Czech food is heavier, cheaper and better than its reputation suggests. Here is what to order, where to find it, and what it should cost.
Prague eats well, and it eats affordably — if you know where to look. The centre is full of places charging tourist prices for mediocre versions of national dishes, while ten minutes’ walk away a neighbourhood pub serves the real thing for a third of the price. This guide covers what the classics actually are, where locals eat them, and how to tell the difference.
At a glance
| Main course | 200–400 CZK in a normal restaurant, 500+ in the centre |
| Lunch menu | 150–250 CZK for the denní menu, served roughly 11:00–14:00 |
| Half-litre of beer | 50–80 CZK — often cheaper than water |
| Tipping | Round up or add 5–10% |
| Guides on this site | 175 dishes and food guides, 162 restaurants, 76 cafés |
Browse by section
| The classics you should order | Every traditional dish explained — what it is, what it tastes like and where to eat it. |
| Restaurants | 162 reviewed restaurants, from pubs to fine dining. |
| Cafés and coffee | The historic coffee houses and the specialty roasters locals actually use. |
| Bars and beer | Craft taprooms, wine bars and the pubs worth walking to. |
| Halal and kosher | Certified options in and around the centre. |
Start here
- Svíčková — The national dish: marinated beef in cream sauce with dumplings and cranberry.
- Guláš with beer — Slow-cooked beef, paprika and dark beer — the pub staple.
- Vepřo knedlo zelo — Roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut. The Czech Sunday lunch.
- Best food experiences — Markets, tastings and the meals worth planning a day around.
- Craft beer guide — Beyond Pilsner Urquell — where the modern Czech beer scene lives.
- Beer gardens — Letná, Riegrovy Sady and the rest, with when to go.
Practical tips
- Eat lunch, not dinner. The denní menu is the best value in the city and often the same kitchen’s best work.
- Walk five minutes off the square. Prices drop by a third and the food improves.
- Tap water is not automatic. Ask for kohoutková or you will be sold bottled.
- Bread on the table is charged. So are the nuts. Send them back if you do not want them.
Photography & sessionsFood photography in Prague works best in the old pubs and coffee houses, where the window light is soft and the interiors do half the work. If you want your trip photographed properly — a meal, a market walk or a whole day — Kemal Onur Ozman shoots families and couples across the city.
Plan by month
What you find here changes through the year. See December: Christmas market food and June: markets and beer gardens, or browse all monthly guides.
Prices and opening details last verified in August 2026.
