Restaurants & dining – All our local tips

Looking for a place with excellent food, by the river, but not too expensive while having pleasant atmosphere? Then walk towards the Smíchov brewery and step into world of culinary captains and polished brass – even though Czech republic is visibly lacking any sea.

The restaurant at botel Admiral is perfect for a special occasion in Prague. If you want to celebrate or just enjoy your last evening in the city, come here. And Admiral is especially recommendable in the summer – their open terrace above the river is naturally cooled by the evening breeze and the city bustle is pleasantly distant – trams from bridges on one side and trains on the other, with views of Prague castle plus Vyšehrad castle and the Gothic Emauzy just behind. Swans, ducks and other water birds messing around in the river below, and the wine in your glass shining with the golden glow of early evening light.

This botel – the pretty large green „ship” nestled on the embankment just across from Palackého náměstí – was the last in a series of three that are anchored in Prague. It was assembled at the spot in 1971. Firstly a three-storey steel construction was brought around it to build the botel. Nowadays it would not be able to get under any of the two nearby bridges because of its height.

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Admiral botel | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (international) | 3 course dinner CZK 700
Hořejší nábřeží | Praha 5 | +420257321302
10:00 – 23:00 daily

There is couple of hubs in Prague and Anděl (means Angel) belongs to the most interesting ones. It is relatively off the main tourist track (even though near are hotels – like Mövenpick and big office houses, as well as some sites), but day and night busy and crowded.

Here lot of tram lines meet, it is also underground line B station and very close there is a bus station serving passengers heading south and south-west of Prague. There are also two multiplex cinemas, many pubs, restaurants (featured on Spotted: check the Hombre del Mundo article), clubs or cafés. A huge shopping mall Nový Smíchov is also here – with large Tesco opened till midnight, Marks & Spencer or many other shops.

The area looked very different yet in early 90’s, and if you want to find our more on the very special genius loci it once hosted, you can read an excerpt from the book Anděl by Jáchym Topol – published in Post Road Magazine. It used to be a dirty, gray factory area. Now the only big “industrial” company remained is the Smíchov brewery (as of now part of Anheuser Busch-Inbev, the biggest world beer producer). Instead of machinery factories (which were the reason of boom of Smíchov by the end of 19th century), Anděl is a place where media houses, pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies resides, as well as Seznam, Czech rival of Google.

But the best part is watching the crowds of all kinds of Prague residents how they hasten somewhere. Also check out the Plzeňský restaurant Anděl – one part is 24/7 with best Pilsner all around, so the last beer that night might be the best one.

(The photo shows tough winter 2010 – and the grey building in the middle is … a synagogue!)

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Anděl | Bars, Cinemas, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (intern.)
Anděl | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Atmosféra is a favourite student place. It is spacious, consisting of three separate parts, two rooms and a garden with tables in between them. The rugged space even provides two entrances from various streets. And also makes this café somewhat more interesting.

On the walls you’ll find oldschool-like satiric posters usually with some smiling face and text saying for instance „Tequila – have you hugged your toilet today?” on them. In Atmosféra, there is also a table-football, a very popular pub-game in Prague.

It is not just the interior and equipment that makes it visit-worthy. It is very much thanks to the food. It is cheap, rich and tasty. You can for example buy half a kilo of there-made fried potato slices which they serve with three different dressings. It is a fair snack for four (or food for two ) and costs only 70 Crowns. They also have great Mexican specialities. And five types of cold cheap draft beer… Not to forget, they have a free Wi-Fi access.

Atmosféra is located right in the center, five minutes from Charles Bridge or National Theatre (check the National Theatre article). If you are ever around, hungry and thirsty, you must care for a visit!

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Atmosféra | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (International) | Pilsner, 0,5 l CZK 35
Smetanovo nábřeží 14/ Karolíny Světlé 33 | Praha 1 | +420222222114
Café 11:30 – 01:00 daily | Pub 12:00 – … | Garden 11:30 – 22:00 daily

U Bansethů is a well-know restaurant. Famous writer Jaroslav Hašek is a regular (he still has a reserved place, although he rarely shows up) and also a microbrewery at once. Both parts are separated and what is quite unique: it is forbidden to smoke in the microbrewery. They prepare several types of beer, light, half-dark and sometimes also weizen (a Bavarian kind of beer).

In the restaurant they also serve great Pilsner Urquell and they have a wide offering of traditional Czech meals. For very reasonable prices you can choose from a wide range of fat, unhealthy & delicious meals. You can also order (one day in advance) a whole duck, a goose or quails.

