Ziferblat
Ziferblat at Tavcarjeva 9 operates on a concept that surprises first-time visitors: you pay for time rather than consumption. The rate is EUR 0.05 per minute (EUR 3 per hour), and everything inside is included: coffee, tea, snacks, Wi-Fi, and the use of a space that feels like a well-furnished apartment. Board games, books, musical instruments, and comfortable seating fill several connected rooms. The concept originated in Moscow and has expanded to a handful of European cities, with Ljubljana's location adapted to local tastes. Slovenian coffee and teas are stocked alongside international options. The space holds about 45 people across its rooms, and the clientele ranges from remote workers using it as a co-working space during the day to groups of friends playing board games in the evening. It's not a bar in the traditional sense (no alcohol is served), but it fills a niche in Ljubljana's evening social scene that nothing else occupies.
What to Expect
Walking into a large apartment where strangers share couches, play games, make coffee, and read books. The clock starts when you arrive and stops when you leave. Everything between is included.
A communal living room where time is the currency. Cozy, social, and alcohol-free.
Background music played softly. The focus is on conversation and activities rather than sound.
None. Come as you are. Slippers are available to change into at the door.
Non-drinkers, board game groups, remote workers, couples looking for an unconventional date, anyone curious about the concept
Cash (EUR) and cards accepted at exit
Price Range
EUR 0.05 per minute (EUR 3/hour). Everything inside is included. No alcohol served.
Already in EUR. Typical 2-hour visit: EUR 6.
Hours
10:00-22:00 Mon-Thu, 10:00-00:00 Fri-Sat, 12:00-22:00 Sun
Insider Tip
Bring your own alcohol-free mindset. This is a space for socializing without drinking. The board game collection is extensive and includes games in multiple languages. Evening visits are more social, daytime visits are quieter and work-friendly. Pay at the exit based on your time.
Full Review
Ziferblat challenges assumptions about what nightlife means. By removing alcohol from the equation and replacing per-item pricing with per-minute billing, it creates a social environment that self-selects for people who want to interact rather than merely coexist in a drinking space.
The rooms are furnished for comfort rather than efficiency. Couches with throw pillows, armchairs with reading lamps, tables set up for board games, and a kitchen counter where guests make their own coffee. The self-service model is part of the point. Making yourself a cup of tea in a communal kitchen and sitting down with strangers creates a different social dynamic than ordering at a bar.
The board game collection is genuinely good. Strategy games, party games, card games, and puzzles in multiple languages fill several shelves. On a Friday evening, three or four groups might be playing simultaneously, with the competitive sounds of Settlers of Catan mixing with the collaborative muttering of a group puzzle. It's not for everyone, but the people it's for love it.
As an evening activity, Ziferblat works best as either a pre-bar warm-up or an alternative to bars entirely. The midnight closing on weekends allows for extended visits, and the EUR 6 cost of a two-hour visit compares favorably with two cocktails at a riverside bar. The lack of alcohol is either a feature or a limitation depending on your perspective.
For travelers who don't drink or who want a break from bar culture, Ziferblat is a genuine find. Ljubljana's nightlife can feel dominated by drinking, and this space offers social engagement without that expectation.
The Neighborhood
Tavcarjeva street runs parallel to the Ljubljanica river, one block north of the old town center. The old town and riverside bars are a 5-minute walk south.
Getting There
From Presernov trg (the main square), walk north along Copova for one block, then turn right onto Tavcarjeva. Ziferblat is on the right side at number 9. From the train station, walk south for 8 minutes.
Address
Tavcarjeva 9, Ljubljana
Other Venues in Old Town
Dvorni Bar
A sophisticated cocktail bar tucked into a courtyard off Dvorni trg, known for creative cocktails and an extensive spirits collection. The intimate space seats about 40 people across a main bar and a small terrace.
Pritlicje
A riverside bar and cultural space on the Ljubljanica's left bank, hosting DJ sets, exhibitions, and community events. The long wooden terrace sits directly on the water's edge, making it one of the best spots for summer evening drinks.
Cafe Macek
A two-story cafe-bar in the heart of the old town that's been a Ljubljana institution for decades. The upstairs room with its worn wooden floors and mismatched furniture draws a loyal crowd of students, professors, and night owls.
Neboticnik Terrace Bar
A rooftop bar atop Ljubljana's 1933 skyscraper, the first high-rise in the former Yugoslavia. The 360-degree panoramic view covers the castle, the Julian Alps, and the city center. Cocktails are pricier than street level but the setting justifies it.