McDonalds Kolosej, Ljubljana, Slovenia

McDonalds Kolosej - movie goers retreat, BTC shoppers carbo-loading platform and nearby Plaza dwellers quick-ish snack-grab. We've all been there, though we all claim we don't do it - that often.

Nadja Jokanović - co-founder and CMO of Wannabe, increasingly popular online media that started as an innocent idea, grew rapidly and boasts shareholders from Slovenia | her great-grandma was with 101 years the oldest person in Trebinje | recently launched Wannabe Stars, Wannabe Bride and Slovenian edition  WannabeMagazine.si | pharma graduate, worked for MEDA | about to launch Wannabe fashion line while continue to organize top community events | as a student used to run Tuborg promotions | about to finish Cotrugli MBA and starting MBA Serbia Association | travels a lot, likes top events, likes long distance walking and is reading Tajna magneta srca | one day she will kick start a chain of women entrepreneurship incubators and accelerators with special emphasis on youth, starting with Belgrade. Magnetic.

Ivan Vučetić - CEO and co-founder of MBA Friends which started as business plan idea at Cotrugli MBA class | stepped on the ball of the classic 9-to-5 | grew up in Peroj near Pula where a group of Montenegrins were moved together with their orthodox priest 350 years ago | studied in Rijeka and later in  Ljubljana where he met his Slovenian wife | took Italian passport thanks to mother's Italian roots, to get somewhat easier through Slovenian beraucroacy when moving permanently to Ljubljana | sold plums as a kid in Peroj, worked 4 consecutive summers in Work Experience USA, in Slovenia organized student parties and events and is about to finish Cotrugli MBA | has two kids,  3 and 5 years old, caught mountain climbing bug as a new Slovenian resident, loves diving and friends from Mali Lošinj and currently reading Zero Zero Zero | one day he will reinvent and take networking relationships to levels never seen before. Metcalfe's law in action.

10ka EF, Ljubljana, Slovenia

10ka EF - Slorest chain of canteen restaurants located in Faculties. This one in Faculty of Economics. Decent, effective, probably most international. 

Raül Rodríguez Cabestany - computer developer at EduArt Softver | proud Catalan, grew up in Reus, Catalunya, now lives in Zgornje Laže | did not have a very good experience with Slovenian bearaucracy becoming a resident - long-winded and expensive procedure | Erasmus exchange student - chose Slovenia,  because it was the only country offered (FR, DE, NL, CZ, SI) that he did not know and that's how he met his Slovenian girlfriend that brought him back to Slovenia for good | computer science graduate at URV Tarragona, | started Metaverso.es and HappyHamlet.com | absolutely loves sports, avid mountain biker, played table tennis semi-pro and still knows karate | 8 years of piano lessons in Conservatory in Reus, singing ditto | just finished Rework book | without limitations he would save all abandoned race galgos, greyhounds in Spain and worldwide for that matter + help all the friends that he could not when they first asked him. Remember that. 

Daniel Eyer - co-founder of Eduart and music teacher | lives in Ljubljana, born and raised in Brig in Wallis/Switzerland | studied at ZHDK and by chance attended guitar art festival in Belgrade where he met his Slovenian wife, thus later moved to Ljubljana | also has a bad experience with arranging residency papers in Slovenia | was chosen by Matjaž Jevšnikar - later his Eduart co-founding partner - as music teacher in Ribnica after he sent 50 job applications - foreigners are obviously not likely to be hired | has a year and half old son, plays 13 string guitar and is Aikido practitioner | just finished Gamification by Design | one day he will make music and all other learning and education fun and interesting, infused by gamification to rekindle already existent internal motivation. Game on!

Victoria Pub, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Victoria Pub - a very nice pub, with good food, but with an unfortunate location on Litostrojska. If moved to city centre it would be a hit. Still recommended, though. Detour worth making.

Sebastjan Jeretič - Mayor Popovič's Consultant for Communication and Digital Agenda in Koper and co-founder of Neuroagencija | grew up in Piran, about to move from Tartini square to Koper, mostly due to kids getting to high school | probably most famous Jeretič | met his Croatian wife in zidanica on Trška gora | wanted to be sports journalist, but one year in Yugoslav army switched his world view and he switched to political science | one fine young day decided with Patrik Vlačič that something needs to be done in and for Slovenia - they selected party by elimination system and opted for Mladi Forum where he served also as president and was later active in SD party | has 3 kids 8, 10, 12 years, all of them on Facebook | passionate about Koper and Univerza na Primorskem | plays easy computer games for relaxation, used to play bridge pretty well | just finished reading Dan Brown's Inferno, likes Damasio and Gazzaniga | reading lots of online articles/blogs and disseminating lessons learned far and wide | one day he will devote and dedicate his life to neuroscience and achieve something great and important - to be crowned by Nobel prize. Amen.

