PRAGUE, Czech Republic. Foodie travellers -- the brand new fashionable term for gourmands who like to spend time on the road -- like to stop and eat pretty much everywhere in Western Europe. Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Copenhagen, so many great destinations for foodies. But for the countries of Central Europe -- especially the ones that were part of the Communist bloc -- don't attract the foodie kind as much. It's not surprising, since communism did serious damage to all kind of culture, including gastronomy. Prague's culinary culture is just beginning to find its wheels again.
However one thing is for certain: Prague is a first class tourism destination. Proof: eight million tourists visited the Czech capital in 2014, an all-time best.
Going through the foodie side of Prague is a trip that history buffs will love. Follow me!
First Lunch, And An Exceptional Panorama
I almost always start my foodie guides with lunch. I have to admit: I almost never have breakfast. A strong coffee and I'm ready to go. So here's a couple of lunch addresses!
Here, you have two rather similar choices. Both offer a wonderful view of the city. Coda and Terasa U Zlate Studne both are restaurants for hotels located in the Mala Strana neighborhood, on the Western shore of Prague.
Terasa U Zlate Studne is on the rooftop of a historical hotel called the Golden Well, which traces its origins back to the 1500's. The menu is built accordingly, since it includes "the mandatories," the "crowd-pleasers," including a beef carpaccio.
Coda is in a brand new and very chic hotel, and its menu is on the modern side, including a homemade beef ravioli.
In both cases, the point of view allows you to take in the whole city at once. This is a great opportunity to get a great first impression of Prague!
Terasa U Zlaté studně - U Zlaté studně 166/4, 118 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic - +420 257 533 322
Coda - Tržiště 368/9, 118 00 Prague, Czech Republic - +420 225 334 761
A Beer?
Czech beers are among the best in the world, including the superb Pilsner Urquell. And Prague abounds with small outside bars similar to the classic German beer gardens. One of these is located in Letna park, on the same shore as the first two restaurants. One again, the views are incredible!
The Best Restaurant In The Country
The best restaurant of the whole Czech Republic is called Dégustation Bohême Bourgeoise and is right next to the historical Dlouha Street. The short walk from the Old Square (Staromestske Namesti) to the restaurant is always a pleasant one. And a meal at the Degustation can be a special experience, since they offer a meal-juice pairing! Click here to know everything about this relatively experimental restaurant.
La Dégustation Bohême Bourgeoise - Haštalská 753/18, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic - +420 222 311 234
End The Evening With A Few Creative Cocktails
To end the evening with style and discover a place where the concept and the alcoholic beverages are both amusing and unique, you need to head to AnonymouS bar. It's a flair bartending bar and the dark atmosphere is truly enchanting! Click here to view my video shot on-site.
AnonymouS Bar - Michalská 432/12, 110 00 Praha, Czech Republic
48 Hours In Prague: Second Day, Second Lunch
The morning is the ideal time to visit Prague's mandatory sights. The Old Square, Charles bridge, the Prague Castle and Tancici Dum are on everyone's list! And in the same history-laden vein, our lunch stop is another place that should be on all lists : Cafe Imperial.
It's a historical café that has seen it all, from nazis to Soviets to the fall of the Communist regime. Café Imperial is now back to the look of its glory days. There are several different menus available, however the classic Czech dishes - grandmother food, if you will - hold an important place at Café Imperal. Try the kulajda, it's unique!
Café Impérial -- Na Poříčí 15, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
A Trip Off The Beaten Path
Prague's suburbs are never part of the tourist trail. And when we think about Prague, we don't really think about microbreweries, since they have such well-known brews. So I suggest we take a stop off the proverbial beaten path. Ideally, this trip would be a beautiful bike ride towards the countryside - though the trip is easily done by bus - with, as its ultimate stop, the Uneticky Pivovar microbrewery, which brews a few beers and serves them in its wonderful, rustic restaurant. Na zdraví!
Únětický Pivovar - Rýznerova 19/5, 252 62 Únětice, Czech Republic
And A Last Modern Czech Dinner: V Zatisi
V Zatisi claims to have had been the first gastronomical restaurant to have opened its doors after the end of Communism. The decor is a mix of glam and nouveau gothic and the dishes are simple but well executed. They even have an Indian menu. That'll get anyone's curiosity going!
V Zátiší - Liliová 216/1, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic - +420 222 221 155
Thanks to JayWay Travel for hosting C&C in Prague! If you need help to plan your trip anywhere in Central Europe, they're the ones you need!
In this series, Cédric Lizotte visits some of Europe's best restaurants. On his blog, Continents & Condiments, he shares his inside knowledge about the best places to sample the delights of some of the best chefs on the planet. Follow his gastronomical journey on social media with the hashtag #CedricInEurope.
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