What are the must-try things in Prague? Czech cuisine. We translate the Czech menu

The beauty of the Czech Republic cannot be fully known without tasting traditional dishes - the national pride of the country. But going into any, even the most modest restaurant, you get lost in front of a huge selection of first and second courses, not to mention the variety of beer snacks, which would be quite enough for a separate menu.

By the way, if you decide to taste all the most delicious and famous dishes of Czech national cuisine, you will have to put up with a couple of extra centimeters on your hips and waist - the food here is very high-calorie, satisfying; Czechs are very fond of meat (poultry, game, pork and beef), cooked in a variety of ways. And the portions in restaurants are so large that it is quite possible to order one dish for two ... it remains only to decide what to order?

We present the TOP 10 most famous and delicious dishes of traditional Czech cuisine, which you should definitely try.

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Baked pork knee

The traditional delicious dish (Рečené vepřové koleno) is comparable to spaghetti in Italy or plov in Uzbekistan and is a real gastronomic brand. Fragrant, juicy, ruddy, ready-made pork knee on the bone weighs almost a kilogram and is ordered, as a rule, for 2-4 people. It is prepared in every restaurant and pub, but it is served differently: with horseradish, tomatoes, garlic and spices, not to mention numerous sauces and gravies.

A baked leg with mustard and horseradish with beer will cost 200 crowns. If you order only a knee, its cost will be 150-160 kroons.

Knedliks

Knedliks are the holy of holies of Czech national cuisine. Although, the most interesting thing is that initially this dish belonged to the Austrian and German cuisines, but today it has become the national dish of the Czech Republic, its culinary symbol. In fact, it is an oblong piece of dough boiled in a large amount of water or steamed (kneaded with flour or with the addition of potatoes), which is then cut across like a loaf and served as a side dish, for example, to the same baked knee. Interestingly, the dumplings themselves are inexpressive and do not have a bright taste, but in combination with meat and sauces, they perfectly absorb all the flavors of the main dish.

Well, if you sprinkle dumplings with sweet berry syrup and decorate with fruits, you get a delicious dessert. Dumplings are inexpensive - from 5 to 20 crowns.

Remember! Portions in the Czech Republic are generous, so do not rush to order everything at once, it is better to take main courses at the rate of one for 2-3 people.

Drowners, clobas, tlachenki

Such beer snacks as croutons, chips or nuts simply fade against the backdrop of a real Czech snack - delicious meat sausages! They are usually served grilled with a variety of sauces.

The most popular sausages that you should definitely try in the Czech Republic are:

Drowners, which on the menu look like utopenci - rather vigorous bacon soaked in vinegar marinade, because of their bright taste, they are used only with beer.

Fried sausages, they are also klobasa - a product that tastes less sharp; these mouth-watering sausages are good on their own, and in combination with a foamy drink they become simply divine.

Tlachenka (and in Czech - tlacenka) is a meat dish resembling strong jelly or brawn, made from pork legs, tongue or offal and consumed with vinegar. When serving, it is flavored with pepper, onion and vinegar.

Advice! In pubs and restaurants in the Czech Republic, they always cook in the morning and serve food only freshly prepared. Therefore, if you want to try the most famous dishes, it is better to go to a meal in the morning or closer to dinner, because. by evening, there is no trace left of the local delicacies of the first demand.

Please note: very often sausages are sold right on the streets of Prague. This is an old tradition, so in the Czech capital it is not at all surprising that there are numerous chewing tourists looking at the sights with a sausage in one hand. Among the street assortment, you should try Bavarian, Old Prague, Prague and Wenceslas sausages, the cost of which ranges from 50 to 80 kroons. The price includes dumplings or bread and sauces: mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup.

Vepro-knedlo-zelo

If you decide to conscientiously taste local delicacies, you won’t get off with one pork knee. Be sure to order at the restaurant such a hearty dish as Vepřo-knedlo-zelo, which is fried pork with stewed cabbage, served with dumplings.

Usually, for cooking, portioned parts of the shoulder blade or loin are used, marinated in spices and first fried in a pan, and then baked in the oven. During the roasting process, the pork is poured with broth and the resulting juice, so that as a result the meat is very tender and juicy, literally melting. Czechs are generally very fond of and skillfully cook pork, which, moreover, is much cheaper than lamb or beef meat. Well, stewed cabbage for a side dish is a classic of the genre, just like in Germany.

You can order this legendary dish from the Strahov Monastery for some 140 crowns.

Czech soups

To be in the Czech Republic and not taste the local soups - polevki - is a real crime. The first dishes here are very hearty, rich, home-style delicious. They can rightly be considered the property of the country. Liquid transparent soups are not about Czechs, no. Thick first courses are respected here, and vegetable purees, semolina or flour mash are usually added to create the appropriate consistency. An unusual ingredient used in soups and giving an interesting taste can be called fried yeast.

Note! Soups are often served in a bread loaf - be sure to try it, it's very beautiful, but most importantly - delicious!

The most popular first courses in the Czech Republic are:

Česnečka - fragrant and unusually tasty soup with garlic and smoked meats,

Pivní polévka - an original beer soup served with cheese toasts,

Bramboračka - the famous potato and mushroom soup; by the way, it is this, according to tradition, that is served in bread,

Kulajda - a thick soup with mushrooms and potatoes, flavored with sour cream, served with a boiled egg.

A portion of Czech soup costs from 40 crowns and more.