Bašta U Bansethů has the family like staff who treat the guests well and keeps the beer coming. It is recommended to make a reservation for the evening if you are a bigger company.

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Bašta U Bansethů | Restaurants (czech, microbrewery) | Goulash CZK 77
Táborská 389/49 | Praha 4 | +420724582721
11:00 – 00:00 daily

Although I think that I could not be a vegetarian, I try to eat less meat and I often eat and cook vegetarian cuisine.

Approximately once a week or two (depends of the workload , I go for lunch to Beas with my colleagues - a vegetarian self-service eatery specialized in North Indian meals. Beas has three branches in Prague. They do not use meat, fish, eggs or any products which would contain them. The food is based mainly on vegetables and pulses, which may sound boring for carnivores, but believe me, it´s really tasty.

On the menu, they have both fixed menus (big menu, small menu etc.) plus some daily offer. I usually take the small menu, which consists of soup, salad, raita, rice, dhal, sabji (for the last three mentioned you are always choosing between two possibilities – eg. plain and colored rice).

As far as drinks are concerned, besides water (which is for free) you can try delicious yoghurt based drink lassi, a mango shake and other vegetable and fruit fresh drinks.

Beas is often crowded around noon, hence I recommend to come little bit later. If it´s warm, you can sit in the courtyard garden.

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Beas | Restaurants (Indian) | Big menu CZK 98.00
Bělehradská 90 | Praha 2 | +420773644561
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat 12:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

There are two types of cafés I enjoy. First and more common one in Prague is a Viennese stylish café often with long history and Austro-Hungarian origin, lots of marble and brass, located in old palaces (like Café Lucerna). The second type is the Parisian type with small round tables reaching out into the sidewalks, where customers can closely watch what happens in the streets – very rare in Prague.

Café 35 is a part of the French Institute of Prague (Institut Français de Prague, IFP) and is located in its yard so unfortunately is has no direct acces to the street. But besides this fact it’s a true French style café, with fresh French pastry in the morning, French music playing, French specialities for lunch and even up-to-date French newspapers.

Free Wi-fi connection is available. Also cultural events like concerts, lectures or readings organized by the IFP take place there. To get into the café you first have to enter the IFP. It’s a great place for meeting  French speaking people because many expats come here as well as teachers and students from the IFP.

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Café 35 | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (French) | Café au lait CZK 35
Štěpánská 35 | Praha 1
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 14:00, Sun closed

Everyone might have different criteria for what makes a good restaurant good. For me, general consistent quality  is one of these. One of the restaurants which meets these expectations is certainly the cosy brasserie Café de Paris.

The restaurant, situated on the pleasant Maltézské square, is famous primarily for its original entrecote. The sirloin steak is served with french fries, green salad with vinaigrette and pieces of baguette (my father whom I brang there for the penultimate New Year´s Eve) was really amazed, how the baguette was fresh and crispy which is really funny to hear, taking in consideration that he is living in France). The meat is accompanied with a sauce by your choice – the famous Café de Paris (which is a secret recipe), béarnaise or red wine based sauce. I like the way how it´s served – the meat and fries are on two small grills heated by candles.

Besides the steak frites, Café de Paris offers also a couple of other dishes which are changing during the season (now they have on menu the delicious tartiflette). Last but not least – don´t forget to have a dessert (I recommend to try the selection of three desserts or three cheese).

Overall, Café de Paris has a pleasant atmosphere – thanks to the place, great cuisine, decent interior and nice staff – which you have to check out by yourself!

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Café de Paris | Restaurants (French) | Entrecote CZK 289
Maltészké náměstí 4 | Praha 1 | +420603160718
12:00 – 00:00 daily

Café Imperial, that really stands for its name, is famous for many reasons. Firstly, its tiles. Walls and pylons covered with ceramic, handmade tiles almost a century old, have been recently restored – and with them the whole interior including furnishing.

Here you can experience the golden time of European grand cafés, while enjoying one of the many delicious dishes made by Zdeněk Pohlreich. A second good reason to have a lunch here.

This very experienced chef of the Prague culinary scene is the genius of truly Czech cuisine – in the original 20-30’s style that was as light and fun as italian cuisine today. Forget heavy sauces with stony dumplings – and experience taste in Czech style like never before.

