Best Czech Restaurants for Traditional Czech Food in Prague

Are you looking for great Czech food in Prague? We’ve got you covered. 

So you’ve arrived in Prague, and you’re starving. We get it. The obvious thing to do is to try some authentic Czech cuisine, right? Czech food is incredible, but it’s not for the faint of heart (or stomach). Heavy dishes like fried cheese, dumplings, goulash, and lots and lots of potatoes dominate here.

But with all the tourist traps within the city center, it’s hard to know where to go for the most authentic Czech food. Lucky for you, we’ve pinpointed the best restaurants for traditional Czech food in Prague.

Best Czech Restaurants for Traditional Czech Food in Prague

Alma

Located on a quiet street near the riverfront in New Town, Alma is a restaurant, cocktail bar, and cafe all rolled into one. The space used by Almo used to be a small independent cinema and the vibes are immaculate. The restaurant is open for lunch until 3 p.m. and reopens again for dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Alma takes traditional Czech food and reimagines it with a gourmet twist. If you stop by for lunch, you’ll find weekly specials like schnitzels and soups as well as a permanent menu offering hearty and traditional Czech fare like dry-aged beef steak with pickled cabbage and potatoes with bryndza, a traditional sheep’s cheese.

The dinner menu includes all the lunch items as well as a few more options. To start, try beef tartare, pickled mackerel, or duck hearts. For your main course, indulge in the boneless grilled trout with creamy fermented tomato sauce and a fennel salad with tomatoes. The menu changes seasonally, so be sure to visit often to try something new each time.

Alma also has a great selection of Czech wine. They also have an absolutely sublime cocktail menu that you have to try. So if you’re looking for traditional Czech food in Prague with an upscale twist, definitely head to Alma. 

Červený Jelen

Located in Old Town, Červený Jelen is known among the locals for having some of the best Czech food around. With a permanent menu and a seasonal one consisting of four extra dishes, there’s plenty to satisfy every palate.

Červený Jelen is most famous for its sharing platters. They offer selections to feed 2 to 6 people. For the most traditional Czech food, we recommend the Czech steak selection for 3-4 people. This includes deer loin, sirloin, and locally sourced pork loin with chimichurri and cognac sauces.

Don’t feel like sharing? Choose your own main from options like wild boar, deer leg, duck pate, and more.

Lokál

This restaurant tops most lists of the best Czech restaurants in Prague, and for good reason.

Lokál is known for its seasonal dishes, fresh ingredients, and delicious Pilsner straight from the tank. All the ingredients are sourced locally, and the menu can change from day to day or week to week depending on what’s available.

Their specialty is the aged fried cheese with buttered potatoes and tartar sauce. Of course, you can also get classics like pork or chicken schnitzel, potato dumplings stuffed with smoked meat, and more. No matter what you choose, it’ll be the freshest and tastiest meal possible.

This local chain, owned and operated by Ambiente, has more than 5 locations throughout Prague.

Restaurace Mlejnice

Restaurace Mlejnice is just steps away from Old Town Square, and it’s a gem among many places nearby claiming to serve traditional Czech food. But this, friends, is the real deal. Mlejnice’s cozy atmosphere is inviting, perfect for a cold winter’s day or to escape the heat of summer.

Start your meal with a pickled sausage or pickled cheese, both Czech specialties. For your main, there are plenty of traditional Czech meats to choose from, including beef cheeks, beer goulash, and pork ribs with horseradish. For vegetarians, they serve fried cheese and gnocchi. Wash it all down with a Moravian wine from their extensive wine list.

Vinohradský Parlament

Located near Namesti Miru, Parlament is known for its dumplings and high-quality meat. The menu changes weekly as all ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced. With at least four types of dumplings (both sweet and savory), dumpling enthusiasts will be in heaven. Check out their all-you-can-eat dumpling deal if that’s you.

Otherwise, check out the main menu, which includes beef rolls, rump steak, duck breast, and dishes of veal and venison. Wash it all down with one of their many homemade sodas or lemonades.

Field

Field is one of two restaurants in Prague that have a Michelin Star for their high-quality cooking. Run by two friends with a passion for seasonal ingredients, this restaurant features weekly and weekend lunch menus as well as a 6- or 10-course degustation menu.

