What to Eat in Prague and Where
The Czech Republic is located in Central Europe at its very heart. It saw different forms of government and economic systems come and go, including monarchy, democracy, capitalism and communism. All of them left a mark on Czech cuisine, which has, like a fluffy dumpling, soaked up influences from all over Europe. But there are rare dishes that cannot be found anywhere else but here. The following list will uncover exactly that: the 10 + 1 best restaurants in Prague, what to eat and a sprinkle of historical background on top.
Café Imperial and Next door by Imperial
A good example of a unique meal would be the so-called Kulajda or Svíčková, which represent two important aspects of local food – love for soups and cream sauces. Kulajda is a wonderful soup made with dill, mushrooms and poached egg and Svíčková is a cream sauce served with boiled beef and dumplings. You can try both at Café Imperial, a Prague restaurant owned by famous chef Zdeněk Pohlreich – the Czech version of Gordon Ramsay. Even though prices are friendly, you will need to make a dinner reservation at least a week ahead to make sure you get a table. Lunchtime is not that busy and a good alternative would be Next Door by Imperial, a restaurant literally next door.
Back to Basics
But before I lay out the rest of my list of Prague restaurants for you, let’s take a very short dive into the Czech past. Historically, the kind of plant that used to feed our ancestors the most was, surprise surprise, grain. Ancient meal “pražmo” was simply a bunch of grains roasted on a hot stone. Later on, people started making grain mashes and, as technology advanced, baking bread. It sounds ordinary, but a delicious bread should not be taken for granted. Czechs are very proud of their bread, which was, historically, mostly made of rye.
Pekárna Praktika
Speaking of grain, Praktika is a Prague bakery that makes it the “old way” and uses flour ground exclusively between two stones. The name hints it is not a fancy, but rather a plain and “practical” bakery. In any case, they have delicious rye bread and also awesome breakfast options, including fragrant coffee and scrumptious pastry. You can find the bakery in Karlín district in Sokolovská 6/85 street. But let’s not stop at breakfast time. Next up on our “what to eat in Prague” list are places ideal for lunch and dinner.
Red Stag and Cukrář Skála
The times of monarchy are well reflected in dishes which used to be popular among aristocrats. Their favorite pastime was hunting for game, for example, wild boar, rabbits and birds. Luckily, there are great places in Prague that focus on quality meat, including game. For example, Red Stag restaurant near Republic Square. A fair representation of an aristocratic meal would be fallow deer from the forests of Count Sternberg. Furthermore, a selection of cheese from a high-quality local Krasolesí farm would serve as a tasty appetizer. Icing on the cake, however, is that Red Stag is situated only a few steps away from Cukrář Skála, a café that serves heavenly desserts.
Tiskárna
This list would not be complete without a place that revives recipes from the time of the first Czechoslovak Republic. In the 19th century, Czech people became anxious to get rid of the monarchy and create their own state. An opportunity for change came up right after World War I and, in 1918, Czechoslovakia was founded. Even though that era had its own hardships, it was a time of considerable boom in culture and food. Restaurant Tiskárna makes recipes dating back about a hundred years. Give a try to braised rabbit leg or beef oxtail slowly braised on vegetables.
U Pinkasů
“U Pinkasů” – the very first Pilsner restaurant in Prague. It opened shortly after Pilsner beer was invented in our country in 1842. Nowadays, the vibe is a little touristy, but thirsty locals still find their way there. And for a good, foamy reason.
Špejle, Eska and Werichova Vila
Since the Velvet Revolution which finally wrapped up communism in 1989, Prague has given birth to a number of culinary hotspots which set new trends. A good example would be Špejle in Jidřišská street serving Czech tapas – small portions of local food. Or, try modern and luxurious desserts from IPPA Café located near Charles Bridge in Werichova vila, the house of a former Czech actor, Jan Werich.
What to Eat in Prague – Conclusion
So there you have it. A list of foods and places that contribute to a good local culinary reputation. Like countless other cities around the world, Prague has wonderful and unique flavors worth exploring. All you need to do is a little research. In case you would like to increase your experience by taking a food tour, take a look at our itinerary. We can provide a first-hand overview of the Czech culinary past & present while visiting interesting foodie spots and sights on the way. If you would like to know more about local beer or desserts, read on.
