Restaurants in Czech Republic
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A
Cantina
This homely hacienda, decked out in bleached pine and Brazilian coffee sacks, serves up the most authentic margaritas in Prague – perhaps a little light on the tequila, but nicely iced and with a good zing of fresh lime. The menu is as good as Tex-Mex gets in this town, with big portions of burrito, chimichanga, quesadilla and fajitas with both meat and vegetarian fillings; if the salsa isn’t hot enough for you, there are bottles of chilli sauce on the table to add a bit of bite. This place is popular, so get there early, book a table, or be prepared to wait.
reviewed
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B
Suterén
‘The Basement’ is a beautiful cellar space, where modern detailing complements the old red-brick and wooden beams perfectly. Cream linen chairs, set at gleaming black tables surround a circular glass bar with a colourful aquarium along one wall. The menu leans towards seafood, beef and game, ranging from Thai fishcakes to beef Madagascar (with brandy and cracked pepper sauce).
reviewed
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C
Pizzeria Kmotra
One of Prague’s oldest and best pizzerias, ‘the Godmother’ can rustle up more than two dozen varieties of pizza, from margherita to marinara, cooked in a genuine wood-fired pizza oven. Sit beside the bar upstairs, or head down to the basement where you can watch the chef slinging pizza dough in the open kitchen.
reviewed
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D
Country Life
Prague’s first-ever health-food shop opened in 1991, and is an all-vegan cafeteria and sandwich bar offering inexpensive salads, sandwiches, pizzas, vegetarian goulash, sunflower-seed burgers and soy drinks (food is sold by weight, around 30Kč per 100g). There is plenty of seating in the rear courtyard but it can still get crowded at lunchtime, so go early or buy sandwiches to go.
reviewed
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E
Hanavský Pavilón
Perched on a terrace high above the river, this ornate, neo-baroque pavilion dating from 1891 houses a smart restaurant with a postcard-perfect view of the Vltava bridges. From April to September you can dine on the outdoor terrace. There’s a three-course set menu of Czech classics.
reviewed
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F
Café FX
For more than two decades Café FX has been a vegetarian beacon in the gritty neighbourhood surrounding the IP Pavlova metro stop. The food – mostly salads, stir-fries and veggie burgers – is reliably good, though the menu has changed little since opening day and it’s hard not to get the feeling the place is coasting.
reviewed
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G
Ariana
Ariana is a welcoming little place decked out with Persian rugs and photos of Kabul, with Asian music wailing in the background. It serves a range of unusual Afghani dishes, including ashak (a sort of ravioli containing chopped leeks, with a rich sauce of minced lamb and yogurt), various lamb and chicken kebabs and tasty vegetarian specialities, served with light, fluffy nan-i-dashi (hot bread) on the side.
reviewed
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H
Albio
This family-friendly, nonsmoking, whole-foods restaurant is as bright and fresh as an Alpine morning, decked out in blonde wood and rustic timber set off with salmon-pink tablecloths and seat-cushions. It sources all its food from local organic farms and operates its own bakery, shop and advice counter offering tips on organic food and healthy eating. The menu includes fish, vegetarian and vegan dishes, such as baked whole rice with oyster mushrooms, leeks and cashew nuts, and buckwheat pancakes filled with onion mash and grilled zucchini. There are also organic wines and unpasteurised beer so you can work up a healthy hangover.
reviewed
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I
Café de Paris
A little corner of France tucked away on a quiet square, the Café de Paris is straightforward and unpretentious. So is the menu – just a couple of choices, onion soup or foie gras terrine to start, followed by entrecôte steak with chips, salad and a choice of sauces (they’re very proud of the Café de Paris sauce, made to a 75-year-old recipe with 35 ingredients).
There are also one or two daily specials, including a vegetarian alternative. The wine list offers a decent range of French wines, including a Muscadet that’s good value at 399Kč a bottle.
reviewed
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J
Capua
This corner restaurant just above Strossmayerovo náměstí is widely considered the best pizza place in the neighbourhood. But in truth it’s only good, not great. The inviting interior is divided into two rooms, with nonsmokers getting the larger and nicer one to the right. The pizzas are thin-crusted and follow the usual formula of Italian combinations.
reviewed
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Bohemia Bagel
This hamburger, bagel and breakfast outfit remains the best all-round place to grab a light meal in this barren stretch (at least from a culinary standpoint) of Holešovice. They run a popular brunch on weekends.
