Top 5 FAQs About Prague Food and Drink

The best way to live like a local and explore Prague is through your stomach! As such, to help prepare you here are 5 top FAQs about Prague food and drink to help get you started.

About Food and Drink in Prague

Leave overpriced meals and watered-down drinks from popular tourist spots behind, and delve deeper into what Prague really has to offer visitors. We understand, however, that this is easier said than done.

After all, how does someone who has never visited Prague find somewhere aside from the usual tourist areas to satisfy their appetites? Well, we’ve tried to help you find the answer in this article, alternatively book one of our Prague food and drink experiences with a local guide!

Below we answer frequently asked questions about authentic food and dining experiences in Prague. As well as highlighting some notable dishes that come highly recommended.

1. What to eat for breakfast?

As breakfast is the most important meal, you want to get it right, even when on holiday in Prague as you will want to get your day off to a great start. We recommend heading over to Café Savoy or Café Mysak for this. A word of warning, it’s important when in Prague to make a reservation a day or two in advance. Turning up on the day can leave you outside in the cold at the end of the lengthy line surrounded by stubborn locals, which isn’t ideal.

Once inside with a menu in your hands, you’ll notice Palačinkys sitting amongst the other delightful Czech goods. We recommend ordering a plate of these immediately, especially for those who have a sweet tooth. A Palačinky is a thin type of pancake that is filled with whatever flavour of jam or fruit that you decide to choose from. It arrives at your table with a fine dusting of sugar that is sure to look great on your Instagram story but taste even better.

2. What to eat for lunch?

Lunch for a tourist – wherever you are in the world – can be rather tricky. Do you want to eat on the move, or do you want to find a sit-down restaurant where your feet can breathe a sigh of relief? One common misconception that guides visitors away from street food is the misconception that it can lead to some avoidable stomach problems.

However, when you smell what the streets of Prague have to offer, this fear will melt away.

When walking through Wenceslas Square, there’s one particular piece of street food that may catch your eye. Smažený sýr is the Czech version of a mozzarella stick, and it’s a delicious, authentic lunch to have on the go that is suitable for vegetarians. Proving that Czech cuisine knows more than meat and bread, Smažený sýr is a type of pickled cheese that has been tossed around a couple of times in breadcrumbs and then fried. Served alongside a helping of potato wedges with the Czech’s answer to tartare sauce or simply eaten alone, this isn’t a dish to miss out on!

3. What to eat for dinner?

After a long day of exploring the Old Town Square, taking pictures of the Prague Astronomical Clock or gazing at Prague’s castle, you’re bound to have worked up an appetite. Instead of wasting time trapezing around restaurant after restaurant for something to eat, why not settle down for a traditional plate of Svickova?

Svickova is one of the best dishes to try when eating like a local. It’s a hearty, longstanding dish that has been satisfying Czech stomachs for decades. The beef-based stew arrives at tables with a warm orange hue that immediately suggests comfort. A few bites later, you’ll realise that this dish is made with a delicious helping of carrot broth, sour cream and often, a spoonful of cranberry sauce across the top. Best eaten during trips in the autumn or winter months, it’s a little reminder of a Christmas dinner.

Yet, when eating Svickova, there’s one thing you mustn’t do, which is to compare it to its Hungarian cousin, the Goulash. Despite looking similar, a goulash is made with a different concoction of ingredients – namely tomato paste, dark beer and caraway seeds.

4. What to eat for dessert?

After finishing dinner, you’re probably wanting something sweet to sink your teeth into. So why not try Trdelník? Whilst the origins of this dish are much disputed – with some believing that it’s actually a Slovakian dish – there’s no denying it’s a favourite in Prague. Trdelník is made out of strips of sugared pastry, which is then wrapped around a stick and sprinkled with a variety of spices. Its crispy, caramel tasting texture is guaranteed by the open fire they’re baked over, as nothing is more satisfying than that initial crunch when taking the first bite.

You can order this sweet treat from a street food stand or within a restaurant. As Trdelníks are readily available, often served either plain or with a dipping pot of Nutella.

5. What to drink in Prague

One of the things that Prague is best known for around the world is its drinking culture. There’s nothing like it. This is why you don’t want to waste your trip to Prague standing around a bar inside of the hotel sipping on an overpriced beer. Instead, you should get out and see for yourself how Prague has garnered this irrefutable reputation.

At 1.30 Euros (or 35 Czech Crowns) a pint, Prague is known for its wide selection of beers. Visitors can choose from a pint of non-pasteurised Bernard to sip, or something a little sweeter, such as a Pilsner, Staropramen or Urquell. Known here as ‘liquid bread’, there’s no better way to live like a local.

Aside from beer, Prague has also earned its boozy name through its creation of drinks such as burčak, which is a type of wine.

Prague Food and Drink Experiences

If any of these FAQs about Prague food and drink have inspired you to explore the local culinary scene, why not book an authentic experience with tabl.? Here you will find a range of some of the best food and drink-related experiences in Portugal and around the world.