naročili nekaj morskega, vsaj morsko pico, če ne rib ali kalamarov. Jaz pa nisem želela biti razočarana in sem enostavno naročila preizkušen dunajski zrezek s pomfrijem (pa sploh nisem neki strastni mesojedec, haha).

Zdaj sem malo večja, ampak še vedno nisem velik ljubitelj morske hrane. Vsake toliko pa se vendarle rada pustim presenetiti. Tako sem med počitnicami s svojim dragim na slovenski Obali jedla najboljše kalamare ever.

Restaurant Veduta in Bernardin, just a few steps away from Piran and hidden from the hustle and bustle of Portorož, treated us really great, not only with the great food and impeccable service but also with the beautiful location, overseeing the sea and offering us the much needed shade in the hot lunch-time.

We hit it of with the seafood tris. On a beautifully prepared plate, we had quite a few bites of delicious octopus, enjoyed the tuna spread and mixed it up with sardines with pine nuts, onions and raisins. A blend of sweet and salty, creamy and slightly crunchy. A bit of olive oil and lemon juice to make it just perfect and voilà!

Restavracija Veduta v Bernardinu, ki je samo korak stran od Pirana in hkrati skrita pred bučnim Portorožem, naju je res odlično pogostila. Ne samo z odlično hrano in super strežbo, temveč tudi s čudovito lokacijo z morjem v ozadju ter senco, ki sva jo v tem vročem času za kosilo še kako potrebovala.

Začela sva z morskim trisom. Na lepo pripravljenem krožniku sva imela okusno hobotnico, tunin namaz in sardine s pinjolami, čebulo in rozinami. Čudovita mešanica sladkega in slanega, kremnega in hrustljavega. Še malo olivnega olja in limoninega soka in voilà!

The main dish? One word: calamari. I’ve never had my very own plate of calamari in my life. This time, the owner of the restaurant offered us a mix of grilled and fried calamari with fries. The smell of salt in the air, the hot weather and a bit of wind in my hair made me realize I felt ready to indulge into the sea atmosphere and take a leap of faith. It was amazing!

Glavna jed? Z eno besedo: kalamari. Priznati moram, da še nikoli v življenju nisem imela čisto svojega krožnika kalamarov. Tokrat nama je prijazni lastnik restavracije ponudil mešanico ocvrtih kalamarov in kalamarov na žaru s pomfirjem. Vonj soli v zraku, vroče vreme in malo vetra v laseh so me spodbudili k tej morski spontanosti in zaupala sem lastniku restavracije. Kalamari so bili odlični!

When you are at the Slovenian seaside, it is sometimes difficult to decide which restaurant to go to. They often seem rather similar to each other so at the end it is not just the meal that convinces you.

Great food aside, our lunch in Veduta was a very pleasant experience. From the moment we arrived, we felt as if we came to a friend’s house. The owner has welcomed us very warmly and discussed our wishes with us. The staff was very kind too and always served us with a smile. We will sure come back the next time we’re around. I think I’ll try one of their delicious seafood risottos then…

Ko prideš na slovensko Obalo, se je včasih kar težko odločiti, katero restavracijo izbrati. Pogosto vse ponujajo precej podobno ponudbo, tako da na koncu ni samo hrana, ki pomaga pri odločitvi.

Če o odlični hrani sploh ne govorim, je bilo najino kosilo v Veduti res zelo prijetna izkušnja. Od trenutka, ko sva vstopila v restavracijo, se nama je zdelo, kot da bi prišla v hišo prijatelja. Lastnik naju je toplo sprejel in se pogovoril o najinih željah za kosilo. Osebje je bilo prav tako zelo prijazno in naju je vedno postreglo z nasmehom. Zagotovo se bova oglasila naslednjič, ko greva na Obalo. Mislim, da bom takrat poskusila eno izmed slastnih morskih rižot…

INFO
Veduta Bernardin
Address: Bernardinska Reber 5a, 6320 Portorož, Slovenia
Webpage: http://www.veduta-bernardin.si/

Holidays in Slovenia

Going back home is always too good and too short. There are way too many things to do and especially way too many people you’d like to spend the time with. Since it’s Slovenia I’m talking about here, with its beautiful capital Ljubljana, endless picturesque spots and the gorgeous seaside just an hour away, spending a week or two there never seems enough.

