With a great mixture of classic Czech taverns, an abundance of authentic international restaurants, and a huge vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene, you’ll be spoiled for choices when it comes to eating in Prague.

To get the most quality for your Czech crowns, we’ve listed a few tips on dining in the capital of the Czech Republic. Dobrou chut (enjoy your meal)!

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6 Prague dining tips

To maximize your Czech eating experience, there are a few more things you should know about including where and when to go as well as how much to leave for the tip. Read on for our top 6 tips on dining out in Prague.

1. Always get the lunch special

The lunch menu or “poledni menu” is a list of special dishes that a restaurant has prepared for that day which it sells for a discounted price. Nearly every restaurant, except those aimed at tourists in the Old Town of Prague, will offer this kind of deal at lunchtime.

The values are usually tremendous, with choices from a basic “kantyn” — a cafeteria-style self-service restaurant, starting at around $3 per plate and a high-end restaurant offering meals for around $5-6 per plate. You can also fill up at one of Prague’s many all-you-can-eat Indian restaurants which typically charge about $6-7 to stuff yourself at lunchtime.

More budget tips: Our Cheapo guide to visiting Prague

Pick up picnic supplies like cheese at a farmers market. Photo: Paul

2. Hit the markets and have a picnic

During the warmer months of the year — between March and November — farmers markets set up in most towns and cities in the Czech Republic. In smaller towns, these markets can usually be found in the city center on certain days of the week, but in Prague, they are happening nearly every day at different locations around the city. Learn more about where to shop with this list of Prague farmers markets from the official tourism website.

At the market, you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, sausage, beer, wine, and bread at a bargain while experiencing Czech flavors directly from local farmers. Once you’ve grabbed your bounty, have a seat on a bench or in the grass to enjoy the scenery.

3. Watch out for extra charges on your bill

Padding the bill in the Czech Republic isn’t as common as it was in previous times, but it still can happen on occasion. It’s more likely to occur in an old-style Czech restaurant, perhaps after the waiter has seen you indulge in a few adult beverages and thinks they can slip a little extra charge into your bill.

Something else to be aware of is the inclusion of an automatic tip in the bill, which is not an accepted practice. Before paying, it’s always best to look at the bill, account for what you’ve paid for, and be direct but polite about clarifying the charges if you have any doubts. For drinks, you also have the ability to pay as you go, if you want to keep things clear.

Tipping your waiter is nice but not required in Prague. Photo: Bruce

4. Tips on tipping

Czech waiters are happy with a bit of change as their tip, say 10-20 Czech crowns (koruna) per person per meal. If you’ve had a more expensive meal or dined in a larger group, it’s best to tip around 10% of the total cost. If the service is rude, feel free to not leave anything — they’re likely used to not receiving tips and don’t care.

When you leave a tip, the polite thing to do is to check the total amount due, then add in the tip and give the waiter a total amount you will be paying. For example, if your bill is 90 crowns and you want to tip them 10 crowns, you will tell them “100 crowns” when you make payment. It might feel a bit strange to be telling the waiter how much you are tipping them, but it’s normal protocol in the Czech Republic.

One last bit of advice is that if you are paying by credit card and plan to leave a tip, it’s better to give the tip to the waiter in cash. Many waiters in the Czech Republic say that they don’t always receive the tips given via credit card payments. So if you can tip in cash, it’s a nice way to do make sure the waiter is getting their fair share.

Don’t let a little bad service ruin your mood! Photo: Barney

5. How to handle rude service

“Service with a snarl” can still be a problem in certain Czech restaurants. Instead of receiving a kind welcome and a touch of friendly charm with your meal, you might have to find a table for yourself and come prepared to be ignored for long stretches at a time.

Fortunately, this is becoming less common as younger people are moving into the service industry, but don’t be surprised if you get a bit of rude service at least once during your trip. Most importantly, don’t let it ruin your Prague vacation. Treat it like it’s part of the cultural experience — it will make a good story when you get back home.

6. Cash is king

While most modern restaurants in Prague accept credit cards, in more traditional-style eateries, you should assume that you’ll have to pay with cash. For this reason, it’s recommended to always have enough on hand to pay your bill. Don’t just assume that your card will be accepted — or you might be making a mad dash to an ATM!

