Original, tasty and hearty Czech cuisine has its own characteristics. One of them is the abundance of fatty meat products. Czechs love to eat well, which is why fans of vegetarian food and adherents of proper nutrition will have a difficult time in this country. The Czech people have always honored the traditions of their ancestors, including the culinary ones, and they still do this. Therefore, no Czech meal is complete without a traditional drink - beer. The craftsmanship of Czech brewers is known far beyond the borders of the country, and Czech beer is rightly considered the greatest achievement of the world brewing culture. So, when going on a trip to the Czech Republic, you should definitely visit the famous beer gardens of Prague.
The history of brewing in the Czech capital
Beer is a matter of national pride for Czechs and one of the most frequently consumed beverages by them. Any meal that includes traditional Czech cuisine must be accompanied by a glass of intoxicating foamy drink.
The history of brewing in the Czech Republic is rooted in the distant past. The first mention of beer dates back to 1082 (in some sources 1088), when the Czech prince Břetislav gave hops to the monks of the Vysehrad Monastery for brewing an intoxicating drink.
It should be noted that at first beer was used as an ingredient in sauces, soups or cereals.
The first famous brewery in Brno is mentioned in 1118. In the 12th century, beer production became so popular that brewing was practiced in almost every home, and the brewing profession was considered one of the most respected. Gradually, the competition between brewers became stronger, therefore, in order to fight for the consumer, it was easier to move to another place. It was this circumstance that contributed to the emergence of new cities and settlements in the Czech Republic.
In the XIV-XV centuries, the first Czech breweries appeared. Brno brewer Ondřej Pope made a great contribution to the “art” of brewing. It was he who founded the first brewing school in Europe.
A significant event in the history of Czech brewing was the activity of the Pilsen brewer Josef Groll, who in 1842 managed to brew a transparent, golden-colored beer with excellent taste, which was named “Pilsner”. The fact is that before that, only dark beer was brewed in the Czech Republic, but after Groll discovered a new method of fermentation, light varieties appeared.
Over time, this technology began to be adopted by brewers from neighboring European countries and even from the United States. This is how Czech beer became a famous and popular drink all over the world.
The number of pubs in the country increased every day, and their regular visitors had their own mugs with the coat of arms, and later with their own photograph.
Today in the Czech Republic there are 49 industrial breweries, the largest of which are Staropramen, Drinks Union, Prazdroj, Přerov, Budvar, Starobrno and Krusovice. The total productivity of these plants is 83%.
On average, one Czech citizen drinks about 160 liters of beer per year. This is a record number among all countries in which this drink is consumed.
However, when traveling in the Czech Republic, you can not only enjoy the excellent taste of the foamy drink, but also improve your health by taking beer baths. And although the beneficial properties of beer were known a thousand years ago, Romain Vokati is considered the author of a modern complex of medical procedures based on beer baths. It was he who developed the health improvement program using the intoxicating drink, which was first implemented in 2006 at the Chodovar brewery.
Today beer baths in Prague can be taken at GRAND RELAX Spa & Wellness, Lazne Pramen, Spa Beerland, Prague Beer Spa Bernard and Pivni lazne BBB.
The best beer gardens in Prague
There are actually a lot of beer establishments in Prague. There are places that Czechs themselves love, and there are places that tourists prefer. Speaking about how much beer costs in Prague, it should be noted that the price depends on the popularity of the establishment. The minimum cost for a mug of beer is 25 CZK. In the Czech Republic, they know how to brew beer, so in any case, you will be satisfied.
Brewery and restaurant "U Fleku"
The U Fleku restaurant is the most famous Prague pub. The brewery of the same name was opened here in the 15th century and has been operating to this day. The restaurant serves an exclusive dark beer with caramel flavor. Each room has its own name: "Suitcase", "Liver sausage", "Big", etc. There are 8 halls in total, which can accommodate up to 1200 people. You can choose a traditional Czech dish to accompany the intoxicating drink. The price of a large mug of beer is 59 CZK, a small one - 29.50 CZK.
The beer house “U Fleku” is located at Kremencova 1651/11.
The restaurant is open daily from 10.00 to 23.00.
To clarify the details, go to the official website of the restaurant or call: +420 224 934 019.
Beer House "At St. Thomas"
In this place in Prague they drank an intoxicating drink back in the distant 1352. Until 1952, the monks brewed dark beer here. Now beer according to old recipes is no longer brewed, but the traditional “Ferdinand and Branik” can be tasted.
Despite numerous restorations, the “St. Thomas's” establishment has not changed its appearance either outside or inside. Thanks to this, it is in demand among many tourists.
