17 Best Restaurants in Nove Mesto (New Town) and Vyšehrad, Prague

Overlooking the river and next to the National Theater, this old-school continental European-style café is one of a clutch in Prague where you can imagine playwright-turned-independence hero Václav Havel holding court or composer Bedřich Smetana winding down after a performance. Actually, you're not just imagining it: all sorts of Czech artistic luminaries have supped here, including the above, and Havel liked it so much he even lobbied for it to reopen when it closed for reconstruction in the 1990s. It's old-school, so beer is perfectly acceptable at almost any time of day.

With a grand setting in a gorgeous former bank, you can bank on this cool butcher-shop-meets-meat-market-and-bar being packed when you arrive. There's a butcher's counter at the front where you can select the exact meat you want. The attendant will cut it, weigh it, cook it perfectly to your specifications, and then serve it hot off the skillet. Load up a tray with meat and sides, and grab a seat at a communal table or a spot at the bar and wash it all down with great beer. Keep track of what you eat and drink on a menu card (bread is free). The modern canteen feel and reasonable prices all contribute to the incredible popularity of this place.

This traditional pub, which sits below the walls of Vyšehrad Citadel, serves up traditional, meaty Czech fare—think beef goulash, pork knuckle, and duck leg confit—with freshly poured beer. The interior is warm and welcoming, the staff are unfailingly friendly, and the prices are very competitive. The value gets even better at lunchtime; come between 11 and 3 to enjoy a delicious, filling three-course meal for less than 300 Kč.

Tasty, fresh superfoods, smoothies, and bowls sit alongside rather more indulgent desserts at this pleasant café just off Náměstí Republiky. They offer vegan options, and there are plenty of tables as it is housed in a pretty and spacious historic building.

With queues outside on even mild days, this gelato shop is considered to serve the best scoops in the city. It's a great option for refreshment while you are sightseeing, particularly as it is conveniently located on the main drag that marks the border between Old and New Town. There are several other branches in town, too. 

Visitors with a sweet tooth should not miss this historic pastry shop in Nové Mĕsto, where Czech desserts, cakes, sweets, and treats are showcased over two floors. Opened in 1911 by František Myšák, the First Republic feel has been faithfully reconstructed.

Prague's first English-language bookstore with a café continues to draw both foreigners and Czechs for its large selection of novels, regional nonfiction, popular brunches, and memories of the go-go '90s. The recently upgraded menu includes an excellent burger, good salads, and various American classics. Head over in the evening for regular themed nights, as well as occasional live music.

This large beer garden is one of Prague's most popular after-work hangouts during the summer months, and it's no wonder with those stunning city views.

This ground-floor café is every bit as opulent as the magnificent art nouveau Municipal House it sits in. Step through the doors and into another era—the first decade of the 20th century to be specific—when the practice of coffee drinking was given white-glove treatment. The food menu is on the light side, mostly cakes, with some sandwiches, salads, and cheese plates too. As with other cafés in town, in addition to coffee, tea, and soft drinks, it's possible to order a glass of wine or beer.

Choose from more than 50 varieties of chlebíček (Czech traditional open sandwich) at this old-school lunch stop.

The main restaurant of the Grand Mark Hotel has established itself as one of the best restaurants in the country. Don't expect lots of innovation here, but dishes are skillfully prepared and presented, and the focus is on seasonal ingredients, with a monthly changing menu. Plush velvet chairs, recessed lighting, and neutral textiles make the atmosphere hushed and professional.

The global trend for Nordic cuisine hasn't bypassed Prague, as evidenced by this hip basement restaurant with living plant walls, sounds of nature, and inventive, seasonal cooking delivered via tasting menus that are a blend of Scandinavian and Asian influences. There are only 22 seats, so it's best to book.

Top-quality coffee (the founders were inspired to start their business after a trip to Ethiopia) and good grub, too, at this large, light coffee shop and roastery.

Among the nicest of a little clutch of vegan restaurants that have opened in recent years in this fairly businesslike part of New Town, Palo Verde has a gentle feel, with hanging plants and fairy lights providing the backdrop to fresh plant-based food, including salads and burgers, as well as good coffee and lemonades. There's a vegan hotel, Salvator Verde, next door. 

Prague has long had reliable Vietnamese food (thanks in part to a program between the "brother" communist nations in the 1980s, which brought thousands of Vietnamese people to then-Czechoslovakia for training or study). But this newish joint is not a bad option in the city center, particularly for the eponymous dish. It's often busy but things rattle along at almost a fast-food-restaurant pace. 

Turning out tasty pies in true Neapolitan style, Pizza Nuova serves chewy pizzas that tend to get a bit soggy in the center—they're 100% authentic, if not the easiest to eat. The huge bilevel space, decked out in light and dark wood, also boasts a small outdoor eating area on Námĕstí Republiky. During the day it fills with businessmen having lunch and families with kids; at night the ambience turns a bit more swanky. All the pies come with authentic ingredients: San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, Grana Padano cheese. Overall, an affordable spot for when you just need some pizza.

The "Wounded Goose" is a casual restaurant and sports bar, serving up bar staples such as chicken wings as well as Czech classics, soups, pastas, and salads. If you like meat-heavy dishes and big portions, this is a solid bet for dinner.