When visiting a city abroad, the traveller's curiosity is attracted by several things: the history of the country and the metropolis, the lifestyle of the citizens, the important monuments and cultural traditions and... the food! It is a well-known fact that in order to taste the real dishes of another country, it is necessary to go directly to the place, so the journey will be truly complete! That's why we have decided to dedicate this article to those who are planning to travel to Prague and, in addition to visiting the city and discovering its sights, would also like to sit down at a typical restaurant or discover the most delicious street food that the capital of the Czech Republic has to offer. Follow us to discover the 10 things you absolutely must eat in Prague.
1 - Gulash
A dish that can also be found in neighbouring Hungary, but the Prague version is not as spicy. It is a stew or beef stew with a mix of vegetables and dumplings. You can also find versions with chicken or venison, or vegetarian.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 95 CZK, about €3.50
Main ingredients: beef, vegetables
2 - Svíčková na smetaně
Photo by Marco Antonio Lo Buono. This is a dish consisting of roast loin of beef served with sweet and sour cream sauce and blueberries. Although it is a slightly more refined dish by city standards - and therefore a little more expensive - it is still an affordable typical Czech delicacy. The pairing with a strong dark beer is a winner.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 219 CZK, about €9.00
Main ingredients: beef loin, sweet and sour cream sauce, blueberries
3 - Vepřoknedlozelo
Photo by Kirk K. One of the truly unmissable dishes not only for Prague but for all Czech cuisine is this roast pork dish with dumplings and sauerkraut. A real 'brick' for strong stomachs! Of course, to 'deflate' it, we recommend accompanying it with a cold beer.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 199 CZK, approx. €7.50
Main ingredients: pork, sauerkraut
4 - Trdelník
A traditional cake consisting of a roll of sweet dough usually served warm and enriched with sugar, hazelnut kernels and cinnamon. It is common to see it prepared at stalls around the city, the dessert is in fact part of that street food tradition to be enjoyed, especially during winter!
Recommended for: snack, snack, sweet end of meal
Average cost: 100 CZK, about €4.00
Main ingredients: sweet pastry, cinnamon, hazelnut kernels
5 - Chlebíčky
A tasty snack, a mini sandwich that is eaten for breakfast or a quick lunch. It is usually served at parties or during events gathering several people, stuffed with eggs, sliced meats, gherkins.
Recommended for: breakfast, appetiser, snack
Average cost: 22 CZK, less than €1.00 each
Main ingredients: bread, various fillings
6 - Smažený Sýr
These are fried cheese balls served with chips or salad, really delicious and appreciated by cheese lovers. They are sold everywhere on the streets of Prague and are ideal for a tasty snack or snack.
Recommended for: snack or quick snack
Average cost: 119 CZK, about €4.50
Main ingredients: fried cheese
7 - Knedlíky
A traditional side dish are these dumplings served as an accompaniment to meat dishes or other main courses, such as goulash. They are the equivalent of homemade dumplings, although there is also a sweet version in Prague, served as a dessert, with a fruit or jam filling.
Recommended: side dish, main course
Average cost: depending on the dish they accompany
Main ingredients: stale bread, eggs, milk
8 - Bramborová Polévka
This is a very hearty traditional potato soup, ideal during cold winter days. It also contains other vegetables such as carrots, celery and mushrooms and is further flavoured with a pinch of garlic and oregano.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 100 CZK, about €4.00
Main ingredients: potatoes, carrots, mushrooms
9 - Česneková Polévka
This is a dish for the daring who have no romantic dates after eating it. It is in fact a garlic-based soup in which small pieces of rye bread and diced potatoes are dipped. Seasoned with marjoram, freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley, the dish proves to be simple but delicious and also healthy.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 59 CZK, about €2.00
Main ingredients: garlic, rye bread, potatoes
10 - Koleno
Meat, meat and more meat! This typical Czech dish is also meat-based, in fact it consists of a whole pig's foot marinated in dark beer mixed with herbs. The result is crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. In fact, the cooking process makes the meat so soft that it can pull itself off the bone. Of course, the process is very long, about 45 minutes, which you can spend tasting some local beers.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 234 CZK, about €9.00
Main ingredients: pork
Where to eat in Prague: best restaurants, typical places and street food
Traditional Prague cuisine consists mostly of meat and is not the easiest to digest: goulash, goose and duck, as well as special roasts such as svickova, a roast beef served with cream sauce, blueberry jam, whipped cream, knedliky and a slice of lemon.
Among the desserts not to be missed is trdlo: a special type of bread sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, rolled on a stick and baked in the oven: it is filled according to personal taste and is nothing short of delicious.
In Prague you can eat well without spending too much by trying to stay out of the main tourist areas and prefering places frequented by locals. People often eat in pubs and breweries rather than in the more classic restaurants: the people of Prague are used to spending entire days in the pubs, amidst beer and music, ending up with dinner and... a few more beers!
1 - Pivnice Stupartska
Description: brewery with typical dishes
Speciality: goulash in a bun, strudel
Average price: from €9.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
2 - Klášterní Šenk
Description: one of the best restaurants in Prague, housed in the oldest convent in the Czech Republic
Speciality: meat and seasonal soups
Average price: from €20.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Official Website
3 - Maitrea Vegetarian & Vegan restaurant
Description: fusion-style restaurant, ethnically decorated and very cosy
Speciality: vegan, gluten-free and raw options
Average price: from €15.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
4 - Restaurace Kolonial
Description: modern restaurant with a bicycle theme, where you can eat traditional dishes.
Speciality: pork knuckle, goulash and cheese
Average price: from €10.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
5 - Kolkovna
Description: simple restaurant with an informal atmosphere where you can enjoy Czech dishes and good beers.
Speciality: strudel, goulash and pot roast
Average price: from €15.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Official Website
