The Prague Feed (February 2023): Winter's tastiest openings, pop-ups, and events

This month indulge in traditional pre-Lent dishes on Fat Tuesday (and Thursday), sit down to tapas versions of classic Czech dishes, try a fish concept that combines fast and slow food, visit a royal Asian pop-up, or continue your Dry February detox with tips for virgin cocktails.

Sophisticated dining|Grand Cru restaurant lives up to its mention in the Michelin Guide thanks to its seasonal menu that includes a cornucopia of luxurious dished, such as St. Jacques Scallops (with pumpkin, sea buckthorn, caviar), or Pressed Beef Neck (with Jerusalem artichoke, beef jus).

In addition to their regular menu, they also offer a Grand Cru Tasting Menu and a Lobster Menu with pairings of wine both Czech and international.

Czech tapas with a twist|A new restaurant focused on bite-size versions of Czech dishes has opened on the ground floor of the Pytloun Boutique Hotel in Prague's Wenceslas Square. Taliř ("Plate" in Czech) takes Czech mainstays such as Svíčková (with dumplings, duck and cabbage), and Goulash and adapts them to a small bites concept, with a price point to match. Read more in our article.

From blog to brick-and-mortar|

Zuzana Daňková a Jan Valenta, the trailblazing Czech food influencers and podcasters better known as Taste of Prague have opened their highly-anticipated Šodó bistro in Dejvice. The cozy space focuses on breakfast, light lunch, and is named for the Czech comfort food buchtičky se šodó, tiny buns covered in a sweet custard, which is of course on the menu.

Coming soon: More bagels|Start-up Bagel Lounge which has made a name for itself with its Michelin bagels (created by Michelin chefs specifically for the café) will be opening a new location in Vršovice. The Ukrainian-owned bagel shop currently has several locations around Prague, including Florenc.

Fish for fast-slow food|Prague's first aquaponic bistro, Bistro Rybí zahrada ("Bistro Fish garden" in Czech) combines the concept of a classic counter with trends of contemporary "bistronomy" for fish-based dishes such as Carp Fries, Fish Tortilla, or the more exotic Catfish or Carp Bánh mì, or Curried Catfish.

Mediterranean favorites|The Paprika Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar has announced the closure of its branch at Lidická 42, but a new branch has opened at Nuselska 29, while the locations at Rumunska 16, and Dukelských Hrdinů 48, continue to welcome customers with a selection of hummus dishes, shakshuka (including vegan), and shawarma.

A Brno bakery in Prague|After three locations in Brno earned it a following among lovers of French-style pastries, William Thomas Artisan Bakery has opened its first coffee shop in Prague. Stop by for their fresh bread and pastries baked several times per day, or try a cappuccino or chai latte.

Spirited away|Online store Premier Wines & Spirits has opened a brick-and-mortar store in Prague where customers can buy premier alcohol, world spirits, and exclusive bottles of Czech liquors from local orchards. The store still offers the option of ordering online.

More Mocktails|The sober-curious movement is gaining ground in Czechia, with local bartenders we spoke to saying that the less-is-more mantra (less alcohol, more quality garnishes and mixers) has made a big splash on the Czech bar scene. Bartenders from the Liquid Office Bar, Soot Bar, Manifesto, The Monkey Bar and the Lokál chain of pubs talked to Expats about the trend, and this season's liquid offerings.

Fat Thursday|It's time to loosen your belts for the annual Fat Thursday event on Feb. 16. Several Ambiente restaurants have prepared special menus, Czech and international pork dishes including Pao de Quiejo with cracklings from Brasileiro Slovanský dům offers (pork belly roasted with coriander, honey and mustard, and salsiccia with tapioca), or Stuffed Pork Belly at Café Savoy.

Asian pop-up|The Queens Kitchen pop-up returns to Third Coast Pizza on Feb. 19 with a new take on their fan-favorite Wonton Mee (which is a vegetarian dish of Chinese noodles with boiled dumplings, fried dumplings, veggies, a house-made sauce, pickled jalapeños and your choice of marinated, pan-fried chicken or tofu). Also on the menu Springy Summer Rolls with Thịt Nướng (Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Pork similar to Turkish kofta) with a tangy, spicy tamarind-pineapple dipping sauce.

Michelin chef monkeys around|A two-Michelin-star chef and a Greek World Class Bartender will be at The Monkey Bar on Feb. 22 for a special evening of food and drinks. Thanos Feskos, from Delta Restaurant Athens, will team up with Monkey Bar chef Nenad Jovanovic to prepare a 10-course menu. While enjoying the food, you can enjoy mixology art by Nick Sourmpatis, a Greek World Class winner in 2019 coming from The Clumsies, one of the world's most famous bars located in Athens.

Culinary stars align|For just two days – February 28 and March 1 – Trezor Špork, part of the Červený Jelen restaurant will host Swedish chef and multiple Bocuse d'Or champion Sebastian Gibrand. Together with Jelen's executive chef Mark Fichtner, Gibrand will cook a selection of seven-course menus.

The Czech national round of the world's most prestigious cooking competition, Bocuse d'Or, will take place from May 4 to 6 in Prague's O2 universe where twelve chefs will prepare numerous plates under the watchful eyes of 30 judges.