Loacker

I know the Czech republic isn't renowned for its cuisine, so food won't be a priority on this trip but I'd like to splurge on a meal or too. What are some of your favorite restaurants (Czech or International) and breweries in Prague?

Also, below is my final itinerary, let me know your thoughts.

Day 1 - Arrive early in Prague. visit the Old Town, and the Jewish quarter.
Day 2 - Prague Castle, Mala Strana walk, Charles Bridge
Day 3 - Wenceslas square, Church of St Cyril & Methodius, Vyserhrad citadel
Day 4 - Day trip to Cesky Krumlov
Day 5 - Day trip to Dresden or see more of Prague
Day 6 - Leave to Paris

Loacker

This forum is surprisingly quiet in the weekend. I guess most people browse Fodors at work.

thursdaysd

It's the July 4th weekend, many people may be traveling.

jamikins

We loved the food tour we did with this company

https://www.tasteofprague.com/prague...FUI_GwodHlAKjw

They also have an amazing food map..totally worth it!

Loacker

Thanks Jamikins, such a great find.

basingstoke2

It has been awhile since there, but there was a very nice restaurant on Kampa Island - that is the island under the Charles bridge with easy access from the bridge. There is a restaurant on the island called Kampa Park that has a lovely setting and excellent reputation although we did not eat there. A restaurant where we did eat twice was located at either 14 or 15 Kampa- I do not recall the name although the address may be the name. We very much enjoyed the ambiance and food there. If it is still there, I am sure you would like it. Order the strudel. Again, it has been awhile.

jamikins

Sancho was excellent!!

Lois2

We enjoyed Terasa u Zlate Studne with very nice views. It is in a very nice quet area of Prague . We did have some not great meals in Prague (maybe just me not being a fan of the cuisine) but I remember this place being good. It did require advance booking.

lavandula

Marina Ristorante on the river is an awesome restaurant. We were taken by friends who live in Prague. Good food, views, atmosphere, elegant but relaxed.

http://marinaristorante.cz/en/menu/aktualita/


Also Ambiente Pizza Nuova - modern Italian with a twist: waiters rove around the room with different pastas and you can sample lots of different sorts. Also with pizza if I remember correctly. We have been a couple of times and enjoyed it a lot. I think it is sort of all-you-can eat but not revolting. It has a relaxed atmosphere but great food.

http://pizzanuova.ambi.cz/en/

Lavandula

fourfortravel

"Deer" and "Casserol" are two favorites for contemporary Czech cuisine. I would suggest reservations for both, as they are smaller restaurants. Of the two, we find Deer to have a more interesting wine offer.

Hotel Pod Vezi, on the castle side, has good, traditional Czech cuisine.

Loacker

I'm writing these down, thanks everyone.
Where to sample the best Czech beer? My Lonely Planet book suggests Prague Beer Museum and Pivovarsky Klub.

Is there a specific beer I should definitely try?

basingstoke2

Pretty much any place that serves beer will serve one that is better than the usual here in the US. As far as brands and types it depends on what you like. Can you be more specific as to the type of beer you prefer?

Christina

I think the most famous brewery in PRague, if not the only one, is Staropramen. They have tours of the place, sounds like that would be of interest to you, it's over near Andel metro stop and several tram lines. You can book a tour online. http://www.staropramen.com/en/
They only last about an hour. this is info on it
http://www.praguebeergarden.com/czec...pramen-brewery

I suspect you can drink good Czech beer in most bars/pubs, I don't know why one wouldn't carry a good brand.

As for food, I'm not a big fan of Czech cuisine. They seem to have a lot of Italian restaurants in Prague for some reason. I always stay near Namesti Republicky metro stop or the Josefov quarter so some small restaurants I've enjoyed in that area, which are not Czech are:

Chez Marcel, a "French" small bistro, but they are friendly and it's a nice atmosphere and they do a decent steak/frites. I always go there at least once when in Prague. http://chezmarcel.cz/?lang=en
They even have decent wine, which is hard to fine in Prague. I don't like beer myself.

