Where to eat in Prague

Budget places

Street food

Street food in Prague is very filling. It can easily replace a three-course meal. In order to eat your fill without dropping in at a cafe, head to Wenceslas or Old Town squares.

• pork knuckle or ham hock

A visit to Prague is not complete without trying the pork knuckle. It is the most iconic traditional Czech dish, and Czechs are very proud of it. Sometimes, it is described as “the Queen of Czech cuisine”.

describe this dish:

Arguably the most famous item in the Czech Republic cuisine is the pork knuckle. Perhaps it’s not the most attractive but the obvious flavors of this delicacy (I can’t believe I just called it that but let’s just go with it for now!) make this an appealing meat for those wishing to sample traditional Czech food. It’s usually marinated in dark beer and a selection of herbs, roasted, and then served with a number of accompaniments.

Lots of travelers say that one portion of the pork knuckle can easily feed two or three people.

had to ask her hostel mates to help her with it:

Useful info: the portion is big, and for one person it is too much. I convinced the girls from my hostel room to go and eat it together because of that. But it does not mean that if you are alone you can’t try it. Just order it and if you can’t finish it… well, just leave it.

For 100 g of pork knuckle, you will pay 90 CZK.

• sausages

They are roasted and served hot in a bun or on a plate with sauerkraut, mustard, and bread.

Sunil, the author of the stonethrowersrants blog, was truly satisfied with this type of street food:

Sausages are big in Prague. The grilled Klobasa is a thing of beauty. Klobasa are either filled with beef or pork, each paired with mustard. The skin has a nice taut snap to it. These are spiced with chilli peppers and garlic or cumin and garlic. Some have Paprika. There was also a delicious smokiness to the sausages that was the result of smoking them. Eating these beauties was a real pleasure. The sausage stalls at the end of Wenceslas Square are traditionally where you eat a sausage.

• Old Prague ham

It is made from smoked pork ham. Its aroma beckons even from the other end of Wenceslas Square.

tell about the common ham scam:

So, the great Prague ham scam goes like this — hungry, unsuspecting tourists approach friendly-appearing food stalls. The menu lists items at seemingly reasonable prices, but what’s not that clear is the prices are by weight, not per plate. They cut a hock of ham the size of which is enough for a small Czech army, a massive (and very heavy) bowl of ham/’tater/kraut, get your sausage, and then they talk you into two beers because, y’know, you’re in Prague, you dumb Rambler! Well, instead of a reasonably-priced lunch, you’ve got multiple kilos of ham and ‘tater mix — more than you’d ever need. And, you’re stuck with a bill of 1,376.00 CZK (Czech Koruna), a.k.a. $60.19 — doh!

• trdelník or trdlo

It is sold at special trdelník stalls or ground floor cafes.

Classic trdelníks are empty inside. They are sprinkled with sugar and eaten hot. If lack of filling is boring to you, you can ask vendors to add some ice cream, berries, chocolate, or whipped cream to your trdelník. But note that in this case, it will be served cold.

A classic trdelník will cost you 60 CZK, a trdelník with chocolate — 70 CZK, and a trdelník with berries or ice cream — 110 CZK.

• smažený sýr or fried cheese

It is very fatty and filling. However, cheese lovers should try it at least once.

We will not describe the rest of Prague street food in detail, as it is quite simple. In winter, you can warm yourself up with mulled wine in Prague alleys. During the warm season, a good option will be lemonade, ice cream, and beer. However, the last drink is traditionally drunk during any season.

Eateries and canteens

You will not snack on streets all the time. In Prague, one can have a budget and hearty meal in canteens or eateries. They are called Jidelna, Lahudky, and Obcerstveni.

From the outside, they look something like this:

Margherita and Nick, the authors of the thecrowdedplanet blog, were interested in where to eat in Prague, and found a retro canteen in the center of Prague:

In socialist Czech Republic existed a breed of ‘cafeterias’, usually only open at lunchtime, selling cheap but filling food for pennies. Sadly, from the Nineties onwards they started to close off and were replaced by faux touristy restaurants and fast food joints. Jidelna Svetozor is a rare survivor, hidden beneath the maze of passages around Wenceslas square. It may not win any Michelin stars but the food is cheap, tasty and filling, and absolutely unpretentious.

