Prague is not only a leading destination of all things quirky, it is also revered globally for delicious and hearty food and drinks. I spent four days in Prague just walking around and eating traditional dishes, contemporary dishes, modern twists on traditional dishes, international cuisines and much more. I wish I could spend a lot more time there just to try out more of the delicious dishes the Czech cuisine has to offer.

Literally every restaurant worldwide is suffering due to the ongoing pandemic. Restaurant industry is one of the hardest hit service industry with millions of people losing jobs overnight.When things start getting back to normal, do patronize your local restaurants and family owned businesses so they can bounce back stronger quickly.

Every restaurant mentioned below had to adapt in some way to keep up with declining demand but the worst hit was Kuchyn. They had to permanently closed their doors due to loss of revenue and rising costs. This is really unfortunate for everyone involved and a huge loss to the Prague culinary scene.

Cafe Savoy

This is an iconic restaurant overlooking the Vltava river. It’s famous for it’s royal ambiance and specializes in Czech and french brunch dishes. It’s recommended to get a reservation to avoid long wait times. This is a must-visit place in Prague.

Restaurant U Glaubicu

U Glaubicu is an ancient 700 year old cellar and restaurant serving traditional Czech as well as some international dishes. Like most restuarants, the local Pilsner is always on tap.

Grilované klobásy (Grilled Sausages)

Grilled sausages are a staple of Czech cuisine. High-end restaurants to roadside shacks sell their version of these sausages and you can never go wrong in picking any one (or more) of them.

Kuchyn

Kuchyn is located right outside the Prague Castle complex. They have an interesting concept of selecting your main course. After ordering drinks and appetizers, you are invited into the kitchen (hence the name in Czech) and waiter walks you around a huge table with giant pots describing each dish and you get to select one or more dishes. I ended up getting pork knuckle and potato pancakes!

Noi Thai Restaurant

You can hardly go wrong with Thai food and Noi was no exception. After a full day walking around, the hearty Thai food and drinks at Noi were a great medium to rejuvenate for the evening.

Prague Beer Museum

This museum serves over 30 beers from micro-breweries all over Czech Republic on tap and the selection changes every week. Despite what the name suggests, they offer a wide range of delicious bar food. But I was most interested in smažený sýr or fried cheese. A 150 gm slab of Camembert cheese, breaded and deep fried, served with homemade tartar sauce and a side of fries. I have to say, it was a little too heavy for me but it’s not everyday you get to say “I ate 150 gm of fried cheese today“!!

Párek v rohlíku(Hotdogs) at Ladislav Červený

Who would think an unassuming cart in the middle of a roadside park would serve delicious hotdogs? Unlike regular hotdogs, the sausage is not placed between buns but the bread is like a hollow cylinder that’s toasted from inside and the sausage is inserted in it along with whatever condiments you ask for. By far the best hotdogs I had – ever!

Chocafe

Prague prides itself on various chocolate cafes. Chocafe is one of the leading cafes serving homemade chocolate delicacies, hot chocolates and fondue.

St. Maria Coffee (Kutna Hora)

A special mention must go out to St. Maria Coffee.

During my day trip to Sedlec Ossuary, I stumbled upon this little cafe on my walk from the church to the train station. I ordered a “special” sandwich without expecting much from it but it turned out to be the best comfort food of my entire trip. It looked like something I would make as midnight snack from everything I find in the fridge. It was basically every protein available and all the condiments put together on toasted bread. But it was delicious!

I wish I had much more time to try out more of the Czech delicacies but I will be visiting Prague and other cities in CR again soon and I have already started compiling the list of things to eat next time.

• Palačinky (Pancake)
• Chlebíčky (Open sandwich)
• Olomouc cheese
• Ovocné Knedlíky (dumplings stuffed with fruit)