Cafe Imperial, I also have to go here at least once for the ambience of the place. I have breakfast there, though.
http://www.cafeimperial.cz/en/

Your itinerary seems fine to me. You've traveled enough so know your own style, if it were me, I wouldn't do two day trips in a row, I might do them on day 2 ( to CK as you know you want to go there) and then day 4, if you feel like it. I also would do a day trip with the CR rather than to Dresden myself, for example, to Kutna Hora which is interested and much closer. I've also done a day trip to Tabor which I really enjoyed but you have to be more interested in the history of Jan Hus, probably, as there is a fantastic museum there about him.

You don't mention any museums or galleries n Prague but I assume you have some ideas based on your own interests. I really enjoyed the modern art museum to the north across the river in Veletrzni Palace, which most tourists don't go to. You can get trams/buses over there.

Loacker

Basingstoke, no specific preference. Just wanted to know about the best Czech beer brands.


Christina, thanks for the detailed answer. I did some research on the museums and none of them seem very interesting to me. The Museum of Decorative Arts is closed.
But I did read some great things about the National Gallery you suggested, and I'm planning to add it to my itinerary.

On another note, I heard that CK is best enjoyed at night when the daytrippers have left. I'm thinking of adding an overnight in Cesky Krumlov. This gives me 4 full days in Prague, 1 day trip to Dresden, and 1 night in Cesky Krumlov.

jamikins

Try to get to Lokal in Prague...they have a few locations and apparently serve the freshest drought beer http://lokal-dlouha.ambi.cz/en/

We asked about the Italian restaurants, and apparently after communism it was the easiest international food to recreate so there are tonnes of Italian restaurants in Prague.

Interestingly, during communism all the restaurants were forced to cook from the same bland cookbook. So there was NO variety anywhere.

fourfortravel

Not a museum, but the Strahov Monastery might be worth your time if it isn't already on your itinerary. Its library is impressive.

Just remembered two other restaurants we like, though neither are "upscale," Pot au Feu (near Obecni Dum) and El Emir, a Lebanese/Middle Eastern place in the Palladium.

unclegus

there are several Kozlovna places throughout the city, I have never been disappointed with the food in any of them and their beer is pretty good.
Potrefena Husa is a restaurant chained owned by the Staropramen brewery and again I have eaten and drank in many and they are pretty good.
aforemetioned Lokal have several places around the city and are very good with Pilsner Urquell beer usually in Tankova form.
New place opened earlier this year is a brewery on a boat on the river.
http://www.pivolod.cz/v2.0/
my new favourite place in the city, great food,Topdeck(outdoor) is a grill restuarnt,main floor is a standard restaurant doing great Czech classics with a modern twist and the lower deck is a pub with a basic beer food menu. they have up to 6 beers at anyone time and all the ones I have had are great, food is exceptional and prices very reasonable.
One of my favourite spots is away from the city centre called Pod Juliskou.last stop on the 8 and 18 tram route Podabada.
great food and great baer main one is unpasteurised and unfiltered Gambrinus but I was in there last week and the had a superb summer ale on.
all these place would be considered mid range for Prague certainly not high end dining but excellent non the less.
I have been travelling to the Czech republic for around 25 years now and spent the last 2 weeks there with some friends, the food scene has greatly improved in the city and quality and presentation is far superior to what it was even 5 years ago,mind you it is still the land that vegetables forgot.I often order a side salad just to help get the veggies in.
http://www.podjuliskou.cz/en/

melancholymusing

I would recommend the strahov monastery, not only can you tour the monastery and see the libraries, but they have an attached microbrewery and restaurant that serves good food and beer without being overpriced. Also has an excellent view of the city.

kelsey22

Bm

Jean

Other suggestions:

The Mucha Museum and the Mucha stained glass windows in St. Vitus Cathedral.

Also, if you're in Prague when there are concerts in one of halls of the Municipal House (Obecni Dum), try to get tickets. Or take a tour of the building or just peek into (or eat in) one of the restaurants. The restaurants get reasonably good reviews, and their rooms are beautiful. There are Mucha works in the building.

http://www.obecnidum.cz/en/turistic-tours.html