UNDERGROUND RESTAURANT JUST A FEW HOURS’ DRIVE FROM BANJA LUKA

About 160 meters below the surface, deep inside an old Slovenian mine, lies a dining hall unlike any other. To reach it, visitors descend using the oldest working elevator in Slovenia. Once underground, guests become part of a one-of-a-kind cultural and gastronomic experience, tasting dishes inspired by mining traditions but reimagined with local ingredients. Helmets and lamps in hand, they embark on a true culinary adventure.

PHOTO: TU Magazin

The journey begins at the Slovenian Mining Museum, where a guide provides the necessary equipment and leads guests through an unforgettable evening experience. This is, without doubt, one of the most exciting dinner locations in Europe. After the miners’ traditional greeting, “Srečno!” (“Good luck!”), guests take the historic elevator down to the deepest dining room on the continent, located 160 meters beneath the Earth’s surface.

Before the meal, visitors explore the underground passages and learn stories and facts about the mine’s history. After the tour, the chefs serve dishes once common in miners’ households—simple meals, now presented in a refined “fine-dining” style. This is known as the Štajger’s Meal, the centerpiece of the Velenje Underground experience.

The word štajger comes from German, meaning a foreman or supervisor responsible for safety and workflow in the mine.

The “Supervisor’s Meal” symbolically connects hard labor with well-earned pleasure. Each dish is served on plates shaped like mining tools, enhancing the sense of authenticity and storytelling. Guests enjoy fine local wines and live music, while every detail contributes to the immersive underground adventure. Even the desserts follow the black color theme, reminiscent of coal.

At the end of the dinner, an underground train—once used by miners—takes visitors to the “black wardrobe,” where workers used to change after their shifts. To wrap up the evening, guests toast with a glass of champagne, sharing impressions of a truly unique experience.

Each participant receives a souvenir as a keepsake from this extraordinary dinner below ground. After a three-hour journey through time, blending industrial heritage and high-end cuisine, Velenje Underground remains etched in memory as a remarkable story of Slovenian history—told in a modern, yet deeply authentic way.