Prague offers a large number of places to go for lunch. Here are tips on my favorite establishments that offer a lunch menu.
Perhaps it’s because I love traveling and tasting foreign cuisines, but in my homeland, the Czech Republic, I enjoy Czech cuisine the most when dining out. Therefore, if I had to choose just one place from this list, it would be Výčep restaurant, which offers Czech dishes perfected during lunchtime. For lovers of Prague panoramas, I must mention Kuchyň restaurant, the view of Prague from their two outdoor terraces is beautiful.
I have not omitted recommendations for where to go for an Italian or Asian lunch, and there are also two tips for a luxury lunch in Prague. Considering that Prague can be expensive for many, I am also adding tips for a places to have a cheap lunch in Prague. All the establishments mentioned in this section are canteens. Their advantage is not only the price but also that the lunch menu includes such Czech dishes that would not stand a chance to make it to the evening menu (and, if by chance you see pork kidneys with bacon on the lunch menu at Výčep, please let me know ❤️).
Bon appetit!
Best Prague Lunch: Czech Cuisine
Výčep Restaurant
Výčep Restaurant in the Prague district of Vinohrady is currently among my favorite establishments. On the lunch menu, which changes every week, you can find modernly prepared traditional Czech dishes. For lunch, you can enjoy, for example, beef broth with a giant liver dumpling, mushroom soup, liver sausage with mashed potatoes, stuffed dumpling, or the popular Dutch schnitzel from Prestice pork (Dutch schnitzel is also Czech food). These complement other popular dishes of world cuisine. Probably at no other restaurant have I said so many times during lunch: “wow, this is the best execution of this dish I have ever eaten”. On tap is beer from Dalešice, the service is quick and professional. The kitchen is ruled by Jiří Hrachový, listed among the “Interesting Chefs of the Czech Republic 2023 to watch” (according to Forbes). The establishment is included in the Czech Michelin guide.
Lunch price: 300 – 400 CZK (12 – 16 EUR) for a main course, 125 CZK (5 EUR) for a soup
When: Monday – Friday 11:00 – 15:00
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
Kamin Restaurant
Kamin Restaurant is my discovery of the year 2023. The lunch menu consists of only one soup, one main dish, and one dessert, but their execution is truly high level. For lunch, they often prepare typical Czech dishes with a bold twist. The kitchen is ruled by Jan Macháč with experience from the Michelin-starred restaurant La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise (see below) or Taro (see below), and guests are taken care of by his older brother Marek. Both seem incredibly passionate. The restaurant is relatively new, so even an evening visit won’t burn a hole in your pocket. I still remember their unconventional honey cake that I had the opportunity to taste on my first lunch visit even as I write this text.
Lunch price: 250 CZK (10 EUR) for a main course, 100 CZK (4 EUR) for a soup, 100 CZK (4 EUR) for a dessert
When: Tuesday – Friday 12:00 – 15:00
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
Best Prague Lunch: Italian Cuisine
Dejvická 34 Restaurant
The Italian restaurant, named after its address, is led by the energetic Tomáš Černý with rich experience. The restaurant and its head chef have appeared, for example, in the show Pohlreich’s Best Restaurant and also at the festival “Battle on the Plate Live” at O2 Universum. The spotlight has had a positive effect, and the dishes are now more refined than before. On the lunch menu, which changes weekly, you will most often find pasta, risotto, or fish. Of all the world’s cuisines, I have probably tasted Italian the most, so when I miss it, I head to Dejvická 34. The establishment is included in the Czech Michelin guide.
Lunch price: 799 CZK (32 EUR) for a three-course menu, with the option to choose only two or one course for a lower price
When: Monday – Friday 11:00 – 15:00
Web: restaurant website
Jacob’s Little Italy Restaurant
Jacob’s Little Italy is an absolute go-to for Italian cuisine if you are around Prague’s Pankrác. The place is tiny and always fills up quickly thanks to the exquisite Italian dishes they prepare. And all for truly unbeatable prices. The service is friendly, fast, and utterly professional. The lunch menu changes every day.
