Celebrated table

Kogo

Kogo is a bistro-style restaurant in Koper's Vinakoper complex. Michelin Recommended in 2026, with dry-aged steaks, scampi tagliolini and the full Vinakoper wine list.

The story

Kogo, Koper: Michelin-Recommended Bistro Cooking at Vinakoper

Kogo is a bistro-style restaurant at Šmarska cesta 1 in Koper, where contemporary local cooking earned a Michelin Recommended listing in 2026. It sits within the Vinakoper complex, and its name is the Istrian dialect word for cook.

The kitchen

Chef Tilen Župevec reworks homemade recipes with modern techniques while keeping their traditional character. Gault&Millau gave the restaurant 13.5 points in 2026. The menu moves from cured meats (Cigoj, Klinec, Bio Sing) and Slovenian and Italian cheeses to fresh pasta, fish and steaks.

On the plate

Among the cold starters, the vitello tonnato draws particular praise. The tagliolini come wrapped around large scampi sautéed in olive oil, garlic and parsley. Confit veal cheeks sit under a pecorino romano espuma, with charred celery cream and a Refošk wine sauce. Steaks such as the cowboy, tomahawk and ribeye are dry-aged for 40 days. Dessert might be "TiramiKogo", built from tiramisu spheres and salted caramel ice cream.

Wine and room

The room mixes industrial charm with a bistro's ease. Kogo pours the whole Vinakoper cellar, including archive vintages, plus a sparkling wine and a pinot grigio made only for the restaurant. A wine hall and a VIP room can be hired for private events, and the kitchen also caters weddings and runs cooking classes.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
Gault&Millau
13.5
13.5
2026
Michelin
Recomended
Recomended

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

Gault&Millau 2026 — 13.5
Michelin 2026 — Recomended
Services Air Conditioning, Catering, Outdoor Seating, Parking

History

On the record

2026
Gault&Millau — 13.5

Hidden within the Vinakoper complex is a bistro-style restaurant that combines industrial charm with outstanding cuisine. The menu is built around fresh, local ingredients, ranging from classic dishes to more contemporary interpretations. An excellent way to satisfy the first hunger is with a selection of small bites, and the vitello tonnato is an absolute triumph. Among the pasta dishes, the tagliolini stand out, wrapping elegantly around large, juicy scampi quickly sautéed in olive oil with garlic and fresh parsley. The dish perfectly combines simplicity with exceptional flavour. Equally impressive is the meat, aged for several weeks and captivating with its intense flavour, further elevated by excellent red wine. With simple accompaniments such as roasted potatoes or seasonal vegetables, the spotlight remains firmly on the meat, which is undoubtedly the star of the evening. We were especially drawn to the confit veal cheeks: beneath a rich cheese espuma hid a cream of charred celery, while a Refošk wine sauce added freshness and balance. Kogo offers the full range of wines from the Vinakoper cellar, and the bistro and winery are far more than mere neighbours. Because Kogo has its own wine cellar, and Vinakoper has such a bistro, the two form a perfect pair - truly made for one another. It is an ideal destination for wine lovers seeking an authentic setting, or for groups wanting to combine lunch with a short winery tour.

Location

Find us

Šmarska cesta 1, Koper, 6000, Slovenia
Koper, Slovenia
+386 51 261 726
info@kogo.si
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