10 Must-Try Traditional Czech Restaurants in Prague

10 Must-Try Traditional Czech Restaurants in Prague

Originally published by Emma Starr in March 2020 and Updated by Ruth in August 2022

You came to Prague to enjoy some traditional Czech food, and you’re not leaving without finding it.

It’s not difficult to scout out some inexpensive restaurants, but where to find the truly best spots for some good ol’ schnitzel?

Prague – the city of cheap beer, friendly people, historical buildings, and traditional Czech restaurants. Think beef goulash, fried cheese, and savory slices of pork tenderloin.

Try to control your mouth from watering, and instead just make a reservation for one of our favorite restaurants. There are traditional establishments scattered all throughout the city, from popular tourist spots to hole-in-the-wall local watering holes.

The culture of Prague can be seen by the historical architecture and keeping the traditional cuisine alive with Czech restaurants that keep the old-time charm. Here we have compiled the best traditional Czech food restaurants in the country’s capital for you to explore on your next holiday. Try to save some room for dessert.

1. La Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise

First up, we have La Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise, an 8-year-old extremely popular restaurant. This gourmet location is extremely upscale, and can be seen through its multiple-course feasts offered. As a patron, you have the choice of two different tasting menus depending on your current mood. You can choose old-style classics with a modern twist, or try an international menu.

The shorter six-course menu is based on the 1894 Marie Svobodova cookbook, and uses some substitutions like choosing rabbit instead of beaver for some meat offerings.

The twelve-course menu adds plates that have been created and influenced by the Executive Chef, adding to the old-school dishes. Each menu is accompanied by seven amuse-bouches, which are seven single-bite hors d’oeuvres.

For solely traditional Czech delicacies, you can choose the first six-course menu and enjoy fresh and seasonal dishes. The chefs here prepare every dish with high attention to detail, and add unique flavors to complement the traditional Czech tastes. The staff here is always friendly, professional, and elegant, creating an opulent atmosphere for a fancy dinner date. The venue’s setting with dim lighting and wooden details enhance the high-end vibe.

2. Lokal

Another popular Czech food restaurant is Lokal. The best part about this restaurant – the patrons are the namesake. You’ll find many locals coming to dine here, which usually reflects high-quality and true Czech ingredients and combinations of flavors. The always-busy restaurant is usually packed with natives and provides a high-energy and animated atmosphere.

With multiple locations throughout the city, you can head to whichever spot is closest to your apartment – or your next bar. The original one is on Dlouha street, which some argue has the best offerings. The more recent pop-ups have renovated classic Czech pubs into new Lokal locations, creating a modern environment in an old building.

The focus of all the pubs remains consistent – traditional Czech dishes paired with the famous Pilsner beer. We recommend trying classic dishes such as beef tongue, head cheese, schnitzel with potato salad, or beef goulash. If you’ve managed to save some room for dessert, sample the “vetrnik” – a traditional pastry and dessert popular at all times of the day.

The interior of the pubs has a laid back and nostalgic feeling, with wood carvings, simple decor, and comfortable seating. You won’t find the upscale vibe of La Degustation here, but you’ll find the charm and coziness of an Irish pub. For those who want great traditional food in an unpretentious atmosphere, this is the spot for you.

3. Na pekarne

For the next Czech restaurant on our list, you might have to do a bit of traveling. Na pekarne is a little outside of Prague, but is definitely worth the journey. Head to the small village of Cakovicky and find this gem of a restaurant, run by Mr. Fric, a famous chef. The whole ambiance here brings an aura of nostalgia, with simple decor and a brief menu.

The daily specials are etched on a blackboard, offering seasonal dishes that get the flavors spot-on. The owner usually buzzes around the restaurant, chatting to customers and explaining the dishes to curious visitors. In the warmer weather, you can sit outside and enjoy a chilled beer with a cold appetizer.

We recommend trying the beef with a creamy and tasty vegetable sauce, a dish called svickova. Split the plum jam ravioli for dessert with your date, and you’ll be satisfied leaving this cute and cozy village.

4. Kolkovna

Back in the city, Kolkovna is a chain of Czech restaurants that bring in both the locals and the first-timers. Even though there are city-center locations, you can also head to one of the spots in the less-visited areas in the neighborhoods surrounding the tourist center.

You can grab a Kofola, a Czech soda, or one of the few beers they have on tap, and try out the beef tartare. Even though this dish is quite foreign to many of us, tartare is considered a delicacy to Czech locals. The raw beef is seasoned with shallots and served with bread slices, and pairs well with a deep red wine.

If you’d rather have something to pair with a Pilsner lager, there are other traditional dishes which will work perfectly. As you sit at one of the long tables or at a two-person booth seat in the laid-back atmosphere, try and decide between the roasted duck, roasted pork knee, or beef in cream sauce. We wish you luck.

