We tell and show where you can eat tasty and inexpensive food in Prague. Learn about popular Czech cuisine and budget establishments in the city center. Tips on how to save money and what you need to know about Prague pubs and restaurants.
Exchange rate: 1 Czech crown (CZK) ≈ 3 RUB.
What to try in Prague
The capital of the Czech Republic is a city for true gourmets. There are many places in Prague where you can eat perfectly cooked meat, original pastries and taste different types of Czech beer.
Here is a list of popular dishes that are recommended to try during a visit to the Czech Republic:
- Drowned (utopenci) - pickled sausages and sausages with sweet onions, peppers and various spices. Dish number 1 in Czech pubs.
- Bohemian duck (Pecena kachna) - baked poultry cooked with dumplings and stewed cabbage.
- Smazhak (smazak or smazeny syr) - fried cheese in breadcrumbs. A popular beer snack.
- Garlic (Česnečka) - aromatic garlic soup. Served in bread pots.
- Goulash (Český guláš) is an appetizing beef stew second dish that resembles a sauce.
- Boar knee (Vepřové koleno) - masterfully baked shank. Delicate pork has a golden crust and excellent taste.
- Svichkova (Svíčková) is a baked beef tenderloin usually made with sour cream. The dish is eaten with various sauces, dumplings and lemon wedges.
- Pork with cabbage and dumplings (Vepřo-knedlo-zelo) - a roast pork dish with a lot of onions and caraway seeds.
- Fried sausages (klobasa) is a popular street food often sold at beer fairs and celebrations.
- Bramboraki (bramboráky) - potato cakes, relatives of our potato pancakes.
- Dumplings (knedlík) - dumplings made from wheat or potato flour.
- Trdelnik (trdelník) - twisted buns. They are eaten just like that or with fillings. Delicious dessert!
- Payments (oplatky) - thin waffles are sold in all shops in the Czech Republic and are considered an excellent souvenir.
- Czech beer (České pivo) can be light and dark, strong and not so, pasteurized and natural. Inexpensive varieties cost 20-25 CZK per 0.5 liter, more expensive varieties - from 35 CZK per 0.5 liter.
Where to eat deliciously and inexpensively in Prague
Now let's talk about where to go for delicious Czech cuisine. We offer an overview of popular establishments where you can eat inexpensively in or near the center of Prague.
Where to eat in the center of Prague on the map
U Bansethu Restaurant
One of the Hasek sites, which are described in "The Adventures of the Gallant Soldier Švejk". There is even a separate personal table for the writer. The waiters speak Russian fluently. Order light beer for 14-40 CZK and original goulash for 90 CZK. Dumplings with ham and cracklings start at 80 CZK.
Average check. Dinner for two will cost 600-750 CZK.
Address... Táborská 389/49, Nusle.
Restaurant-brewery Bašta
Next to U Bansethu, there is an establishment where you can eat inexpensively and tasty food in Prague and taste branded beer. Tourists love the original menu and excellent cuisine. Beer costs 36-45 CZK, a quarter of roasted duck - 99 CZK, dumplings - 28 CZK. The menu is in Czech only. If you want to come here in the afternoon, please reserve a table in advance.
Average check. Dinner for two will cost 650-800 CZK.
Address... Táborská 389/49, Nusle.
Restaurant U dvou kocek
One of the places where, according to reviews, you can eat inexpensively in Prague is the restaurant-brewery "U two cats". The institution has been operating since 1678. It is located in a historic building and is considered a symbol of quality beer and good food. Guests are served two original varieties - "Light Cat" and "Dark Cat", which are brewed in our own brewery, and a branded cherry liqueur. Tourists praise rich soups, boar knee, fried cheese, old Prague sausage and wild boar goulash.
Average check. Dinner for two will cost 550-850 CZK.
Address... Uhelný trh 415/10.