Lunch price: 189 – 219 CZK (7.60 – 9 EUR) for a main course, 45 CZK (1.80 EUR) for a soup, 99 CZK (4 EUR) for a dessert
When: Monday – Friday 11:00 – 15:00
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
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Best Prague Lunch: Asian Cuisine
Nhà hai hành Bistro
In Prague’s Anděl, you will find the until recently practically unknown Vietnamese bistro Nhà hai hành. It is undoubtedly a small gastronomic treasure in the center of Prague. The establishment focuses on home-style Vietnamese cuisine, the bistro’s environment is “punk”, with tables covered in advertising flyers, seating on plastic chairs. The food is perfect, the service is smiling, pleasant, and willing. The head chef of the bistro is Tomáš Cibulka, with many years of experience from the restaurant La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise ⭐ (see below). The place gained significant visibility on the TV show Pohlreich’s Best Restaurant, but Tomáš Cibulka and his wife still give a very modest and sympathetic impression. Moreover, those prices!
Lunch price: 230 CZK (9.20 EUR) for an “office” lunch (main course, rice, herbs, fruit)
When: Monday – Friday 11:30 – 14:00
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
Taro Restaurant
Asian Restaurant Taro is just a stone’s throw away from Nhà hai hành Bistro, also located in Prague’s Anděl. But while Nhà hai hành is hidden in a side street, Taro can be found right on the bustling local thoroughfare – Nádražní street. Taro is inspired by Vietnamese cuisine in a fine-dining style. The flavors are sophisticated, the dishes are beautifully presented. The lunch menu is composed of four smaller courses that will fill you up. Unfortunately, Taro does not publish the current lunch menu on its website, which may not suit everyone. If you follow a gluten-free diet, Taro is one of the places where they can willingly prepare a gluten-free lunch menu for you. Taro’s kitchen is open, bordered by one large bar table, so every guest is in the front row and, if interested, can watch everything that happens in the kitchen. The restaurant’s capacity is only 20 seats. The establishment is listed on the Czech Michelin guide. If Taro wins you over with its flavors, try visiting Dian Restaurant in Prague’s Brumlovka or Gao Den in Prague’s Stodůlky, which belong to the same owners as Taro.
Lunch price: 790 CZK (32 EUR) for a four-course menu
When: Tuesday – Friday 11:30 – 15:00
Web: lunch menu (not updated), restaurant website
Restaurants in Sapa Prague
If you live in Prague or have enough time to explore it and want to experience the city from a slightly unconventional perspective, consider having lunch at the Sapa market in Prague’s Libuš. This market is not just a place with lots of clothing or toys, but also a place with the highest concentration of Vietnamese bistros in Prague. In Sapa, you can taste perfect grilled bún chả, rice rolls bánh cuốn, or phở soup. During lunchtime, the local bistros are filled to the last seat, and you may often have to wait a while to be seated. The reward will be an authentic experience – the flavors will be exquisite, the prices unbelievable, and the dining level slightly lower than you might be accustomed to. Don’t worry about getting lost in Sapa or that it’s not a place for you. Sapa is full of Praguers who come here for shopping and for great Vietnamese food for lunch.
When: Monday – Sunday
Price: most often up to 200 CZK (8 EUR) per meal (cash only)
Best Lunch with a Prague View
Kuchyň Restaurant
Kuchyň Restaurant, as the only one in this list, does not offer a budget-friendly lunch menu, but I could not omit it from this overview. Kuchyň is a place with an absolutely incredible view of Prague. From two terraces, you have the Czech capital in the palm of your hand. The establishment cooks Czech cuisine to perfection, and as I have mentioned elsewhere, if I were to show Prague to my foreign guests and take them to just one place to eat, it would be Kuchyň. Thanks to its location in the immediate vicinity of Prague Castle, some might fear that it is a tourist trap. However, this is definitely not the case. The prices are still good considering the location, their dill sauce with beef is irresistible, and I seldom forgo the yeast dumpling with plum jam and poppy seeds. And that view!