HUB, Zagreb, Croatia

HUB Zagreb - Croatian outpost of The HUB network - Another World is Happening. This time they hosted Zagreb's Lean Startup Meetup, well organized, nice event. Worth coming to from Slovenia.

Borut Rismal - founder and CEO of Pasadena and CHS, investor and mentor |  born and raised in Maribor | there are way more more Rizmals than Rismals -  probably due to mistake their name was changed a couple generations ago | did not finish FE as starting his first company Atlantis hijacked his priority list | business was rising on early Windows versions and Word 1.0 | started, but never really started playing golf | reading The Greeks from 1950 and before that Sedlacek's Economics of Good and Evil - which his company will probably translate and publish | with unlimited resources he would bring more quality books to local markets that deserve it; paperback-to-people.

Subaru - for true believers. Borut is one of them. Converted after trying it.

Navtika, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Navtika - a small coffee bar, tucked in the basement under Šolt and LUI on Vojkova. Serving it's share of regulars and devoted to nautical themes. One of Dejan's favourites.

Dejan Roljič - Sappcor founder | in 2008 attended and later organized another trip to Shanghai summer school | speaks basic Chinese | worked for Printbox and tested it also in China | huge sailing fan and shares this passion with Jakob Tratar | will go first cruise over Mediterranean and then around the world,  not very unlike Volvo Ocean Race | planning to set up business accelerator in Shanghai, already working on it with Drago Napotnik, launched Roundybox and is helping spread AIR | in the long term he tends to create Tesla innovation centre - probably with several Tesla's parked outside.

Kavarna Rog, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Kavarna Rog - "Kavarna Rog is one of our favourite cafés around - and not only because it's a 30 second walk from our flat. Located along the Ljubljanica below the old Rog bicycle factory, the café is one of the few places in town where you can find a proper breakfast, and the lengthy menu of gourmet soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts (not to mention wines) makes it a popular lunchtime stop. It stays open late as well, and the dark and moody modern interior is perhaps best suited for a drink than anything else." by InYourPocket

Saša Gerčar - born and raised in Ljubljana | not related to the transport company | knows geni.com | did not finish EF, but did get herself a husband there | višja upravna was also a no go | worked for Jugotekstil, for ATR with Trnovec and as Network21 CEO | her son is already almost Nataša's son-in-law | Šmarna gora regular climber | reading Burnout and Women in Prague | likes walking the dog, riding motorbike and family travelling with a car | without limitations she would stay in Slovenia, educate herself and work on destigmatization of mental institutions | probably also move a lot to have a chance to do a lot of interior design.

Pencil and paper always ready on every table in Rog. Ideas worth noting.

McDonalds, Celovška, Ljubljana, Slovenia

McDonalds Celovška - needs not much comment. It's McHere if you McNeed it. This one recently renovated and quite big. McG

Sandro Mur - co-founder of BabyWatch, math student, involved in several startups, among them one dealing with artificial intelligence for finance, reads Alan Ford and will one day move 500startups and Stanford and move them to Hvar. Sillicon Island. When do applications open?

Davor Runje - co-founder of BabyWatch and Drap, seasoned startup member, with experience at Napster, Playmedia and once a major IPO exit will happen he will take a good long thought about what to do next. With all the stash and ideas.

Urška Sršen - co-founder of BabyWatch, finishing Sculpture study at ALU, Erasmus exchange student in Finland, where she met Sandro and moved to Zagreb, created Lipica limestone sculpture now in Ljubljana nursery, her mother is a prenatal specialist, reading Michio Kaku's Physics of the Future, will one day devote herself to sculpting in wooden high tech edge fashion e.g. wooden skyscrapers. Davor insists having an artist in start-up team is phenomenal. Sculpt-up team.