Goulash

It would seem that what makes the traditional dish of Hungary in the list of the most popular dishes of Czech cuisine? In fact, the Czechs have long borrowed it for themselves and really love and respect it. In catering establishments, you can find a variety of variations of goulash - it is prepared from traditional beef and pork, but also from veal, rabbit, lamb and cold cuts. There are Segedin, rural, hunting, Slovak, Hungarian and other types of goulash. We advise you to try one of its variations in authentic Czech establishments - this is not a tourist dish, so it is easiest to find it in restaurants oriented towards locals.

The cost of 200 gr, for example, Pilsen beef goulash with dumplings, is 100-120 kroons.

Fried carp

Despite the fact that the Czechs are ardent fans of pork in any form, fish is also respected here. It is especially recommended to try fried carp (on the menu - pečený kapr) - this dish is an indispensable element of the Christmas festive table. You should also not refuse baked trout - Pečený pstruh.

It costs 1 fish 110-150 crowns.

Olomouc curds

Cheese is loved in the Czech Republic, especially as a beer snack. Be sure to try the soft Germelin cheese, which resembles Camembert with its white mold, as well as varieties such as Pivni Syr and Zlata Niva.

But the most important cheese dish, which is to be tasted first of all, is Olomuk cheese curds fried in breadcrumbs. By itself, Olomouka cheese is made only in the Czech Republic and has a specific unpleasant smell, which, however, completely disappears when frying. Olomouc curds go especially well with beer and ordinary rye bread with onions.

A portion of fried cheese (150 gr) with Tatar sauce will cost 120-150 kroons.

Trdlo

You can taste trdelnik, or trdlo, he is also a “fool”, basically only on the street. This sweet pastry is made from rich yeast dough, which is wound on a metal rolling pin and fried on the grill or in the oven. The finished trdlo is removed from the rolling pin and sprinkled with sugar, poppy seeds, chopped nuts or fragrant coconut flakes.

Interestingly, similar pastries, though under different names, are baked and sold on the streets of Hungary and Slovakia.

One trdlo costs 45-50 kroons, and if you supplement its taste with nutella, then 60 kroons.

Strudel

Despite the fact that there are many national desserts in the Czech Republic (vanochki, kolache, etc.), the leader in taste and demand is the good old German-Austrian strudel, which you can recognize on the menu by the word “závin”.

It is prepared here at the highest level, wrapping a variety of fillings in thinly rolled unleavened dough: fruits, berries, cottage cheese, etc.

I offer you a convenient list of Czech cuisine. Just print it out and take it with you to Czech restaurants.

The fact that Czech beer is one of the best in the world is undeniable. But the Czech people are not rich in beer alone. The national cuisine of the Czech Republic is able to surprise even the most distinguished gourmet with its variety. You can taste the most popular national dishes in any Czech restaurant or pub (popularly referred to as "hospoda").

Before you start choosing dishes from Jídelní lístek, order a glass of beer to your taste. Usually, most Czech restaurants offer their customers several types of draft beer (točené pivo) from the same brewer.

Sipping a coveted mug of your favorite beer, you can start to study the menu. In any Czech gentleman or restaurant, the waiter will bring you:

jídelniček (yidelniček) - food menu
pitníček (pittnichek) - a menu with drinks.

So, what do Czech chefs offer us to taste?

The first section of any idelnichek is Něco na začatek

Něco na začátek - literally translated into Russian - for starters. In this section, your attention is presented to a large assortment of light snacks for beer:

Masové prkénko (meat platter) - neatly sliced bacon, ham, sausage, and added pickles and pickled peppers for spiciness.
Sýrové prkénko (cheese platter) - sliced of your choice of cheeses. Most often it is a field, romadur, eden or hermelin.
Pivni sýr obložený is a bread spread with an original appetizer made from beer cheese, sprat, onion, butter and with a drop of beer.
Topinky s křupavou slaninou a česnekem - toast with crispy bacon and garlic.
Tatarský biftek z lososa na salátovém lůžku s opečenou bagetkou - raw minced salmon with fried long loaf. Served on a lettuce leaf.
Hovězí tatarák s topinkami - fried bread with raw minced beef.
Vltavský utopenec is a delicious marinated sausage.
Tlačenka s cibulí a octem - spicy brawn with onion and vinegar.
Grilované klobásky s křenem a hořice - delicious meat sausages grilled until crispy. Served with horseradish and spicy mustard.

Hot snacks for beer

In the section "Hot snacks for beer" you can find the following:

Smažený hermelín - Hermelin cheese, breaded on all sides and garnished with lingonberry sauce. Despite the unusual combination of ingredients, the taste of fried hermeline is a real pleasure.
Grilovaný hermelín is a variation of the previous dish. The difference is that the cheese is grilled. Usually served with vegetables and sweet and sour sauce.
Houbové (zeleninové) rizoto - mushroom (vegetable) risotto.
Zapečené smetanové brambory s listovým špenátem - boiled potatoes with spinach in a light sour cream sauce.

Let's move on from appetizers to main courses.

