Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for a weekend getaway. The Czech capital charms visitors with its cobbled lanes, medieval architecture, and castle overlooking the city. There’s also a thriving food scene to explore. If you’re planning a visit, here are 10 restaurants you need to try.
Gallery 44
Gallery 44 believes in changing their culinary offerings by hiring world-renowned chefs four times a year to create unique menus. This winter, tuck into beef tartar, flamed tofu with koumi salsa, and apple sorbet with tobacco mousse and almonds. Gallery 44 is conveniently located on the direct walking route from Old Town Square to the city’s stunning Charles Bridge, so it’s the ideal place to take a break from sightseeing.
Blue Wagon
Blue Wagon is just a short walk away from Prague’s famous Peace Square, home to the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St Ludmila. It offers the perfect setting for a romantic dinner and serves Czech food with a modern European twist. Why not treat someone special to their 5-course tasting menu? Expect dishes that push culinary boundaries, like savoury créme brulée with eel or fallow deer with apple, gingerbread, and polenta.
Meat lovers will find exactly what they are looking for at this popular steakhouse at the Hilton Hotel. Try the locally sourced T-bone or enjoy a grain-fed Australian tomahawk steak which is prepared at your table. The menu has plenty to offer seafood fans and vegetarians, too. We recommend their sea bass in a salt crust or the roasted cauliflower with quinoa, mint, peppers, and pine nuts. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed!
CottoCrudo
After exploring Prague’s historic city centre, enjoy an unforgettable Italian meal at Cotto Crudo, located right beside the Vltava River. Foodies will be wowed by their homemade pasta dishes and artisan products from Tuscany and Piedmont. The restaurant also has a creative cocktail bar and a traditional Italian “Crudo Bar” (meaning “raw”) where chefs prepare fresh seafood and oysters.
Alcron
Alcron is one of the prime fine dining destinations in Prague where talented chef Roman Paulus prepares show-stopping dishes using modern culinary techniques. The award-winning restaurant is visually stunning, too – the walls showcase images of dancing couples by Tamara de Lempicka while candles and a 1930s fireplace give the room a romantic glow.
Madame Lyn
Vietnamese food is always a good idea, so head to Madame Lyn, one of the city’s top Asian restaurants, and tuck into authentic Vietnamese dishes like pho (noodle soup) and Saigon-style grilled pork. We recommend reserving a table in advance – this place is very popular with the locals!
Deer Restaurant
Deer Restaurant has perfected the art of venison dishes – well, the clue is in its name! Head chef Jiří Eberl and his team prepare modern, seasonal dishes influenced by both Czech and international cuisine. Try one of their signature dishes, like the saddle of venison with chestnuts, potato and onion purée, rosemary sponge, and chestnut mousse.
La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise
The award-winning La Degustation serves contemporary dishes inspired by traditional Czech flavours and cooking techniques. The restaurant’s seasonal tasting menu is the ideal way to explore the culinary heritage of Eastern Europe.
Looking for Czech cuisine with a modern twist? Then you should pay SOVA a visit. This family-run restaurant serves dishes like smoked carp salad and veal cheeks stewed in red wine with “brushwood” made from celery, as well as the unusually delicious dark beer sorbet with buckwheat mousse. A meal at SOVA is an unforgettable introduction into the world of modern Czech cuisine.
Eska
We believe you should always start your day with a good breakfast and there is no better place for that in Prague than Eska. Head to this uber-stylish restaurant with a bakery for brunch and sip your coffee alongside local hipsters and arty folk. You can start your day with eggs, spelt granola, or some of their homemade sourdough, which is baked in an Italian oven using a beech wood fire resulting in super soft bread with a crispy crust. Czech it out!
Visit OpenTable to discover more restaurants in Prague.
This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.