Dorian Gray, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dorian Gray - "A concept restaurant of the highest pedigree, Dorian Gray was founded on one of the main themes of it's namesake book, namely that true beauty must be harmonised both inside and out. With its elegant décor and prime location in the centre of town, the outer beauty here is readily apparent, while the inner beauty comes in the form of delectable Italian-inspired homemade cuisine prepared using only the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. Within the intimately-sized interior (28 seats in all) ample space is reserved for a full cocktail bar, which is put to good use during frequent afterwork parties and other events, and the kitchen conveniently stays open till midnight." by InYourPocket

Eva Svete - Interior Designer & Architect, grew up in Mošnje pri Radovljici, though has only traces of Gorenjska accent, all her family pretty was sports oriented, FA graduate, landed first job with Seaway doing boat interiors e.g. Skagen 50, did 90% of  Dorian Gray interior, fully vegetarian if not on travel, ardent kiter, recently in Dakhla in disputed Western Sahara, has periods of different sports, was playing golf a lot - at 10 HCP level, did almost every sport, but some of them are still waiting: polo and fencing, on a learning curve - getting used to her new phone LG P880, reading Osho's Being in Love, will one day create a series of Osho meditation centres infused with kiting practice. Osho 360.

Dorian Gray gets pretty crowded in lunchtime, but they do recommend their crostata.

Izložba, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Izložba - "A cosy little café hidden a few steps off Dunajska Cesta. The compact interior looks like something you would find in Sarajevo's old town, with lots of well-worn wood furnishings and Turkish-style seating on benches covered with pillows and cushions of assorted fabrics, colours and sizes. However, the real highlight here is the large courtyard in the back with ivy-covered walls, a giant tree sprouting through a hole in the floor and of course a back entrance to the art gallery next door (izložba translates to exhibition in English)." - by InYourPocket

Iztok Smolič - Drupal consultant & UX designer at Agile Drop, grew up in Pluska pri Trebnjem, Smolič being a common name on those hills, slowly catching Primorska accent, about to conclude NTF - GIK, worked for Enki, a true Drupal believer/evangelist, Drupal in Slovenia kicked off on a bigger scale with implementations at Delo and D.labs for Petrol, working predominantly for foreign customer, was initiator of Drupal Alpe Adria Camp, trying to read 4-hour Chef, likes to cook, likes getting lost in parents' farm work,  saddened by Kiberpipa closure and will one day tackle the innefectiveness of higher education system - spoke about it also on Metina lista, 

Fresco, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Fresco - "A basic modern canteen geared towards the time-poor lunchtime office worker crowd, this bright orange restaurant looking not unlike the inside of a train (albeit a rather large one) provides both help-yourself and waiter service and is good value for money if nothing else. Highlights include ready-to-grab meals from the hotplates by the entrance and a slightly better than average salad bar." by InYourPocket Ljubljana.

Marjan Bradeško - Content Development Manager at NIL and author, grew up in Polhograjsko hribovje with distinct Rovtar accent, joined NIL after spending a few years as an assistant at University and evolved from techie to sales person - the very topic he likes talking about, travels extensively, mountain hiker and climber, enjoys writing, moderating panels and events, well versed in public speaking - though was quite the opposite in his early youth, above all likes to create distinction and will one day devote himself to book writing, mostly, predominantly helpful informational and motivational (but not in a overused self-help sense) genre. Giving back time. Full throttle.

Le Petit Cafe, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Le Petit Cafe - "On a leafy yet bustling square, tables of bubbly locals and clued-up visitors drink coffee, tea and look utterly Parisian without even trying. Every other cafe in Ljubljana wants to be this place, and it is easy to see why. What’s more, it is not even expensive: big omelets and tasty toasted sandwiches all come in at around €3.50." by InYourPocket Ljubljana

Primož Božič - productivity coach, entrepreneur and blogger, Jasmina's brother, raised in Fužine, father archaeological professional knows about all meteorites in Slovenia, was off Facebook for 2 years, return triggered by FB-only VIP list for friends birthday, about to finish FRI, could do it way sooner - just as Scott Young did MIT in 12 months, if he would choose major again he would go for psychology, joined Toastmasters - tipped by the same Scott Young, worked for Comtrade, almost worked for Zootfly, freelancer, became Productivity Coach for PokerStrategy, about to write a book, subscribed to Ramit Sethi's brain trust interviews, does B-boying - akin to break dance with links to salsa, just finished Never Eat Alone, starting Learned optimism, listening to Thinking Fast and Slow and will one day change education system, starting in high school, adding topics of vision, advanced and holistic learning. Familiar? (one blog post back - and they've never met)

Kevdr, Ljubljana, Slovenia

 

Kevdr - a relatively new place in the cellar of a big business building on Dunajska street. Trying to make it in  recession times. Give them a try, but don't expect too much - basics are covered.

