Château Gbeľany – Belene

Restaurant Belene is located in the village of Gbeľany near Žilina, housed in the sensitively restored Château Gbeľany manor. Set within a beautiful park and offering its own parking, the château complex also includes a hotel, wellness facilities, a lobby bar and a wine cellar, making it an attractive choice for a longer stay. The interior, dominated by wood, is pleasantly light thanks to its glass façade and offers lovely views of the château courtyard. Expectations are understandably high. The hallmark of the kitchen under the leadership of Richard Svrček is a focus on Slovak cuisine with subtle international accents. The restaurant offers both an à la carte menu and tasting dinners. We opted for the classic à la carte at lunch, whose selection felt tempting and thoughtfully composed. The drinks list leans heavily towards wine, alongside house-made lemonades and speciality coffee from the Slovak artisanal roastery Ebenica Coffee, something not often seen in restaurants of this kind and very much appreciated. From the menu, we chose the halibut, which was beautifully prepared and precisely balanced with its sauce and accompaniments. Do not miss the excellent desserts, and it is well worth following the recommendations of the attentive staff. That said, more emphasis could be placed on presenting the dishes to guests when serving them, and it might also be worth reconsidering the choice and volume of the music during lunchtime. Overall, the experience reflects exactly how we imagine hospitality should look in such a beautiful setting.