Delicious food. New cultures. Authentic local experiences.
Three of the very best parts about traveling.
So what happens when you combine all of the above into one afternoon of Czech Food in Prague?
The most satisfying 4 hours of ALL time!
When we booked our trip to Prague, I hopped on Google and immediately began my research. Usually when we plan our trips throughout Europe, I take on the research and Erin takes on the logistics. It’s become our trip preparation routine and we’ve become true masters of the craft.
And just like every destination, my priorities for Prague was finding the best sites, the most insane views, cool history, and of course (and most importantly) what and where to eat. Not only because we both love eating (DUH!), but because food provides the most intimate peak into the true culture of a country. It allows you to understand its people and the relationships that exist between them.
During my Czech food research, of course I discovered (and drooled over) the popular trdelník, rolled dough covered in cinnamon sugary goodness. And kielbasa, a favorite sausage among central European countries. I also read about the lángos, Goulash, and of course Czech’s famous Pilsner. But what else?
How could we really dive into the Czech culture through food?
Better yet, how could we explore Prague without having to look up places to eat every time we were hungry? (Because we ALL do that!)
An afternoon [with] Eating Prague
An Eating Prague Tour was the answer to all of our travel concerns.
A way to combine our love for food with our love for new places and new cultures.
The tour itself lasts for 4 hours with 6 food stops on the itinerary and a guided tour of Prague along the way. We had no problem arriving hungry with an open mind. We were ready to leave any preconceived notions of what we normally like or don’t like behind to get the full (literal) experience!
A delicious journey of Czech Food
Stop #1: Perníčkův sen – Traditional Czech Gingerbread
Czech’s vast history with Gingerbread started in the 1300s. And since then, it’s always been an important part of Prague’s food culture. So what better place to begin our tour than a traditional Czech gingerbread bakery?
Right when you walk into Perníčkův sen, it’s like senses gone WILD. The entire place is colorful and cheerful. Every cookie is a work of art and the air smells so good, you could eat it.
Here we were given 3 Czech pastries:
Koláče (by far my favorite) is a soft gingerbread pastry with a poppy seed filling. It’s fluffy and oh so perfectly sweet. They’re very traditional and usually given at Czech weddings.
Vanilkove Rohlicky is made with almonds and covered in confectioners’ sugar and is usually baked during Christmas time.
The “damn it” cake or “sakra” in Czech was Erin’s favorite. It reminded me of biscotti, but made with gingerbread dough, walnuts and plum jam.
Stop #2: Sisters Bistro – Open-Faced Sandwiches
The open-faced sandwich tradition began in Prague in the 1920s. Czechs actually invented the open-faced sandwich concept completely, so they’ve become a staple in Czech food. Trying these during your visit is a definite must.
Sisters Bistro sells the most well-known open-faced sandwiches (Chlebíčky) in Prague, so of course Eating Prague took us there for a truly authentic Czech experience. We tried 3 delectable sandwiches:
Beet root, Goat Cheese with a Caramelized Walnut, which was by far our favorite! And we would have NEVER ordered beet root, which makes it even more awesome.
Celery Root remoulade with homemade mayo, tarragon and tomato. It was fresh, crisp and very flavorful. Another item I would have never ordered, but loved.
Herring with wasabi mayo and fresh dill. First impression: I’m not the biggest fan of herring, but this was actually pretty tasty. And the wasabi mayo and dill added to the depth of its flavor.
Stop #3: Naše Maso – MEAT
Our next stop on this eating extravaganza was a very traditional Czech butcher, Naše Maso, one of the most popular spots for locals. We tried all sorts of Czech meats.
Beef Ham and Prague Ham (Pražská šunka), which is a brine-cured, stewed, and beechwood-smoked boneless ham and is original to Prague.
Bacon Sausage was, in my opinion, the best meat we tried. It was SO flavorful.
Kielbasa (classic, juicy and delicious), of course! A Czech classic!