  

Tomaž Sešek - management consultant, raised in Gunclje part of Ljubljana in Sešek working class family,  scholarship took him to UWCAdriatic in Duino, worked for the other part of scholarship for Cambridge graduate study, topped it all up with INSEAD MBA, touched Club of Rome topics with Meadows, worked for Intercortex, Poteza, Adacta, Sekvenca, SRC, Ganxy, founded Mojesanje kindergarten, travels a lot, was in  Cambridge basketball club, proud father of Tristan, reading Never Eat Alone, GTD aficionado, likes his old Porsche, and will one day take a more active role in education, infusing high school entrepreneurship topics, giving students MBA-type understanding and radically change university study. A big plate that is. Mahlzeit!

Zlati krožnik, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Zlati krožnik (Golden plate) - a small Chinese restaurant on Dunajska street with a recently dissapeared website/domain. Nothing special, yet everything one can expect from a decent Chinese joint. If you want to be totally alone, come Monday evening. Gè bǎo!

Irena Marin - Medical Practice Professional, as name Marin suggests, her roots are from around Ohrid, Macedonia, was CEEPUS exchange student, works as PhD in cardiology in Ljubljana, goal being to become internal medicine doctor, was also exchange student in Portugal and Israel, worked for Geneplanet in TPLJ, attended Alpbach Forum once, associated with IG, wanted to attend TEDxBled, but was too late with registration, attended TEDxLjubljanaLive2013, about to get a B2 level Slovenian language certificate,  reading Mohamed Yunus' Building Social Business and will one day make sure that proper knowledge and education is available for everybody globally, starting from bottom up. PhD worthy.

Volta Cafe, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Volta Cafe - serving mostly students, primarily from Electrical and Computer Science Faculties across the street. No frills, no real memories of it, either. Visits driven by necessity, I guess. Viidea team begs not to disagree.

John Bachir - Technology Lead at Ganxy, grew up in North Carolina, BMC intern, helping them simulate large installations, worked in Centerline, had a bushy beard before Ganxy launched, built his own Wordpress fork (separate branch - alternate version), Rice University graduate, cooperates with Viidea, member of "Nikon DSLR camp", just read Voodoo Heart, regular Couchsurfer and Host who will one day finish his documentary film. Sundance is waiting. 

Florjančkov hram, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Florjančkov hram - a traditional, old style Slovenian gostilna (restaurant), with old style waitresses. Don't expect anything thrilling, but do come for lunch if you want to experience an era gone by. Vintage?

Aleš Župančič - Senior Asset Manager at PDP, CFA certified in Zagreb, about to start Slovenian CFA Society, born and raised in Ljubljana - Brinje, worked for Publikum, later Poteza (now Alta), did internship at McKinsey, used to train swimming in a team with Mankoč, with visible youth achievements in Yugoslav times, knows that Mankoč had to endure 7 not so successful years before breaking out of the back, practices tai-chi, inspired by visit to China in 1999, has a lot of ebooks, recommends White Coat Black Hat, and will one day make an example of a great turnaround while setting up a fund to help under-privileged youth in Slovenia. The sooner the better.

Restavracija Cirkus, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Restavracija Cirkus - already visited in 2010 when it was called Salon, it was recently re-crazied into a Circus scene. Still worth a visit and try. Hippitty hip. And not to be confused with one of the hottest night spots, also named Cirkus Klub.

Anita Grbić - born Šobar, raised in Črnomelj, FSD graduate, did some modelling including a trip to Milan, worked for Ericsson Slovenia and Pristop, did self employment campaign Financer, about to kick-off her new startup, two kids and had wedding shoes made by Alja Viryent. Diversity to stay.

