Where to Eat and Drink in Prague

I am so glad we included Prague in our Eurotrip. It truly is a magical city, full of excitement, culture, nightlife, and so much rich history.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Old Town Square and everything that we wanted to see was in walking distance from our apartment. We only ended up using public transportation to get to and from the central train station on our first and last days. Most days we walked 20K+ steps, but we really didn’t mind because there was so much to see (and eat!) along the way.

We had many delicious meals in Prague, and we were pleased by how inexpensive everything was compared to food and drinks in Los Angeles. As an example, a pint of beer in Prague was usually less than $2 and a glass of (good!) wine was only $3-4. Can’t complain about that!

Before I launch into my list of where to eat and drink in Prague, I wanted to share one more tip that became very useful to us. Smoking is still allowed in restaurants and bars in Prague, but these establishments are required to place a sticker on their door that states whether or not their restaurant/bar permits it. This is what the stickers look like. If you are sensitive to smoke like I am, then look for the stickers that have the cigarette crossed out in red and say kouření zakázáno. These places are completely smoke-free…and for the record, so is every place I am about to mention.

Alright, let’s get to it!

 

For a healthy breakfast: Cacao

We started nearly every morning at Cacao. It was a one minute walk from our Airbnb, and we really appreciated the plethora of healthy options on the menu. They have everything from fresh juices, acai bowls, eggs, whole-grain bread, avocado toast, and more. If you’re dairy-free, make sure to try their almond milk latte. It was one of the best I’ve ever had! Each morning nearly every table inside was filled, which showed how popular it is with both locals and tourists, like us.

 

For the best burger: Cafe Palanda

All I can say is: get the Beef Reblochon Burger!! It comes with onion confit braised in beer, and HOLY MOLY I wanted to lick those onions off my plate. The burgers are substantial, so go hungry. Travis and I have had our fair share of burgers and we both agree that Cafe Palanda cannot be missed!

 

For seafood lovers: La Bottega Bistroteka

We loved everything about our meal at La Bottega Bistroteka. Both the reviews we read online and the menu that was posted looked great, but it was the service and high-quality ingredients that really blew us away.

Alongside the tables there is a long deli-style counter displaying a variety of freshly prepared salads and desserts. If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, these salads are a great option.

The restaurant also offers a daily selection of meat and fish. Our server brought a platter of the day’s offerings to our table (yes, the raw beef and whole fish), and explained the chef’s preparation for each piece. We ordered the Dover Sole and it was prepared in a lemon-butter sauce with garlic and chives. When it was ready, the server brought the fish to our table and deboned it for us tableside. If you’re a seafood lover the fresh fish at La Bottega Bistroteka is a must order!

Also, ask your server for a wine pairing suggestion. They have a fantastic selection.

 

For Czech wine tasting: Vinotéka u Mouřenína

We had some time to kill before a reservation one afternoon and we just happened upon this fantastic wine bar. We were the only ones inside (it was 4PM on a weekday), so we received incredible attention from the sweet lady pouring the wines.

Travis and I both wanted to try local wines, so I chose a white wine and he selected a red. We both loved our choices, and the total bill was less than $5. Much cheaper than wine tasting in Napa, CA, let me tell you! To top it off, we were served a complimentary cheese platter to enjoy while we sipped our wines. A very nice touch!

 

For a Czech twist on Italian: Pastar

Pastar is both an Italian restaurant and delicatessen. The front portion is the delicatessen, which sells local cheeses, meats, wine and desserts. The next two rooms contain snuggly fit tables, perfect for a cozy Italian dinner with your loved one. We sampled a small portion from each section of the menu: salad, risotto, fish, meat and dessert. The real standouts were the ravioli with smoked chicken and the beef with cauliflower purée and rainbow carrots.

The staff spoke perfect English and were all incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients. It’s clear they all have a passion for food.

Pro Tip: If you visit during a warmer month, Pastar also offers picnic baskets! They provide the food, wine, blanket, and table, so you don’t have to pack a thing. Just pick up your basket and head off to Petrin park or wherever the day takes you. If you’re interested, you can reserve your picnic basket here.

 

For a vegan or vegetarian meal: Vegan’s Prague

If you don’t eat meat, you will probably have some trouble at restaurants in Prague because most menus are geared towards carnivores. Vegan’s Prague was definitely a hike from where we were staying, but it was worth every step. We tried the Gluten-Free Burger with caramelized onions (shown above) and Indonesian Specialty with tempeh and fried rice. Both were so delicious, and honestly some of the best vegan food I’ve ever had (and there is a lot of vegan food in Los Angeles!). The best part was that the portions were incredibly generous, so you won’t leave the restaurant hungry.

 

For traditional Czech cuisine: Cafe Savoy

Cafe Savoy is a very popular Czech restaurant and bakery located in Prague 5. We had a light lunch of salad, soup, and house-made gluten-free bread (which was really good!), but they have items like beef goulash, rabbit, and boar if you’re looking for something more adventurous. Cafe Savoy also serves great coffee and tea if you need a break in between sight-seeing.

 

For a quick and inexpensive lunch: banh-mi-ba

Vietnamese pho and banh mi (sandwiches) seemed to be very popular in Europe, and we ended up eating a lot of Vietnamese cuisine during our trip. banh-mi-ba serves both meat and vegetarian pho, noodle bowls, and banh mi. Everything you see in the photo above plus a bottle of water cost us only $10, which we thought was a steal! Had we not discovered banh-mi-ba on our last day we would have gone back a second time to sample more of the menu. It was really good!

 

 

 

Disclosure: In some cases, I received a complimentary meal in exchange for an honest review. All photos and opinions are my own. I would never include any restaurant that I didn’t genuinely love. As always, thank you for your support!