If you're in the mood for something refreshing to drink while touring in Koper, there are many bars all over the town. For a such as small municipality, the number of watering holes are quite staggering. So of course, if you appreciate a brew or two, the least you can do is join in! Jennifer and I wandered about the city, after climbing all the way to the top of the Old Bell Tower. All that exercise made us rather parched, so we were looking for a nice little spot to grab a pint of local beer.
The bars in Koper are kicking regardless of the time of day. When we first arrived at the city, it was only after 9 am, and loyal customers were already downing bottles of beer infront of their favourite bars. I guess it's always 5pm somewhere in the world right? Well, Jennifer and I decided that when in Slovenia, do as the Slovenians do, so we grabbed a seat outside of one of the happening local bars and ordered a pint each.
The bartender noticed immediately that we weren't from around there, so he recommended that we try the local beer which was called Lasko. The beer was exceptionally affordable at only 2 euros, reminding us exactly how much cheaper Eastern Europe is compared to Western Europe. The bar was called Istrska Klet Slavcek, which means Istrian Cellar Slovenia in English. The atmosphere was very laid back and casual, with faint music playing inside.
The Lasko beer was very crisp and refreshing, and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. The mug was frosted, and the beer's foam head was quite impressive, taking quite a while to collapse. Needless to say, the pint didn't last too long, but instead of simply ordering a second round, we settled our tab and searched for another spot to grab a drink.
After a while, we came across an apparently nameless bar, but the menu outside caught our attention. Wine and fig appeared to be the specialty there, and we've never tried it before. We agreed to be adventurous, and grabbed a seat on one of the tall stools outside of the bar's window.
We ordered two glasses of the mysterious fig specialty for the same price as the beers: 2 euros each.
While he prepared our drinks, the bartender started to talk to us about the history of the fig and wine drink. He said that the figs are grown in small farms around the town, and they've been drinking the brew for many years. We learned that Koper is actually one of the major wine producing towns within Slovenia, which explained the many grape vines which we saw everywhere.
The fig and wine brew was very sweet, but potent. It didn't have the usual smooth texture, as it was rather syrupy and had small fig seeds inside. I could tell that it was made for the locals, and although I'm not a wine connoisseur, I knew that this was something special. I thanked the bartender for his great service, paid the tab and said farewell.
Jennifer and I loved the local brews within the small town of Koper, Slovenia. Who knew that a destination which we've never heard of a year ago, would give us so many pleasant surprises? For travelers with a penchant for foregin wines and beers, find your way to this dynamic destination!