Food · Prague · Czechia
What to eat in Prague
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Prague, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Moyan Brenn from Italy, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Svíčková, Roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut and Czech goulash. Weekday lunch menus (polední menu) at pubs and restaurants offer soup and a main for much less than dinner prices. Prices in restaurants right on the Old Town Square and along the Royal Route are much higher; walk five minutes away for local prices.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Svíčková
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 7
- Tipping
- Round up or add about 10% for good service, but tell the waiter the total you want to…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Svíčková (Svíčková na smetaně)
Marinated beef sirloin in a creamy sauce of puréed root vegetables, served with bread dumplings, a spoon of cranberries and whipped cream. It is the Czech Sunday-lunch classic.
Where: Traditional pubs and restaurants across the city; often on weekday lunch menus.
Dish
2.Roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut (Vepřo knedlo zelo)
Roast pork with bread or potato dumplings and braised sauerkraut, the definitive Czech pub meal.
Where: Old-style pubs in Žižkov, Vinohrady and the New Town, where it is cheaper than in the Old Town.
Dish
3.Czech goulash (Guláš)
A thick beef stew with paprika, onion and caraway, served with bread dumplings. Unlike Hungarian gulyás, it is a stew rather than a soup.
Where: Pubs throughout the city; the version served in a bread bowl is mostly for visitors.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Fried cheese (Smažený sýr)
A thick slice of Edam breaded and deep-fried, served with tartar sauce and chips or boiled potatoes. It is the vegetarian staple of Czech pub menus.
Where: Pubs and snack stands everywhere; also sold in a bun from takeaway counters.
Snack
5.Open sandwiches (Chlebíčky)
Small open sandwiches on slices of white bread topped with potato salad, ham, egg, cheese, salami or fish spreads, beautifully decorated. They are eaten standing at the counter.
Where: Traditional delicatessens (lahůdky) and modern sandwich bars in the New Town and Vinohrady.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Pickled cheese (Nakládaný hermelín)
A soft, Camembert-style Czech cheese marinated in oil with garlic, onion, chilli and peppers, served with dark bread as a beer snack.
Where: Almost every traditional pub; it appears under 'beer snacks' (k pivu).
Dish · Vegetarian
7.Kulajda
A creamy South Bohemian soup of potatoes, mushrooms and dill, finished with a poached egg and a dash of vinegar.
Where: Czech restaurants and bistros that cook seasonal traditional food.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Koláče
Round, soft yeast pastries topped with poppy seed, plum jam, sweet curd cheese (tvaroh) or a mix, often finished with crumble. They are a genuinely traditional Czech bake.
Where: Bakeries and cafés across the city, particularly neighbourhood bakeries outside the Old Town.
Street food · Vegetarian
9.Trdelník
Dough wrapped around a spit, roasted, rolled in sugar and often filled with ice cream or cream. It is sold on every Old Town corner but is a recent arrival rather than a historic Prague speciality.
Where: Stands throughout the Old Town and Malá Strana; enjoy it as a snack, not as tradition.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Czech beer (Pivo)
Czechs drink more beer per head than any other country, and pale lagers such as Pilsner Urquell, first brewed in Plzeň in 1842, set the style. Look for tankové pivo (unpasteurised tank beer) and try the foamy 'mlíko' pour.
Where: Traditional pubs, brewpubs such as U Fleků and the monastery brewery at Strahov, and craft-beer bars in Žižkov and Vinohrady.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Becherovka
A herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary flavoured with anise, cinnamon and a secret blend of herbs, drunk as a digestif or mixed with tonic as a 'beton'.
Where: Bars and pubs everywhere; bottles are sold in supermarkets and souvenir shops.
Food experiences
Traditional pub lunch
Weekday lunch menus (polední menu) at pubs and restaurants offer soup and a main for much less than dinner prices. Share a table if it is busy and order a half-litre with your meal.
Beer garden evening
From spring to autumn, locals gather in the beer gardens of Letná and Riegrovy sady with views over the city, buying beer in plastic cups from kiosks.
Náplavka farmers' market
On Saturday mornings the riverside embankment at Náplavka fills with stalls selling bread, cheese, sausages, pastries and coffee, with views of the castle.
Brewery visit
Brewpubs such as U Fleků, brewing since the 15th century, and modern microbreweries let you taste beer made on site; Plzeň's Pilsner Urquell brewery is an easy day trip.
Quick bites and street food
- Open sandwiches — Traditional delicatessens (lahůdky) and modern sandwich bars in the New Town and Vinohrady.
- Pickled cheese — Almost every traditional pub; it appears under 'beer snacks' (k pivu).
- Trdelník — Stands throughout the Old Town and Malá Strana; enjoy it as a snack, not as tradition.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 7 are usually vegetarian: Fried cheese, Pickled cheese, Kulajda, Koláče, Trdelník, Czech beer and Becherovka. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Prices in restaurants right on the Old Town Square and along the Royal Route are much higher; walk five minutes away for local prices.
- Bread, snacks and appetisers placed on the table may be charged if you eat them; ask if unsure.
- Lunch menus are offered from about 11am on weekdays and are the best-value way to try Czech food.
- In traditional pubs, the waiter marks your beers on a slip of paper at the table and keeps bringing new ones until you say stop.
- Check the bill: some tourist restaurants add service charges or charge for items you did not order.
Tipping
Round up or add about 10% for good service, but tell the waiter the total you want to pay as you hand over money rather than leaving cash on the table. Check that service is not already included.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dobrý den | Hello / good day |
| Děkuji | Thank you |
| Prosím | Please / you're welcome |
| Na zdraví! | Cheers! |
| Pivo, prosím | A beer, please |
| Zaplatím, prosím | I'd like to pay, please |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Prague famous for?
Svíčková, Roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut, Czech goulash and Fried cheese. Marinated beef sirloin in a creamy sauce of puréed root vegetables, served with bread dumplings, a spoon of cranberries and whipped cream.
+Is Prague good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Fried cheese, Pickled cheese and Kulajda.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Prague?
Round up or add about 10% for good service, but tell the waiter the total you want to pay as you hand over money rather than leaving cash on the table. Check that service is not already included.