Soups – Polevky

Vepřo-knedlo-zelo is the most common pork dish in Czech cuisine. This is oven-baked pork with dumplings and stewed cabbage. Before serving, “veprsho-knedlo-green” is poured abundantly with gravy.
Pečené vepřové koleno (HIT!) – pork knuckle baked in the oven with horseradish and mustard. If you order “pechen veprshov knee” in a restaurant, be prepared for the fact that it is simply not possible to eat it alone. The dish is very popular!
Pečený vepřový bok - prepared in the same way as the previous dish, only from the pork side.
Pečená vepřová žebírka v medu is a dish that combines the unusual taste of baked pork ribs and sweet bee honey. There are a lot of ribs in one serving. By the way, "veprshov's zhebirka baked in honey" was once considered the food of the poor. Yes, poor Czechs lived well!
Staročeská Bašta is a difficult-to-prepare cold cuts dish. It includes baked pork, roast duck meat, smoked neck and baked sausages. From vegetables - stewed white and red cabbage, as well as potato cakes and bread dumplings. One serving of "old bashta" is enough to feed several hungry men.
Vepřová panenka s houbovou omáčkou - the word panenka in the context of the name of the dish means "chrysalis". So the Czechs call the meatloaf, richly poured with mushroom sauce.
Přírodní vepřový řízek na pepři – grilled pork. As a rule, the meat is well seasoned with a mixture of ground peppers.
Vepřová kotleta v omáčce - despite the fact that the name of the dish contains the word kotleta, this dish is prepared from a whole piece of pork, which, as you might guess, is poured with sauce.
Vepřový guláš is a delicious pork goulash. Veprshovy goulash is served with bread or potato dumplings.
Královský meč - such a majestic name was given by the Czechs to meat skewers strung on a skewer in the shape of a sword. Often in restaurants they offer to taste barbecue not from one, but from several types of meat at once. The standard set is pork, beef, lamb plus vegetables.
Pečená vepřová játra is nothing more than pork liver cooked in the oven.
Moravský vrabec - under this somewhat unusual name - "Moravian sparrow" - hides pork baked in pieces.

As you can see, Czech national meat dishes are very diverse and original. But there are quite usual steaks (Vepřový steak) and pork schnitzels (Vepřový řízek) in the menu of restaurants.

Beef

Here are the most interesting Czech delights from beef meat:

Svíčková na smetaně - deliciously cooked beef tenderloin, floating in an amazing sour cream sauce. "Svichkova on sour cream" is served with a slice of lemon, soft cream, berry jam (usually lingonberry) and dumplings.
Biftek naložený v barevném pepři s omáčkou – this dish consists of bischftex and garnish neatly laid out on a plate with colorful peppers.
Pivovarský guláš is my favorite dish, beef goulash. Served with dumplings and gravy.
Rumpsteak s bylinkovým máslem - beef rumpsteak in oil and spices.
Čertovy roštěnky (devil's rostenki) - such an interesting name is spicy roast beef in the Czech Republic.
The Czechs call beef meat baked in a pot Moravský hrnec, and beef steak Hovězí steak.

Mutton

The menu of Czech restaurants has a lot of game dishes (Zvěřina).

Bažant na víně - pheasant (bazhant) in a light wine sauce.
Bažantí prsa s hruškami - pheasant breasts baked with pears.
Divočák na pivě se zelím - beer-cooked wild boar with crispy cabbage.
Polada s divočáka - wild boar meat roll.
Dančí guláš - doe meat goulash.
Jelení guláš - reindeer goulash.
Pečená koroptev - partridge baked to a crispy crust.
Pečená srnčí kýta - baked chamois leg.
Kanec na česneku - wild boar meat baked with a lot of garlic.
Jelení řízky na víně - reindeer steak with wine sauce.
Zaječí Paštika - pâté made from hare meat.

Bird (Drubež)

The Drůbež section of the yidelniček has a lot of delicious poultry dishes.

Francouzská paštika z kachních jater is the most famous delicacy in this section. The famous foie gras pate made from duck liver is highly valued by gourmets all over the world.

The following dishes are no less exquisite:

Kachna s ořechy po čínsku - Chinese-style duck with nuts.
Kachni prsa s mangem - duck breasts baked with exotic mango.
Pečená kachna s pomerančem a jablky - duck baked according to a traditional recipe with apples and oranges.
Kuřecí křidélka - crispy chicken wings. A variety of sauces are served with kurzhechi krzhidelka.
Pečená kachna - duck cooked in the oven. In the Czech Republic, “pechena kahna” is traditionally served with dumplings.
Krutí steak - turkey steak.
Kuřecí plátek, steak, medailonky, řízečky - fillet, steak or chicken slices.
Pečená husa s ovocem - goose baked in the oven with fruit.

Fish (Ryba)

In the best restaurants in the Czech Republic, you can find a wide range of dishes from river and sea fish. So, what delicious to expect from the "Ryba" section?

Pečený pstruh is a classic of the genre, baked trout.
Tradiční smažený kapr - no less traditional dish - fried carp.
Pečený kapr na česneku - carp baked with garlic.
Grilovaný platýs - grilled flounder.
Uzený kapr s křenovou omáčkou - smoked carp. It comes with horseradish sauce.
Smažená treska v pivním těstíčku - batter-fried cod. By the way, beer is added to the batter.
Pečený candát s houbovou omáčkou - pike perch cooked in the oven with mushroom sauce
Pečený candát se sýrovou omáčkou - the same pike perch, only with cheese sauce.
Grilovaný mořský jazyk na másle - grilled sole with butter.
Pečený tuňák - baked tuna.
Pečený losos na smetaně a česneku - salmon in sour cream and garlic sauce.
Kalamari na česneku - squid meat with garlic.
Pečený úhoř podávaný se šalvějovým máslem is a delicacy of baked eel. Served on the table with sage oil.
Grilovaná štika s bylinkovým máslem - grilled pike with spices.

side dishes

Meat, game, fish - it's all good. And how are things with side dishes? So, what can be found in the “Garnishes” (Přílohy) section. The list of side dishes offered by Czech chefs is very large:

