“Na břehu Rhôny” is a chain of wine bars that enjoys great popularity among wine lovers (not only) in Prague. It primarily focuses on wines from the Rhône Valley in France, an area renowned for its rich winemaking tradition and diverse range of wines.
The first Na břehu Rhôny wine bar opened in Prague at Výtoň (nearby, you’ll also find the top-notch restaurant Vallmo and the excellent establishment U Kalendů) and, thanks to its success, the chain gradually expanded with more locations. The concept of these wine bars is based on the idea that wine should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their knowledge of wine. That’s why you won’t find complicated wine lists here, but rather a friendly atmosphere where the staff is happy to advise and recommend wines according to your tastes.
A significant difference compared to other wine bars is the option of “self-service” wine selection. You can pour yourself approximately twenty different wines (red, white, rosé) directly from bag-in-boxes (BIB) of your choice. The honesty of your record-keeping is up to you; what you pour, you write down on your receipt and then pay for.
Bag-in-box (BIB) is a modern and practical way of packaging liquids, including wine. BIB consists of a plastic bag placed inside a cardboard box. The bag is made of multilayer plastic, which is resistant to oxygen. The bag has a special valve attached, which allows easy dispensing of wine without needing to open the entire package, thus preventing oxidation and maintaining the wine’s flavor profile.
Wine in a bag-in-box is usually more cost-effective than bottled wine. The reason is the lower cost of packaging materials and more efficient logistics (these are boxes, after all), so the space during transportation is fully utilized.
Bag-in-boxes are available in various volumes, most commonly 3 or 5 liters, which of course means that with one BIB, you’re buying significantly more wine than in a single bottle. This again allows for a lower price.
Thanks to this, at “Rhône,” the price for 1 dcl of quality wine ranges from around 50 to 70 CZK (2 – 3 EUR).
However, if you don’t want to taste several wines and prefer a whole bottle, nothing is stopping you. You’ll find good wines priced from a few hundred crowns per bottle. The selection of bottled wines is extensive.
Along with the wine, you’ll get French delicacies, with offerings varying by location. Even the “simple” sliced crunchy baguette with excellent olive oil is superb.
It might have been ten years ago when I first visited the then-only location of Na břehu Rhôny at Prague’s Výtoň. Since then, I occasionally return either to Výtoň or to Francouzská. I’ve been consistently satisfied.
Which Na břehu Rhôny location is your favorite?
Cheers, and drink responsibly!
🇨🇿 Schnitzel with potato salad is a Czech classic, but how about pad thai? Sign up for my newsletter and I will send you for free tips on excellent dishes from Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries.