Brasserie U Černého Vola
The popular U Black Ox is known as one of the most atmospheric places in Prague. It is famous for its cheap beer and medieval decor. The pub has long wooden tables and benches, knightly armor and beautiful paintings. Local sausages, small sausages and smazhak are considered the best in the city. Beer costs 31-35 CZK. The menu is in Czech only.
Average check. Dinner for two will cost 700-800 CZK.
Address... Loretánské náměstí 107/1.
Ferdinanda beer restaurant
A whole network of establishments where football fans usually hang out. The restaurants got their name after the death of Archduke Ferdinand, who was shot dead in Sarajevo. Besides beer, try the local lemonade, good boar knee and Czech goulash.
Average check... You can have lunch for two for 600-700 CZK.
Address... Karmelitská 379/18.
Restaurant-beer house "Kozlovna"
The place is named after the famous Czech beer Velkopopovický Kozel. If you are looking for where to eat in Prague, feel free to head to Andel Quarter. The food here is very good. The chefs specialize in traditional cuisine. Sample beer soup, honey pork ribs, roast suckling pig and roast duck.
Average check... Lunch for two will cost 500-800 CZK.
Address... Lidická 796/20, Anděl.
Old restaurant "U Fleka"
The institution has been operating for many years, has 8 halls, which can accommodate 1200 people. Guests are offered a special kind of local dark beer and excellent Old Bohemian cuisine. Order beer cheese, boar knee, tender Prague ham, drowned sausages, tlachenki and aromatic potato soup.
Average check... Lunch for two costs 700-900 CZK.
Address... Křemencova, 11.
"Wallachska pivnice"
The beer restaurant is owned by a family from Wallachia. Here they prepare dark, light, non-pasteurized and non-alcoholic beer - 25-30 CZK. Visitors love Wallachian soup with sausage and braised cabbage for 75 CZK.
Average check... Lunch for two costs 560-700 CZK.
Address... Úvoz, 159/26.
Cheap canteens
There are other places in Prague where you can eat tasty and inexpensive food. Take a look at the self-service eateries where the city's residents love to eat. Here are the most popular ones:
- "Hell" in the "Svetozor" store... The first course costs 25 CZK and the second 45 CZK. Lunch for two will cost less than 200 CZK. Address: Vodičkova 791/39.
- "Havelska Koruna"... Main dish - potato dumplings with meat - 66 CZK. Address: Havelská 501/21.
- Dietetic canteen on Spálená street... A set lunch will cost up to 100 CZK. Address: Spálená 78/12.
Asian restaurants and kebabs
This is always a safe bet - if you want a quick, tasty and inexpensive meal in Prague, look for Asian cafes. It will definitely be cheap and satisfying there, because the portions are large! The average bill in a Chinese cafe is 200-300 CZK for two. You can also eat cheaply in kebabs.
Tips on how to save money in Prague and what you need to know
In restaurants, lunch for two starts from 600 CZK. Where the locals eat, you can have a hearty meal for 150-200 CZK. Here are some simple tips on where and how to eat cheaply in Prague:
- Look for a place for lunch not in the center and not near the Old Town Square, but 2-3 blocks away.
- Look at the ads. If the menu is presented in Russian, then the prices in it will be overpriced.
- In Czech restaurants there is such a thing as Denny Nabidka (denní nabídka). This is a cheap lunch that consists of a salad, main course, dessert and a drink - 100-130 CZK. Denny nabidka is only available on weekdays at lunchtime.
- Consider serving sizes when ordering meals. The most delicious "boar knee" is about 1.5 kg of first-class pork. Such a treat is designed for 3-4 eaters. Order one "boar knee" per family and you will have lunch for 100-130 CZK per person.
- Take your time to tip. Read the check carefully first. If the line service is indicated there, then the tip is already included in the bill. As a rule, this is 10% of the order amount. Then you don't need to pay extra. If this line is not there, and you liked the service, leave the waiter 10-12% of the order.