Krokety are deep-fried balls made from potato dough.
Kari plátky - potatoes with curry seasoning, cut into circles and deep fried.
Hranolky are deep-fried potato figurines.
Rösti is a mixture of potatoes and parmesan, deep fried until golden brown.
Vařeny brambor - well, everything is very banal here - it's boiled potatoes.
Americké brambory - potatoes boiled in their jackets, cut into large pieces and deep fried.
Kořeněné americké brambory - the same as the previous dish, only with spices.
Pečený brambor v alobalu - potatoes baked in foil.
Bramborová kaše is a traditional puree.
Šťouchané brambory se slaninou - potatoes stuffed with lard.
Bramboráčky - Bramborové placky - fried potato cakes. Prepared from grated raw potatoes.
Vařena zelenina - a variety of boiled vegetables.
Dušená rýže - boiled rice.
Máslová brokolice - broccoli in oil.
Fazolové lusky na slanině - beans fried on cracklings.
Topinky, tousty - crispy toast and croutons.

As you can see, Czech restaurants have dishes for every taste and budget. But that's just cook them not 5 minutes.

What if time is running out? For example, to have lunch, you have only half an hour. In this case, choose dishes from the section “Ready meals” (Hotova jídla). Here you can find several types of the first, second and garnish.

We find out how much a trip to the capital of the Czech Republic costs in 2019. We study the prices for food in Prague (shops, cafes and restaurants), fares, prices for hotels and tickets, for excursions and attractions. We calculate how much a week of rest in Prague costs.

Exchange rate: 1 Czech crown (CZK) ≈ 3 RUB.

How much is a ticket to Prague

Flights to Prague from Moscow are inexpensive - there are always direct flights for 9-13 thousand rubles round trip. Flying from St. Petersburg is a little more expensive - 11-16 thousand rubles.

The cheapest flights are usually for flights with transfers (in Kyiv, Riga and other European cities). For example, AirSerbia has cheap tickets with a transfer in Belgrade - from 8-9 thousand rubles.

Flights "Victory". The Russian low-cost airline does not yet fly to Prague, but there are flights to and - you can buy cheap tickets for a promotion, and take a bus from these cities. We were just returning to Moscow not from Prague, but went to Vienna for a day and Bratislava for a day - we looked at the cities and flew away with Pobeda. It's short and easy, plus you'll see other cities in one trip.

Don't forget about insurance! It will save you from expenses in case of emergency. Issue it on services or. Cost - from 300 rubles per week.

Prices for tours to Prague - 2019

How much does a tour to Prague cost? Tickets are inexpensive. In spring and summer, the cheapest tours for two cost 30-40 thousand rubles. Vouchers to 3 * and 4 * hotels cost about the same - from 45-55 thousand, and in 5 * are already much more expensive - from 90 thousand rubles.

Hot tours search on services and - they will find the best deals among different tour operators. Want to save? Explore ours.

You can save by early booking and buying a last-minute tour. Traditionally, prices for vouchers increase in summer and on winter holidays.

Food prices in Prague - 2019

Prices in cafes and restaurants in Prague

Food prices in Prague are low. The cost of dishes depends on the level of the establishment. We will consider budget cafes, pubs and restaurants of the middle class.

How much does it cost to eat in Prague? A budget breakfast costs about 70-140 CZK. Often in hotels it is already included in the price. Lunch in Prague costs 70-200 kroons and is a business lunch ( denni nabidka): main course, salad, dessert and drink. This is the main meal, the portions are hearty and large. Dinner at a tourist restaurant costs 1000-1500 CZK for two. If you want to save money on dinner, look for pubs - you can not only drink beer in them, but also eat inexpensively (snacks cost about 100-150 kroons per person).

By the way, try the local hot dogs (15-40 CZK) - it's a good snack. A cup of coffee in a restaurant costs 40-60 CZK. Cheaper to buy coffee in vending machines or takeaway (20-40 CZK). Kebab costs from 70 crowns.

How much is a beer in Prague

Beer in Prague is cheap (even with the current ruble exchange rate). Drinks are presented in napojový listek. Prices vary depending on the variety and beer. Draft beer can be bought in the range of 30-45 kroons for 0.5 liters. A bottle of beer in the store costs 8-25 crowns.

We fell in love with pivnice U Járy in Zizkov, where they offer a dense Pardubice porter (Porter 19°) for 45 CZK. We are not alcohol drinkers, but this porter blew us away.

Food prices in Prague in 2019

Prices for food and groceries in Prague are average and may vary in different stores. Here is an example of prices in the Albert store where we usually bought groceries:

Prices for hotels in Prague in 2019

Hostels. Prices for hostels in Prague start from 8 euro per person per night in a shared room - for example, we recommend Residence V Tunich 14, located in Prague 2, near the Old Town. In Prague, in general, hostels are almost everywhere.

Hotels. Prices for hotels in the center of Prague during the high season start around from 35 euro. It is cheaper to rent a double room in a hostel (from 23 euros), but the bathroom will be shared. In a 3 * hotel - from 40 euros. Living outside the center is cheaper - hotel apartments cost from 21 euros. We have a selection and.

Personal experience. We lived in the excellent Royal Court Hotel 3 * for 32 euros near Wenceslas Square. We also rented a cozy apartment in Zizkov for 27 euros per day.

Studio in Prague where we lived. Photo © airbnb.ru / Central Modern Pop Art Music Studio.

