Finding somewhere to eat in Prague is both very straightforward and deeply gratifying. Whichever way you turn as you walk through this fantastic city, you’ll be tempted by all kinds of options including typical Czech cuisine and a great selection of international restaurants.
And it makes sense, after all, Prague is one of the most diverse capitals in Europe, visited daily by thousands of people from far-flung corners of the planet, and this leads to healthy competition between Prague’s restaurateurs.
It may sound surprising, but the Czechs’ love of beer also plays an important role in the wide range of places to eat in Prague. A good tankard of beer just doesn’t taste the same without a generous serving of food.
It’s also important to bear in mind the locals’ passion for historic cafés. Many still offer the intellectual atmosphere that flourished at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries and made the city so famous.
For example, the Municipal House, which is very close to Wenceslas Square, still retains its fantastic Modernist decoration. And Café Imperial (Na Poříčí 1072/15) with its eclectic Art Deco style, has some of the best cakes and pastries in Prague.
Where and what to eat in Prague
One of the most popular places to eat in Prague is definitely the street, despite the adverse climate. You’ll find stands, kiosks and the odd food truck in all the main streets, avenues and squares in the Czech capital.
They primarily sell sausages with sauces, clearly a German influence. There are also stands that specialise in chips, which are made in a truly delicious way.
You might be surprised by the roasted meat stands; these generally sell roasted pork drenched in sauce and served with cheese or cooked vegetables. Although this option isn’t the easiest to eat if you’re standing up, it’s definitely a flavoursome and highly nutritious dish.
And make sure you don’t miss the trdelník stands that sell this type of cake on a stick and that have proliferated in Prague’s streets in recent years. They make a great snack between visits to the city’s tourist attractions and are a mouth-watering delight.
But the best way to eat out in Prague is by visiting its beer pubs (vincular a Prague’s beer pubs). Similar in style to taverns, Irish pubs or Spanish bars, having a beer in one of these establishments makes the perfect excuse for catching up with people and having a bite to eat at the same time, with top quality produce.
There are hundreds of beer halls in every neighbourhood in the city and some are truly historic, such as U Fleků (Křemencova, 11), which has continuously been in business since the fifteenth century.
Naturally, when eating out in Prague you can also enjoy its many excellent restaurants, some of which have earned awards by the top international food guides.
Prague restaurants that serve Czech food
It’s hard to choose a selection of top quality restaurants in Prague because, thanks in part to the arrival of tourism in the city, so many excellent chefs and restaurateurs have thrived in the Czech capital.
Some of the best restaurants in Prague
- Alcron (Štěpánská, 623): There is room for just 24 diners who are observed from the walls by vast reproductions of New York scenes painted by Tamara Lempicka. This Michelin-starred restaurant is definitely one of the best dining experiences in Prague.
- Field (U Milosrdných, 12): This restaurant is one of the leading temples to new Czech cooking, which is wonderful and always tasty. The decoration is also impressive with various agricultural tools hanging from the walls as a counterpoint to modern features such as the play of lights.
- La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise (Haštalská, 18): Traditional Czech haute-cuisine made from seasonal produce in a restaurant where minimalism and natural materials are the order of the day, the magnificent wooden tables, for example. Everything you find here is the culinary vision of Oldřich Sahajdák.
- Café Savoy (Vítězná, 124/5): A classic among Prague’s classics. Many come here to enjoy breakfast or tea in a typical Modernist café but its lunch and dinner menus are also highly recommendable. Traditional French and Czech dishes are expertly created by František Skopec and his experienced kitchen team.
Eating cheaply in Prague
As we mentioned above, the best way to eat affordably in Prague is to sample the street food. Don’t worry, cheap doesn’t mean poor quality— in fact quite the opposite is true.
However, if you’d prefer to enjoy your food in comfort, safe from any bad weather, here are some good, economical options:
- U Sádlů (Klimentská, 2): One of the most popular restaurants in historic Prague. It’s located in a medieval building and is a great spot for trying the house beer (Budvar) and Moravia wines along with local culinary specialities.
- U Hrocha (Thunovská, 10/2): Both tourists and locals come to eat in this tavern and even civil servants drop in from nearby Prague Castle (vincular a URL correspondiente). Everyone comes to enjoy the great atmosphere, high quality food and, naturally, the affordable prices.
- Havelská Koruna (Havelská, 501/21): Eating here is surprisingly cheap, especially if you bear in mind that it’s just a stone’s throw away from Old Town Square (vincular a URL correspondiente). Just be warned that at certain times of day (especially lunchtime) the waiting list is enormous. It’s extremely popular with Prague locals, and with good reason!
- Pivnice Štupartská (Štupartská, 745/9): Located in Old Town, this establishment has been serving lunch and dinner since the mid-nineteenth century. The menu mainly has local specialities but also includes dishes from nearby countries, such as goulash served in a round bread.
