Menza pri Koritu
Menza pri Koritu functions as Metelkova's social living room. The bar occupies a ground-floor space in the complex, furnished in a style best described as collective pragmatism: a bar counter, wooden tables and chairs of various provenance, and walls decorated with flyers, art, and whatever the community has pinned up lately. The outdoor area is the main attraction during warmer months. Tables and benches fill the courtyard space directly in front of the bar, creating the complex's primary gathering point. Drinks are cheap, the menu is simple (beer, spirits, basic cocktails, coffee), and the atmosphere is determined by whoever shows up. On a quiet Tuesday, it's a coffee spot for the artists who live and work in the complex. On a Friday at midnight, it's a pre-club gathering point buzzing with conversations in five languages. No food is served, but the bar stays open late enough to bridge the gap between daytime Metelkova and the club hours that follow.
What to Expect
A no-frills bar that's more community center than commercial establishment. The courtyard fills with an international mix of people drinking, smoking, and talking. The atmosphere is welcoming to newcomers who show basic respect for the space.
A community bar where the currency is conversation. Cheap drinks, warm people, cold concrete.
Whatever's playing from a speaker or someone's phone. No DJ, no curated playlist. Occasionally, someone brings a guitar.
Nonexistent. Wear whatever you have on.
Solo travelers looking to meet people, pre-club drinks, anyone wanting to experience Metelkova's community rather than just its music
Cash (EUR) only
Price Range
Beer EUR 2-3, spirits EUR 2.50-4, coffee EUR 1.50-2
Already in EUR
Hours
16:00-02:00 daily, later on event nights
Insider Tip
This is where conversations start. If you're visiting Metelkova solo, grab a drink at the bar and sit in the courtyard. Someone will talk to you. The cheapest beer in central Ljubljana is here.
Full Review
Menza pri Koritu isn't trying to be a good bar. It's trying to be a space, and it succeeds. The distinction matters. A good bar invests in its drinks, decor, and service. Menza invests in accessibility and community, and the drinks are just cheap enough that nobody feels excluded.
The courtyard is where Metelkova's social magic happens. On a warm evening, 50-80 people occupy the benches and steps, creating an outdoor gathering that feels spontaneous even when it happens every night from May through September. The mix of languages reflects Ljubljana's international student population and the backpacker trail that includes Metelkova as a must-visit.
Conversations here cross the boundaries that segregate most nightlife. An architecture student from Ljubljana talks to a touring musician from Berlin talks to a backpacker from Seoul, and the conversation somehow works because the setting strips away the pretensions that would prevent it elsewhere.
The bar itself is basic. Beer comes in bottles or from a single tap. Spirits are poured without precision. Coffee is adequate. Nobody complains because the prices are almost symbolic, and the value proposition is the community, not the liquid.
Menza pri Koritu works best as either a starting point or a transition zone. Come here to calibrate your Metelkova experience before deciding which club to enter. Come back between venues to decompress. Come at 4 AM when the clubs have thinned and the last conversations of the night are the most honest ones.
The Neighborhood
Located at the heart of the Metelkova complex, directly between the main club venues. The courtyard it shares serves as the complex's central gathering space.
Getting There
Enter Metelkova and walk to the central courtyard area. Menza pri Koritu is at ground level, identifiable by the bar counter visible through an open front and the crowd gathered on the benches outside.
Address
Metelkova ulica 6, Ljubljana
Other Venues in Metelkova
Gala Hala
The largest venue in Metelkova, hosting live bands, DJ nights, and cultural events across a converted barracks hall. The programming ranges from punk and metal to electronic and experimental, with an emphasis on independent artists.
Jalla Jalla
A two-room club in the Metelkova complex specializing in electronic music. One room runs techno and house, the other hosts drum and bass, dubstep, and experimental sets. The sound system is surprisingly good for a squat venue.
Channel Zero
A raw punk and hardcore venue in the Metelkova complex, hosting local and touring bands in a small room with low ceilings and maximum volume. The DIY ethos is genuine, and the energy on a good night is unmatched in Ljubljana.
Tiffany Club
Ljubljana's primary LGBTQ venue, located in the Metelkova complex. The club hosts themed nights, drag shows, and DJ sets spanning pop, house, and disco. Open and welcoming to everyone regardless of orientation.