Fares in Prague - 2019

It is better to travel around the city by public transport - fares are low. There are metro, buses and trams. Here is how much transport tickets cost in Prague:

for 30 minutes - 24 crowns;
for 90 minutes - 32 crowns;
for 24 hours - 110 kroons;
for 3 days - 310 kroons;
for 1 month - 670 kroons.

Tickets are valid for all types of transport. During the specified time, you can change as much as you like. At the entrance, the ticket must be validated. You can buy a ticket at a vending machine, ticket office or kiosks.

How much does a taxi cost in Prague? Landing - 40 kroons, price per km - 20-28 kroons. A taxi to Prague Airport costs 400-800 CZK, so use public transport. If you have large luggage, you can order a transfer on the Kiwi Taxi website - you can choose the type of car on the service.

(photo © Charlotte90T / flickr.com)

Prices for excursions in Prague - 2019

In Prague, locals offer many interesting excursions. There are even free ones in English. Groups usually gather at the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares.

Here is how much tours in Prague cost:

"Magic and mysticism of Prague" - 15 euros.
Cesky Krumlov and Gluboka nad Vltavou Castle - 33 euros.
"Hidden Prague and Dungeons" - 15 euros.
Beer quest in Prague - 40 euros.

Many excursions are offered from Prague, mostly for groups. They are inexpensive: to Vienna - from 47 euros, Dresden - from 26 euros, Paris - from 110 euros, to Bavaria for 2 days - 122 euros.

Prices for attractions in Prague

The main place of attraction for all tourists in Prague is. From there it is easy to get to, the Jewish Quarter, to Wenceslas Square, to, to the Charles Bridge (and from there to).

Much can be seen for free, much is cheap. Here are the prices for some popular attractions:

How much is a trip for 3, 5 and 7 days to Prague?

It is difficult to calculate how much a trip to Prague for 3, 5 and 7 days costs - there are many nuances that are difficult to take into account. Someone is not ready to live in a common room in a hostel, and someone does not want to eat in budget establishments. In addition, everyone has different spending on transport and entertainment. But we still calculated the minimum that would be obtained with a budget independent trip to Prague.

The minimum includes:

flight from Moscow with a transfer and back - 3200 kroons (9000 rubles);
visa and service fee - 1530 kroons (35+25 euros);
three meals a day at minimum prices - 270 kroons per day (10.5 euros);
hotel accommodation for one person - 450 crowns per day (17.5 euros);
main attractions - 825 crowns (32 euros).

Everyone has different needs, so the amount is conditional. However, it gives an idea of how much a week in Prague costs, if you are content with little and save.

How much does a trip to Prague cost per person:

- 7720 kroons (303 euros or 23500 rubles);
for 5 days - 9160 kroons (360 euros or 28000 rubles);
for 7 days - 10,600 kroons (415 euros or 32,000 rubles).

Cost of our trip to Prague amounted to 35,000 rubles (at the euro exchange rate - 70 rubles) for 8 full days for two without air tickets (we flew to Prague from Amsterdam - we had a big European tour). Our expenses were:

Tower at the Charles Bridge in Prague.

How to save money in Prague

Tickets. Buy in advance, try to catch stocks or fly Pobeda to Karlovy Vary or Bratislava - and see new cities and save money.
Hot tours. The cheapest tours to Prague usually involve staying in hotels far from the center. This is not a problem, because there is public transport - if you are not afraid of it, feel free to take such inexpensive tours.
Housing. Check out Skyscanner Hotels discounts and Airbnb deals - we booked a great 4* hotel with almost 50% off.
Nutrition. Food in Prague is quite cheap, and here you need to save a lot. One way or another, eat in cafes away from the most touristy streets, look for business lunches on a promotion, visit Chinese restaurants and pubs for locals. Booking a hotel with breakfast is convenient and profitable.
Attractions. It is not necessary to spend money on excursions in Prague - you can see almost everything yourself. If you need to reduce spending, then visit paid attractions as little as possible, walk more around the city, parks, see temples.

Intro image source: © zbdh12 / flickr.com.

One of the main attractions of Prague is the Czech national cuisine. In truth, there are no original dishes as such in the Czech Republic - “boar knee”, it is also popular in Bavaria, goulash beloved by Czechs came from Hungary, sausages that are sold in Prague on every corner are a purely Austrian theme . But here it is prepared somehow especially tasty. I must say right away that for all 3 days in the Czech capital we did not meet a single frankly tasteless restaurant.

Old Town Square - the most delicious restaurants in Prague are concentrated around it

This article will be about where to eat in Prague. Naturally, a separate part of it will be devoted to where to drink here, because there are almost legends about the famous Czech beer and the old pubs of Prague.

Beer restaurants in Prague

Yes, yes, in every Prague institution you will be poured a mug of beer and it is possible that everywhere it will be, if not outstanding, then at least pleasant. But in this chapter we will talk about places where beer seemed especially tasty to us, but at the same time the food was decent (that's why we called the chapter - "Restaurants", and not purely "Beer Prague")

U Zlaty K vice

This restaurant is very conveniently located - practically on the Old Town Square, but at the same time, it is not a checkpoint. We noticed that the guests did not come here "along the way", but mainly - according to a preliminary reservation, and this, verified, is a sign of a good establishment.

I also remember the interior of all the cafes and restaurants in Prague that I visited, the style of U Zlaty Konvice was the most memorable for me - this is a classic establishment of Czech cuisine in a "hunting style", with stuffed animals, horns, bear skins on half a wall, heavy wooden furniture. In general, atmospheric, authentic.