Do you have your own tips for dining Prague? Let us know in the comments below.

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Here are my favorite places in Prague to enjoy a delicious beer while taking in a breathtaking view:

Letna
Letenske sady (Letna Park), Prague 7 – Letna

From whichever direction you enter Letna park, the view never fails to inspire awe. As I’ve stated in a previous post dedicated to Prague’s green spaces, Letna is perched high above the city on a plane overlooking the Vltava River, with its succession of bridges, framed by the city’s stunning architecture. This view conjures up images of a Europe of long ago.

The beer garden hugs an edge of the park and encompasses 20 or so long wooden tables with benches. You purchase your beer from a small stall, where you can also stand at round tables and drink your golden brew with a plate of sausage, dark bread and hot mustard. They also offer some other snacks like chips and ice cream bars.

Seated at the benches, listening to the happy banter of others and staring out at the stunning view, day passes into evening almost without your awareness, as perfect moments always do.

Reigrovy Sady
Riegrovy Sady, 120 00 Praha 2 – Vinohrady
Web site

One of Prague’s largest, the beer garden at Reigrovy Sady mixes the country’s national beverage with a lovely park setting.

After purchasing your beverage (at the stall at the garden’s entry), sit back at one of about 30 wooden tables and enjoy the cool and lush environment, thanks to the parks numerous trees. If you’re into sports, you can also watch the latest game on the beer garden’s large screen (if you’re not into sports, don’t worry, the screen is set in one corner of the large space, so it doesn’t prove to be a distraction).

To experience the view–including rooftops of the city’s center and the castle in the distance, all framed by trees–find a patch of grass on the hill (located to the left when you’re standing outside the entrance to the garden) or sit on one of the benches just above it.

Vysehrad (Hospudka Na Hradbach)
V pevnosti 144, 128 00 Prague 2 – Vysehrad

Set within the grounds of one of Prague’s most magical settings, Hospudka Na Hradbach offers a stunning panorama of the city many visitors never get to see. To find your way there, look out for the dark spears of the Church of St. Peter and Paul, which nearly rivals Prague Castle as the dominate feature in the city’s skyline, and characterizes the entire Vysehrad neighborhood.

To best experience the view, sit down at one of the tables along the garden’s edges. If you’re not so lucky, opt for one of several tables within its center and then stroll over at your leisure. Along with beer, Na Hradbach offers a wide selection of food offerings.

To finish the evening or afternoon, walk the periphery of the area for more equally stunning views of Prague.

Parukarka
Parukarka Park, 130 00 Prague 3 – Zizkov

An off-the-beaten-path location well worth the trip, Parukarka sits atop a hill in Prague’s Zizkov district and offers nearly 360-degree views of the city. Although there are a few tables outside of the small pub, most people opt to sit in the grass just behind it. From there you can enjoy your beer with a view that includes a rooftop perspective of Zizkov, Prague’s TV tower, Vitkov National Memorial, and yes, Prague Castle in the distance.

To get there from the center, take the metro’s green line to the stop “Flora.” From there walk down the hill along “Jicinska” street (or catch tram number 5 to “Olsanske Namesti”). At the bottom of the hill, cross over the intersection, pass the bus stop and then head up the set of stairs directly in front of you. At the top, you’re at Parukarka.

Now sit back and sip in the view!

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It’s possible to take your treats away, or enjoy them in-house. The latter is an excellent idea as many of the sweet shops offer some of the city’s best atmospheres and in several cases a little piece of history with your cake.

The history of the cukrárna dates back to the first half of the 1770s when there were a number of coffee shops where it was possible to sit and enjoy cakes and other sweet goods. However, it wasn’t until the turn of the century and beginning of the 20th century when the true cukrárna made its mark on the Czech Republic.

Myšák cukrárna
Vodickova 710/31
Praha 1, Nové Mesto
Website

In 1910 František Myšák opened what would become one of the most popular establishments of the First Republic, the legendary Myšák cukrárna on Prague’s vibrant Vodickova street. The shop actually still exists today–a restored version–which just opened in 2008. Boasting a cubist façade, the interior was renovated to resemble the original version, with a modern twist.

