45 Best Restaurants in Czech Republic

One of the best of Prague's traditional turn-of-the-century-style grand cafés, the Savoy is popular day and night for its brunches, coffees, Czech classics, and pastries. In particular, try the větrník, a Czech classic made of choux pastry with cream and caramel. It's far more authentic than the touristy trdelník (a type of rolled, spit cake) available everywhere, although if you need that sugar hit to get up the hill to the castle, no judgment. It's also an opulent but still traditional spot for a beer in the evening—or heck, go all out and get some sekt (Czech sparkling wine). 

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.

This unexpected pastry paradise—essentially, a service hatch set within a regular apartment block—offers whole strudels (repeat: not a single slice, but a WHOLE strudel) for just 60 Kč. You can choose from three fillings: apple, tvaroh (curd cheese), or poppy seed. There are also seasonal flavors available on occasion, including plum in the summer months and raisin and almond at Christmas. Only open weekdays.

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.

Literally translated as "A Coffee Shop Looking for a Name," this achingly hip café-cum-gallery serves great coffee, tempting cocktails, and excellent food—including top-notch breakfasts and brunches until midday on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends. The gallery space showcases work by local artists and hosts pop-up events.

The home-baked sourdough bread, the huge selection of delicious pastries, and the lovingly brewed coffee make this café-bakery a local favorite. It's so popular that there are now two other branches in Prague, including a second one in Smíchov (at Štefánikova 31).

This sweet little café with tiled mosaic floors, globe lights, and mint-green decor provides an inviting spot for a light lunch. It's similar to the nearby Bakeshop Praha, but with a certain Gallic flair. Like its neighbor, it too has a few seats, although it also boasts a garden in the back, where you can enjoy a salade niçoise or a tomato-and-mozzarella sandwich.

A pleasantly airy American-style bakery and café counter, Bakeshop Praha sells familiar U.S. favorites, from avocado BLTs to entire pumpkin pies. Though it gets crowded during peak lunch hours, there is indoor seating, and the space, with penny-tiled floors and ceiling moldings, has a retro charm. But the takeaway sandwiches, bagels, giant cookies, and good coffee make it easy to grab and go.

For a quick lunch on the go, walk smugly past the greasy international chains and come here for tasty fresh sandwiches, salads, and barista-brewed coffees.

For an alternative to pilsner in the Czech capital, this superb Belgian brasserie offers a choice of half a dozen Belgian beers on draft, and more than 60 others in bottles. The beers, which are often tinged with fruit or nut flavors, are served alongside kettles of mussels (cooked in wine or beer), golden frites with mayo sauce, and ridiculously tasty waffles. It's a large and grand-looking place, with high ceilings and dark paneling, but the service is friendly and it's a big hit with families, who come for the large kids corner with ball pool.

For traditional Czech fare from the same team, head next door to Vinohradský Parlament.

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 its bare plaster walls and laid-back vibe, uber-cool Cafe Hrnek is a fab spot for great coffee, tasty brunches, and decadent sweet treats.

Wooden paneling and floral upholstery in the Café Mahler recall the taste of the 1880s, when Gustav Mahler briefly lived around the corner while working as a conductor at the theater on the other side of Horní náměstí. It's a good spot for ice cream, cake, light meals, coffee, or simply for sitting back and taking in the lovely view. Service can be abrupt, though.

Famed for its soft and squishy cinnamon rolls (some of the best in town), this takeout spot also serves perfect pulled-pork sandwiches and lip-smacking vegan wraps.

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.

Come for the swings, stay for the coffee: this small coffee shop has swing seats (a bit of a gimmick, but actually quite a cute one), lovely cakes, and excellent coffee. It's more of a daytime place than an evening bar, although it is open until 9.

On one of the town's main shopping streets is this resolutely old-fashioned, sophisticated coffeehouse, connected to Hotel Elefant. The apple strudel and coffee are quite good, and the outdoor terrace is a prime location for people-watching.

There are retro vibes and delicious pastries in this mini-chain, which now has three branches around town. The company dates back to 1937, so it's authentic, with good coffee and more than 20 cake choices.

An upmarket restaurant with a casual carefree vibe, Eska has been a big hit since opening its doors in 2016. The restaurant is located within a converted fabric factory, and it maintains the original industrial aesthetic through bare brick walls and exposed pipework, while also adding modern touches like Scandi-style furniture and a gleaming open kitchen. The food is also a blend of the old and new, utilizing age-old Czech techniques of fermenting, pickling, and marinating to create modern, minimalist dishes. Many of the dishes are sumptuous—in particular, seek out the to-die-for beef tartare—and even those that don't quite hit the same heights are still fun and innovative. What's more, every dining experience begins with crusty sourdough bread, baked in the downstairs bakery and served with salty, lovage-infused butter. Breakfast and lunch are available à la carte, while dinner is a choice between the five-course "chef's choice" tasting menu (985 Kč) and your own choice of two courses (685 Kč): either way, it's far better value than an equivalent restaurant in the Old Town. 

 Don't have time for a full meal? Pop into the downstairs bakery for a loaf of the delicious sourdough to go.

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.

A popular café-bistro-bar with a homey feel (per its name), the menu here changes daily, taking inspiration from a mix of the owners' grandmothers and U.K. superchef Gordon Ramsay. There's also a shop for fresh vegetables and pastries. The coffee is great and at night there are often DJs.  

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 cozy little café, which is tucked away on one of the city's prettiest backstreets, is a great stop for coffee and cake. It's only open from mid-morning to early evening (and not at all on Mondays), so you'll need to time it right.

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.

A tiny bakery with a big reputation, this place allows you to take your pick from dozens of different focaccias, as well as delicious arancini (small balls of rice stuffed with a savory filling), fresh ciabattas, crispy Italian biscuits, and various pastries and cakes.

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

If you're visiting Lobkowicz Palace (or even if you aren't), save time for a coffee, pastry, or even lunch at this lovely little café. The menu is full of tasty treats, from Czech classics like goulash and schnitzel to simple fare like soups, salads, and grilled cheese sandwiches. There are also some great desserts; try the Bohemian apple strudel. The prices are a little high for what you get, but it's worth it for the lovely terrace views over Malá Strana.

Sometimes, only a beer and a burger will do, and until recently, that would have been a difficult ask in this historic part of town. Enter Loki Burgers, with quality patties and a relaxed atmosphere, at the Petřín park end of town rather than up the hill by the castle.

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.