Restaurant U Zlaty Konvice

Menu: in U Zlaty Konvice it is varied and convenient - translated into several languages of the world and all positions in it are numbered. That is, you choose a dish that you like in your language and simply tell the waiter its number.

Here is a very tender and tasty knuckle ("Boar's knee"). True, the side dish for it is weak - a couple of pickled hot peppers. If you want the most delicious stewed cabbage, then you need to order separately. I also recommend trying the Old Bohemian garlic soup, according to rumors, it is very tasty.

From beer in U Zlaty Konvice we tried Krušovice. It is soft and absolutely not bitter. It does not have any pronounced aftertaste, but this lightness and the absolute absence of bitterness captivate. And yes, liter beer mugs are certainly strong 🙂

Place address: Melantrichova 477/22

Prices, as in many restaurants in Prague, are not very high (compared to other European capitals), given that the portions are very large. For dinner for two, they left about 800 CZK (30 euros)

U tri ruzi

Another national beer restaurant in the center of Prague, where you can eat tasty and inexpensive. By the way, it was recommended to us by locals, and this is already a certain level of trust in the institution.

I’ll immediately emphasize that in U tri ruzi (literally “At three roses”) there are 3 floors, remember, THREE. Simply, there is an assumption that the waiters of each floor receive a percentage of the profits of their particular floor, so the “ground floor” staff does not really talk about the availability of more halls, which is very strange - there is a queue at the entrance, the waiters ask to wait for empty seats, tables on the 2nd and The 3rd floor is empty. We just knew about this fact, so almost alone were sitting on the 2nd floor.

Restaurant U Tri Ruzi

"At Three Roses" has a very good cuisine - a meaty, large knuckle, served with stewed sauerkraut, goulash in bread is very tender and satisfying, and in addition to meat dishes, tasty Russian-style pickles are served.

The beer is also good, but not as memorable as in U Zlaty Konvice.

Address: Husova 232/10

U Fleku (U Fleku)

Legendary Prague restaurant-brewery with almost 500 years of history. There are always a lot of people here, there are almost no places, despite the very large area and several halls. And the reason for this excitement is one - beer. I am not a connoisseur and not a fan of this drink, but now I recognize the taste of beer from the U Fleck brewery out of 1000. It is absolutely not bitter and has some unusual taste, very similar to coffee. It is precisely these notes of coffee that make U Fleck beer unusual and memorable.

Restaurant-brewery U Fleku

At U Fleck, guests are not given the right to choose a drink, when you sit down at the table, they immediately bring you a mug of beer and only then the menu. There are a lot of people, a lot of waiters (at the same time they manage to devote time to all guests and even joke), there is a lot of noise, there is still a feeling of a conveyor, but I suggest not paying attention to this, but making noise and having fun with everyone. Here is the atmosphere of a real Czech beer house, and if you prefer restaurants where you can ride a ball, then definitely not here - sit in some lounge bar in Moscow City, on Tuesday afternoon 🙂

The food at U Fleku is not as outstanding as beer, but decent - sausages, fried loin, Czech potato pancakes (I wonder if Belarusians know that there are also Czech potato pancakes?), very hearty soups (potato and garlic).

In U Fleck, by appointment, you can book an excursion to the brewery itself. They drive only groups of 10 people and only at a certain time - from 10:00 to 16:00. The cost of the tour is 200 CZK per person.

Address: Kremencova 1651/11

In general, we had limited time, so we managed to visit these establishments from the pubs. We were also very, very recommended to the Peklo restaurant, which is located in the Strahov Monastery. The beer is said to be one of the best in the Czech Republic. Forums and thematic sites spoke well of the pubs U Medvidku (At Medvidku) and Vytopna (beer and cuisine are ordinary here, but they are not served by waiters, but toy trains are transported along the railway that runs through the entire restaurant).

Romantic restaurants in Prague

It would seem that Prague is purely about “filling the belly with inhuman portions, pouring it all with beer, making noise and falling off,” but no, this city has many quiet cozy places where you can easily spend an evening-date or just sit nicely.

Casserol

A restaurant in the very center of the city with refined, by Czech standards, cuisine. Portions are served intricately, beautifully decorated, the waiters are very friendly, they will tell you in detail about the entire menu, they will advise something.

Preparing dishes for serving at the Casserol restaurant

Here you can drink good wine (even order a tasting), eat dishes with a touch of national cuisine, but those that you will not find anywhere else in the city - ribs with honey and onion sauce, duck with potato and garlic, tender lamb meat.

In general, there is no recklessness of Czech pubs here, everything is cozy, quiet, elegant and each guest has his own approach. As is clear from everything written above - we liked it, we recommend it.

Address: Karlova 147/44

Velkoprevorsky mlin

A small restaurant very close to the Charles Bridge on the side of the Prague Castle.

I don't really recommend the local cuisine - good but nothing outstanding and the prices are not the cheapest. But! It is definitely worth sitting here and drinking a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, because the place is very atmospheric - both the interior, and the veranda, and the main highlight of the place is the wheel of the old mill, which slowly spins in the river. The noise of the water, the view of the Charles Bridge, the beautiful interior - a great combination.

Restaurant - a windmill at the entrance and a veranda in the shade of trees

I have friends who celebrated their wedding anniversary here. So yes, it is for such events that this place is suitable.

Address: Hroznova 489/3

U Zlate Studne

Well, according to tradition, a little about panoramic restaurants. We have already talked briefly about Prague view restaurants, in particular about U Prince in the article , here we will focus on U Zlate Studne. The restaurant is located near the Prague Castle and has a beautiful viewing terrace. But at the same time, it is still delicious. Not cheap, of course, as in all similar restaurants, but the combination of cuisine, level of service and the panorama of the most beautiful city in Europe is definitely worth it.

