The best pubs in Prague for top-tier beer and great food

Dining out in Prague can be hit or miss. With menu prices steadily on the rise, a lot of us are being more cautious about branching out beyond our go-to neighborhood haunts.

For inspiration, we turned to Jiří Panuška, co-owner of Červený Jelen and a fervent champion of modern Czech pubs in Prague with great beer and good-quality food. Here are his top 10 picks:   . 

Over the last five years, Jelen has become synonymous with “community.” More than just a dining spot with traditional Czech cuisine and a wide selection of local brews on tap, the space, stretching over three floors, is a true community hub for brainstorming, working and launching philanthropic projects. Despite a prime location in Prague’s stunning Šporkovského paláce next to Náměstí Republiky, Jelen still feels much like it belongs to the locals, where an emphasis is placed on the customer experience as much as the quality of food coming out the kitchen.     

The word most associated with this New Town mainstay, situated just off Wenceslas Square, is “fun.” Kantýna’s canteen-style setup takes the farm-to-table concept to a whole new level. Pick out what you want from the butcher’s counter up front and have it grilled to your specifications on the spot. Pilsner and Kozel are on tap. The furnishings are industrial chic, the service efficient and the prices more than reasonable. It’s not your typical restaurant-pub outing, but definitely a one-of-a-kind experience.          

The first location in a wildly successful chain of modern neighborhood pubs, Lokál Dlouhááá has the distinction of being the longest in the group, measuring in at 69.78 meters in length. Modeled after Czech beer halls from half a century earlier, the space also has an honest 80s retro vibe going on. The spot offers carefully crafted beers from 12 tanks and standard pub fare à la meat and potatoes. But the standouts truly are the chicken schnitzel and fried cheese platter.  

In a neighborhood full of trendy and hip, Sou100 is helping revitalize lower Žižkov’s dining scene. This sleekly designed beer restaurant – its name a play on the Czech word “sousto” (“a mouthful” in English) – offers modern twists on traditional Czech staples like pickled sausages, friend cheese, schnitzel with mashed potatoes and beef goulash over pilsner beer and bread dumplings. Draught Plzeňský Prazdroj brews are the speciality here, though the bar also serves wine and mixed beverages, including beer cocktails and lemonades.    

Drawing inspiration from recipes dating back to the First Republic, Tiskárna Jindřišská mixes dishes from a bygone era with modern specialities in a bid to attract locals looking for quality and unique dining options in the Prague city center. Here, you can grab beef ribs, smoked pâté, carp fries and grilled duck breast in a relaxed, historic setting, nestled on the grounds of the State Printing Works of Security building, where bank notes have been printed since 1928. A second Tiskárna location on Národní třída also offers well-chilled Pilsner from the tank.  

This delightful pub-and-bakery combo has sat along the right bank of the Vltava on the site of the former Podskalí swimming community near Palackého náměstí for more than a century. Once a hub for factory works, rafters and artists, the cozy nook continues its no-fuss approach to good, old-fashioned comfort food and carefully treated beer. The menu selection includes pan roasted carp, chicken Kyiv, braised rabbit leg and roast beef. The fried sourdough is a must-try. 

Renowned chef Jan Punčochář – a judge for MasterChef Czech Republic and an influential voice on the local culinary scene – puts the focus on modern and traditional Czech cuisine at his rustic Dejvice restaurant. At U Matěje, you can enjoy not only quality but also hefty portion sizes, with the kitchen delivering full plates instead of decorative art on a dish. The menu places an emphasis on honest sauces and top-quality meat, like baked pike perch, confit duck leg and veal schnitzel, that can be nicely paired with branded wines or a pint of Pilsner Urquell.              

Tucked inside the courtyard of the newly renovated DRN Building near Národní třída, U Rarášků was once frequented by actors, filmmakers, painters and other prominent figures of the city’s underground during the 1970s. With its arched ceilings, simple decor and familial vibe, you immediately get the sense of this hidden pub’s storied past and enduring prominence. The bar offers craft beer, wine and signature cocktails as well as light snacks. Live music throughout the week adds to the jovial atmosphere.     

U Tellerů is equipped with its own climate-controlled Aging Room, helping to maximize the flavor and tenderness of the kitchen’s famous line of charcoal-grilled steaks. While the main draw here is definitely the wide meat selection – from pork chops and filet mignon to grilled Asian chicken and pulled beef neck – the menu also includes a few veggie options, like salads, roasted cauliflower and foie gras creme brulée. The wait staff at this Vinohrady venue will happily help pair your meal with the perfect wine or beer.        

This spacious gastropub just off Náměstí Míru is something of a Vinohrady institution, known for its modern take on classic Czech dishes and dedication to draft brews. The kitchen offers a range of reasonably priced daily specials, making Parlament a lunchtime hotspot. Meanwhile, its delectable homemade dumplings menu, offering numerous sweet and savory options, is in a class of its own. A much-loved children’s corner, and the wait staff’s unremitting patience, has helped to make this a popular venue for families.