American barbecue is not a common sight in Central Europe, but co-owners Silva Jackson and Tomáš Oujezdský come to it naturally. Chef Jackson spent years cooking barbecue in Florida and Texas, while Oujezdský has a knack for making sausage, all of which has helped make this Texas-style barbecue spot a hot ticket in town. The casual eatery is always bustling during lunch, often with a line trailing out the door, and evenings aren’t much different. Grab a tray and stack it with meaty options like smoked sausage, beef ribs, and tender brisket, along with creamy potato salad and spicy dill pickles, which offer the perfect crunch and great spicy-to-sour balance. The restaurant sources many cuts from Amaso, the butchery business operated by the Ambiente hospitality group, while pint glasses, in place of Czech-style beer mugs, help complete the Americana vibe.

The honeycomb-like images of freshly baked rolls on Instagram draw diners to Šodó, where they’re welcomed with a warm wood counter and airy space. The space and the pastry case are easy on the eyes, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since the business was brought to life by the folks behind food tour company (and popular Instagram account) Taste of Prague. Opened in midwinter, the daytime spot has proven popular since day one thanks to its penchant for local ingredients and quality espresso.

Arrive at this microbrewery when the weather is favorable and you’ll find a courtyard packed with locals enjoying refreshing brews in the sunshine along with casual eats from next-door neighbor Bufet. The brewery’s indoor seating is busy year-round and it is especially hard to find a seat come 5 p.m. Dva Kohouti (“Two Roosters”) has three mainstay brews, staying true to traditional Czech expectations, but it also branches out beyond the lager and pilsner spectrum with IPAs, pale ales, sours, and more. This spot has a knack for apparel too, so budget some extra money for a new T-shirt along with drinks.

There is never a bad time of day (or night) to visit Eska, a coffee roaster meets bakery meets restaurant hybrid. Swing by in the morning to be welcomed by the smell of freshly baked sourdough, meringue-filled pastries, and other sweet treats. Come lunchtime, a sandwich and coffee to-go fits the bill just fine, but the second-level dining room is a perfect excuse for a glass of natural wine. In the evenings, the kitchen flexes its culinary strength with a tasting menu, complemented by wine pairings if you so choose.

At Gruzie, dive headfirst into a smattering of Georgian dishes like khinkali (dumplings filled with spiced ground beef or potatoes with cheese), grape leaf rolls (dolmas), and the iconic canoe-shaped khachapuri, a traditional leavened bread filled with cheese, egg, and herbs. You’d be remiss to not try a varietal or two of Georgian wine during your meal.

Local hospitality group Ambiente (Café Savoy, Eska) was early to elevating the concept of a traditional Czech beer hall with Lokál. There are many Lokáls around the city now (of varying shapes and sizes), but they all boast the same bustling vibe and ornate-yet-abstract backlit wood carvings. Locals come almost exclusively for post-work drinks, not meals, but it’s a great first stop for visitors to try iconic Czech eats (go for the pickled Camembert and some goulash) while sipping on a crisp pilsner. This chain is all about customer volume, so if you didn’t make a reservation ahead of time during peak hours, expect to be standing along the wall or tucked under a windowsill outside.

The absolutely huge multilevel dining room at Červený Jelen (Red Stag) might just have the highest ceiling in the city, but the large open kitchen steals the show, a focal point with grills ever aflame. At the modern steakhouse, you can order everything from brisket to tenderloin, as well as a long list of sides (whipped potatoes et al.), so it’s nearly impossible to leave anything less than stuffed.

This bakeshop and cafe is undeniably gorgeous, though the location ever-so-close to the city’s iconic Charles Bridge doesn’t hurt. Despite the proximity, the operation doesn’t feel overly touristy. Owner Iveta Fabešová, one of Czechia’s most famous pastry chefs, never rests on her laurels when it comes to her confections. Expect a huge range of vibrant edible works of art, like tangerine- and lemon-shaped single-serving cakes, Paris-Brest, a Rubik’s Cube-inspired multilevel cake, and so much more. Once you’re done gazing at the robust bakery case and spending too many crowns on sweets, stick around for an espresso or tea too.

You’ll find Golden Egg and its satisfying breakfast sandwiches a few blocks away from the city’s main train station, which makes it a perfect spot for a pre-travel meal if you’re on the move — though it’s worth visiting regardless of your travel plans. The menu is concise, but customers need little more than the buttery, soft-scrambled egg and bacon brioche sandwich, made happily complete with caramelized onions, cheddar, and Sriracha aioli. Eating one is one of the best things you can do in Prague before 11 a.m.

There still isn’t much intermingling between plant-based and omnivore dishes on the average restaurant menu in Prague, but the city does have a surprising amount of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Clear Head is undeniably at the top of the heap. The long-standing (mostly) vegan restaurant offers up a quirky, starlit sky aesthetic along with a robust menu. Patrons can choose from a something-for-everyone menu that includes meat-free burgers, quesadillas, “tartare,” and even a version of Czechia’s national dish, svíčková (traditionally made with roast beef, vegetables, gravy, bread dumplings, savory whipped cream, and cranberries).

