The best restaurants Prague

Timetable

Times are pretty much the same as in France, with the exception of dinner, which Czechs generally eat earlier, especially on weekends when they go to the theater or the opera. They eat before going to the show, so that some restaurants are deserted from 8.30pm onwards. After the show, it's the hospodas that fill up, and the beer flows freely. Restaurants often serve non-stop between 11.30am and 10pm.

For meals, restaurants close early: it's hard to find restaurants for tourists after 10 or 10.30pm, and it's hard to get service in a Czech tavern after 9pm.

Budget & Tips

Eating in a Czech hospoda off the tourist trail isn't expensive, and you can easily get by for under €15/20 with a solid meal and a drink. Even cheaper are the street stalls, particularly on Wenceslas Square, where Prague ham or mustard sausages cost a handful of euros, if you're happy to eat on the go.

What costs extra

Prices generally include taxes, but not service. You'll be reminded of this by waiters, as on the bill, where a "Tip is not included" is usually printed in bold or even red. A 10-15% tip is generally well received if you've been satisfied with your meal and the service. But you don't have to leave a tip if you feel your expectations have not been met. If you stop for a simple coffee or beer, a tip is also welcome: waiters are not paid much in the Czech Republic.

The local way

Czechs love calorie-dense foods, and those with light appetites will be happy with a few chlebíčky, slices of bread topped with ham, egg, vegetables... in the style of Spanish tapas. With a beer or glass of wine, they'll go down just fine, as will utopenec (sausages marinated in vinegar and onions) or hermelin (pickled camembert). These little snacks are served in every taverna or kavarna and are typical of Czech gastronomy.

Smokers

Since 2017, Czechs, like so many other Europeans, have no longer been allowed to smoke in restaurants, bars and other enclosed public places.

Tourist traps

All along the "Royal Way", between Old Town Square and the Castle, via the Charles Bridge, touts dangle attractive "tourist menus" under your nose, translated into every possible language. They're obviously working for unscrupulous establishments, taking advantage of their good location to lure passers-by and sell quick-fix recipes of so-called Czech specialties as quickly and cheaply as possible. Avoid them and try to stay away from this axis for lunch or a break.