Dining tips: Restaurants range from being very affordable to very expensive. Except in the best restaurants, it is normal for the customer to seat him/herself, without waiting for a waiter. In smaller restaurants and in pubs, it is common to share a table with others. Do not assume that your bill will automatically arrive at the end of your meal. It is common practice to say “záplatím, prosím” (I’d like to pay) to your waiter, who will then bring the bill and wait for you to pay. It is recommended that you check your bill carefully, since “padding” is known to occur.
In most restaurants, it is common to simply round up for the a tip and then tell the waiter the total (tip included) that you intend to pay, rather than the amount of change you wish to have returned to you. So if your bill is 530 Kč, in a Czech restaurant it would be acceptable to round up to 550 Kč. In more expensive continental restaurants, however, a 10-15% tip is expected.
For the best restaurants in Prague, see the booklet Gourmet, published annually and available at many bookstores or direct from the publisher at 224 317 452. An excellent website is: www.praguepost.com. The Prague Post has an extensive dining section.
Click here to see an example of a typical menu in a Czech restaurant
Here are a few recommendations: (* indicates child-friendly)
*Ambiente (222 727 851) Mánesova 59, Prague 2—Casual, tasty dishes with moderate prices.
Ambiente Restaurante Brasileiro (224 234 474) U Radnice 8, Prague 1, and Na Příkopě, Prague 1. Brazilian Restaurant with an all-you-can-eat meat option.
Ambiente Ristorante Pasta fresca (224 230 244) Celetná 11, Prague 1. Casual, tasty dishes.
Bambus Café (24 828 110) Benediktska 12, Prague 1. Great coffee and crepes with savory filling, nice small lunch.
*Bohemia Bagel (224 812 560) Újezd 16, Prague 1. There is a second location, near Old Town, at Masná 2, which has small play area. Offers New York style bagels, sandwiches, quiche, soup, and spreads.
*Buffalo Bill’s (224 948 624) Vodičkova 9, Prague 1—Several blocks from Wenceslas Square. Tex Mex, moderately priced.
Café Ebel (224 895 788) Tyn 2, Prague 1. Great coffee and cookies, and a hot panini for lunch.
Cantina (257 317 173) Újezd 38, Prague 1. Spicy Mexican dishes.
Česky Raj (224 218 879) Jungmannovo náměstí 3—Very nice small Czech restaurant in a cellar. Prices very reasonable with menu in Czech, English, German and Russian. Reservations recommended for larger groups.
Černý Orel (257 531 738) U Lužického semináře 40, Prague 1—Walking distance from Malostranská metro station towards Charles Bridge. Nice outside courtyard. Pub with some selection of food like fried cheese or broiled pig knuckles! Moderate prices.
Chicago’s Famous Pizza (223 164 242) Prague 6—mose Martiho 376 Take-out or delivery only. Medium and large thick crust pizza delivered to your door. Hours: 9:30-21:30 daily
Country Life 224 213 366 Melantrichova 15, Prague 1. Great vegetarian food, served buffet style. There is a store attached that sells interesting vegetarian and organic ingredients.
Cream and Dream (224 211 035) Husova 12, Prague 1, and other locations and stands throughout Prague. Excellent Italian-style ice cream.
*Hotel Savoy (224 302 430) Kleperova 6, Prague 1—The weekend brunch is lavish and worth the price. Adjacent room is provided with giant screen TV, a babysitter and loads of cakes and goodies, all included in the price, which is expensive.
*IKEA Located at the Zličin shopping center (end of yellow “B” line) There is a supervised play area downstairs, as well as smaller play area in cafeteria. The cafeteria has excellent food at very reasonable prices and is kid friendly with high chairs available.
*Kampa Park (257 532 685) Na Kampě 8b, Prague 1—Scandinavian seafood and other specialties. Conveniently located next to a fenced park where children can play until food is served. Children under 10 eat free when accompanied by an adult. Expensive.
Kavarna Meduza Belgicka 17, Prague 2--Open 7 days. Light meals and great coffee
La Provence 222 324 801 Štupartská 9, Prague 1--Very cozy restaurant in the cellar. Great salads and wonderful desserts. Expensive.
*The Louvre (224 930 912) Národní 20, Prague 1. The ideal place for a smoke-free meal although not all rooms are smoke-free, so be sure to ask. Wide breakfast menu with a good choice of vegetarian dishes. Also offers a room for parties. Inexpensive.
*Pizza Coloseum (224 235 611) Vodičkova 32, Prague 1—Come and watch flying pizzas. Dark and sometimes smoky, but has a good salad bar. Menu written in Italian and Czech. Moderately priced.
*Pizzeria Grosseto Jugoslávských Paryzánů 8, Prague 6 and Francouzská 2, Prague 2 (at Náměstí Míru metro) Good pizzas, pasta, and salads at reasonable prices, but usually very crowded. It does have a summer garden, but no reservations are possible.
Radost FX Café (224 254 776) Belehradska 120, Prague 2--Great inexpensive, innovative vegetarian meals. Open 7 days. Weekend brunch is recommended. Right next to IP Pavlova metro station.
Red Hot and Blues (222 314 639) Jakubská 12, Prague 1. Open daily from 9:00-23:00. Near Námestí Republiky. Cajun is the food, but New Orleans it’s not! On the weekends they have a Tex Mex brunch. Moderately priced.
Restaurant Fondue (224 250 758) Slezská 20, Prague 2, behind Muzeum. Different kinds of fondue and lava stone grill. Quite good, and not too expensive.
Restaurant Pohoda (222 298 628) Masarykovo nabřeží 2, Prague 1--Down the street from the National Theatre. Very good steaks, rather formal, reasonably priced.
Restaurant U Lorety (224 510 191) Loretánské náměstí, Prague 1--Near Prague Castle, by the Loreto Church. Good, reasonably priced Czech food.
Rotisserie (224 914 557) Mikulandská 6, Prague 1--Very nice, romantic candlelit setting with good Czech food, reasonably priced.
Sunshine Chinese Restaurant (224 321 888) Dejvická 40, Prague 6--Good Chinese food, reasonably priced. 90 czk lunch special including appetizer, main course, and drink.
Click here to see an example of a typical menu in a Czech restaurant