Stop #4: Zvonice – Sauerkraut Soup
The restaurant itself is something to be seen! It is built in a medieval bell tower, and you honestly wouldn’t even know it was a restaurant if you hadn’t done your research. Take the elevator up to one of the top floors and you’ll enjoy the best views in such a unique location. Here we ate Zelňačka or Sauerkraut Soup.
Zelňačka (Sauerkraut Soup)
This soup was our biggest surprise. When I heard we were eating Sauerkraut soup, I was a little turned off. The thought of sauerkraut in soup seemed pretty unappetizing to me. But it actually was the COMPLETE opposite!
Zelňačka is made with sour cream, potato, pesto/basil, shallots, sausages and sauerkraut and is thick like chowder. The soup is nourishing, filling and makes you want to cozy up in a million soft blankets on a cold day. This was my favorite dish, by far. Czech comfort food at its finest.
Stop #5: Styl & Interier – Lamb and Potatoes
First of all, Styl & Interier restaurant looks like a secret garden. You would never expect to walk in from the streets of Prague to this environment. It was such a peaceful place with a lovely courtyard of ivy and unique decorations – all of which you can buy!
Svařák (mulled wine)…enough said there!
Lamb marinated in wine with potatoes. The lamb was insanely flavorful, and as far as the mashed potatoes, I just wanted more! (double YUM)
Stop #6: Cafe Louvre – Svíčková and Strudel
The last stop on our Czech food tour was the elegant 100 year-old Café Louvre. “The jewel of Prague café culture.” What a perfect place to end our journey, and the perfect dishes too. We indulged in…
Svíčková, which is a sirloin in carrot/root vegetable sauce with cranberries, cream, and dumplings. The flavors of this dish reminded us of American thanksgiving. And it’s as intimate as a Thanksgiving meal as well. Svíčková is the dish that Czechs take pride in. It’s one of the more traditional meals, so enjoying it immediately connected us to the culture.
Pilsner & Bílé Vino (white wine). We ordered one of each, of course! The white wine was refreshing and light and the beer lived up to ALL the expectations we had of Czech beer, which I’m sure you’ve got the scoop on.
Jablečný štrůdl aka apple strudel. Now, let me start off by saying we are apple strudel snobs (since we live in Austria!) But this strudel was just as delicious! The apple strudel is unsweetened, so it has a really natural taste, but was covered in vanilla cream sauce for extra sweetness.
A True Local Experience
Exploring Prague with Eating Prague was the best way to dive into Czech food and Czech culture. During our trip preparations, I did a lot of research, and I never came across half of the dishes that we tried during our food tour.
And the same holds true for the restaurants! Most restaurants on the tour were ones that I hadn’t read about. I can’t even imagine missing out on those eating experiences. Our trip wouldn’t have been the same.
To walk into places that we would’ve never stumbled upon and eat Czech food that we would’ve never eaten was so rewarding. We were true locals for an afternoon. Walking the streets of Prague, learning its history and enjoying such a special part of its culture – FOOD!
More than Just Food
Our food tour revealed so much more about Prague than just its tasty Czech food. We stopped at famous sites, walked through both the Old and New Town. Learning, tasting. Smiling the entire time (both us and our stomachs!)
Now there was a connection between the vast history of Prague and the evolution of its cuisine. A relationship we would’ve never discovered without this experience. We felt connected to the city and its people. As cliche as it sounds, we really felt like more than just tourists.
Complete Satisfaction
What a day! One that we will never forget. In just four hours, we gained so much knowledge about Prague, Czech food and the history behind it all. It expanded our pallets, deepened our knowledge of the Czech culture and provided us with a rare opportunity to connect with the city, in a more intimate way.
Best of all, we ended the day with new friends, new favorite foods and a ‘hunger’ to learn and experience more.
Thank you Eating Europe Tours for sponsoring us on our food tour in Prague. We had a wonderful time exploring the city through food. Be sure to check out their food tours if you’re visiting Prague, London, Italy, or Amsterdam.
You AND your stomach will be happy you did!
