Prague food guide · by Bret
A week in Prague, one table at a time
Spending a week in Prague? Here is how I would spend it: the sights worth getting up early for, the Czech dishes to try, where to find Moravian wine, and what to do with children or when it rains.
A food lover’s week in Prague
Day 1Old Town & your first svíčková
Cross Charles Bridge early, before the crowds, and walk through Old Town Square. At lunchtime, step into a Czech pub for the weekday lunch menu (denní menu) and order svíčková: beef in a creamy root vegetable sauce with bread dumplings.
Day 2Prague Castle & a glass with a view
After Prague Castle, stop at St. Wenceslas Vineyard just below it, one of the oldest vineyards in Bohemia, for a glass of wine above the rooftops of Malá Strana.
Day 3Cook and dine with a Prague host
Take an afternoon or an evening off sightseeing and spend it at a Prague table. With Bret you taste Czech specialties, cook three traditional recipes together and share a Czech dinner with dessert, in a small group of up to eight guests. No cooking experience is needed, dietary needs can be accommodated, and every guest takes home a digital cookbook. There are two ways to join:
Sessions start Tuesday to Saturday at 2:00 PM or 6:30 PM. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Day 4A Saturday morning market
On Saturday morning, walk along the Vltava to the farmers’ market at Náplavka. Taste Czech pastries, cheeses, sausages and fresh juice, then climb up to Vyšehrad for the view back over the river.
Day 5Cafés & a city vineyard in Vinohrady
Spend a slow day in Vinohrady, one of Prague’s most loved neighbourhoods for cafés and bakeries. In the afternoon, find the vineyard and wine pavilion in Havlíčkovy sady (Grébovka).
Day 6A day trip for wine or history
For wine, take a trip to Mělník, a small town above the meeting of the Vltava and Elbe rivers with its own château winery. For history, go to Kutná Hora (about an hour by train) and have a long Czech lunch between St. Barbara’s Cathedral and the Sedlec Ossuary.
Day 7Petřín & koláče for the road
Ride the funicular up Petřín Hill and walk down through the orchards and gardens. On your way back, pick up koláče from a bakery and a bottle of Moravian wine to take the taste of Prague home.
Czech dishes to try
Czech cooking is comfort food from the countryside. These are the dishes I would look for.
Svíčková
Beef in a creamy root vegetable sauce with bread dumplings, cranberries and whipped cream.
Guláš
The Czech take on goulash: a rich beef stew, best with bread dumplings.
Vepřo knedlo zelo
Roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut, the classic Sunday lunch.
Kulajda
A creamy dill and mushroom soup with potatoes and a poached egg.
Chlebíčky
Open-faced sandwiches, beautifully decorated, for parties and snacks.
Bramboráky
Crispy potato pancakes with garlic and marjoram.
Smažený sýr
Fried cheese with tartar sauce, a favourite in every Czech pub.
Koláče
Round pastries filled with plum jam, sweet curd cheese or poppy seed.
You will see trdelník everywhere in the centre. It is a modern tourist favourite rather than an old Czech tradition.
Moravian wine in Prague
Most Czech wine comes from Moravia, in the south-east of the country. Look for white wines such as Grüner Veltliner (Veltlínské zelené), Riesling and Pálava, and reds such as Frankovka and Svatovavřinecké. In Prague you can taste them in wine bars (vinárny) and in the city’s own vineyards at Grébovka, Troja and below Prague Castle.
Prague with children
- Prague Zoo in Troja, one of the best-loved zoos in Europe
- The Petřín funicular, lookout tower and mirror maze
- The National Technical Museum, full of trains, cars and planes
- Pedal boats on the Vltava in summer
- Cooking together as a family at Bret’s Table
When it rains
- The National Museum at the top of Wenceslas Square
- A guided tour of the Art Nouveau Municipal House
- Coffee and cake in a historic café such as Café Louvre or Café Slavia
- An afternoon or evening cooking Czech food at Bret’s Table
Make one evening about food, wine and people
Of all the things to do in Prague, sharing a table is the one that stays with you. Join me for a few hours of Czech cooking, Moravian wine and stories.
Planning a week in Prague
What are the best things to do in Prague in a week?
See Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and Prague Castle early in the day, taste Czech food in pubs, bakeries and the Saturday market at Náplavka, drink Moravian wine in the city’s vineyards, take a day trip to Mělník or Kutná Hora, and set aside one afternoon or evening for a hands-on food experience such as a Czech cooking class.
What traditional Czech food should I try in Prague?
Svíčková with bread dumplings, goulash, roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, kulajda soup, chlebíčky, bramboráky, fried cheese and koláče.
What can I do in Prague with kids?
Prague Zoo, the Petřín funicular and mirror maze, the National Technical Museum, pedal boats on the Vltava and a family cooking class like Family Table at Bret’s Table.
What can I do in Prague when it rains?
Visit the National Museum, take a tour of the Municipal House, sit in a historic café, or spend a few hours cooking Czech food at a cooking class.
Is a cooking class worth it in Prague?
Yes, if you want more than sightseeing. At Bret’s Table you cook three traditional Czech recipes with a local host, taste Moravian wines and share a Czech dinner in a small group. No cooking experience is needed.
Reserve your seat
Come for the food, the stories, the wine and the people.
Leave with a taste of the Czech Republic and a memory to take home.
Růžová 2, Praha 1In the historic heart of Prague.Plan your visit
Tuesday to Saturday 2:00 PM & 6:30 PM
3 to 3.5 hours
1 to 8 guests
Get in touch to find a date and reserve your place at Bret’s Table.
Email us to reserveFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Get in touch
Let’s make room for you at the table.
Thinking of joining us? Tell me when you’ll be in Prague, who’s coming with you and whether you have any dietary wishes or needs. Or simply send me your questions. I’d love to hear from you.
info@estatestudio.cz