Restaurant Fleur de Sel — Restaurant in Upravna enota Piran / Unità amministrativa Pirano

A Delightful Culinary Journey Inspired by the Portorož Saltpans at Restaurant Fleur de Sel, nestled within Kempinski Palace Portorož 🇸🇮

Located on the beautiful coast of Portorož, Restaurant Fleur de Sel offers an exceptional dining experience, blending modern cuisine with rich local history. Perched above the Adriatic Sea, the view alone is worth the visit. But the real star here is the menu, which draws inspiration from the nearby famous Portorož saltpans, particularly their prized Fleur de Sel – the crème de la crème of sea salts.

The meal started with a basket of warm, freshly baked bread accompanied by Santomas olive oil. This isn't just any olive oil—Ex Albis Ulivis is certified "Extra virgin olive oil of Slovenian Istria" with a protected designation of origin. The smooth, fruity flavours of the oil paired perfectly with the rustic bread and set the tone for what was to come.

Next, I enjoyed the Grilled Octopus, served with a silky vegetable purée, crispy polenta, confit carrot hearts, and a zesty citrus compote. The balance of textures and flavors was superb—tender octopus with just the right amount of char, complemented by the vibrant freshness of the vegetables and polenta.

However, the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the Sea Bass in salt crust. A full 1kg of sea bass, baked to perfection in a sea salt crust, was expertly presented at the table. The fish was moist, and full of flavour, served alongside a delightful array of grilled vegetables, potatoes, risotto, and prawns. It was a show-stopping dish that truly embodied the essence of Portorož and its...

Where to begin. We walked in without a reservation, and the front staff were hesitant to seat us. They asked for our room number, and we question whether they would have allowed us to dine if we were not hotel guests, despite the restaurant being empty.

The menu lists allergens, but incorrectly. For example, both the soup with croutons and the casarecce (regular pasta) missed the gluten label among various other allergen labels. This is quite serious, but is especially concerning for a place that brands itself as fine dining. The staff were almost constantly trying to upsell expensive alcoholic drinks, such as wine, champagne, and prosecco. They did kindly offer gluten-free bread (very much appreciated), but left the wrapping on, which was inelegant and unprofessional.

We ordered two courses each and shared a dessert (gluten free, labeled correctly). All dishes were underseasoned. The pasta and risotto were severely overcooked. Neither dish was acceptable as fine dining.

We sat outside on the terrace. The ambiance was lacking: the lighting was quite harsh and there was no elegant decor.

Overall, we paid about €140 for two for a mediocre experience. The restaurant markets itself as elegant fine dining, but the food does...

We had a delicious lunch here as we spent a day in the spa (non hotel guest). Great service the staff was very nice. Although the restaurant was empty that time and the atmosphere was a bit weird being all quiet but a little accident with a glass loosened up the mood and it was more cheerful then. 😁 And the food was absolutely amazing 🤤😍 The homemade butter was top quality with the local olive oil selection and the recommendation to add shrimps to my pasta was 👌🏼 We really...