Where Tradition Meets the Future of Gastronomy
The story of Velvet Dinner began among the vineyards beneath Kalvarija, where the natural hillside amphitheatre created a magical backdrop for refined flavours and genuine Styrian hospitality.
As the event grew, it moved into the renewed historic heart of the city, including the atmospheric Trg Najstarejše trte Square, set beside the Guinness World Record holder – the World’s Oldest Grapevine.
At its core, Velvet Dinner celebrates collaboration between emerging students and experienced chefs, connecting education with real-world practice and transforming culinary creation into an art form. Each edition offers guests a carefully curated menu, innovative interpretations of local flavours, and wine pairings that reflect the very essence of the region.
More than just a dinner, Velvet Dinner is a tribute – to tradition, to local producers, to the next generation of hospitality professionals, and to a city that proudly carries its rich heritage into the future.
The co-organizers of the event are the Maribor Tourist Board (Zavod za turizem Maribor), the Secondary School for Hospitality and Tourism Maribor (SŠGT Maribor), the College of Hospitality and Tourism Maribor (VSGT Maribor), and the event organization company Factumevent.