The third reason? Let’s take a little detour first. Before reconstruction, there was an odd thing on the menu: a plate of donuts for 2000 CZK (approx. 70 EUR). That gave you the right to …

Well, a famous Czech novel, Saturnin (which was translated to English too) gives some idea of what might be in store:

„Let’s take a man without fantasy – in a half-full café who looks on a plate of donuts untill lunch – without the slightest idea of what to do with them. Then there are people, who after seeing this plate of donuts will imagine how delightful it would be to start throwing them at others … and, then there is the third kind, who are carried away by such fantasy, that they get up and do it!

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Café Imperial | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Czech) | Main meal CZK 150.00
Na Poříčí 15 | Praha 1 | +420246011440
07:00 – 23:00 daily

In the very centre I spotted a very nice place I visit quite often since then. You can easily get there by trams 3, 9 or 14 and get out at Vodičkova stop but it is also just a five-minute walk from Václavské náměstí. It is called a “café”, it is a regular restaurant, though. The menu is rich and the prices reasonable.

The name comes from the fact that it started as a place where the employees would be rehabilitated or rehabilitating drug users. However, you couldn’t make that out just like that as the personnel are very kind and compliant. It is a place for the whole family as there are separate smoker and non-smoker rooms, free wi-fi and even a small playground for the kids. At the same time they sell Czech-made ceramics.

Really cool is the design of the interior, menus and so on. Everywhere you can find advertisements from the beginning of the 20th century – most of the time they are really funny and worth seeing. I visit café Therapy most often for a beer and a “Tartar” steak (a minced raw steak you eat with toast, onion, garlic and pepper), it is just awesome. Come and try!

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Café Therapy | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Czech) | Beer 0,5 l CZK 27.00
Školská 30 | Praha 1 | +420284825515
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 23:30, Sat 12:00 – 23:30, Sun 12:00 – 22:00

It was a coincidence that I found a hidden vegetarian restaurant so close to the Charles Bridge. I was expecting an average looking place with decent food and prices. When I first walked in, I realized I found a very special place. Every time I go out for lunch or dinner, Lehka Hlava (Clear Head) is the first option in my mind.

There are two main rooms in Clear Head and both are incredibly well designed. I especially enjoy eating in the “blue room” under the stars by the fireplace. And there is no better feeling than drinking my favorite drink called Sahlep and letting myself warm up by the fire. If you need a little more privacy, there is also a private and nicely decorated room for about six people with a central glass table illuminated by colored lights.

Clear Head is a sister restaurant of Maitrea (check the Maitrea article) so, if you are unlucky and there is not a table for you in one, you can try the other (and the experience will be just as good). I recommend making a reservation in advance for both Clear Head and Maitrea.

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Clear Head | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan) | Main meal CZK 140
Boršov 2/280 | Praha 1 | +420222220665
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 23:30, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:30

I love pizza and when I’m hungry I love it twice as much. But eating out well and at low cost at the same time isn’t easy in Prague, at least not for me as a poor student Fast food is an option but I don’t really fancy this kind of restaurant. Pizzeria Einstein is a great combination of quality and reasonable prices. Actually there are four Einsteins around Prague (probably they have a common owner) and I can recommend them all (Šmeralova 3, Seifertova 63, Štefánikova 52, Rumunská 25).

The variety of menu is fair, service fast, interior nice and as I have already mentioned the prices are very friendly. Also, there is one more reason for students to come here – they have a special offer for holders of International Student Identity Card (ISIC) – simply “eat 2, pay 1“. This counts for pizza as well as pasta. You need to tell the waiter while making the order and you will pay only for one meal (the one which is more expensive of the two). Having two large (400 grams) pizzas for about 150 CZK sounds really great, doesn’t it? And they’re delicious!

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Einstein | Restaurants (Italian) | Lasagne CZK 140.00
Štefánikova 52 | Praha 5
11:00 – 23:00 daily

I am a big fan of Indian cuisine and everything Indian. So it is pretty obvious that there would be at least one Indian restaurant among my spots.

I do not come to Himalaya as often as I wish because of the prices. If you want to enjoy your lunch and do not want to spend too much money, this place would not be the right one, at least not for me as a student. But! If you want to have a nice dinner for a special occasion, and you like Indian cuisine, your taste buds will be in a culinary heaven.

Would you like to try this place but have neither money nor time for fancy dinners? There is a Himalaya fast food right around the corner from the restaurant and their mango lassi is just as delicious! You can either sit down there and slowly enjoy your fast meal, or you can take it away, hop on the tram 14 with it and eat in the Stromovka park. What a lovely plan!

