Best cocktails in Prague: Where to get Czechia's award-winning drinks

Prague’s cocktail scene has received international recognition after five local bars were named among the winners in the first-ever Bartenders’ Choice Awards (BCA) Central and Eastern Europe edition. The results highlight just how far Prague’s bar culture has evolved in recent years, with several venues now ranking among the region’s top bars.

The inaugural regional BCA CEE gala took place on May 6 at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel in Bratislava, bringing together leading bartenders, bar owners, and industry professionals from across Central and Eastern Europe.

The awards, originally founded in the Nordic region, expanded this year to include Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia for the first time.

Selected by a jury of more than 450 industry professionals, the winners reflect excellence in cocktail creativity, service, atmosphere, and overall hospitality. All five Czech winners are based in Prague, reinforcing the city’s growing reputation as a regional cocktail hub.

Two Prague bars stood out in the regional results: Forbína, which was awarded Best Cocktail Bar and Best Atmosphere in Czechia, and Taigen, which took home Czechia's Best Cocktail Menu at the inaugural event.

Located in the historic space of Café Slavia on Národní třída, Forbína is designed as a tribute to the National Theatre and Czech stage culture. Its cocktail menu draws inspiration from theatrical themes, with drinks such as Swan Lake and Don Giovanni.

The bar’s design was created by Czech architectural studio Olgoj Chorchoj, with artistic intarsia work by illustrator Michal Bačák, adding to its strong visual identity and cultural references.

Taigen, a minimalist Vinohrady bar led by bartender Tomáš Melzer, received the award for best cocktail menu. The venue has quickly built a reputation for seasonal, precise cocktails and a low-key neighborhood atmosphere since opening in 2025.

Melzer is one of the most established figures in the Czech cocktail scene, with experience at Hemingway Bar and a track record of competition success. Speaking about the win, he said he was surprised by the recognition given the level of competition, calling it “a huge honor.”

“I’ve already won a few awards in my life,” Melzer told CzechCrunch. “But this one made me especially happy. Because it’s the first time for my own company.”

The Bartenders’ Choice Awards were founded in Stockholm in 2010 by four bartenders seeking to create an industry-led recognition system that better reflected the craft of modern cocktail culture. After building a strong reputation in the Nordic countries, the awards expanded in 2026 to Central and Eastern Europe for the first time.

Organizers say the expansion reflects the growing maturity and international visibility of the region’s bar industry, where creativity and technical skill are increasingly on par with long-established cocktail capitals.

The strong showing by Prague venues comes as the city continues to build a reputation as one of Central Europe’s most dynamic cocktail destinations. Over the past decade, new bars have emerged alongside internationally awarded institutions, contributing to a competitive and evolving hospitality landscape.

The BCA results suggest that peer recognition within the industry is becoming increasingly important, with bartenders evaluating not only drinks but also atmosphere, consistency, and service philosophy.