45 Best Restaurants in Czech Republic

This little bakery was set up by a Danish chef in 1999, which means predictably good Danish pastries and brilliant breads, including the house special, rye bread with sunflower seeds.

For travelers sick of heavy dumplings, rich fare, and dimly lit cellar pubs, Mistral is an oasis: light, bright, and modern, with a short international menu featuring fresh salads, soups, and pastas, with some Czech specials thrown in. Service is always friendly and somehow the place never seems to be too busy, despite its central location. There are fresh flowers on the tables every day and a kids' corner designed by the owners' daughter.

It's almost sacrilegious to describe these U.S.-style dogs as the best sausage in town, but their greatness cannot be denied (make sure you grab a Czech-style klobasa, or sausage, while in Prague, too, though).

Butcher shops are serious business in the Czech Republic and many have barely changed for generations, at least in terms of offerings. This newly updated version, with friendlier service and a handy lunch counter, stocks dozens of sausage varieties, classic smoked meats, and delicate fillets of pork and beef. All are available to take away or to be cooked for you on the spot. Situated on a colorful street full of bars and boutiques, the shop makes for a handy refueling stop that offers an authentic taste of Bohemian tradition. It now offers a quirky dinner with the butchers Monday–Wednesday, too. On a table that's lowered down from the ceiling—it's stored there in the day to save space in this tiny shop—are served a host of meaty Czech specialties with a side of storytelling thrown in. The only negative? It gets absolutely packed.

Although billing itself primarily as a microbrewery and beer bar, this lovely cellar restaurant also serves the city's best burgers. Choose your beer (there are usually eight options on tap: a mix of home brews and beers from other Czech breweries), then dive into the extensive burger menu, including delicious vegetarian and vegan options.

A Prague original, this combination Czech bookstore and coffeehouse draws a mix of students, intellectuals, and vagabonds. The coffee is very good, as are the homemade daily soups and breakfast specials. The rest of the food is only so-so, but everyone is drawn to the convivial atmosphere. This was the first home of the Globe Bookstore and Café back in the 1990s.

At the edge of Jarni Park, near Sladkova, is this aptly-named café serving a small array of house-made baked goods like chocolate tart and carrot cake. There's also soft-serve ice cream, juice, coffee and tea, and lunch options that change every couple of days—sub sandwiches on whole grain rolls, small salads, and quiche. This is a lovely place to relax with a book or your computer (they have free Wi-Fi) while the kids play in the sandbox.

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. 

Cold beer, hot pizza, and a location right on Peace Square sounds pretty idyllic, but Pizza XXL ups the ante by serving ice cream, too. Next to the Regional Museum/Old Town Hall and with a good view of the square, it has 31 pies, with meat and vegetarian options roughly in balance. Old favorites like the margherita, the mushroom, and the four cheese make appearances, and so too does a delightful white ricotta pie and a couple with prosciutto and pancetta.

If you're too tired to leave your hotel, Pizza XXL delivers.

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.

Craft beer and cake is a great refueling combination in this cute, family-run café in a historic building (check out the mini-exhibition on the way in).

After climbing to Spielberg Castle and touring several museums, you can relax at Stopkova pivnice with a cold beer; if you're hungry, try the house guláš. Now part of the Kolkovna chain, there has been a pub on this site since the late 19th century. Its name comes from Jaroslav Stopka, who took over the existing pub in 1910.

It is always standing room only, as this pub has no chairs—just high tables. This keeps the line at the tap moving. The idea of a standing pub—the name means “taphouse at the stand”—goes back a century, when stopping in for a quick snack and a friendly chat with neighbors was the thing to do. The rotating list of beers from microbreweries to complement a menu of marinated ribs, pork knee, sausages, and chicken skewers will also keep you on your toes.

Order a “šnyt,” which is a glass of foam that eventually settles into a small beer.

Near the Hradčanská Metro station, this restaurant is a hit with families, and it's easy to see why. The menu covers comfort-food classics—like excellent burgers and some of the city's best pizza—an easy sell for kids, but parents in the mood for something more refined can order entrées like duck risotto. Plus, 500 has a surprisingly good wine list, including decent vintages available by the glass (still a rarity in Prague). The daily luncheon specials are popular and reasonably priced. The final winning touch? In summer, an expansive terrace opens into one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods.