OK, so this is highly off topic, but I have my reasons:
One of my saved searches on Twitter is for Prague, the city I live in. There are two questions that keep coming up, one of which is answered here:
“Anyone got any tips for good restaurants in Prague?”
The other is “Why is the coffee in Prague so bad?” – the answer is that it’s not all bad – my off-the-cuff advice is to look for Lamborghini signs, anywhere serving it has been taught how to make coffee properly. Avoid Segafredo and Piazza d’Oro like the plague. Failing that Illy or Lavazza are relatively safe bets. It helps that most restaurants prominently display the brand of coffee that they serve. For more in-depth guide to Prague’s cafés read the article I wrote for a client’s blog.
To save time (and better cope with Twitter’s pesky 140 character limit) I’ve listed my favourite places here, along with reasons why – not every restaurant is perfect for everyone (without knowing someone’s likes and dislikes how can you recommend a restaurant?).
One thing is for sure – as with any city that has a lot of tourists, service and food quality, as well as prices can vary wildly between establishments. Places on Old Town Square are best avoided, they really don’t need to try that hard to be full, so they don’t. It seems a lot of these places really don’t care about repeat business and figure word of mouth isn’t that important either. When they stop charging 3 times the regular price for a beer, maybe I’ll reconsider.
To keep up with the ‘real-time-web’ nature of those twitter requests, I’ll be updating this list from time to time.
Disclosure – links are to AllPraha.com, a website I developed, as I can be sure that every place has a map, plus you’ll find further reviews there.
For elegance, without being overpriced:
Ambiente Pasta Fresca
Whilst they specialise in made-on-the-premises pasta, they are also experts with steak, and their steak tartare is exceptional.
For romance
Zvonice
On the 6th and 7th floors of Jindrisska Vez (Henry’s Tower), one tram stop from Wenceslas Square, in the bell chamber of the tower, this is a perfect spot for meals a deux.
For the view
Kampa Park
Nestling right by Charles Bridge, the terrace tables of Kampa Park afford superb views. Make sure your credit card has plenty available to spend though, this one’s pricey.
Hergetova Cihelna
The less over-the-top sister restaurant to Kampa Park – service is a little less intense, though still very good. Best seats are out on the terrace again – it’s just a few steps away from Kampa Park too.
For larger groups of hungry people
Ambiente Brasileiro
The menu is pretty simple here, there are two choices: salad buffet (with sushi) or salad buffet plus an endless array of grilled meat and fish. It’s all-you-can-eat, and they mean it – the churrasceros get upset if you say no. Real fun in a large group too.
There’s also an all-you-can-eat pizza/pasta place as part of the Ambiente group. If that’s your thing, it’s worth going – the pizza’s neapolitan (not American style).
For vegetarians
Lehka Hlava (Clear Head)
Went here for the first time in summer 09 having read glowing reviews for a couple of years already. Truly impressed. The goat’s cheese starter with cranberry was great. The ‘Big Clear Head’ was possibly too big – you might want to opt for a smaller main if you’re not that hungry. Prices very reasonable too.
Radost FX
A special mention for an old favourite – open pretty much all hours, serving probably the best late night food you’ll find in Prague. It’s a ‘multi-purpose’ space, a dance club in the basement, a cafe up front, a lounge at the back, and a music store with dvd rentals off to the side. Open for brunch in the mornings too.
For sports fans
I realise not everyone goes to Prague for the great architecture, and sometimes you just want watch your team’s big game. Prague has no shortage of Irish bars and sports bars in general. If you’d like to grab some food whilst you watch the match, and burgers are your thing, the home-made burgers at The Pack are a good option. They do a mean Cornish pasty too.
For something you might not have tried before
A couple of years ago I tried Afghan food for the first time. It’s not that common in the UK, but Prague has a couple of Afghan restaurants. If you like Lebanese cuisine then it’s definitely worth a try. Of the two my favourite is Kabul Karolina. It’s a tiny restaurant, so book ahead in the winter but in more clement weather it has a seating area in the courtyard out back. My tips are kebabe morgh (skewered pieces of tender chicken breast), ashak and mantu, similar to tortellini.
If you’d like more recommendations in a similar vein, take a look at Czech Please, a blog by Brewsta, I’ve never been steered wrong.