Price: 798 CZK (32 EUR) for a three-course menu or 280 – 540 CZK (11 – 22 EUR) for a main course, 120 – 240 CZK (5 – 10 EUR) for an appetizer, 170 – 190 CZK (7 – 8 EUR) for a dessert
When: Monday – Sunday 12:00 – 22:30
Web: restaurant website
Mlýnec Restaurant
Mlýnec Restaurant is among my favorite restaurants not only for their lunch menu, but also thanks to the absolutely incredible view of Charles Bridge. You can enjoy it best from the restaurant’s terrace, which is right above the Vltava River, and from the first and second rows by the glass wall. Mlýnec focuses on modern international cuisine, and you will find both popular Czech dishes and well-known international meals on the lunch menu. The restaurant’s atmosphere is elegant, yet informal. The lunch menu changes every week. Mlýnec is also a great choice if you are thinking about where to go for brunch in Prague. It is held every Saturday and Sunday and is very popular among guests.
Lunch price: 695 CZK (28 EUR) for a three-course menu, 595 CZK (24 EUR) for a two-course menu
When: Monday – Friday 11:30 – 13:30
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
Best Prague Luxury Lunch
Field Restaurant and La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise are the only two restaurants in the Czech Republic awarded with one Michelin star. Both started preparing more budget-friendly lunch menus for guests during COVID to cover the loss of income from international tourists. COVID is now gone, but fortunately, the cost-effective lunch menu has been preserved to this day.
Field Restaurant
Field Restaurant ⭐ is currently the most famous establishment of the Czech head chef – Radek Kašpárek, the host of the popular TV show Masterchef Česko. Kašpárek will also soon appear in the Czech adaptation of the TV show Hell’s Kitchen, made famous by Gordon Ramsay. Radek Kašpárek became a co-owner of Field in 2014, and just two years later (2016), the restaurant earned its Michelin star. Since then, it has successfully retained it. Ambitious Radek Kašpárek does not hide his desire to earn two Michelin stars ⭐⭐ for the establishment in the near future. Field focuses on modern cuisine. At Field, it is possible to taste the budget-friendly lunch menu not only on weekdays but also on weekends. If you are unable to make a reservation at Field, try the newly opened (and much larger) establishment of Radek Kašpárek at the Old Town Square in Prague, which bears the original name 420.
Lunch price on weekdays: 1,500 CZK (60 EUR) for a three-course menu, 1,250 CZK (50 EUR) for a two-course menu
When: Monday – Friday 11:00 – 14:30
Weekend lunch price: 2,500 CZK (100 EUR) for a four-course menu
When: Saturday – Sunday, holidays 12:00 – 15:00
Web: weekday lunch menu, weekend lunch menu, restaurant website
La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise Restaurant
La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise Restaurant ⭐ is the second Czech restaurant with one Michelin star, which it received in 2012, six years after opening. The head chef is Oldřich Sahajdák. The establishment specializes in classic Czech cuisine from the late 19th century in a modern interpretation. Oldřich Sahajdák often expresses admiration for the recipes of Marie B. Svobodová from the year 1894, and he paid a great tribute to her in the sister establishment Marie B, which he opened in 2023. You can see the incredible modern interpretation of traditional Czech dishes, such as the beef roulade called “Spanish bird” (“španělský ptáček” in Czech), in the video below.
Lunch price: 1,250 – 1,450 CZK (50 – 58 EUR) for a three-course menu (depending on the type of main course)
When: Monday – Sunday 11:30 – 13:30
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
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Best Prague Cheap Lunch
Canteens are the easiest option to eat cheaply in Prague (and also quickly). The vast majority of them focus on traditional Czech dishes. The lunch menu in canteens is particularly interesting to me because the dishes they offer often don’t make it into the evening menu due to their simplicity (for example, my beloved pork kidneys with bacon or the Czech-favorite sweet buns with vanilla custard). All the canteens mentioned here are self-service – the guest receives a tray, onto which they get their plate of food from the counter staff. With the tray of food, the guest pays at the cash desk before starting to eat. The low price of lunch is obviously compensated by the less attractive food styling on the plate and the more ordinary canteen spaces.