This is how this canteen looks like inside:

Markets

Havel’s Market (Havelské Tržiště)

This is the oldest market in Prague. It is open all year round. You will not be able to stock up on all the necessary foods at this market: here, you can buy only fruit/berries and souvenirs to bring home.

ZfyEd, a TripAdvisor forums user, tells that it may be quite difficult to buy berries in small amounts:

The prices on the fruits (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Peach etc) were quoted per 100 grams and it may seem “cheap”. But you need to buy one kilo and that would add up to a substantial amount. When we asked to buy 300-500 grams of cherries (just for fun eating), we were “rejected” and the stall owner gave us a “blank and unwelcoming” look and walked off.

Address: Havelske náměstí, Praha 1
Opening hours: from 06:00 to 18:30 on weekdays, from 07:00 to 18:30 on Saturdays, from 08:00 to 18:00 on Sundays

Prague Market (Pražská tržnice)

This is the largest fruit and vegetable market in Prague. The complex is protected as an architectural monument. ☝

We need Hall 22. On the scheme below, it can be found in the top left corner. Only in that hall, you can find fresh fruits and vegetables:

Choosy tourists will not have problems finding the freshest radish or lettuce: the hall area has 84 stalls with fruits and vegetables.

Address: Bubenské nábřeží 306/13, Praha 7
Opening hours: from 07:30 to 17:00, on Saturdays — from 07:30 to 14:00. On Sundays, it is closed.

Prague supermarkets

Tesco, Billa, Lidl, Norma, Sabores, and Albert chain supermarkets are plentiful in Prague. Many of them offer hot ready-to-eat dishes.

Here are some average prices at Billa supermarkets in Prague:
apples — 26 CZK for 1 kg;
bananas — 28 CZK for 1 kg;
tangerines — 30 CZK for 1 kg;
sausages — 25 CZK for 100 g;
spaghetti — 20 CZK for 500 g;
cheese — 25 CZK for 100 g;
milk — 20 CZK for 1 l;
sunflower oil — 25 CZK for 1 l;
Pepsi — 25 CZK for 1 l;
a Milka chocolate bar — 33 CZK for 100 g.

Prague beer pubs

It is better to try beer in pubs. In which one — it is hard to decide. We have chosen several pubs which are mentioned most often in bloggers and tourists’ reviews about where to eat in Prague and what places are the best to drink beer.

U Fleku

This legendary Prague beer pub has 8 halls and the inner courtyard for 500 guests. The only type of beer brewed here is dark lager, and it is the main thing travelers come here for. In the evening, it is difficult to find an available space in this pub.

Be careful! Fred Waltman, the author of the havebeer.blogspot blog, tells how not to overpay here:

We must have looked German because as we walked in the waiter asked “Zwei Bier?” After he brought us our beers another waiter came by and tried to sell us a shot of Czech schnapps. He was very persistent. This is a scam that U Fleku (and other restaurants) do to tourists. You are offered the schnapps on a tray and it looks like it might be for free, but it isn’t and can be expensive. So just say no.

Address: Křemencova, 11
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 23:00

U tri ruzi

Six types of beer are brewed here. As for food, experts praise its burgers and pork knuckle.

Mary T, a user of the yelp review website, shares her impressions of this place:

This is a great brewery and restaurant. There are so many levels of seating. We sat on the third floor. They have a wide selection of Czech food. We ordered the pig knuckle. There was so much food! The skin on the pig knuckle is crispy, the meat was perfectly brined. The sides were a good compliment to cut the savoriness of the pig knuckle. We also ordered 2 beers on tap! The whole meal was pretty affordable. The service was great too. Just an FYI, make sure you have cash to pay tips. They accept Euros if you don’t have Czech dollars.