The pub is located at Letenska 33/12.
The restaurant is open daily from 11.00 to 24.00.
To clarify the details, call: +420 266 112 284.
Beer house "U chashi"
Brasserie U Chashi is the most famous restaurant in Prague. But he is known, first of all, for the fact that the cost of items on the menu is 2 times more expensive here, it is difficult to find a place to sit, and very arrogant service staff. However, tourists are always brought here, as this is part of the mandatory program when visiting Prague.
The beer here is not Velkopopovice and not Smichov, but Pilsen. The entourage of the times of the brave soldier Švejk is gone. Nuts are brought to the table and 50 grams of local brandy or absinthe are offered. For one and a half liters of beer you need to pay 180 kroons.
The institution is located at: Na Bojisti 1733/12.
Opening hours - daily from 11.00 to 23.00.
To clarify the details, follow the link or call: +420 296 189 600.
Beer House "At the Black Ox"
A pub with a real Czech atmosphere is located in the tourist center of Prague. The service here is specific, but it only adds to the charm of the establishment. Elderly waiters and a bartender work here. Glasses must be placed on a stand - this rule applies from the day the pub opens.
The visitor is refilled with a new glass without being reminded, so it is best to ask for the invoice in advance if you are finished. The establishment is small. New visitors are always seated at large tables with those already having a rest.
Payment is accepted only in local currency - CZK. Kozel beer will cost 31 CZK for 0.5 liters, Pilsner Urquell - 33 CZK for 0.5 liters and Prazdroj - 35 CZK for 0.5 liters.
The institution is located at: Loretanske nam. 107/1.
Opening hours - daily from 10.00 to 22.00.
To clarify the details, call: +420 220 513 481.
Beer House "At the Golden Tiger"
It is a famous place in Prague that was visited by Bill Clinton and Vaclav Havel in 1994. What the statesmen discussed then is unknown, but relations between the countries have improved. Pilsen beer was once tasted here by Luciano Pavarotti.
It is difficult to find a free seat in the pub today, not only in the evening, but also during the day. Therefore, those wishing to visit this institution are better off booking a table in advance.
The atmosphere of the establishment will hardly surprise travelers with anything: 2 large rows of tables, wood paneling and photos of Clinton hung on the walls.
In this Czech beer garden, beer prices are slightly overpriced - from 40 CZK for 0.5 liters.
Arriving at the restaurant, the tourist must order a mug of the Pilsen urkwell. It should be noted that the taste of the drink makes you immediately become an admirer. The pub is always crowded, noisy and very smoky.
The institution is located at: Husova 228/17.
Opening hours - daily from 15.00 to 23.00.
Specify details on the official website of the institution or by phone: +420 222 221 111.
"Brewery House"
The brewery is located in the very center of Prague, not far from Wenceslas Square. Many visitors recommend stopping by here in the evening and having a light beer with snacks - drowned people or cheese. Beer is brewed here and sold here.
If you are wondering where to buy beer to go in Prague, then this is one of the places where you can order a 5-liter keg of beer to go. It is also better to reserve a table here in advance.
A distinctive feature of the institution is that it is non-smoking. Therefore, non-smoking visitors will be very comfortable here.
A big plus of the institution is the Russian-speaking staff. There is also a menu in Russian, in which everything is stated simply and clearly.
The brewery is located at Jecna 14.
Opening hours - from 11.00 to 23.30.
Specify details on the website or by phone: +420 296 216 666.
Restaurant-beer house "At the patron"
Beer restaurants in Prague are of interest to many travelers. However, this restaurant-brasserie has long opened its doors only for the elite. This institution received guests such as Tycho Brahe, Princess Diana, Alexander Dubcek, Willy Brandt, as well as government officials from Czechoslovakia and Germany. Today this establishment is open to all tourists.
The service here is of the highest level. The waiter will certainly invite you to try the famous Budweiser beer, which occupies a respectable place in the Guinness Book of Records. The intoxicated drink is in first place in terms of alcohol content (11.9%) and has a sweet-spicy aroma.
The institution is located at: Malostranske nam. 261/10.
Opening hours - daily from 10.30 to 23.00.
Prague Beer Museum
Beer restaurants provide tourists with the opportunity to taste a real freshly brewed foamy drink. And the Prague Beer Museum is also an information center where you can learn everything about the history of brewing in the Czech Republic. About 30 types of beer are also bottled here.