Two years later, a coffee shop with a confectionary located in the cubist, House of the Black Madonna opened, followed by the Berger cukrárna, which, like Myšák, was also located on Vodickova street.

Erhartova Cukrárna
Milady Horákové 56
Praha 7
Web site

In 1937, another legendary First Republic sweet shop opened its doors: Erhartova Cukrárna. Like Myšak, it still exists today, having reopened it doors in 2007 to reveal a perhaps even more authentic version to the original. Besides its unique functionalist interior, the shop is known for the quality and attention to detail it puts into it sweets. I can attest. When I was there I had a piece of mascarpone cake, which I have not stopped thinking about ever since.

Svetozor
Vodickova 791/39
Praha 1, Nové Mesto
Web site

In the 1970’s, the first fruit cukrárna opened in Prague in an arcade just off, once again, Vodickova street (apparently a hot spot for sweet shops). Sharing the same name as the art house cinema that is next to it, Svetozor today sees people lining up in the summer for its fruit sorbet. Along with fruitcakes, cream-based cakes and other sweets, the shop’s completely glass outer wall offers the opportunity to indulge in people watching along with your sweet treat. Enjoy!

The post Prague: Legendary sweet shops for Bohemian treats appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Lehká Hlava
Borsov 2, New Town – Prague 1
website

Often listed as a vegetarian fave, “Clear Head”  gets raves from meat eaters as well. As the restaurant leans a bit Mediterranean, you can graze over their eggplant tartar, pasta with tofu or tempeh, or choose one of their decent Mexican items (especially the big burritos). Lehká Hlava has a funky, semi-spacey decor, and reservations are recommended.

Bona Vita
Václavské námestí 43, New Town – Prague 1

Bona Vita is the local health food company that produces a lot of natural and vegetarian foods. Their restaurant is in a passageway off of Wenceslas Square, quite convenient if you’re in the center. Bona Vita’s menu used to be much larger and more exciting; they offered Mexican, Asian, Italian, and more with the front half being with meat; the second half with meat substitutes. Now they only have 2 pages of meatless offerings and prices have gone up a bit. Nonetheless, the food is still tasty.

Country Life
Melantrichova 15, Old Town – Prague 1
website

Another natural and organic restaurant, Country Life is a buffet-style restaurant close to Old Town Square that is popular to say the least. Food is sold by weight, so you pay for what you think you can eat. Hot and cold selections, plus soup, desserts, and free water make this a bargain hunter’s dream. Beware: lunchtime sees the smallish place packed with area business people. Make it an early or late lunch for more assured seating. There’s a decent sized health food store out front; the restaurant is in the courtyard.

Maitrea
Týnská 6, Old Town – Prague 1
website

Lehká Hlava’s not-so-wild cousin is one of the newest veg places in town. The decor is a bit milder, the space bigger, and the menu slightly more affordable. They offer a daily set lunch menu for 108 CZK ($5.90) that includes soup, a main dish, and small water. There’s even a vegetarian version of the traditional Old Bohemian Plate; this time with beets and tofu.

Veg Food
Londýnská 35, Vinohrady – Prague 2
website

Nestled on a residential street, Veg Food is not just a clever name. It is all veg with lots of items using meat substitutes. The spring rolls and sushi are two of the best choices. It’s easy to find something under 100 CZK ($5.45), so it’s also a great budget choice. Only non-alcoholic drinks are served here, and the restaurant is non-smoking. Veg Food offers a great daily lunch special, and the place fills up. Dinnertime, however, is quieter and the staff is very pleasant.

Beas Vegetarian Dhaba
Týnská 19, Old Town – Prague 1
Belehradská 90, Vinohrady – Prague 2
website

This is one of the best Cheapo finds, whether you are vegetarian or not. Beas is a cafeteria-style Indian restaurant with a daily meal that includes your choice of two kinds of subji; two kinds of dhal; two kinds of rice; plus a small salad and cup of soup. The small menu is 88 CZK ($4.80), the large 98 CZK ($5.35). They also have other items you can order separately and there are pitchers of free water on every table.

