132 Best Restaurants in Czech Republic

Fresh Pilsner Urquell and variations on classic Czech dishes draw diners to this Pilsner Urquell–sponsored restaurant. A gleaming copper hood floats above the taps in traditional pub style, and the patio invites visitors to spend the evening sipping cold beer and enjoying treats such as boar guláš with dumplings or roasted duck with red cabbage. The same space also has a wine bar (Vinárna).

The Golden Pheasant, as its name translates, is a popular tavern on Peace Square that serves three square meals almost daily (it opens at 11am on Sunday). The lunch menu changes daily and, alongside traditional Czech fare like chicken legs served on stewed red cabbage with potato dumplings, there's always a vegetarian option, such a baked eggplant stuffed with vegetable risotto and herb couscous. Nice desserts include tiramisu, which pairs well with dark beer. The restaurant has a garden, which is a nice spot to sit and sip one (or more) of its many local wines. On Friday and Saturday evenings, especially in summer, either go early or book a table.

In a city full of fish, this is where the locals come to enjoy theirs. A stylish interior with floor-to-ceiling wooden arches and a small terrace serve as the backdrops to some creative cooking. There are some interesting chicken and pork dishes. Still, the majority of the menu focuses on kapr (carp), including a "demon" carp filled with Dijon mustard and chilies and grass carp with lard and onions. There is a sister restaurant called Šupina nearby (closed Monday and Tuesday).

For Czechs, this traditional bar--restaurant remains one of the most popular spots to take visitors for a taste of local cuisine without the stress of tourist rip-offs. And it's a solid choice. The wood-and-copper decor gives off an appropriate air of a brewery taproom, and you can wash down traditional meals with a mug of unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell. Success has led to the opening of a whole "Kolkovna" chain of restaurants; you'll find branches near Můstek, Na příkopě, and west of Most legií (Legions Bridge).

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.

Yami is sushi without the pretension that often accompanies a sushi place in Prague, and while the prices have crept up in recent years, the sushi sets and rolls are still cheaper than much of the competition (without any compromise in quality). The soups and appetizers are excellent, too. Try to reserve in advance around mealtimes, because the quality hasn't gone unnoticed and this place can get crowded.

Since opening in 2011, Zdenek's Oyster Bar has established itself as the city's best seafood bar. Aside from oysters (more than a dozen different varieties), head chef David Vlášek has developed creative entrées around mussels, shrimp, crab, lobster, and various types of fish. The restaurant occupies a quiet corner in the middle of Staré Mĕsto. The interior is classy but relaxed, and while the prices here can be high, you get what you pay for and there's never any pretension or attitude.

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.

Owned by Czech brewer Budvar, Budvarka is a pumped-up pub. From the selection of beers to the rough-hewn wood tables, everything here is larger than life. The samples of rare Budvar brews (including a dark and a yeast beer) are worth the trip to this neighborhood alone. The food is upscale Czech grub, including an entire section of the menu meant to pair with beer, which covers potatoes cooked in lard and pickled hermelín cheese. The Flinstonian ribs are so huge that they require special presentation on a raised metal tray. Bring an appetite or a hungry friend.

Easily the city's best-known café, Slavia serves good coffee, drinks, and light snacks, as well as the greatest hits of Czech cuisine: roast duck with potato dumplings and sauerkraut, beef guláš, and roast smoked pork with white cabbage and potato pancakes. Plus, the café offers rich views of the National Theater and Prague Castle. The spectacular location has a historic air that reaches back to the days of Viktor Oliva's painting The Absinthe Drinker (which hangs in the main room) through the 1970s and '80s when the late Václav Havel was a regular.

On Vítězné náměstí, the big roundabout above the Dejvická metro station, this cavernous restaurant and pub is owned by the Pilsner Urquell brewery, ensuring fresh, well-tapped beer. The menu is strong on traditional Czech dishes, like Moravský vrabec, roast pork seasoned with onion and garlic, and pečené vepřové koleno, roast pig knuckle, served here with sides of grated horseradish and mustard. The rich food and good beer attract a loud, youngish crowd, so be ready for a little boisterousness.