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Na Verandách
This pub and restaurant, managed by the Potrefená husa chain, is inside the Staropramen brewery, and while lots of people come here to eat, it’s perfectly fine to come in just for a superfresh beer (there are seven varieties on tap). The menu is high-end fast food: ribs, burgers and chicken breasts as well as standard Czech dishes.
reviewed
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M
Ambiente Pasta Fresca
Slick styling and service with a smile complement an extensive menu at this busy Italian restaurant. Choose from dishes such as melt-in-the-mouth carpaccio of beef, piquant spaghetti aglio-olio with chilli and crisp pancetta, and rich creamy risotto with asparagus and white wine, plus there is a wide range of Italian and Czech wines. There’s a long, narrow cafe at street level, and a cellar restaurant down below.
reviewed
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N
Bar Bar
This cosy, friendly cellar bar has a bohemian feel with its mix of antiques and contemporary arty touches, plus one of the most interesting menus in town. Delicious food runs the gamut from homemade Italian risotto and French crepes to Ukrainian vareniky (pasta-style parcels) and crème brûlee, plus there are excellent-value 100Kč daily menus.
reviewed
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Ambiente Restaurante Brasileiro
This busy and authentic slice of Brazil offers two all-you-can-eat menus; the churrasco menu, with continually circulating waiters carving off slices of freshly prepared meat onto your plate, or the lighter buffet, with sushi, salads, oysters, soup, fish and much more. As with other restaurants in the Ambiente chain, reservations are advisable.
reviewed
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O
Cafe Slavia
Once-famous literary cafe, where performers and patrons of the National Theatre would gather to chat over coffee. It's a classy place with great views over the river, though the salads and chicken and chips-style dishes are uninspiring. Sit back with a seksint (the house cocktail of Bohemian champagne and absinthe) and enjoy the atmosphere.
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P
Hanácacká Hospoda
The menu lists everything in the local Haná dialect at this popular pub/restaurant. It's worth persevering though because the huge Moravian meals are tasty and supreme value. Don't worry – they've got an English menu if you're still getting up-to-speed with Haná.
reviewed
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Q
Špaliček
Brno's oldest (and maybe its 'meatiest') restaurant sits on the edge of the Cabbage Market. Ignore the irony and dig into huge Moravian meals, partnered with a local Starobrno beer or something from the decent local wine list.
reviewed
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R
Bakeshop Praha
This fantastic bakery sells some of the best bread in the city, along with pastries, cakes and takeaway sandwiches, wraps, salads and quiche.
reviewed
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Staročeská Krčma
A very good traditional Czech tavern, Staročeská Krčma specialises in huge portions of grilled meats, such as steaks, pork and chicken. The setting is meant to evoke an old-fashioned inn or country cottage, with big wooden tables, an open fireplace and stacks of wood sitting around. The pork dishes excel, while the steaks are only good.
reviewed
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V zátiší
‘Still Life’ is one of Prague’s top restaurants, famed for the quality of its cuisine. The decor is bold and modern, with quirky glassware, boldly patterned wallpapers and cappuccino-coloured crushed-velvet chairs. Of the 10 or so main courses on offer, four are seafood and the rest are meat – nothing vegetarian. There are also gourmet versions of traditional Czech dishes – the crispy roast duckling with red cabbage and herb dumplings is superb. If the three-course dinner is not enough, you can lash out on the five-course dégustation menu (1170Kč; plus 770Kč extra for wines to match the dishes).
reviewed
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Gitanes
Twee meets twisted at this idiosyncratic restaurant, where a technicolour storm of floral print wallpaper and upholstery meets a gallery of weird art – check out the upside-down table on the ceiling – to create an atmosphere akin to an English tearoom designed by Salvador Dali. On acid. The food is hearty and full-on, especially the Balkan specialities – dishes such as čevapčiči (chargrilled spicy meatballs) and sač (veal and lamb roasted over an open fire) are flung out like macho, meat-eating challenges, while the paella for two could probably feed four. Lighter dishes include smažené ančovičky (fried whitebait), chicken risotto and a range of salads.
reviewed
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Lehká Hlava
Tucked away down a narrow cul-de-sac, Lehká Hlava (the name means ‘clear head’) exists in a little world of its own. There are two unusually decorated dining rooms, both with a vaguely psychedelic vibe – tables lit from within, studded with glowing glass spheres or with a radiant wood-grain effect. In the kitchen the emphasis is on healthy, freshly prepared vegetarian and vegan dishes, ranging from hummus and roast vegies to spicy Asian stir-fry.
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U Matěje Kotrby
It’s only 50m away from the tourist trap that is U Fleků, but this place is the real deal – an atmospheric Czech pub strewn with more bric-a-brac, musical instruments and old photos than the average antique shop and, more importantly, sporting a menu of classic Czech grub from goulash made with Pilsner Urquell to pork knuckle braised in dark beer, mustard and horseradish. There’s also a range of traditional ‘beer snacks’ including utopenci (sausage pickled in vinegar), Czech cheeses with walnuts and olives, and libová tlačenka (pork brawn, or potted head), amusingly translated on the menu as ‘home-made headcheese’.
reviewed
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Mailsi
Mailsi was Prague’s first Pakistani restaurant, and is still one of the city’s best for authentic, home-style curry cuisine. Service is courteous and the food delicious. The bhaji is rather plain – just onion and potato thinly sliced, dipped in spiced flour and fried, but very light and crisp – while the murgh dal consists of tender chicken in a cumin-spiced lentil sauce.
reviewed