Despite Hemingway Bar’s location in Old Town, most cocktail aficionados will agree that this ornately designed, two-level watering hole delivers when it comes to both classic drinks and inventive signature creations. With a seemingly boundless liquor collection on the back bar and expertly trained, vest-adorned bar staff, it should come as no surprise that Hemingway Bar is rarely without a waitlist. Most bars in this part of town rely on high-volume sales, so it’s refreshing to sit down somewhere that takes its time shaking or stirring a thoughtful drink.

Prague had Neapolitan-style pizza, but in 2022, the city got its first Detroit-style shop courtesy of American expats Richard Hawes, Ross VanSlambrouck, and Mike Rogers. The name is a callback to the Great Lakes region where the co-owners hail from, and a proclamation for the deep-dish, extra cheesy, crispy-crusted, sauce-on-top creations they serve. The Honolulu Blue (think Hawaiian with blue cheese) and the extra-meaty Blood Starved Beast may demand higher prices than locals are used to paying for pizza, but it’s hard to argue with the impressive abundance of toppings and cheese once the pan drops on the table.

Porke is a fun bar in Žižkov that turns out tapas and small plates. Beyond traditional Spanish tortilla, garlic prawns, marcona almonds, and Cerignola olives, the restaurant offers surprisingly delicious flatbreads. One of the tastiest is topped with roasted beets, ricotta, mozzarella, and thyme leaves, finished with drizzles of honey. Wash it all down with a glass of wine, or a shot of Becherovka if it’s the start of a long night.

As Prague’s oldest pub (opened in 1499), U Fleků might be eternally crowded with tourists, but much like the city’s Cinderella-esque castle, it’s worth a visit for a mug of beer or two. The space boasts multiple dining hall areas, as well as an outdoor courtyard, so visitors can always expect to find a seat somewhere throughout the vast space. Among the hefty portions of famous Czech dishes, go for the country’s national dish, svíčková, which consists of a braised cut of beef served in a rich, dairy- and vegetable-based gravy, usually served with carrots, potatoes, cranberries, and (unsweetened) whipped cream.

While there are many, many brewpubs to visit in the heart of Prague, most feel quite touristy and overpriced. Head south on Vodičkova Street from Old Town to Nové Město (New Town) and straight into this casual restaurant owned by brewery Pivovar Cvikov. The main brewery is located in a small rural town in the north of the country, but the brand’s Prague restaurant offers up the entire beer list, including a dynamic semi-dark lager made with three different types of malt. The food menu leans classic Czech through and through, with dishes like braised pork shoulder with bread dumplings, boiled potatoes with tartar sauce, liver dumpling soup, and more.

Equally famous for set-menu brunch as it is for tasting menus in the evenings, Bockem is a true gem in the city’s food scene. Part of its charm lies in its unassuming location in Smíchov and its cozy, brick-walled dining room that seats about 20. Chef and co-owner Ondřej Kynčl works wonders with locally grown, seasonal ingredients, helping evolve perceptions of Czech food, even among locals. While the five-course dinner menu changes often, brunch always includes some signature dishes, especially the sky-high souffle eggs Benedict that never fails to impress.

This brewpub strikes the balance between old and new, making it perfect for Czech beer nerds. Food offerings don’t break the mold, but they do hit the spot — garlic soup (a Czech classic), pickled Camembert, chilled pork jowl with horseradish cream — and the beer offerings are expansive, with a range of lagers, pale ales, and IPAs. The lower-level seating area is more rowdy than the main floor, so if you’re visiting on a weekend evening, head downstairs for a fun vibe.

Largely due to historic communist ties, Czechia has a huge Vietnamese population, who make up the country’s largest minority apart from Ukrainians and Slovaks. Banh mi, pho, and bun cha are readily available in the city, though few do it better than Old Hanoi. Don’t let the restaurant’s location beside a large shopping mall fool you. Stroll in to see a large dining room adorned with vintage Vietnamese street signs and a three-wheeled rickshaw in the entranceway. The highlight is the supremely clear pho broth, topped with especially aromatic herbs and served with sliced garlic and chile on the side.

Approximately translated to “the cafe with no name,” this is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Beyond morning pastries, the food is simple here, with daily soups and entrees written out on chalkboard; everything is always made from scratch. The walls feature rotating art exhibitions, while the bathroom sink trades a mirror for a sign proclaiming, “You look fine,” another hint at the cafe’s laid-back vibe.

People seeking a better understanding of Czech terroir should head straight to Vallmo. This thoughtful, seasonally focused restaurant is quickly becoming one of the top places to dine in the city. Chef Martin Makovička has a deft hand in the kitchen, applying French and Italian techniques to Czech cuisine. The ever-changing predinner small bites are always worth getting excited about, but the signature, artful poppy seed pudding dessert with mead-macerated apples and microflowers is what will linger in your mind for days to come.

Situated happily in the heart of Prague 5, Na Kopci is a culinary destination well off the tourist path. The a la carte menu is robust and changes often, though you’ll always find a classically prepared Czech tartare with fries on the side. The best value here though — likely why the restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand — is the four-course tasting menu, which always feels like a real steal for under 1,000 crowns (under $50 USD).