Restaurant U Zlate Studne

Menu, so to speak "luxury": Foie gras, Canadian lobster, black sturgeon caviar. There is a tasting set, but you can also order "a la carte".

It is better to book a table in such a place in advance.

Address: Prague 1 - Mala Strana. 4th floor of Golden Well Hotel

Prague street food

In the Czech capital, very tasty food in small street stalls and eateries. These are classic apples in caramel with gingerbread and national trdelniki, which can be found at every step.

Trdelnik (or Trdlo) is such a traditional Czech pastry, similar to an incompletely twisted Synabona bun. A delicious thing, especially if you take it with some additives - ice cream, vanilla cream or Nutella. The average cost of one trdelnik is 60-65 CZK.

This is what trdeltiki look like - the most popular street food in Prague

Also, all the central streets of Prague smelled of pork, because in small open-air eateries they make a knuckle here (only they don’t serve it whole, as in restaurants, but cut it into pieces) and fry sausages. You can often find fried cheese and potato pancakes.

Fair on the Old Town Square

Conclusion

As you understood from the text above, we fell in love with Czech cuisine, in my opinion, even more than with Italian. Everything here is simple, but tasty and very satisfying. In Prague, inexpensive beer bars, small cafes, and fashionable restaurants are homely, cozy and hospitable.

Thinking through your own, allocate at least 40% of the time to get to know the local cuisine, it is really worth it.

PS: If the article was useful to you, you can thank me by booking a hotel for the trip by going to Booking , Thank you!

There are many temptations in Prague: you want to see as many sights as possible, go on excursions, visit museums and theaters. And, of course, try beer, desserts and other culinary delights of Czech cuisine.

You can eat and drink a drink in establishments with signs in Czech: Restaurace, Cafe, Vinarna (wine bar), Občerstvení (snack bar), Pivnica (beer house), Kavarna (coffee house), Jídelna (canteen). There are also fast food restaurants in Prague , pizzerias, grill bars.

The food is delicious, and the prices here are lower than in other European capitals. As in any city where there are many visitors visiting attractions, the rule in Prague is that the farther from the center and the main tourist flow, the cheaper the prices.

So, how to eat cheaply in Prague? Since this problem is most relevant for the city center, where the main tourist flow moves, we will focus on establishments in this part of the capital.

food on the street

There is fast food in every tourist city, and in Prague too. The local street food is incredibly tasty and tempting, so you should definitely try it, especially if you are in a hurry somewhere and there is no time to sit in a cafe. Trust the aroma of fried sausages and freshly baked cinnamon trdelniks. By the way, trdelnik will be made right in front of your eyes, and as a filler, you can choose a scoop of ice cream.

Small eatery cafes in Prague are common, and there you can have a quick and inexpensive meal, keeping within just 5 euros. Smazak fried cheese sandwich, Palačinky Czech pancakes, fillet with vegetables (Svičková), sweet rolls (Trdelnik) or honey cake (Medovnik) will help satisfy your hunger. And after 2-3 hours, you will probably allow yourself to go to a restaurant and sit there for as long as you want.

Canteens, pizzerias, bistros

There are also canteens in Prague, there are few of them in the central part, but they are more common away from the tourist flow. Remember the names: Jidelna, Lahudky, Obcerstveni, Havelska Koruna. There are canteens in the Globus, Ikea hypermarkets, in the Svetozor passage. These establishments have affordable prices, one person can eat well for 100-150 kroons and even try some Czech dishes. For example, potato dumplings with meat - only 66 kroons.

Havelská Koruna is a bistro-restaurant on Havelska Street. Here you can walk and choose your dishes, the code and weight will be written down on a piece of paper, and you will pay at the exit, after lunch or dinner. The portions are great and the beer is amazing.

The Jarmark self-service restaurant is located in the Lucerna passage. Many dishes are prepared in front of visitors. The menu has meat, fish, fried potatoes, soups, salads, a good selection of freshly squeezed juices.

Cheap Asian Restaurants

The easiest way to quickly and inexpensively eat in the Czech capital is to go to any Asian restaurant. There are similar establishments in all major shopping centers. For example, in the Palladium shopping center, not far from the Powder Gate, on the top floor there is a Makakio restaurant with dishes of Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Thai cuisine. It has a moving buffet and reasonable prices.

There are similar restaurants in other parts of Prague. And if you live, for example, near the Nový Smíchov shopping center, you can always have dinner there, returning to the hotel. And once in the area of the Asian market Sapa, dine at the local restaurant QuánHàiHà. Fans of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine are advised to visit VietFlavor. You will be deliciously fed in these establishments for only 140-150 kroons.

Pivnitsy, gentlemen

Pivniki in the Czech capital are found at every turn, these are the most popular establishments. Beer is delicious everywhere, but prices vary depending on the status and location of the pub or restaurant. Some establishments are proud that famous people liked to visit here: the good soldier Svejk visited U Kalicha, and Vaclav Havel and Bill Clinton met at the U Zlatehotygra restaurant.

The oldest and most famous pubs in Prague - U Fleku, U svateho Tomase, Pivovar U Medvídků, Pivovarskýdům - have an excellent reputation, but the prices there are rather high. Of course, it would be worth stopping by at least once and trying an exotic kind of drink (for example, nettle beer or champagne).