The Old Town location is a bit smaller, and gets crowded quickly. It’s better in the summer thanks to the large front courtyard. The Prague 2 location is bigger and also has a small outdoor eating area. Beas is a non-smoking restaurant.

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Read on to make sure you’re getting your Czech kroners’ worth!

1. Go at lunch time.

Nearly every traditional Czech restaurant offers a lunch menu with prices usually around 99 CZK. The menu often isn’t translated; however it gives you an excellent, cheap excuse to be adventurous. Sides, like French fries, potatoes, rice etc. usually aren’t included, so be sure to order them separately.

2. Go before (or after) the crowds.

That said, expect packed restaurants at lunch time. Czechs know a good value when they see one, and city center restaurants are usually packed around the noon hour. Plan on a full restaurant (go right at 11 AM, typical opening times for most restaurants, or around 1 PM; the lunch specials usually last until 2 PM) and count on brusque service. If you order from the lunch menu, your food will come fast; if you order off it, you’ll have to wait.

3. Watch your bill.

Legally, a restaurant must tell you if service is included. It’s hit or miss if they actually will. Have a rough idea of what your bill should be ahead of time. An extra beer often finds its way onto unsuspecting tabs.

4. Go easy on tips.

Usually rounding up is enough of a tip; minimum 10-20 CZK. If service is horrid, don’t feel bad about not tipping, and if it’s good, 10% is quite generous.

Your Prague restaurant tips

Have any Prague dining tips, Cheapos? Post a comment to share.

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Here are three of my favorite pubs in central Prague:

U Jindrišské veže
Jindrišská 26, Prague 1

Near Wenceslas Square, “At the Jindrišská Tower” offers plentiful plates of Czech pub grub. Pictures of old Prague line the walls, while outside, the historic Jindrišská Tower looms overhead. Dark wooden tables sassily covered in beer tablecloths fill up quickly for their “smažený sýr,” ” tatarská omácka” (fried cheese with tarter sauce), and “kurecí prsa na žampionech” (chicken breast with mushrooms).

Beer fans take note: They offer tank Gambrinus (tank beer is supposedly the best), plus the well-known Pilsner Urquell and Kozel dark, one of the most popular dark brews.

U Provaznice
Provaznická 3, Prague 1

At the other end of Wenceslas Square, right near one of the Mustek metro entrances, you’ll find U Provaznice (translated as “At the Rope maker’s wife”). Look for the wooden statue near the entrance—legend has it you should touch her breasts for good luck. A small space (keep walking around the bar towards the left for more tables in the back), it’s often packed, but the waiters are usually of the friendly sort.

Go there for their great “vepro, knedlo, zelo” (pork, bread dumplings, and cabbage) or “smažené veprové rízky” (pork schitznel). The low ceilings, brick accents and light wood tables offer a cozy atmosphere.

Lokál
Dlouhá 33, Prague 1

Run by a well-regarded local restaurant group, Lokál is the place to go if you want Czech atmosphere without the traditional ambiance. Confused? This new restaurant, opened in the fall of 2009, recreates the Czech pub experience in a modern way. Here you’ll find a typical pub menu and long wooden tables spruced up with modern lighting and design.

It’s a small menu. Go for some “svícková hovezí pecene na smetane” (beef tenderloin in a cream sauce) or “guláš z hovezí kližky” (beef goulash). Prices are shockingly low for the location and evidence of its upscale nature can be found in its decent wine list and competent service. Close to Old Town Square, Lokál has quickly become a favorite among the locals.

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The cheery shop, located near the Jewish Quarter, has a design that isn’t too far from Feeley’s Californian roots, warm with a retro, gee-whiz interior. The staff is oh-so-helpful, whether toasting your ham and cheese croissant (a delicious buttery sin) or bagging up a dozen scrumptious oatmeal raisin cookies to bring home.

While the shop makes for a nice afternoon pick-me-up, it is also the perfect locale for a quick, cheap lunch (their quiches are roughly CZK65/$2.00 and are so addictive they should be outlawed). If you have some extra time and extra money burning a hole in your pocket, Feeley’s sister restaurant Bakeshop Diner, is nearby in Mala Strana (next to the Charles Bridge) and offers up the full dining experience for a few extra Czech crowns.

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