Creative combinations like beef, pear, and buckwheat dominate the menu for both the sweet and savory offerings. For drinks, you can choose between 2 wine pairings or the non-alcoholic option.

Výčep

Located in Vinohrady, this is Prague’s other Michelin Star restaurant. This modern Czech pub allows you to watch the chefs from the strategically placed TVs. Výčep focuses on preparing food from the freshest ingredients possible.

You can visit for lunch or dinner, or opt to try their tasting menu. Their offering changes seasonally, but you can enjoy traditional dishes like stuffed potato dumplings, beef tartare, stuffed pastry rolls, duck breast, and more. It’s also the cheaper of the two Michelin Star restaurants in Prague, so if you’re on a budget but still want upscale Czech food, this is the place for you.

U Matěje

U Matěje is a bit of a trek from the city center, but it’s worth it. Located in Dejvice, this Czech restaurant puts a modern edge on the country’s classics.

To start, you can try carp fries, marinated salmon, or roast beef. For the main, indulge in veal neck, baked duck breast, and more. Czech traditionalists looking for a twist can try the mushroom goulash with chives. For dessert, we recommend the authentic cottage cheese buns.

La Degustation Boheme

This fine dining restaurant is just a short walk from Old Town Square. All the ingredients for the tasting menu come from local farmers and hunters, and each dish is inspired by traditional Czech cuisine.

For lunch, La Degustation Boheme offers a three-course menu consisting of different types of meat like rabbit and lamb. For dinner, either choose the tasting menu, comprising several courses with wine pairings and dessert or choose one of the seasonal mains. You’ll find dishes like rabbit schnitzel, parsley root, golden beet, trout, lamb, and more.

Municipal House Restaurant

This restaurant is located at Namesti Republiky within the Municipal House, one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in Prague. This means you can enjoy your meal while taking in the breathtaking artwork and architecture between each bite.

You can enjoy traditional Czech dishes like duck roulade, beef shoulder, deer with black currant, and more at Municipal. They also offer a 3- or 4-course degustation menu for those interested.

U Zpěváčků

Located near the National Theatre, this is one of the best restaurants for traditional Czech food in Prague. U Zpěváčků’s story started in 1865, when the pub first opened. It was frequented by names such as Antonin Dvorak and quickly became famous for its homemade Czech food.

In 2003, the pub was rebuilt. The kitchen and interior seating may have been updated, but the food is still as traditional as it gets. U Zpěváčků’s menu is extensive, containing Czech favorites like goulash, roast duck, svickova, and more. They also have a selection of salads, appetizers, beer snacks, and desserts.

Kantýna

Also owned by Ambiente, Kantýna is located a stone’s throw away from Wenceslas Square. Known for their expert preparation of locally sourced beef and pork, this is a must-visit for any meat lover in Prague.

Working closely with their butcher shop at Nase Maso, Kantýna’s menu is ever-changing. Typically, you can find variations of dry-aged burgers, pastrami sandwiches, meatloaf, and spit-roasted pork.

To complement your main, choose from sides like potato pancakes and veggies. The sauces are where it gets interesting, though. Try unique blends like apple horseradish and coffee sauce.

Bockem

Nestled between the river and Petrin Hill, Bockem is family-owned and operates in a building dating back to 1905, giving it a cozy atmosphere.

This Michelin-star restaurant is unique in that it serves a morning degustation menu. You can try items like potatoes with thyme, veal with truffles, multiple souffles, and eggs Hemingway. If you’d rather visit for dinner, you can try lamb, mackerel, sweet peas, Jerusalem artichoke, and more.

Now that you know the best restaurants for traditional Czech food in Prague, it’s time to start eating! Dive into Czech culture and cuisine with one of these restaurants and your taste buds are sure to be satisfied. Dobrou chut’!

Karlínská Pivnice – Traditional Czech Food with Modern Twist

For a traditional Czech pub with a bit of a modern flare, visit Karlínská Pivnice at Březinova 513/2 in the Karlin district. 

This cozy restaurant delivers delicious Czech classics along with fresh (and yummy) Pilsner beer on tap. 

With a mix of smaller beer snacks and a regular menu full of hearty main dishes for good prices, you can’t go wrong. And if you’re visiting Prague on a Sunday, be sure to check out their Sunday specialty: confit duck with cabbage and parsley.