Kempinski Portoroz – doing nothing deluxe

The view from the window could hardly be better. We are located in the modern part of the historic Kempinski Palace Portoroz. After the active days in Slovenia, let’s take it easy on the last day, exactly where Benedictine monks treated their visitors with sea water in the early 13th century and opulent festivals were celebrated during the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Kempinski Palace Portoroz – Well bedded

The hotel was opened in the early 20th century as one of the most magnificent hotels in the Upper Adriatic. Since then, it has already experienced some ups and downs. After the closure in 1990, the hotel was reopened five years ago after a complete renovation and expansion with a modern extension.

Today, the hotel harks back to the glory days of the Belle Epoque. At the same time, a refreshing mix of old and new is celebrated. In addition to historic salons and tracts steeped in history, there are also many modern details to discover.

We start the day with a hearty breakfast in the impressive Crystal Hall. The hall is located in the listed part of the building and is impressive purely because of its enormous dimensions. Otherwise, the atmosphere is pleasantly informal and the rest of the guests are a colorful mix of families, young couples and older couples.

After breakfast, we grab our bathrobe and an exciting book and relax on the sun loungers by the pool. Although, the sun is a bit deceptive and the April wind makes us shiver slightly in between.

Celebrate enjoyment

Shortly before sunburn, the stomach growls again. We go to the Rizibizi restaurant, which is located on a privileged hillside location, about a 20-minute walk from the Kempinski. The restaurant has a wonderful terrace with sea views and captivating good dishes on the menu. We test our way through one of the tasting menus (between 33 and 49 euros) and are more delighted with each course. We are served a refreshing combination of seasonal dishes from the hinterland and the sea (e.g. the fonda sea bass in different variations). Oh yes, I almost missed it: the Slovenian white wine (and I’m not really a wine drinker) is a stunner!

Sea view with summer feelings

After lunch, we stroll along the waterfront of Portoroz. You won’t find a sandy beach here. Instead, the many wooden walkways are besieged by the day visitors. We get stuck in the hip restaurant / beach bar Cacao. This is where Portoroz’s best ice cream sundaes are served. We order Maracaibo (6.70 euros) and Trinidad (7.40 euros) and spend the rest of the afternoon eating the iceberg. As I said, just don’t rush.

And as if we hadn’t eaten enough that day, we feast on the light cuisine of the Fleur de Sel restaurant in the Kempinski in the evening. The Fleur de Sel is located in the modern part of the building and I like it because of the simple, casual design.

Active in and around Portoroz

• Walk to pretty Piran
• Visit the salt pans of Sečovlje or Strunjan
• At the Fonda fish farm, learn how the fish gets from the sea to the plate
• Cycling trips to the hinterland

Note: My stay on the Slovenian Adriatic coast was supported by Tourism Portorož and Kempinski Palace Portorož – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.