Address: Husova 10/232
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 00:00

U Kalicha

recommends a pub with the literary fame:

U Kalicha (the name means “By The Chalice”) is the home of good beer, and good food — definitely try the goulash soup when you’re here! But it’s also the spiritual home of the fictional character Svejk, a lovable dolt who’s quite possibly far more intelligent than he lets on, and the opening scene of Hašek’s novel The Good Soldier Svejk is set in U Kalicha. As a result, the walls of the pub are wonderfully decorated with illustrations inspired by the novel’s characters.

Address: Na Bojišti, 12-14.
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 23:00

Pivovarsky Dum

This place offers delicious dishes with sauerkraut and unusual beer.

Ms Wort Hog, the author of the theworthog.blogspot blog, shares her experience trying some of extraordinary beer flavors at this brewery:

After a bit of walking around, we headed over to Pivovarsky Dum, a brewery restaurant that makes a ton of different beers (not at all common), including a “beer champagne”, aperitif, and even a Russian Imperial Stout! We both got samplers and took a bunch of notes. The sampler included the following beers: Light, Dark, Wheat, Saison, Banana, Sour Cherry, Nettle, and Coffee. My favorites were the dark lager & sour cherry, but the nettle was probably the most interesting. It was quite savory and reminded me of some sort of baked dish, like lasagna. The nettle added a good amount of bitterness, but made me feel like I was drinking wheatgrass. Points for novelty.

Address: Ječná/Lípová 15
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 23:00

U Ferdinanda

It is located near Wenceslas Square. Travelers come here for Sedm Kuli (“Seven bullets”) herbal beer and Ferdinand beer.

Jason G, a user of the yelp review website, tells how he failed to have dinner in this place:

The restaurant does not accept credit cards and will only take cash. I made the mistake of believing Trip Advisor and didn’t have cash on me. Of what I did experience — the service was poor and the waiter, knowing that I entered the restaurant, never came to assist me. I arrived around 8pm and expected the place to be packed, but there were only 4 other people.

Address: Politických vězňů 1597/19
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 23:00

Vegetarian cafes

If pork knuckle, sausages, and other meat dishes are not your style, here is a selection of vegetarian cafes.

Moment

recommends the most trendy vegan bistro in Prague:

Moment is a cute and casual all-vegan spot in a trendy neighbourhood of Prague. If you want to get acquainted with the local hipsters, this is the place to go! If you’re accompanied by non-vegans who are wary of ‘rabbit food’, this is the perfect choice as it offers everything from goulash to burgers to fully-loaded bagels — veganised! I hear they also do delicious cakes, but unfortunately I was so full from my (vegan) cheese-topped bagel that I didn’t have enough space to try one. The menu changes regularly here so there is always something new to try.

Address: Slezska 2315/62
Opening hours: from 09:00 to 21:00

Loving Hut

tells about her visit to one of Loving Hut chain restaurants in Prague:

It was worth the walk — this particular restaurant sells a range of dishes and also has a self-serve buffet with prices calculated by weight. It was cheap — it worked out about $6 for my big plateful. I went for a couple of different meaty curries, plus spring rolls, garlic veg, sautéed aubergine and the BEST deep-fried cauliflower ‘wing’ that I’ve ever had!

Beas Vegetarian Dhaba

Noa Ben-Moshe, the author of the stylewithasmile blog, was looking for a good place where to eat in Prague and found the Indian cuisine buffet:

There’s an amazing, Indian and vegan-friendly restaurant in the old town square named Dhaba Beas — you should definitely visit there. It’s an Indian style buffet so the price is super affordable and the food is special and delicious.

On the official Dhaba Beas chain website, you can find the nearest Prague restaurant.
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 20:00 Monday-Friday, from 12:00 to 19:00 Saturday-Sunday.

Pastry shops

If you are not impressed by the variety of beers and want something sweet, here is something you may like.