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Himalaya | Restaurants (Indian ) | Main Meal CZK 250
Soukenická 2 | Praha 1
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:00

A laid back atmosphere, exquisite Mexican cuisine and welcoming staff are the main reasons why I can be found in this restaurant just off Anděl metro stop several times a month. As their kitchen is open well until midnight, it’s a nice place for a late dinner.

The chef in Hombre del Mundo masters, without a drop in a quality, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, grilled meat, vegetables, salads a of course deserts too. If I should pick one plate to recommend you it would be „Sartén filetés de carne”. In other words fine slices of sirloin put on hot oil with rosemary and green pepper – and brought directly to your table. So beware – it is hot and incredibly good. Perfect with warm vegetables or french fries, as you wish.

But the barman does not lag far behind the chef. What about a Daiquiri as a starter and Mojito as a desert?

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Hombre del Mundo | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants | Main meal from CZK 90.00
Nádražní 21 | Praha 5 | +420257326902
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 00:00

This is a pub with a perfect location. I suppose every visitor of Prague intends, sooner or later, to visit the Prague castle. Well, this spot is only a 10 minute walk from there and definitely worth (not only) seeing!

The area of the Castle is quite big and it takes some time to see it, moreover when you decide to visit some of the indoor stuff. A quick refreshment afterwards seems to be very convenient then Cerný vul (Black bull) is an old-fashioned Prague pub, but don’t expect any touristic fancy stuff – you will only find one room with narrow wooden benches to sit and heavy wooden tables to put your beer down. However it is said to serve the best dark beer in Prague and its atmosphere is unique.

Around lunchtime you will find here at least several people with suits and ties – most probably employees of the near Ministry of Foreign Affairs coming to have their meal. In the evening it usually gets a bit crowded (by locals mostly) and it may occur that there won’t be any more places to sit. You can still have one “nastojáka” (= on the feet).

As for quality of the service, the beer is simply great here. The staff consists of two usually kind of grumpy guys, but they simply fit there. The variety of meals isn’t very wide but they have all you need to eat with a beer (sausages, pickled Camembert, toasts…). I know this is not a healthy diet but it is delicious and hungry you won’t be!

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Hostinec u Černého vola | Bars, Restaurants (Czech) | Beer Kozel 0,5 l CZK 28.50
Loretánské nám. 1 | Praha 6 | +420220513481
09:00 – 22:00 daily

The whole concept made a great impression on me the first time I entered the place. Find a great Lebanese cook, all possible activities around travelling and mix it with good humour and customer-oriented approach (eh, the last sounds horrible, but here they really mean it). There are always cool pictures from somebody’s travels everywhere, in fact, each piece of menu contains a lot of different photos – so just browsing it from front to the back is like an adventure.

The meals are tasty and everything but over-priced (lunch menu prices under 100 CZK). Karavanseráj specializes in Lebanese and Indian cuisine, you can mix various small meals into your very own set, there are of course many vegetarian meals. I can for example recommend some delicious pastry with lamb or cheese for a starter, then a kebab with salad and after the dinner: hookah (cigarettes are not allowed though). One room is a tea-room, and it also serves for various special events. Various photo exhibitions change often, you can grab a magazine (not only National Geographic, but many other) and not to forget – each Thursday belly-dancers!

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Karavanseráj | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (lebanese/Iindian) | Mutton Biriyani CZK 149
Masarykovo nábřeží 22 | Praha 1 | +420224930390
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 23:00, Fri 10:00 – 00:00, Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:00

Half way between the Charles bridge and Národní třída, you will find a café I very much recommend visiting. It is called Krásný ztráty and it has become quite famous here, so famous in fact, that a regular TV talkshow is being recorded there. Krásný ztráty is a place where a lot of interesting people gather. It is one of the few places where you can find students, intellectuals and celebrities at once.

Although it is called café, once again it has the character of a regular restaurant. They cook all day and the food is great, although the prices are quite high. I can particularly recommend visiting this place for a breakfast or a brunch. The place is calm with a very nice design of interior. So if you are in the centre and need to work a bit, you know where to go (they have free wireless LAN).

Apart from being a café, a bar and a restaurant, Krásný ztráty is also a wine shop a book shop, a gallery and an occasional music club or theatre stage. There are many events taking place there so you might want to check that out at their website.

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Krásný ztráty | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (General)
Náprstkova 10 | Praha 1
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 01:00

Status of Lemon Leaf as “the best thai in the city” will make it – only in case there would not be the Noodles restaurant just couple blocks down the road.

