The best restaurant visits are the ones where expectations are exceeded, and our visit to Restaurant Rajh was exactly that kind of experience. Naturally, we had high expectations after reading about the restaurant, but the food turned out to be even better than we had imagined. Located in the Prekmurje region, between Austria, Hungary, and the Mura River, the restaurant has a unique setting and character. We fell in love with the place and would happily return.
Every corner of Slovenia has its own distinct cuisine, shaped by influences from neighbouring countries. Prekmurje is no exception, with particularly strong Hungarian influences. Under the direction of chef Leon Pintarič, Restaurant Rajh specialises in refined local cuisine based on traditional regional dishes and flavours inspired by Hungary.
About Prekmurje
The Prekmurje region is located in the northeastern corner of Slovenia, bordered by Austria to the west, Hungary to the east, and the Mura River to the south. The name Prekmurje literally means “on the other side of the Mura River.”
Unlike many other parts of Slovenia, Prekmurje is relatively flat. However, the northern part of the region has a more gently rolling landscape. Prekmurje is characterised by agriculture, wine production, and spa resorts, with several of Slovenia’s best spa and wellness facilities located in the area.
There is a Hungarian minority in Prekmurje, and parts of the region are therefore bilingual. Some towns, such as Hodoš, Lendava, and Dobrovnik, are fully bilingual. Many Slovenes in the region also speak a distinct local dialect.
Prekmurje cuisine
Prekmurje has a distinctive cuisine strongly influenced by Hungarian traditions. As it is an agricultural region, it produces high-quality vegetables and meat, which is clearly reflected in the local dishes. Below are some examples of traditional food from Prekmurje.
- Dödoli - Potato and wheat dumplings. The name comes from Hungarian. The dish is almost always served with lard (or butter), fried onions, and sour cream.
- Bograč - A traditional stew made with three types of meat, potatoes, herbs, and spices.
- Langaš - Also known as lángos in Hungarian, this dish consists of fried dough topped with pike, red onion, and bacon.
- Prekmurska Gibanica - A traditional layered cake made with shortcrust and phyllo pastry, typically filled with four layers of poppy seed, walnut, quark cheese, and apple.
- Pumpkin seed oil - A specialty produced in many parts of eastern Slovenia, including Prekmurje.
Getting to Restaurant Rajh
The drive from Ljubljana to the restaurant takes about two hours, covering roughly 175 km on good motorways. Prekmurje is somewhat further from Ljubljana than many other regions, so it can be a good idea to combine a visit to the restaurant with other activities in the area.
From Ljubljana, drive towards Maribor on the A1 motorway (about 130 km). At Maribor, take the A5 motorway and continue towards Murska Sobota. The restaurant is located in the village of Bakovci, not far from the Murska Sobota motorway exit.
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Our Dinner at Restaurant Rajh
Since we still had a long drive home ahead of us, we booked an early table at 5:00 pm. The restaurant has a warm, modern, and cosy design that immediately makes you feel at home—almost like coming home.
You can read more about Restaurant Rajh on their website. Tables can be reserved via the website, email info@uno-rajh.com or by phone at +386 2 523 12 38.
What we Ate
We wanted to try as many local specialties as possible, so we ordered four starters to share.
- Rajh´s Langaš - Fried bread with yoghurt, chives, radishes, cured meat, horseradish, and hemp seeds.
- Duck pâté - Served with Jurka grape jam, hazelnuts, and buckwheat toast.
- Chilled Roast Beef - With green asparagus and chive mayonnaise.
- Green Asparagus - Served with hollandaise sauce and pumpkin seed oil.
All the starters were fantastic, but the duck pâté and asparagus stood out as exceptional in our opinion. The vegetables were incredibly fresh and crisp, tasting as if they had just been picked from the garden.
For the main courses, we chose:
- Mangalitsa Pork - Served with dödöli and peppers. This traditional Prekmurje dish is prepared in the restaurant’s own style, combining Hungarian paprika and tomato flavours with fresh vegetables and meat. Fantastically delicious.
- Pan-seared Dödoli - Served with spinach and green asparagus.
- Pan-Seared Pikeperch - In white wine sauce with potatoes, carrots, and asparagus. The fish was incredibly fresh, with beautifully prepared vegetables.
The main courses were just as fantastic.
We ended the evening with Prekmurska gibanica for dessert. This was perhaps the only minor misstep in our selection, not because the dish was in any way bad, but because we tend to prefer slightly sweeter and creamier desserts. Still, our goal was to try local specialities.
Overall, the evening was a fantastic experience that exceeded our expectations and offered excellent value for money. The restaurant already holds a Bib Gourmand rating in the Michelin Guide, and we would not be surprised if it receives one or even two stars in the future. It is definitely worth the two-hour drive from Ljubljana.
Other Places in the Area
If you travel to Prekmurje to visit Restaurant Rajh, it is worth making a full day of the trip and exploring some of the following places while you are there.
- Radenci - A spa and wellness resort located on the western bank of the Mura River, not far from the Austrian border. The town is also known for Slovenia’s most popular mineral water, Radenska.
- Moravske Toplice - Terme 3000 - Another spa resort in Prekmurje, also featuring an associated adventure park.
- Marof wines - One of the notable wine producers in Prekmurje, offering wines based on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sylvaner, and more. The connection to Austrian wine culture just across the border is clearly noticeable.
Where to Stay
When visiting Prekmurje, it is a good idea to stay overnight at one of the region’s spa and wellness resorts.
- Hotel Livada Prestige - This hotel is located next to the Moravske Toplice – Terme 3000 wellness resort.
- Hotel Izvir - Located in the Radenci spa and wellness resort, this hotel offers both accommodation and access to the spa facilities.
- Villas and apartments - Private villas and apartments available for rent in Prekmurje.