Many of you have been asking me for the tips about what to see, where to go and where to stay. With my Réda we finally managed to do some sightseeing, spend some time at the seaside and discovered Ljubljana through a different angle. Stay tuned for a series of articles on Slovenia <3

PS: Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for more photos ;) @katieskite

Počitnice doma so vedno predobre in prekratke. Enostavno preveč stvari je, ki se jih veselim, predvsem pa enostavno preveč ljudi, s katerimi želim preživeti čas. Glede na to, da govorim o Sloveniji s čudovitim glavnim mestom, neštetimi slikovitimi lokacijami in lepo obalo na dosegu roke, je jasno, da se teden ali dva nikoli ne zdita dovolj.


Veliko mojih tujih prijateljev in sledilcev me sprašuje za nasvete, kaj obiskati v Sloveniji, kam iti in kje se nastaniti. Z Rédo sva si končno vzela čas za potepanje, preživela nekaj časa na Obali in odkrila Ljubljano z drugačne perspektive. Pripravljam serijo zapisov o Sloveniji, stay tuned <3

PS: Ne pozabi na moj Instagram za več fotk ;) @katieskite

Best coffee in Bordeaux - Najboljša kava v francoskem Bordeauxju

Bordeaux wasn’t my love at first sight. Arriving at the train station with lots of construction works and taking a walk to the city centre didn’t impress me much at the beginning. But right when I found myself in the little streets of the old city centre, it became a nice sunny summer getaway. Once I stepped in the cosy SIP, the best coffee place in town, I knew I was charmed.

V Bordeaux se nisem zaljubila na prvi pogled. Po prihodu na železniško postajo, polno prahu in gradbenih del, in sprehodu do centra mesta, nisem bila preveč navdušena. Ko pa sem se končno znašla na ozkih ulicah starega mestnega jedra, se je Bordeaux spremenil v simpatičen poletni izlet. Ko sem stopila v SIP, najboljšo kavarno v mestu, sem bila očarana.

Just a step away from the City Hall and the beautiful Bordeaux Cathedral, this café couldn’t be better placed. Hidden from the hustle and bustle of a big city and all the tourists, it makes the perfect spot to chill, talk and enjoy.

Lokacija te kavarne ne bi mogla biti boljša – samo par korakov stran od mestne hiše in čudovite bordojske katedrale. Skrita je od živahnosti glavnega trga in turistov, kar jo naredi res simpatično za pogovor, počitek in uživanje.

Their homemade cakes look so great it is difficult to resist them all. Even more, the way they showcase them is simply beautiful. The attention to details in this coffee place made the biggest impression on me. Everything has its place and yet doesn’t look superficial. Little objects all around make the place very unique, be it beautiful dry flowers on the tables or a pile of magazines and books that nonchalantly sit on the counter. My favourite? The water fountain! I have never seen a more beautiful one!

Njihove doma narejene torte izgledajo tako dobro, da se jim je težko upreti. Poleg tega jih razstavijo na čudovit način z uporabo različnih podstavkov za torte, ki v raznolikih velikostih, višinah in barvah krasijo kavni pult. Pozornost za detajle v tej kavarni je name naredila največji vtis. Vse ima svoje mesto, ampak ne dá občutka prevelike organiziranosti. Majhni predmeti vsepovsod naredijo to kavarno res posebno. Posušene rože na mizah, kup revij in knjig, ki nonšalantno sedi na kavnem pultu… Moj najljubši del? Vodna fontana

Last but not least, the staff is very nice. They took the time to talk to me about their special coffees, the way they prepare them, and the cake master even gave away a little recipe secret for the carrot cake I simply adored! When I come back to Bordeaux, this will be the first place I will go to before heading for the Mirroir d’eau, Stone Bridge or some wine testing.

Nenezadnje - osebje kavarne je res simpatično. Vzeli so si čas za pogovor o njihovih posebnih vrstah kave in načinu priprave. Mojster tort mi je celo zaupal mini nasvet za pripravo korenčkove torte, ki je bila moja najljubša. Ko se naslednjič vrnem v Bordeaux, bom najprej spila kavo v tej luštni kavarni, preden se odpravim do Vodnega ogledala (Mirroir d’eau), Kamnitega mosta ali na pokušanje vin.

INFO
SIP Coffee Bar
Address: 69 Bis Rue des Trois-Conils, 33000 Bordeaux
Tramway: B, Hotel de Ville
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SIPCOFFEEBAR.fr/