Cheap Eats guide to Prague
I’ll be honest with you. On my first visit to Prague, back in 2005, the food scene was quite limited with a big focus on hearty Czech and Hungarian cuisine, with a few exceptions. However, over the last 2 decades, as the city has blossomed, the food scene keeps on growing and diversifying. This guide is a love letter to all my favorite affordable spots in the city, with a few exceptions. PS Checkout also my guide to the best things to do in Prague.
1. Lokal Dlouhaaa
A modern twist on the classic Czech pub
Address: Dlouhá 33, Staré Město
Ever since I’ve been coming to Prague, I’ve had a soft spot for the Lokal chain of pubs. They offer a modern twist on classic Czech staple dishes at very affordable prices, with the added incentive of delicious cold Pilsner Urquell straight from the tank. I love the branch in Malá Strana and the slightly less raucous outpost in Karlín. Start with generous, delicious starters like sausages braised in dark beer (115 CZK) or liver pate with cranberries (95 CZK). Move on to mains like the pork neck steak (200g) with pepper sauce (225 CZK). Finish with their excellent apple strudel and whipped cream (55 CZK).
2. Soul Kitchen
A tiny slice of Greece in Vinohrady
Address: Korunní 24, Vinohrady
Not Czech at all, but worth the detour out to Vinohrady, Soul Kitchen is a tiny Greek taverna tucked away near Náměstí Míru, serving proper gyros pitas, souvlaki, meze plates, great Greek salads, keftedes (meatballs) with pitta, and tzatziki and salad. Finish with bougatsa and a strong Greek coffee. Small and popular, so go early or be ready to wait for a table.
3. Sisters Bistro v Dlouhé
A twist on the Czech classic, chlebíčky
Address: Dlouhá 39, Staré Město
When in Czechia, a must eat is chlebíčky, a local version of the open-faced sandwich, with toppings that might include ham, turkey, egg, potato salad, mayonnaise, salmon, or a spot of something green like a salad or tomatoes. My go-to place for chlebíčky is Sisters Bistro v Dlouhé, next door to Lokal in Staré Město. They do an eclectic variety, ranging from rye bread, avocado, tomatoes, prawns, coriander (45 CZK) to beetroot and goat’s cheese (57 CZK) to anchovies and herring (57 CZK).
4. Banh-Mi-Ba
Good quality, budget-friendly option for banh mi (best sandwich in the world!)
Address: Rybná 26, Staré Město ( Multiple outlets including the train station )
Another good budget-friendly, on-the-move choice, across the road from Sisters and also near the train station in Prague, is Banh-Mi-Ba. The banh mi sandwiches are fab, but the pho is average, so I’d give that a miss. They also do nice spring rolls and great Vietnamese coffee.
5. Antonínovo Pekařství
Budget-friendly bakery, perfect for breakfast
Address: Laubova 1689/4, Žižkov
If you still haven’t had breakfast, or need a snack between meals or a good cup of coffee, this local bakery in Žižkov is a great stop (they also have outlets in Holešovice, Karlín and Vršovice). The first thing that hits you walking in is the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread. You can choose from 5 to 6 different types, all baked on the premises. Pair it with the soup of the day, or one of their open-faced sandwiches. Sabrina loved her egg spread sandwich, while I went for beetroot and cream cheese. Filling, good and cheap: two sandwiches came to 75 CZK, which is less than €3. They also do local sweet baked goods and good ice cream.
Not cheap but worth the splurge…
6. Kuchyň
Castle-side dining with the best view in Prague
Address: Hradčanské náměstí 1, Hradčany
Come here for one of the best views of Prague. It is incredible, and even better with a cold Pilsner Urquell in hand. The food is a cut above your average hearty Czech fare too, based on recipes from the kitchens of 16th century aristocracy. We started with chicken liver pate with plum puree (125 CZK) and Vienna frankfurters with mustard and horseradish (95 CZK), both delicious. I’m not usually a pate fan, but this one won me over. For mains, the beef hanger in red wine with potato dumplings (245 CZK) was sensational. The signature dill sauce with eggs and potatoes (168 CZK) was nice too, though neither of us are big dill fans. After all the beer and food, the strawberries with cream and nuts (95 CZK) was the perfect way to finish.
7. Kantýna
A butcher’s counter and canteen rolled into one
Address: Politických vězňů 1511/5, Nové Město
Just off Wenceslas Square, if you love meat, no-frills Czech home cooking with generous portions at good prices, then this is your place. In this cavernous canteen-style dining hall, you can choose from the in-house butcher grilled cuts of ribeye, steak, chicken or sausages which are then cooked for you. (There is also a cooked meat counter.) You can choose your sides, like mashed potatoes or veggies, with a variety of sauces that include chimichurri sauce. There is a separate counter for ordering drinks. It’s loud, casual beer hall style dining that is great with friends or loved ones.
8. Masala Keramička
Great value Indian food in Prague
Address: Keramická 3, Prague 7 (Letná)
Tucked into a quiet corner of Letná near the Technical Museum. Part of a small local chain, it does contemporary Indian classics like butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, alongside veg thalis if you are looking to try a mix of dishes in one meal. There’s a garden for warmer days and a lunch menu from 159 CZK (€6.58).