The truth is that their Thai cuisine is indeed good and does not go up and down in quality according to the tourist season as do many other places in the city. So if you are in the mood for something spicy, in good portions and relatively well priced, choose Lemon Leaf. And what always counts is their friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere and nice music.

Worth mentioning is also the self-service weekend buffet menu – all you can eat for just for 239 CZK. While browsing the morning news thanks to free wi-fi spot.

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Lemon Leaf | Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Main meal CZK 120
Myslíkova 14 | Praha 2 | +420224919056
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 22:00, Fri 11:00 – 00:30, Sat 12:30 – 00:30, Sun 12:30 – 22:00

According to the restaurant’s website, Maitrea Buddha is translated as loving kindness. This is obvious when you take a look at the menu of vegetarian, vegan foods, various beverages and the design of the whole place which keeps the principles of feng shui. The Buddha’s fountain which you can find downstairs adds to a calm yet vibrant atmosphere. For me and my friends, coming to Maitrea doesn’t only mean getting something delicious and healthy to eat but simply being able to enjoy the ambience of the space.

It can be hard to try a traditional Czech meal if you are vegetarian. However Maitrea’s menu offers traditional Czech cuisine that you can try even if you are not a meat lover. My favorite drinks to get are home-made lemonade when is hot and a fresh mint tea for colder days. If you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine, the selection of burritos and quesadillas and the great flavor of their guacamole will delight your taste buds.

Maitrea is located really close to Old Town Square so if you are looking for a place to go, want to experience something different and don’t want to spend too much money, Maitrea would be a great choice. I would recommend making a reservation as the place is really popular. And don’t forget, if you happen to be an ordained clergy, a monk or an enlightened person you will eat for free here!

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Maitrea | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan) | Main meal CZK 140
Tynská ulicka 6/1064 | Praha 1 | +420221711631
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 23:30, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:30

Little Buddha, as its name suggests, is a restaurant run by a Buddhist, who spent a couple years in the Shaolin monastery. But shhh, do not talk too much .-)

It’s located just across from the restaraunt is the Questenberg hotel, which has a facade reminiscent of a church, though in fact it used to be a hospital. Also the house in which the restaurant Malý Buddha is placed has an interesting history: the walls date from Romanesque, gothic, renaissance, and baroque times. Touch them – and maybe you will be able to hear the voice of the centuries.

But before the sound of your empty stomach outvoices the more subtle whisper of time, let`s have a look at the menu: if vegetarian, you will be pleased. If meat lover, you will adore it. The deserts do not linger for long.  All perfectly rounded up with reasonable prices, Malý Buddha is a perfect place to stop, when sightseeing around Prague Castle and its neighbourhood.

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Malý Buddha | Snacks, Restaurants (Oriental) | Main course CZK 120.00
Úvoz 46 | Praha 1 | +420220513894
Tue – Sun 12:00 – 22:30

Thailand is a great country but I guess that not many people can afford to go there more than once a year (well, once a year would be actually a great frequency .

When I´m craving for some good Thai food and don´t want to prepare it by myself (you can buy almost all needed ingredients in the Sapa market), I usually go to the Modrý zub. The noodle bar is situated just in the town centre a few steps from the Wenceslas square.

The space is divided into the nice front place with regular service and few simple places to sit next to the kitchen which I prefer – I like to watch the “boys” preparing the food.

Speaking about the menu, they have a nice selection of starters (try some of the soups or the spring rolls), noodles, spicy curries, salads and other thai delicacies. Last year they also added a couple of dim sum stuff, check them out! But my favourite remains the classic phad thai - rice noodles with tofu, chicken, vegetables and peanuts.

And if you do not have time to eat on place, you can always take the food away in the characteristic white and blue paper box!

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Modrý zub | Restaurants (thai) | phad tai CZK 165
Jindřišská 5 | Praha 1 | +420222212622
open almost 24 hours daily

Na Kopci restaurant, which is situated in the quiet villadom part of Smíchov, was opened in autumn 2007 by two old friends. The outside of the restaurant might surprise you – it’s a typical building from the communist eighties. Compared to the outside, the inside of the restaurant is nice and modern, various family photos are decorating the walls. At the end of last year, the owners opened another room in the restaurant, hence there is more space for the hungry visitors. One important thing to be mentioned – the restaurant is no-smoking.