The Beer Museum is located in the city center. The popularity of the beer bar was brought by various varieties of intoxicating drink, in particular, the legendary “Mother”, “Zhatets”, “Krakonosh”, “Demon”, “Ferdinand”, “Rogozets”, “Cherna Gora”, “Rykhtar”. Every week there is a renewal of beers here. Therefore, this is a good reason to come back here again.
The room has 2 rooms in which smoking is allowed. The first hall is a bar counter with small tables, and the second is a traditional hall with large tables for companies. Those who want to try many types of beer can order a tasting set, because the beer list includes up to 30 types of beer.
For a mug of beer with a volume of 0.3 l you need to pay 48 kroons, and for a mug of 0.5 l - 68 kroons. If you want to get exactly here, it is better to book a table in advance.
The Beer Museum is located at Smetanovo nabrezi 205/22.
Working hours - from 12.00 to 03.00. For those who like to stay late at the bar, this place is perfect.
For more details, call: +420 222 222 173.
Restaurant "Kozlovna"
This place attracts everyone who loves Kozel beer. It has excellent food and good service. Restaurant "Kozlovna" has 2 halls: for non-smokers - right at the entrance and for smokers - with an exit to the terrace. The establishment is quite spacious, so you can safely come in a large company.
The restaurant's menu includes roasted pig, goose, duck, as well as all traditional Czech dishes: boar knee, ribs, goulash, beer soup, etc. However, the order must be made in advance - at least 3 days in advance.
Prices for everything are democratic. On average, a 0.5 liter mug of beer will cost 30 CZK.
The restaurant "Kozlovna" is noisy and crowded in the evenings, so you need to book a table in advance.
The institution is located at: Lidicka 796/20.
The restaurant is open daily from 11.00 to 23.00.
To clarify the details, follow the link or call: +420 257 210 862.
Beer restaurant "At the goat"
The Prague's signature restaurant “At the Kozla”, located in the ižkov district, has a very welcoming atmosphere. In this institution you can meet local residents, but tourists rarely drop in here. However, there is a menu in Russian, and the waiters try to express themselves in Russian. Old photographs hang on the walls in the hall, various bottles and glasses are placed, and on the windowsill you can take a Czech book of the 20th century.
Any waiter can come to the table to refresh a glass of foamy drink. Each table has a sheet of paper on which each waiter makes a mark. At the end, the number of glasses drunk is counted and an invoice is issued.
The menu is quite varied, but the portions are large. Therefore, feel free to order one dish for two.
The institution is located at: Jana Zelivskeho 1777/4.
Opening hours - daily from 11.00 to 23.00.
To clarify the details, follow the link or call: +420 608 772 205.
Beerhouse "Hard times"
This place is suitable for those who want to taste more different types of beer. The institution has a summer terrace. It is suitable for smoking visitors, but non-smokers should go down to the basement. It has a huge bar and many taps and tables. Interesting decoration of the halls - beer bottles are placed everywhere. But the service here leaves much to be desired.
It is better to order beer at the bar, as there is information about each type of intoxicating drink. You will not find such information in the menu. All tables here always have signs informing about their reservations, but this does not mean that all tables are occupied.
The price for a glass of beer ranges from 30 to 70 CZK. The menu is divided into daytime and evening. The daily menu includes lunch dishes, the evening menu - only beer snacks.
The institution is located at: Cestmirova 390/5.
Opening hours of the pub and other details, check the website or by phone: +420 723 339 995.
Shot Duck Restaurant
If you are wondering where to drink Velvet beer in Prague, you can find it in the Shot Duck restaurant, which is part of the Staropramen brewery chain. The halls are decorated with bottles with the beer of the same name. “Shot Duck” will delight visitors with beer cocktails, bottled beer and non-alcoholic varieties of intoxicating drink.
There are usually a lot of visitors in the restaurant, but there are vacant seats. There is always a large selection of beer: light, dark and unfiltered. Visitors celebrate the unusual taste of the red beer “Velvet” and “Granat”. Hoegaarden White beer is not overlooked either.
For alcohol, it is worth trying white Moravian wine and green wine.
Check all the details on the Staropramen website.
Veernoe depot restaurant
The Veernoe Depo beer house is an original establishment that will delight even the smallest visitors. This is a restaurant in Prague where a locomotive brings beer to every table. That is, it is not the waiters who deliver the drinks here - the trains do it. For this purpose, rails are connected to each table. After the arrival of the locomotive, you need to pick up the ordered mugs, and put empty containers in their place.