9. Mundo Picante
Great value Mexican in Prague
Address: Krymská 8, Vršovice
A hole-in-the-wall Mexican takeaway-style spot on Vršovice’s Krymská strip, not far from the Czech Inn hostel, serving easy tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos. Tacos range from beer barbacoa to BBQ chicken to Indian veg. They have a Taco Tuesday where tacos are 50 CZK (€2) a piece. Frozen margaritas are on point too.
10. Beas Dhaba
Pay-by-weight vegetarian dhaba
Address: Týnská 19, Staré Město
A good, affordable option in Staré Město that I have been visiting for more than 20 years. It’s a self-service, pay-by-weight vegetarian dhaba. The food is simple, with a decent range of veg curries, dahl, plus raita, pakoras and also a good salad selection. Grab a tray, load it up, and pay for the weight at the till. There’s a quiet courtyard out back for warmer days, and a jug of free water on every table. Go an hour before closing for a 50% discount on your meal.
11. Garuda Restaurant
A decent, affordable taste of Indonesia
Address: Milady Horákové 686/12, Prague 7 (Holešovice)
As a newcomer to Indonesian cuisine, I can’t claim any authority on authenticity, but on taste and cost, this was a decent lunch option in Prague 7. The daily lunch menu changes, but we enjoyed traditional dishes like nasi goreng and sapi rendang. A small bowl of soup comes free with any lunch dish, so for 145 CZK (about €6.50), it’s pretty good value.
12. Manifesto Market Smíchov
Prague’s best-known street food market
Address: Náměstí 14. října 82/16, Smíchov
A proper cultural and gastro hub. Come any day of the week and you’ll find a bubbly, fun-filled atmosphere with a wide variety of food from upcoming, budding chefs: tacos, hummus, craft burgers, fresh seafood, plus cocktails and fresh, frothy Pilsner Urquell straight from the tank. Prices are above average, so prepare to splurge a little. It’s set in a former parking lot wedged between the 20th century National House of Smíchov and an old market hall, and the design is genuinely eye-catching: food stations housed in corrugated metal-covered units surrounding a shallow pool.
13. Garage Karlín
A taste of Canada in the heart of Prague
Address: Křížíkova 58, Karlín
There’s a strange novelty in finding Canada’s beloved fast food, poutine, in Prague, but it’s really good, especially after a few cold Pilsner Urquells at Lokal. Fries, delicious cheese curds and gravy — this is a place I keep coming back to whenever I’m in Prague. Top it up with pulled pork, shredded beef or bacon.
Drink stops worth the detour
14. Vinicní Altán
A hidden vineyard terrace with the best views in the city
Address: Havlíčkovy sady 1369, Vinohrady
A vineyard hidden away in the heart of the city. Come here for beautiful views and very affordable, good wine. I love this place.
15. Veltlín
My favourite wine bar in Prague
Address: Křižíkova 115, Karlín
The guys here know their wines, and if you want to discover Czech natural wines, this is the place to come to.
Tip: The Pilsner Urquell Experience
A 90-minute, deep dive into their proud brewing history
Address: 28. října 377/13, Nové Město (bottom of Wenceslas Square)
Not strictly a cheap eat, but if you’re heading to Prague this summer, it’s worth the spend. Spread across 3 floors just off Wenceslas Square in a beautiful Art Nouveau building (the former Prague Central Bank), the new visitor centre is a fast-paced, hands-on, interactive museum telling the story of the country’s most popular beer.
With wireless headsets, light shows and projections, you learn how the first pilsner was created, covering everything from the ancient gods dedicated to beer, to its history in Bohemia going back to St Wenceslas, patron saint of the beverage, to exactly how the distinctive light-coloured Pilsner-style beer was developed by accident, all told in a light-hearted way. Midway through the tour, you get your first taste of the beer (this made me very happy) and meet one of their brewmasters, before learning about the brewing process. I picked up some fun facts I didn’t know before, like the importance of foam in the perfect Czech pour: it keeps the beer from going flat and adds to the taste.Before you leave the storytelling floor, there’s a 360° game hall where you can play a round of ice hockey. The tour finishes in the beautiful Beer Hall upstairs, where you’re offered two more beers by friendly tapsters. Unlike most brewery tours, this 90-minute experience involves a lot more beer drinking, and is a lot more fun for it.
At 441 CZK (€19), it isn’t cheap, but between the experience, the friendly staff and tapsters, and three drinks included in the tour, I think it’s good value.
Bonus tip: Visitors can also attend the Tapster Academy and learn to pour beer three different ways: the hladinka, šnyt and mlíko. Great fun, and a proper splurge at 825 CZK (€35), so it depends on your budget and how much beer you want to drink (all the beers you pour are yours to keep, and we poured probably 6 or 7 and barely drank them). In hindsight, I wish we’d had lunch first, so go on an empty stomach. Don’t skip the brand shop either: you can take home a personalised, hand-engraved beer mug or a bottled Pilsner Urquell with your name on it.