RAKFoodie, a user of the zomato review website, recommends “Ovocný Světozor”:

At this restaurant they serve coffee, juices, ice creams, cakes & of course ‘Chlebicky’ the Czech open faced sandwiches. The Chlebicky are a popular food item in Prague and usually we have different sandwich toppings like hams, cold cuts, caprese, sliced boiled eggs, cheeses, tuna, salmon and crab. Even though this branch is located practically right on the ‘touristy’ Wenceslas Square, the prices here are quite reasonable. Overall we paid around 340 CZK for 5 sandwiches, 2 cakes and coffee.

Restaurants and cafes in Prague

We have picked some unusual food spots which bloggers write most often about.

Louvre

Bety and Tereza, the authors of the czechpragueout blog, found the place where Albert Einstein had dinner:

We like the idea that we can eat and drink our coffee in the same place that the famous Czech writers Karel Čapek, Franz Kafka or even world famous physicist Albert Einstein used to sit. CAFÉ LOUVRE makes a great stop for coffee or tea and dessert. For cakes definitely try the apple strudel, black forest cake and LOUVRE cheesecake. They are truly irresistible.

Address: Národní 22, Praha 1
Opening hours: from 08:00 to 23:30 Monday-Friday, from 09:00 to 23:30 Saturday-Sunday.

Ginger & Fred Restaurant

This Prague restaurant is located on the roof of the famous Dancing House. You can calculate the cost of your dinner here.

Address: Jiráskovo náměstí 6, Praha 2 – Nové Město
Opening hours: from 07:00 to 01:00

Cloud9

This panoramic restaurant is located on the roof of Hilton Hotel. Each Thursday, from 19:00 to 22:00, it offers live music. This online menu will help you calculate the cost of your dinner.

Address: Pobrezni 1 Malá Strana, Prague
Opening hours: from 06:00 to 23:00

Where to eat in Prague at night

If you are going to spend a night out, this selection of 24/7 food spots may be helpful for you:

Roma Uno

Gurmanizam, a TripAdvisor forums user, was truly impressed by this Italian restaurant:

Would recommend the pizzas, the crust is thin and crunchy, Italian style at its best. Beef Steak with tagliatelle, pasta with broccoli, or salmon… We also had a type of pork shank meet, long cooked, so tender and delicious, and chicken fried in cornflakes. All great! Czech beer is a must! And the coffee is excellent! The service is good and quick, taking in consideration they work this long hours, and have delivery I would say the service is excellent.

Address: Praha 3, Jagellonská 16

Burrito Loco

Anna Grace, the writer for the isastudentblog.wordpress, tells how its Mexican food saved her at midnight:

Wired and can’t sleep? Leaving a bar at 3 am and hungry? Missing Chipotle or Qdoba? Burrito Loco is the place for you. I first had Burrito Loco at 12am on a Friday night and I cannot explain how utterly satisfying a chicken speedy burrito is after walking around Prague at night. The speedy burrito is the perfect size because — not too small, nor is it too big. It’s the perfect amount of food for when you’re borderline hungry. But if you’re really hungry, and it’s 3 in the morning, burrito grande is the way to go. I have also been told by an anonymous source that their quesadillas are out of this world.

Address: Praha 1, Masná 2; Praha 1, Spálená 43; Praha 3, Vinohradská 60; Praha 5, Štefánikova 7; Praha 7, Milady Horákové

Baku Fast Food

The Mad Scientist, the author of the madverve.blogspot blog, tells about her midnight Azerbaijani meal:

I first stopped here urgently needing a midnight snack, so I ordered pohaca and baklava. The baklava was thickly spiced with slight bitter notes, thick honey. It wasn’t a dainty baklava. These are housemade, so they are slightly inconsistent day by day. The pohaca had great layered texture, some black sesame sprinkled on top, with a buttery burnt bottom and surprising feta inside.

Address: Praha 1, Dlouhá 710/28

Another useful tip

Plan out your long walking routes in advance so that you can taste all the most delicious foods in Prague. In this case, your trip will bring harmony to both your soul and body.