Gentlemen are very popular in Prague - these establishments are a cross between a restaurant and a pub. In the vicinity of the Old Town Square is U Pivrnce with an original interior and caricatures on the walls. There are always a lot of Czechs here, a good menu with beer, reasonable prices.

Not far from Wenceslas Square is the UFerdinanda restaurant, which you will surely remember not only for its original interior, but also for delicious dishes, croutons with spicy cheese, and Sedmkuli (“Seven Bullets”) herbal beer. Dinner for two for 500 crowns is not bad for Prague.

If you find yourself in the Karlovonanamesti metro area, be sure to check out Pivovarsky Dum (Brewery House). There are all sorts of beer, including unusual ones, for example, with champagne. You can have a good meal by choosing a national Czech dish with sauerkraut.

You can enjoy a drink in ordinary pubs, where the beer is just as tasty, but the prices are lower. The Novomestki Pivovar beer bar has several halls, including on the terrace and in the basement, there is a varied menu and good service. In the small brewery Pivovarský klub, which is not far from the Florenc bus station, there are more than 150 types of drink. Beer is served with traditional Czech snacks - cold cuts, pickles. In front of the climb to Vysehrad, there is a cafe with a large terrace called PodSlavinem. There is a good selection of dishes, excellent portions and low prices. For example, one serving of meat shank for 150 kroons is enough for two.

In such establishments there are always a lot of locals who love to drink beer and chat.

Business lunch in a restaurant

In the windows of expensive restaurants, you can often see the inscriptions Polednímenu, Dennínabídka, Poledínabídka indicating the time interval. This means that set meals are served here, and at certain hours it is worth coming here for a business lunch. The cost of a set (soup + second course) is about 150 kroons. A visit to such an establishment will not only satisfy your hunger, but also see the interior of a good Prague restaurant. It is quite possible that you will come here again to try Czech dishes of your choice.

Business lunch is offered by many restaurants in the center of Prague. At Potrefenahusa, you can enjoy wild boar goulash, pork, turkey with rice or potatoes at lunchtime. VáclavkaPizzaRestaurant serves cabbage soup, beef steak, meat schnitzel, chicken or turkey with pasta. At the Mincovna restaurant on Staromestskaya for lunch, onion soup, grilled pork medallions and chicken schnitzel with vegetable stew. On Karlovonam. in the Donna III pizzeria, the business lunch menu includes fried sausages, peppers with cheese, and minestrone soup.

Well, if you find yourself far from the center, for example, in the Pivovarskýklub area on Křižíkova Street, then by all means go to this place at lunchtime. For 340-350 kroons, a business lunch is served here from first and second courses to choose from - you can take Gazpacho soup, pork tenderloin, smoked neck, salad.

For lovers of vegetarian dishes, we recommend KavárnaVelryba. Lunch dishes are served here in the morning, costing 120-150 kroons. At the BonaVita restaurant, dishes differ only in that some have natural meat, while others have soy turkey or chicken. The interior of this establishment resembles the jungle, the tabletops are decorated with images of butterflies - lunch in such an environment is sure to be remembered.

Czech cuisine: what to try

Delicious Czech food is not easy food. These are mainly meat dishes from pork, beef, turkey and chicken. Meat is cheaper than fish, and beef is valued more than pork and chicken. Fish dishes are prepared from trout, carp and cod, but not every restaurant has them. However, if you happen to be in Prague on Christmas Day, then by all means try fried carp - in the Czech Republic this is an obligatory dish, like our Olivier salad.

The taste of fried pork in Czech is determined by cabbage - if a fresh vegetable is used, then the dish turns out to be sweetish, and sour cabbage gives a correspondingly sour taste. Smoked pork ribs (veprovyrebra) in Prague restaurants are of such a size that one serving is enough for several people.

Another typical Czech dish is svičková beef in sour cream sauce with lemon and whipped cream. It is served with dumplings - hearty, tasty and not cheap, but after such a meal, until the end of the day, you definitely won’t want anything but evening coffee.

Marinated beef roast beef with dumplings is poured over with a thick creamy sauce, which contains a lot of parsley and carrots.

Many Prague restaurants, including UHrocha, Planeta Žižko, Kozlovna, Na Marjánce, offer excellent Czech meat dishes - large portions priced at 190-220 CZK.

Dumplings are made from potatoes or flour and are served in gravy sliced and toasted as a side dish for any meat.

Czech mushroom soup kulajda with sour cream is very thick, hearty and completely different from our mushroom soups. The famous fried cheese is made from soft varieties, but it has a special way of cooking and the taste is absolutely incredible.

In Prague, you should try soup in bread. The stew is poured into round rye bread, from which the crumb was taken out, and covered with a crust. It turns out very tasty.

As an accompaniment to beer in the Czech Republic, fried Bramboráky pancakes made from grated potatoes, finely chopped sausage, milk and flour are served, as well as fried Utopenci sausages and fried NakládanýHermelín cheese marinated in oil and pepper.

In the center of Prague on Ovocnütrh street there is a good restaurant of traditional Czech cuisine Na ovocnemtrhu. Walking around the city, you will recognize it by a sign with a picture of a cheerful chef.

The U Bubeníčků restaurant is popular, where the menu has a wide range of traditional national dishes. An excellent lunch with huge portions for two in these establishments will cost 800-900 kroons, but the pleasure you get in the cheerful atmosphere of Czech restaurants is worth it.

As a tip: in restaurants, call the Czech names of dishes, it will benefit you in every sense. Here it is customary to tip 10 percent of the order, handing the entire amount to the waiter, rather than leaving the money on the table.