The cuisine can be considered as international – it consists of various carefully selected dishes of different types. The menu changes during the year and reflects the seasons – that is something what I really appreciate about restaurants.

There is a new menu since January. Unfortunately I did not try all the new things yet, but I can recommend a nice fish cream soup and of course on of the bestsellers: a beef tartare steak prepared in a French style (with French fries and green salad). From the desserts, there is a couple of new things too – it depends what are you in a mood for – classic creme brulée or something more exotic like mango tapioca?

The fact that the restaurant is uphill might be positive at the end – if you do not want to take a bus or taxi, you can simply roll down with a big tummy

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Na Kopci | Restaurants (International) | Veal schnitzel CZK 195
K Závěrce 2774/20 | Praha 5 | +420251553102
Mon – Sat 11:30 – 23:00

Dejvice are a very unique part of Prague. One could even say that they are a „city inside a city”, you can find there everything you need for life. There are shops, restaurants, bars, parks, woods… As I moved there half a year ago, I started discovering the secrets of this city quarter. The Dejvice locals showed me quite a lot of nice places (Check this link for other nice Dejvice pubs) – Restaurace na Urale above all of them.

The name comes from the name of the street „Uralská” (most of the streets and lanes in downtown Dejvice are called after some war heroes or Russian places or people). It is a restaurant but lots of locals just go there for a beer. They offer the traditional Gambrinus and Pilsen beer for very reasonable prices. The service is usually very compliant, even so much that you will probably get a new beer before even finishing the previous. Call it weird, we consider it an advantage.

The menu offers a rich traditional Czech cuisine. I can recommend ordering for instance some of the „bramboráks” (sort of potato-pancake). Also, you should try their pear brandy, they even put bits of pear in it and it is just soo tasty!

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Na Urale | Bars, Restaurants (intern) | Gambrinus beer, 0,5 l CZK 24.00
Uralská 9 | Praha 6 | +420224326820
11:00 – 02:00 daily

If someone asks me, which restaurant in Prague is one of my favourites, I will certainly mention Osteria Da Clara. This small non-smoking restaurant specialized in the Tuscany kitchen is located in the quiet part of Vršovice and can be easily reached by a combination of public transport and a short walk.

For me the Saturdays works the best – I have enough time then to enjoy 2-3 courses, drink a glass of wine (well, maybe a bit more) – and am done till the evening. The menu could fit into one page - there are a couple of starters and soups, main courses (”primi” and “secondo”) and desserts. Besides the printed menu, there are always some daily specials written on the boards, so check them.

The menu changes often; the cuisine is based on fresh and quality ingredients (with respect to the seasonality) and well executed recipes. There is something for everybody on the menu. I recommend trying any of the soups, especially in this time of year when it can be cold outside. If you can choose between „big” and „small” soup, try rather the small on. The big one can be considered a main dish! From the regular main dishes, try the meat or fish - it is always accompanied with delicious vegetables. At the end, the tiramisu is a must-eat – of course only if you have still some room for it.

The prices are quite reasonable given the quality; a glass of basic (but drinkable) wine is from 39 CZK. You can also order tap water for free (which is not really common in Prague yet).Since Da Clara has gained a lot of opularity among locals. I strongly recommend making a reservation.

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Osteria da Clara | Restaurants (Italian) | Crostini misti CZK 115
Mexická 7 | Praha 10 | +420271726548
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 15:00 & 18:00 – 23:00, Sat 12:00 – 15:30 & 18:00 – 23:00

Czech Republic is well known for the quality of its lagers – Pilsner means “from Pilsen”, as this type of beer came from the city of Plzeň, home to Pilsner of all pilsners – Pilsner Urquell. On the other hand, in a an usual pub you have two or three types on beer on tap, which might be a disappointment for many. But – not here.

This place offers the widest possible selection of beers in Prague. Not only they have 6 different beers on tap (changing them more or less on weekly basis) – but all of them are specials and rarities from various Czech microbreweries. Plus the list of bottled beers is just incredible and it covers six continents as well as tens of Czech cities, so it feels like traveling.

The club is strictly non-smoking. They also serve meals, specially Czech classic and various steaks, but they have some crazy beer-meals, like crepes with beer jam. Reservation is recommended. You can become a member of their club and start to educate yourself in the infinite world of beer!

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PIvovarský klub | Bars, Restaurants | Goulash with dumplings CZK 185
Křižíkova 17 | Praha 8 | +420222315777
11:30 – 23:30 daily

One of the most beloved and celebrated night clubs in Prague. One of the best vegetarian restaurants in Prague. Would you dare to miss it? I definitely would not. So follow me.

