Hotel restaurants often face unnecessary prejudice. Locals perceive them as sterile spaces intended primarily for tourists' breakfasts before they head out to see the most interesting Prague sights. It is a pity, because teams with access to the best ingredients and technologies often operate in the facilities of large hotels.
The Artisan Restaurant in the Prague Marriott Hotel is trying to break this stereotype with its Sunday brunches. And judging by the high occupancy rates, they are succeeding.
The concept of their Sunday brunch is built on variety. Every brunch has a different theme, which gives locals a reason to return. I visited The Artisan on the second Sunday in January, when chocolate took over the space.
However, the calendar of events features themes as diverse as an authentic Czech pig feast (❤️), caramel, burgers, or perhaps seasonal wild garlic. The Artisan also prepares brunches focused on specific events; if you are wondering where to go in Prague for Valentine's Day or where to go for Christmas Eve dinner next year, you already have one tip.
The chocolate brunch at The Artisan does not just represent endless rows of desserts (but yes, frankly, chocolate sweets played the leading role here 😇). Chocolate also plays a role in the hot buffet - it adds depth to the beef chili con carne and forms the base of the sauce for the traditional chicken mole. Chocolate sauce is also present with meats prepared on the Josper grill.
You won't go hungry for even a second before you head out to explore the buffet. Immediately after being seated, smooth pork pâté and homemade bread await you on the table. The bread was more rustic, with a thick dark crust, which didn't bother me at all; on the contrary.
During the brunch, a so-called "pass-around" also operates, where Executive Chef David Rejhon goes around the tables and personally serves small bites. The cheese mousse with pickled vegetables unfortunately didn't reach me - perhaps due to my arrival, delayed by an academic quarter-hour (in my defense: Prague was covered in snow quite heavily).
You will enjoy the brunch at The Artisan Restaurant in the form of an unlimited buffet. The cold buffet and salad section offered, for example, Caesar salad with bread croutons, chickpea and lentil salad, tomato salad, or salad with feta cheese.
For many, the "raw bar" with fresh oysters or the section with tiger prawns and prawn cocktail will be the attraction.
Among the tartares, you will find an interesting trio: classic beef with dried yolk, salmon, and, for me surprisingly non-traditional, carrot tartare. Everything is complemented by toasted bread and fresh sprouts.
Grilled meat is served from an open kitchen dominated by the Josper grill. It was from there that beef flank and rib eye steaks, or perfectly prepared picanha, traveled to the plate. For me, the beef was the main draw of the brunch and I was definitely not disappointed.
If you like cheese, the platter from the Krasolesí farm will delight you - The Artisan has long prided itself on supporting local farmers and in the case of cheeses, they reached for the absolute top tier. Products from Krasolesí are sought after for their quality even by Czech Michelin restaurants, such as Field ⭐.
Since it was a chocolate brunch, the dessert section was logically the center of attention. The offer included everything from delicate pralines, through chocolate mousses, to dense brownies and cakes. I appreciate that the desserts were not overly sweet and the portions were not excessively large, so it was possible to taste more sweets. Great ice cream was also prepared; the guest could choose from classic vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, or refreshing lemon. Everyone could then garnish it according to their own imagination with fresh fruit at the "ice cream bar".
A big attraction for the youngest visitors was the special "live cooking" station, where a confectioner made chocolate lollipops that were rapidly cooled in liquid nitrogen. Spectacular white mist and instantly frozen crunchy chocolate... Yes, it usually didn't stop at just one lollipop 😁
Speaking of children, The Artisan also thinks of them within the main meal, so you don't have to worry about your offspring turning up their noses at duck breast or tartare. A holy trinity awaited them in the children's corner, which will not disappoint perhaps any child: pizza, fried chicken schnitzel, and french fries. There is also a high chair available for the little ones.
The price for the Sunday brunch at The Artisan is 1,545 CZK (61.80 EUR) per person (includes unlimited consumption of non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, and tea). If you want to make your Sunday more pleasant with wine and beer as well, then the brunch will cost you 200 CZK (8 EUR) more. Children under six have free admission. With a bit of luck, you might not even have to pay next time - a voucher for consumption worth 2,000 CZK (80 EUR) is drawn in the closing raffle.
Bon appétit!
Restaurant website: theartisan.cz/en/
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