With its rich culture and history as a trade crossroads, the Czech capital of Prague has developed a good reputation for hearty food and drink in the heart of the historic country of Bohemia, featuring treats like creamy svíčková, colossal bread dumplings, pork knuckles, fried carp and goulash. The city has a lot to offer foodies, with its enchanting beer halls, scintillating sweet smells and pleasantly unexpected culinary surprises. While there’s a lot of good food and drink in the city, we personally recommend the following.
Oblaca
Situated in a pod 60 metres or so in the air on the impressive Žižkov Tower, Oblaca’s fine dining fare is just as impressive as its view over the city below. The chef Tomáš Lachman serves up an inspired medley of international foods certain to spellbind diners. Try the sweet Czech goat’s cheese to start, followed by the duck and chocolate mascarpone tower. For fine dining, the price is also pretty reasonable, especially when you consider the view. We recommend booking a table at around sunset for a truly magical experience. You can read our review of the restaurant here.
Read more on their website here.
U Fleků
This famous brewery and restaurant is a beer-lover’s paradise with an ambience that feels like something straight out of Dungeons and Dragons. Serving beer since 1499, the brewery is one of the oldest in Prague and is famous for their signature dark beer, which they swiftly bring over to diners upon entry. It’s a good spot to try Bohemian classics, like pickled hemelin white mould cheese, svíčková and goulash with massive dumplings and almost offensive amounts of beer. Try the mead too if you can and keep an eye out for two cannonballs left over from the Swedish invasion during the Thirty Years’ War. You can read our review of the restaurant here.
Read more on their website here.
U Medvídků
If you wanted somewhere a little less touristy than U Fleků that still serves an impressive selection of classic Czech dishes and on-site brewed beer, head over to U Medvídků, known for their signature super strong beer. They also serve other typical Czech lagers. Try the fried carp (kapr), which is actually a traditional Czech Christmas dish, as well as the fried cheese.
Read more on their website here.
Madame Lyn
Prague isn’t just well-known for its hearty Bohemian classics, thanks to close links with Vietnam that date back to the communist era, a large Vietnamese population has made its home in the city bringing their internationally renowned cuisine with them. One of the earliest and best regarded is Madame Lyn. Try the grilled mussels or chicken satay to start, with duck pho for mains and a cocktail of jackfruit and sugar palm seeds for dessert, followed by a typical Vietnamese coffee. You can read our review of the restaurant here.
Read more on their website here.
Kantýna
If you wanted the definitive meat-eating experience in Prague, look no further. Kantýna is a generally laid back yet large dining establishment where diners can go to several different zones to order their food. There’s one for getting your drinks (with good beer), one for ready cooked food (including moreish potato pancakes, sausages and brisket) and best of all a butcher’s counter where you choose the slice you want and how you want it cooked. You can read our review of the restaurant here.
Read more on their website here.
Pivovar Národní
Opening in 2015, this microbrewery sells classically generous Bohemian dishes alongside a good selection of on-site brewed Czech Lion beer. Try the pork knuckle, a monumental classic that goes beautifully with their lagers. For afters, try the Czech classic little buns with custard. If you didn’t fancy drinking alcohol, try Malinovka or Kofola – two popular sodas created during the communist era that remain common throughout the country today.
Read more on their website here.
Cafe Kampus
A good place to grab a coffee in the day, this cafe and bar also stocks a good selection of Czech spirits to discover as you while away an evening. Cafe Kampus also exhibits artworks and is a friendly and affordable establishment not far from the city centre. When in Prague, you’d be forgiven for thinking that absinthe is the national spirit but if you want an authentic spirit, consider getting Becherovka bitters, Czech rum (made with sugar beets), eggnog, peppermint liqueur or slivovice – fruit brandy popular in Moravia and Slovakia.
Read more on their website here.
Mezi Srnky
After enjoying the good quality beers, wines and spirits produced in the Czech Republic, Mezi Srnky is a godsend – a wholesome healthy food establishment that does a good breakfast to get you ready for the day, along with a good selection of coffees. This was the best coffee we had in Prague. Try the pancakes to get started for a day of exploring the city.
Read more on their website here.
Municipal House Cafe
Set, as you would guess, in the beautiful Municipal House, this cafe is worth a visit even if just for its surroundings. Within a beautiful art nouveau room, this is an elegant spot right in the centre of Prague for trying Czech bakes. Try the medovník (honey cake) and a coffee.
Visit their website here.
There’s a great deal of good food to try in Prague, including traditional trdelník cakes, blue niva cheese and whitebait, while it’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for farmer’s markets at Náplavka on a Saturday. Don’t be afraid pop into your local if you’re staying a little way out of the centre, ours was great for trying classic unpretentious food (this is the place if you’re interested).
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