What to Eat and Drink in Prague

Prague is infamous for its Christmas markets (and ridiculously cheap food and drink!) so James and I headed to Prague for a last minute Christmas break back in early December. We squeezed a lot into our 48 hours in Prague trip, and ate at some incredible places. So here’s my guide on what to eat and drink in Prague!

 

The Irish Times

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James and I stumbled across The Irish Times on the first evening in Prague. We’d been walking around exploring and got caught out in heavy rain, so we ducked into The Irish Times to get dry and warm again. The atmosphere was really fun and loud in the pub, and we managed to find a table nestled away in the corner. We didn’t order food here as we’d already eaten, so instead James ordered a Mojito and I ordered the first of many Bailey’s hot chocolates. I think they’re my all time favourite drink for the winter, and will be sorely missed throughout the summer months.

I can’t find the mojito on the menu but I think it cost around 227CZK, around £8, and my hot chocolate with a shot of baileys on the side came to around 190CZK, about £6.69 (which in hindsight isn’t the cheapest hot chocolate but it was warming and rich!).

We saw the food leaving the kitchen and it looked deliciously home cooked and hearty – so definitely one to check out if you’re a big eater!

 

Staromacek

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We found Staromacek whilst walking around Old Town Square. From the outside, it’s a tiny little restaurant but the inside had so much character. With low ceilings, candle lit rooms and a cosy interior, it was the kind of traditional restaurant I hoped we’d stumble on. It was packed with locals (which is always a good sign) and the waiters were super friendly and helpful. The stylish and romantic restaurant focuses on traditional Czech cuisine, but you can also find a big selection of international and vegetarian meals on the menu.

Staromacek are famous in Prague for flaming any alcohol – which we witnessed serveral times throughout the evening, a pretty cool thing to watch!

James ordered the traditional Goulash served in a hallowed our bread roll, and I ordered the chicken schnitzel with cheese and button mushrooms, and we ordered a side of french fries to share. My chicken steak was tender and flavoursome, and James really enjoyed the traditional Goulash with tender and melt-in-the-mouth meat.

 

Street food at Prague Castle

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We visited Prague Castle on one of our days in the City, and found a Christmas market on the castle grounds. There were dozens of street food stands, selling burgers, sandwiches, sweet treats and mulled wine. James ordered a chicken salad roll, with shredded chicken, onion, garlic mayo and coriander in a brioche roll, and I ordered a chorizo hot dog, a spicy chorizo sausage with sauerkraut and drizzled garlic mayo in a brioche roll. They were the most insane hot dogs we’ve eaten, packed full with flavour and texture. I’d been eyeing up the sweet treats, so I bought a waffle on a stick to try. I ordered the piano waffle, made fresh in front of me and then drizzled with white and milk chocolate. It was messy to eat, but tasted delicious!

I don’t think the food stalls are a permanent feature at Prague Castle but if you find yourself there on a Christmas break this year, I’d definitely recommend a visit to try out the incredible street food.

 

John Lennon Pub

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We found the John Lennon pub whilst checking out the John Lennon wall. It’s a cosy pub with a real English feel – there’s Beatles memorabilia on the walls, a quirky red phonebox leading to the toilets and London underground signs on the wall. The John Lennon pub serves fresh and homecooked food, alongside a range of beer, cocktails, milkshakes and hot drinks to-go. James ordered a spiced rum and coke (which was somehow interpreted into an espresso and coke…) and I ordered a hot chocolate. The pub has free wi-fi too, so it was good to relax with a warm drink to recharge our batteries before some more walking around the city!

 

Vytopna

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Vytopna is a popular restaurant in Prague, thanks to a huuuuuge model train track running around the entire restaurant to deliver drinks straight to the table. Once I’d heard about the novelty restaurant, I just knew we had to visit it!

On the website you’re advised to pre-book as it can get busy, but luckily we managed to get a table right near the bar (and the start of the train track!). Vytopna also charge each customer 25ck (around 86p) on top of the bill to help service the trains and keep them running – which is incredibly cheap considering!

The menu features a range of Czech specialities and freshly baked pizzas, pasta dishes and salads. James ordered a Czech Pilsner and sure enough, came chugging around the corner ready to be picked up! (You can watch the video here and it still makes me smile even now!). I ordered a Woo Woo cocktail which arrived shortly after, and we perused the menu for what to order.

We ordered freshly baked rosemary and garlic bread to start, whilst we looked through the menu to decide on what to order. James ordered a bacon, mushroom and sweetcorn pizza and I ordered the turkey and pesto pasta dish from the daily special section. We also ordered french fries to share – who doesn’t love a good carby meal? The pizza came piping hot and fresh, with super tasty and fresh toppings. My pasta was incredibly mourish and packed full of herbs and garlic – great for a garlic lover like me! The service is quick here and the waitresses are super friendly too, which made the whole experience so much fun.

The bill came to around 30 Czech Crowne (around £22!) which is incredibly cheap. Had this exact restaurant been in the centre of London, they could easily charge £30-£50 for the experience and food alone.

 

Trdelnik

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Trdelnik – otherwise known as chimney cake – is a delicacy in Prague. Trdelnik is a kind of spit cake, made from rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with sugar and a walnut mix. I ate around three of these in Prague – and I totally wish I’d eaten more of them in hindsight! They were utterly delicious. You can have the pastry plain, or have fillings added like nutella, cream or ice cream. I had all of mine with nutella (because I just LOVE nutella!) and it just tasted like absolute heaven. It’s definitely a must-have treat if you find yourself in Prague. They’re super cheap to buy as well and can be found just about anywhere in street food stands and shops.

 

Sad Man’s Tongue

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James had a look on Tripadvisor for the best restaurants in Prague, and Sad Man’s Tongue was recommended quite frequently, so we decided to have lunch there on our final day in Prague. We followed google maps and eventually found it tuck into a side street. As soon as we stepped inside, the bar staff and waitresses were super friendly and inviting – I feel like if it’s the kind of place that if you know, you know.

Sad Man’s Tongue is a popular bar and bistro in the heart of Prague, bringing a 1950s and 1960s vibe to the 21st century.The restaurant has a diner-vibe, with walls decorated in pin-up posters, and wooden furniture covered with checkered cloths.

We settled down at a table tucked in the corner, James ordered a Pilsner and I ordered a peach tea. We started looking through the menu when the manager came over and introduced himself (completley forgot your name – but hi if you’re reading!) he was a friendly and welcoming American man, who told us he settled in Prague a few years ago as his wife lives there. He opened the restaurant because he knew Prague was lacking a little something – so now there’s a fantasic burger joint in the heart of the city that’s a big hit with locals and tourists alike!

We ordered cheese stuffed onion rings to start, which were mahoosive. They came served piping hot, with a crispy coating and gooey-cheesy filling. For mains, James ordered the cheese and bacon burger, and I ordered the cheese and bacon burger with cherry jam – both of which were incredibly juciy, full of flavour and mourish.. I’m a sucker for a burger – and I can confirm this was one of the best burgers I have ever had.

The meat was juicy and tender, and the bacon salty enough to compliment the rest of the burger. The soft brioche bun held everything in nicely, and the cherry jam I had on my burger was sweet with a kick, and worked really really well. The skin on fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside – made even more delicious by the accompanying dipping garlic mayo.

The food and drink is just incredible – it’s home cooked, fresh and served with love. If you’re looking for a good burger in Prague – Sad Man’s Tongue is the place to go!

 

 

Prague was a fantastic city to explore, and the food and beer along the way made the trip even more enjoyable. If you ever find yourself in Prague, follow this handy guide on the best places to eat and drink in Prague!