6. Restaurace Mlejnice

If you’re in Stare Mesto and are too tired to walk any further, head to Restaurace Mlejnice for some traditional Czech dishes. Even though this is a touristy area, the interesting decor with pictures and implements hanging from the walls and the ceiling makes it a fun and eclectic place to grab some dinner.

The booths and tables scattered throughout the rooms with exposed brick around the bar leave many places to sit and have some privacy while enjoying your meal. Part of the fun of Mlejnice is the task to find it – the restaurant is located in a hidden alley, and can try to relieve the influx of tourists.

The staff is always friendly, and the food is consistently tasty. Try the goulash on bread or steak for the main dish, and pair either of these with a crisp Pilsner.

The only issue we have here is that it doesn’t take reservations, so if you’re headed here during peak dinner time on a weekend, be prepared to have a little bit of a wait. Trust us, the wait is just a build-up for some of the best goulash in the city.

7. Restaurant Mlynec

A Czech restaurant that combines traditional flavors with modern decor and a flavorful twist, Restaurant Mlynec uses its unique concept with a convenient location to consistently remain popular among locals and tourists over the years.

The atmosphere, with large windows, contemporary designs, and a perfect view of the Charles Bridge makes for a great spot to grab some dinner, watch the sunset, and glance at the thousands of people crossing this pedestrian pathway over the river.

The dishes here are presented beautifully, with colorful creations arriving arranged in aesthetic combinations. We recommend getting the six-course offering with the paired wine, so you can be sure you’re getting the best flavor combinations possible. Some of our favorites on this menu are the veal tartare with mustard seed and rice, the foie gras with pistachio and orange, and the sweet fried chocolate fondant dessert. Say no more.

8. Restaurace U Pinkasu

Up next on our list, we bring to you Restaurace U Pinkasu. The interior of this restaurant makes you feel like you’re just relaxing at Grandma’s house, with unpretentious decorations, plain wallpaper, and minimal wall hangings. That’s what we love about this place though – normalcy. You won’t find any kitsch decorations, fancy modern decor, or expensive cocktails.

You’ll get the basic stuff – but it’ll be done extremely well. The pork dish with red cabbage is mouth-watering, the prices are more than reasonable, and the schnitzel is an always-popular choice.

With outdoor seating during warmer weather on the street, this is a perfect spot to go with you and your friends, sit outside with your beer or wine, and people watch before it gets dark.

9. Sisters Bistro v Dlouhé

The restaurant is located right across from Naše Maso, at 39, Dlouhá 727, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha, Czechia.  Sisters Bistro is a hidden gem amongst the plethora of Czech restaurants dominating the city. They open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.

They serve up Oblozene Chlebicky, a type of traditional open-faced sandwich with various toppings and fillings. These sandwiches are far from conventional, resembling pieces of art than actual food. 

From their menu, it’s recommended you try their beet and goat cheese, one with roast beef, and one with mozzarella. One reviewer states that these were complex and balanced so describing their components is too tough to manage, just take my word that they are delicious.

10. Kantýna

Kantýna is a casual, airy eatery preparing meals made with locally sourced meats, plus sweets, wine & draft beer. Their address is  Politických vězňů 1511/5, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia. They open daily from 11:30 am to 11 pm.

This is a haven for all meat lovers. The best cuts of Czech pork and beef are expertly cut by in-house butchers and displayed for sale. 

Walk into Kantyna a little further and you’ll find meats being grilled to perfection or baked low and slow for guests who choose to dine in. You find a range of meats from mouthwatering spit-roasted pork shoulder, wine-braised ribs, roast beef neck, and pork belly to choose from, the harder decision is choosing what to order with it.

The Kantyna ordering system works like a traditional Czech canteen. All the food is cooked and you select what you’d like. 

You’re starving and ready for dinner. Choose one of our favorites from this list and check out some traditional Czech food that won’t disappoint…

Prague is home to a mix of modern and traditional culture. You’ll find new architecture scattered throughout the ever-growing city, juxtaposed only a few streets away from the old brick buildings in Old Town.

Locals who have lived in the area for decades are spotted chatting to first-timers in the city and the younger generation just moving to Vinohrady. Vintage shops are neighbors with modern clothing stores. Restaurants are no stranger to this concept either.

Traditional Czech restaurants are nestled away in between chain restaurants, in the alleyways behind the tourist-traps out in the open, and on the outer edges of the neighborhoods. Some of these traditional restaurants are busy and popular, and you’ll find yourself among other like-minded tourists searching for the best schnitzel.

But for the most part, these restaurants give you the chance to eat like a local – and the opportunity to mingle with some while you’re enjoying your Pilsner.