Pohotovka Canteen
For me, Pohotovka Canteen is the absolute queen of Prague canteens. On offer, you’ll find the most popular traditional Czech dishes such as beef goulash, roasted pork meat with sauerkraut and dumplings, dill sauce with beef meat/egg and dumplings/potatoes, sour lentils, and many others. The food is excellent, the counter service works perfectly in sync, and it’s a joy to watch. The canteen underwent a complete renovation in 2022, so it features a modern gastro operation. It is exceptionally popular among both blue-collar workers and office staff, which is evidenced by the daily queue forming even before the entrance doors. Many people take their food to go. This takeaway food is captured in the two photos below – my favorite pork kidneys with bacon, to which I like to add bread dumplings instead of rice (😇), and a half portion of the sweet buns with vanilla cream (the plates and food styling are therefore mine). Pohotovka Canteen is near Makro Stodůlky, completely outside the center of Prague. The lunch menu changes daily.
Lunch price: most often 149 CZK (6 EUR) for the main course, 44 CZK (1.80 EUR) for soup
When: Monday – Friday 10:30 – 18:00, Saturday – Sunday 10:30 – 17:00, open for breakfast from 8:00
Web: lunch menu, canteen website
Světozor Canteen
Světozor Canteen is just a few dozen meters from Prague’s Wenceslas Square. It’s a bit hidden in the Světozor passage, but it’s not hard to find. The lunch menu once again features traditional Czech dishes such as stuffed bell peppers, roasted pork with sauerkraut and dumplings, sour lentils, pork schnitzel, beef in tomato or dill sauce, and others. The lunch menu changes daily.
Lunch price: 100 – 170 CZK (4 – 6.80 EUR) for the main course, 40 CZK (1.60 EUR) for soup
When: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 15:00
Web: lunch menu
Marjánka Canteen
Another favorite canteen of mine is Marjánka at Prague’s Anděl. Marjánka also prepares traditional Czech dishes, and additionally, they have a permanent offering of salads, such as cucumber or tomato salad. A specialty of Marjánka is that it is a 24/7 open restaurant. This has its pros and cons. For many, Marjánka is literally a beacon, a last resort when returning home late at night. Marjánka was somewhat critically reviewed by Starej fotr with Honzík (Czech YouTuber) during their late-night visit; I wouldn’t be so critical and would always prefer Marjánka over KFC or McDonald’s. The great popularity of Marjánka is also evidenced by the high average rating of 4.3/5 from about 1200 reviewers on Google Maps, which is an excellent result for a canteen. The lunch menu changes daily.
Price: 140 – 160 CZK (5.60 – 6.40 EUR) for the main course, 45 CZK (1.80 EUR) for soup
When: nonstop
Web: lunch menu, canteen website
Havelská koruna Restaurant
I would also like to mention the Havelská koruna Canteen, located in the center of Prague. Here too, the menu includes the most popular traditional Czech dishes, and you will always find the Czech-favorite fried cheese (familiarly called “smažák” in Czech) on offer. Havelská koruna is the only canteen mentioned here that is also aimed at tourists, with the entire menu available in several world languages. In Havelská koruna, the payment principle is different from other canteens – each guest receives a paper card at the entrance, which is used to record the ordered meals, and the guest pays just before leaving. If the paper card is lost, a high penalty is paid. The menu is permanent, but not all dishes are available every day.
Price: most often 150 – 250 CZK (6 – 10 EUR) for the main course, 60 CZK (2.40 EUR) for soup
When: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 20:00
Web: lunch menu, restaurant website
Map of Recommended Prague Restaurants for Lunch
Legend:
● purple: Czech cuisine for lunch in Prague – restaurants Výčep and Kamin
● green: Italian cuisine for lunch in Prague – restaurants Dejvická 34 and Jacob’s Little Italy
● brown: Asian cuisine for lunch in Prague – Nhà hai hành Bistro, Taro Restaurant and restaurants in Sapa Prague
● black: lunch with a view of Prague – restaurants Kuchyň and Mlýnec
● gold: luxury lunch in Prague – restaurants Field ⭐ and La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise ⭐
● red: cheap lunch in Prague – canteens Pohotovka, Světozor, Marjánka, and Havelská koruna