Even a glimpse from the street will tell you that this place is definitely different. A lavish interior design, rich ornaments, glass, mirror and gold. I love this combination – I feel welcomed nad pampered, the relaxing atmosphere helps me find a calm dimension, even when it is for just a short moment.

The restaurant, lounge and café is on the street level. The café is in more classical style facing the street; a lounge with a good bar and then, further back, the last, darkest and most romantic part – the restaurant. Excellent meals are served in all of them. The lounge is my favourite for lunch with friends, the café is great for business meetings and the back restaurant works well when there are more of us.

The menu is fully vegetarian. I love their delicious entrees and appetizers that originate in kitchens of places such as Greece, India, Thailand and Mexico.

The club downstairs is worth visiting – if you like the newest style in the dance scene. There something going every day – if it is a regular programme like FX Bounce! or Soultrain Weekender, there is always something good and somebody new to meet. Have a look at the programme and you will understand why Radost FX is Prague’s first and favorite place to party.

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Radost FX | Bars, Music, Restaurants (veg) | Main from CZK 130
Bělehradská 120 | Praha 2 | +420224254776
11:00 – 04:00 daily

I would love to go to Vietnam. But before I would go there and strike off another destination from my travel to-do list, I can always go to a closer place – the so-called little Hanoi aka Sapa, in Prague.

TTTM Sapa, located in the south surround of Prague called Písnice, is a wholesale market where you can buy a lot of stuff (the majority of the items sold comes from Asia of course). Actually it’s like a town in a town with different amenities for the Vietnamese community: restaurants, beauty salons, a school, a temple etc.

I´m a big fan of Sapa especially because of the food. I like the Vietnamese groceries, where you can buy different ingredients for Asian cuisine that you can not buy anywhere else (or they are way to expensive) – various vegetables and fruits, herbs, sauces, frozen prawns, alive crabs, strange looking meat, tea, rice, tofu and much more…

Besides checking the shops you should definitely eat there. The criteria of a good place to eat is simple: eat where local people eat. Places which are oriented in one type of food are usually the strike home. My favourite place is a tiny place named Hai Há – the have the best bún chả- it is rich and savoury.

If you would like to have an extraordinary experience and don’t mind traveling a bit from the town center, Sapa is definitely worth a visit.

P.S. Check out the Anthony Bourdain´s No Reservations episode from Czech republic, he´s been to Sapa as well

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Sapa | Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Vietnamese) | bún chả CZK 80.00
Libušská 319/126 | Praha 4
09:00 – 20:00 daily

This is a place where I like to go for lunch with friends that I don’t see very often. It is very nice and stylish, they have great beer and delicious meals. The choice of beer is quite wide – you can pick Pilsner Urquell, Velkopopovický Kozel dark, Gambrinus, Master dark, Master semi-dark, mixed (half Kozel, half Gambrinus) or also alcohol-free Radegast Birrel.

They offer vegetarian dishes, main dishes, pasta, fish, poultry, salads and also a broad choice of side dishes. The interior is decorated with wall paintings in Josef Lada style mostly depicting characters from the legendary book by Jaroslav Hašek (it was translated into 54 languages).

The restaurant is basically right next to the famous Prague’s brewery U Fleku. Also it is very close to the river bank so I recommend taking a short walk along the river to the National theatre after finishing your meal. On your way there you are going to pass the Mánes gallery (check the Manes gallery article).

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Švejk restaurant U Karla | Restaurants (Czech) | Soup of the day CZK 28.00
Křemencova 7 | Praha 1 | +420222515889
11:00 – 23:00 daily

I love Thai cuisine. Maybe that`s because I love spicy food, thick curry sauces and jasmine rice. I love the numbness in my mouth afterwards and the the feeling that can be described as “tipsiness”. And I feel good afterwards – spicy food is good for your body, keeps it healthy. So Thai sounds perfect for me

Noodle Bar, just around a corner from the Vltava river, is one of my favourite places when mindlessly strolling alongside the embankment below Vyšehrad and Podskalí. Seated outside on the calm street in summer or in design-sensitive interior in winter, I can watch the river, the life around, and dream about exotic trips over a plate of excellent Thai cuisine.