En Pub, Ljubljana, Slovenia

En Pub - "The true sounds of the suburbs echo around the walls of this extraordinary little place practically non-stop. Leave your gun in the car, clear security and the metal detector, and you’re free to indulge your wildest wishes. Every night is different, from hopelessly sentimental romantic nights of ballads to all-night DJ parties featuring the classic Turbo Folk girls. Refreshment features everything from bottles of ice-cold local beer to cocktails to ice cream, and they even do sandwiches and coffee for party animals who’ve moved on to other places that stay open even longer and come back again early in the morning. For a totally different take on Ljubljana, En Pub simply has to be experienced to be believed." - by InYourPocket Ljubljana

Marin Medak - grew up in Fiesa, roots in Metković in Neretva river delta, the most famous Medak so far, FE graduate in biomedical engineering, regularly posting about his dreams, travels a lot, seen Ecuador and Galapagos, kayak paddled from Slovenia to Zakynthos with original plan to stay for graduation vacation, but love dragged him immediately back, kayaked in South Korea and crossed the Atlantic, reading Karnazes 50/50, knows Igor Stropnik, co-founded Pomagajmo.org akin to VirginMoneyGiving.com, is engaging in public online debates and will one day go into politics.

Fejstmeni, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Fejstmeni - healthy, carefully prepared food offered in this deli with sit-down tasting also possible. There's room for more places like this - Ljubljana needs them. Check and check again. Thumbs up!

Andrej P. Škraba - recent EF graduate, CEO at Skiciraj.si, skilled at SketchUp, asset recently sold by Google to Trimble - it seems it always goes the other way around, born and raised in Ljubljana, somehow related to Urška and Škraba family from Črna vas, will soon attend his first Toastmasters session, critical of current school system, yet finds a bright spot in Rok Stritar's lectures, did himself Mikroekenomija lessons in Khan Academy style, struggled and achieved to set up a fitness studio in the basement, mainly for TRX training, love mountain biking, reads How Life Imitates Chess by Kasparov, recently finished WYSIWYG Alan Sugar's autobiography, just built his reading list for 2013 and would with unlimited resources set up a colony on Mars while instilling love for science to youth through programs like Numberphile, Sixty Symbols and TEDEd.

Maharaja, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Maharaja - a nice twin restaurant, Nepalese and Indian, a recent incarnation of this old place, used to be Šišenski Zvon and before that Majolka and before that - who would know. Tasty, worth a visit and a return and don't have too hungry eyes in the all-you-can-eat setting.

Sam Burstin - viola player with the Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor of the Paradisal Players, "whether wielding baton or bow, Samuel brings huge passion, commitment, expertise and energy to his music-making. He has been a violist in the Philharmonia Orchestra since 2005; he is an award-wining chamber musician; and in 2010 he founded the Paradisal Players, an orchestra of top professional and brilliant amateur players, whom he conducts several times a year in concerts for charities", music runs in the catholic-jewish mixed family though his father Marcus is a physicist, Burstin is a Polish name with Viennese roots,  began playing violin at age 4, studying Suzuki method starting with only bowing and listening, in parallel did sax, piano and singing, football had something to do with the fact that he at some point fell out of love with violin, only to accidentally fall in love with viola and Bach - can play Bach cello stuff on viola, received the most important music education at Trinity College London where they stress depth as well breadth - including the all important listening, after careful selection, 6 months trial and 1 year probation he was accepted into Philharmonia - also helped by his NYO background, ardent Arsenal fan and rugby player - past U17 LondonScottish member, learning to speak Slovenian to even better understand Ana and will one day create opportunity that every single individual on the planet could listen live Mozart, while getting troubled kids and youth from streets through El Sistema-like program as he already worked TEDsters Dudamel and Zander.

Christina, pianist and singer and Marcus, the physicist. Proud parents of an accomplished young musician.

La Storia - Gosposvetska, Ljubljana, Slovenia

La Storia - franchise chain of restaurants, this one is the recent incarnation of a place with a long restaurant tradition on Gosposvetska corner, Evropa building. Up to La Storia image, worth a try, though keep your service expectation a bit lower.

Barbka Pečar - manager and consultant at BK komunikacije, wider Pečar family scattered all over Slovenia, related to Maks Pečar and also to Smrekar family, originally from Ljubljana, used to live in Zambratija several years, worked for Studio Kernel in Koper where team received IABC Gold Quill award, tried Faculty of Law first, then switched to FDV, worked also for Zavod za Turizem Ljubljana - where she worked with Jaka - and Thaler's EON, currently president of IABC Slovenia, developing a new line of Abha sustainable and socially responsible products, did solo singing for 6 years, enjoys immersing into foreign languages and relaxes through language classes, part of a big family, likes to look after nephew Luka, reads marketing books, will start watching TED Talks soon and will one day work Pro bono all the time, helping people with what they need the most and what she can provide most efficiently.