The left side of the hall is for smoking visitors, the right for non-smokers. Due to the good operation of the hood, the smell of smoke does not spread to the right side of the hall. The atmosphere in the institution cannot be called cozy, as it is always very noisy here. However, it is worth coming here because of the unusual serving of drinks. You should find out if the locomotives are working in advance, since technical problems often arise.
In addition, “sliced beer” is beautifully served here - two types of Krušovice beer, dark and light, in one glass. First, light beer is poured into the mug, and dark beer on top, while the beer does not mix, forming a clear border.
The cost of a hop drink varies from 20 to 49 CZK.
The restaurant is located at Vaclavske namesti 56.
Working hours - from 11.00 to 24.00.
Check all the details on the website or by phone: +420 725 190 646.
Brewery "At Three Roses"
Ignorant tourists often pass by this establishment, located near the Old Town Square, and in vain. The area of the brewery is quite large, so you can safely go there with a large company. Each room has a separate bar counter, so orders are processed quickly. There are fewer tables on the second floor, so the environment is quieter and more intimate. The walls of the establishment are decorated with comical images of brewers. Russian tourists are well understood here and are offered a menu in Russian and even a separate beer menu. For healthy food lovers, there are vegetarian options.
The prices for beer in Prague are about the same everywhere. However, this brewery is slightly overpriced for both beer and snacks. And this is not surprising, because the brewery is located in the very center of Old Prague. It serves 4 specialty beers: light lager (30 to 46 kronor), Viennese red beer (30 to 46 kroner), St. Elijah's monastery beer (56 kroner) and American amber (35 to 56 kronor).
The brewery restaurant is located at Husova 10/232.
Opening hours - daily from 11.00 to 23.00.
To clarify the details, go to the official page or call: +420 601 588 281.
"Novomestsky brewer"
This bar, unlike most similar establishments, was opened only in 1993. Here they brew "live" unfiltered beer using exclusively Czech raw materials - barley malt and brewing hops. It is the hops and the aromatic elements that make up the beer that give the beer a bitterness and a unique taste.
Novomestskiy Pivovar is a 3-storey restaurant with small halls, each of which is decorated in its own style (from Gothic to modern times). It brews its own beer called "Novomestsky Lezak". Boilers with beer are right in front of your eyes, so every tourist can watch the brewing process.
The institution is also famous for its excellent preparation of traditional Czech cuisine. Veprove's knee, dumplings, baked goose, homemade smoked meats - all this is on the menu. The cost of food - from 100 CZK, beer - from 25 CZK.
Here you can also buy souvenirs with the emblem of the brewery: mugs, T-shirts, bottled beer. Gift certificates for 1000 kroons are also sold.
The institution is located at: Vodickova 20.
From Monday to Friday, the bar is open from 10.00 to 23.30, on Saturday from 11.30 to 23.30, and on Sunday from 12.00 to 22.00.
Check the website for all the details.
Restaurant-beer house "At the Old Lady"
This is one of the favorite places of local residents, where everything is simple, inexpensive, cozy and in accordance with the rules for drinking a foamy drink. Lovers of Staropramen, Velvet and Krusovice come here. There is a bar and a fine restaurant here. To complement the beer, you can order potato dumplings, venison with lingonberry sauce, pork and stewed cabbage. It is very rare to meet foreign tourists here.
The institution is open every day from 11.30 to 23.00.
Located at Michalska 441/9.
All questions can be clarified by phone: +420 224 228 090.
Beer House "At Medvidku"
Restaurant U medvidku in Prague is a brewery hotel. It should be noted that a brewery on this site existed in the Middle Ages. Today, the hotel restaurant brews beer according to old recipes, in particular, strong beer X BEER-33. Also for a sample it is worth taking beer "Budvar". The cost of beer drinks varies from 30 to 102 CZK, and their cost is fully justified.
The 3-star hotel has 33 rooms. There is a souvenir shop on its territory, where you can buy various gifts. Travelers are always greeted here by a folklore orchestra performing Czech folk melodies.
The institution is located at: Na Perstyne 345/7.
Opening hours - daily from 11.00 to 23.00.
Specify details on the official website or by phone: +420 224 211 916.
Prague Beer Maps
There are really a lot of beer establishments in Prague. Therefore, you can choose an institution based on your taste preferences, pricing policy and location. A beer bar or restaurant can be found anywhere in Prague.
Finally
Czech beer is a part of the distinctive national culture of the Czech Republic. Czechs believe that the real taste of the intoxicated drink is revealed only when drinking the third glass. To choose a Czech beer for yourself, you need to try all possible types. Czech beer is a centuries-old tradition, the heritage and pride of the nation and the most demanded product.