For each season the chef prepares a special offer. My reccommendation is Pomelo salad: a fresh pomelo mixed with sh

rimps, shallot, fresh coriander leaves, coconut and spicy sauce with Thai basil. I am glad that this great dish stayed on their offer from summer 09 – as it is one of the most delicate combination of tastes I ever had

Anyway, all their meals are freshly prepared, so count on some waiting time especially during lunch hours. Also be sure, that all dishes here are original – here it is real thai, not “in thai style”.

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The Noodle Bar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Main course from CZK 140
Plavecká 4 | Praha 2 | +420602370984
Tue – Sat 11:30 – 22:00

When it comes down to living, different people have different criteria. For me, among others, one is the presence of a nice nearby pub (restaurant, tavern, whatever…) where I can have a beer and something good to eat when I’m not in the mood to cook. I’m lucky, in the neighbourhood Strašnice, where I live, there is a pub like that – U Kašpárka. This popular pub has been doing very well for many years and people come there from distant parts of Prague.

The interior of the characterfully furnished pub is quite indented – you can sit at the bar, in the cellar or in the lounge, I prefer the veranda. When it is warm outside, you can also sit on a nice garden, which is my favourite place.

At U Kašpárka, you can really do justice to food. On the menu, you will find both Czech, resp. Czechoslovak classics (I recommend the tasty beef tartare from starters, that is my favourite, or the chicken schnitzels with potato salad) and international cuisine (try for example the mussels on wine or chicken wings). Vegetarian can choose from tasty salads and carnivores will be certainly happy with the steak offer.

Kašpárek is not in the city center, but if you want to experience a normal pub, which do

es not pretend anything and has a nice atmosphere, then it is worth the journey to Strašnice. Since it often crowded, I recommend making a reservation, especially for dinner.

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U Kašpárka | Bars, Restaurants (Czech) | Beef tartare CZK 139.00
Dubečská 4/74 | Praha 10 | +420274784127
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 01:00, Sat 12:00 – 01:00, Sun 12:00 – 00:00

Slightly on the more expensive side, but I used to go there, hungry after midnight, when I felt the need for some decent meal. Specially when temperature drop low below zero …

In a perfect location, just in the centre, Ultramarin gets pretty packed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Those who sit all day long in front of their computers now sit here all evening long, in front of their drinks with friends – untill they find what are they longing for.

Do not be surprised by clubby music from somewhere down below – this place has got a good size cellar which is divided into a small dance floor and restaurant area.

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Ultramarin | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (intern.) | Daily menu CZK 120
Ostrovní 32 | Praha 1 | +420224932249
Restaurant 07:00 – 04:00 daily | Club 18:00 – 04:00daily

I do not need to have meat for every lunch and when I ask for something vegetarian in a Czech restaurant I often have to choose from uninteresting salads or fried cheese. A couple years ago it was even more bizarre as chicken and fish were not counted as “meat”. Soup, in which there “is not very much meat” is often still considered “vegetarian”. So finding some place that’s solely vegetarian – and where the food tastes good -  that’s a miracle, about which it would be a sin not to write.

Veg Food opened in 2008, as a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Vietnamese style. The quality of their food is good and sometimes less good, the way it goes with all restaurants, but their noodles, risotto, steamed vegetables and big bowls keep their delicious standard.

This place is pretty packed around noon, as there are many local office people taking every possible seat. Their happy hour from 11:00 – 15:00 adds to the crowding but around 14:00 it gets pleasantly calm. If I am lucky with the weather I sit in the outside garden below street level, that ensures a pleasant touch of separation from the everyday buzz and fuss.

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Veg food | Snacks, Restaurants (Vietnamese) | Main meal from CZK 90.00
Londýnská 35 | Praha 2 | +420222515006
Mon – Fri 10:30 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 11:30 – 19:00

Zvonařka is a nice restaurant famous for its terrace and spicy buffalo wings. Which says it all – a perfect summer evening spot, to watch the sun go down in the south part of the city (lower Vinohrady, Vršovice and Nusle).

Restaurant Zvonařka is nestled in area of historical vineyards – some of them still exist just couple streets away. Not surprisingly – Vinohrady in Czech means vineyards. Maybe that is the secret of the relaxed atmosphere?

I like to go there for a drink after work, to revive my energies by looking across the Nuselské údolí and have a chat with friends. I adore their pickled cheese (nakládaný hermelín) – and their cuisine is pretty good allround. Just watch the time as the terrace is only open untill 22:00. But there is plenty space inside, so why worry?

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Zvonařka | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Czech) | Main meal from CZK 120.00
Šafaříkova 1 | Praha 2 | +420224251990
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 00:00