A place where one could easily lose sense of time, strolling down the historical pavements of this charming European capital with a lot of heart and soul – Ljubljana. One spot, in the middle of Ljubljana, will indeed make anyone fall in love with this city – the five star boutique hotel Zlata Ladjica. The city of love and dragons as ancient tales describe it, offers travellers to explore Slovenian legends while taking a romantic city break in the green heart of Europe. What a better way to do so while staying in a luxurious boutique hotel, part of the best hotels in Slovenia,  enriched with 500 years old history?

The name of the hotel ‘Zlata Ladjica’ translates to ‘The Golden Boat’ which stems from the ancient Greek tale of Jason and the Argonauts. It also represents its meaning to Ljubljana – situated on the banks of the emerald river Ljubljanica, the hotel once used to be a goldsmith’s shop. The 15 rooms of the boutique hotel are named after renown city legends and ballads from the 17^th century. Remember of dances on the river at ‘Urška and the Water Man’ or reminisce in memories of the bourgeois life in ‘The Goldsmiths’ Room’. Perhaps you want to learn of the bakers dunked in the river in the ‘Cheating Bakers room’?

To preserve elements of history, the rooms feature parts of the stories they represent – paintings of old ships, richly ornamented walls and antique wooden furniture. Treat your senses to gastronomic dishes at the hotel restaurant and taste local selection of draught beers also known as ‘pivo’ at the Gastropub. The fifth star of the hotel – the wellness centre – will offer you an indulging experience to unwind at the privacy of your own company.

History and restoration

Sat on Jurčič Square, this hotel is one of the oldest in the city of Ljubljana. The locals know it as ‘the notable old house by the river in the old part of town’, although it is much more than that. The building dates all the way back to the 17^th century when it used to house different merchants, a goldsmith’s workshop and a leather store. Its three other connected houses were destroyed by the great earthquake of 1895, making Zlata Ladjica the only standing of the four. 30 years later, a small inn was born, situated on the ground floor of the building and ever since then the name ‘Zlata Ladjica’ has stuck with it, known as one of the best hotels in Slovenia.

The restoration of Zlata Ladjica in 2018 required a team of restoration specialists to preserve the original features of this heritage-listed building. Archeologists have discovered remains of the oldest known blacksmith in medieval Ljubljana in the basement of the building. This inspired one of the hotel rooms ‘Smithy’. The ‘Smithy room’ features a metal bathtub to honour the blacksmithing craft. The intertwine of ancient history and contemporary luxury design make this hotel a truly one of a kind stay.

Suites

All of the 15 rooms featured in this mythical space of luxury have their own unique character. If ‘walls could talk’, Zlata Ladjica’s story would undoubtedly be one to tell. The interior of the rooms is cosy and elegant with curious period pieces, which appear around the room. Exposed wood ceiling beams from the 17^th century give a feel of the strength, which helped the building stand the test of time. Black metal accents break up the sophisticated design to give an industrial feel of the room. The natural marble effect bathrooms contrast with matte black details to ensure a luxurious modern look.

The importance of greenery in the hotel is ensured by stylish pots of real plants and flowers. What really makes the rooms unique is not their designer interior but the mysterious paintings on the wall. Each painting is a portray of a Slovenian folktale, of which fragments are incorporated into the design of the suites. The views from the suites could take your breath away – the famous Ljubljana castle peaks behind the trees. At night, the Ljubljanica river is illuminated by the city lights and reflects its beauty in its emerald waters.

The spa

The relaxing area of this boutique hotel is sure to deliver first class luxurious spa treatment of its guests. The spa comprises of the Sweet sauna, steam room, massage area, Sweet shower and a zero-gravity flotation bed. The spa menu has a carefully curated experience list which guests can browse and choose their perfect sweet escape from reality. One of the memorable treatments offered to visitors of the spa is the Happy Feet experience. This includes the private use of the spa amenities, 15 minutes afloat in the zero-gravity bed, a 45 minute reflexology foot massage and a herbal tea infusion. It is the ultimate treat for your feet after a long day of walking around Ljubljana’s best attractions. Resting in the zero-gravity bed will induce a deep relaxation for a night of quality sleep.

Slovenian gastronomy

Led by chef Jakob Jerala, the restaurant in Zlata Ladjica presents a blend of traditional gastronomic dishes, prepared using organic local produce. Beer-braised organic beef from the Šalek Valley farms melts in your mouth and pairs perfectly with a traditional bread dumpling. If you are not a meat eater, you can enjoy organic pasta from Dvornik farm with seasonal vegetables and pine nuts. To finish a night of gastronomic indulgence, serve your tastebuds a sweet and sour plum dumplings dessert (Knedle sa sljiva) with crunchy hazelnuts from Košec farm. You can have it all and combine it with light and puffy yogurt fritters (Miške), drizzled in homemade fruit sauce. For an ultimate beer tasting experience, join the Gastropub garden where you can try local draught beer, served with delicious selection of regional cheeses and cured meats. Na zdravje!

Prepare for a stay at the most enchanting little city in Europe’s green capital of Ljubljana. Fall in love with traditional Slovenian cuisine, history and culture and create your own story to tell while staying at Zlata Ladjica. Allow your imagination to take you through legends of sailing travellers, dragons and love stories in the beautiful capital of Slovenia. Zlata ladjica will ensure to fill your trip with unforgettable memories from one of the most romantic and historical cultural centres in Europe.