The 8 most uncommon cafes and restaurants to visit in Prague this summer

Prague, Czech Republic – It’s a well-known fact: Prague is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, with the number of foreign tourists skyrocketing year after year. Needless to say, it’s therefore becoming harder and harder to find a unique, off-the-beaten track, quiet and original cafe to have a drink, eat a meal or just relax far from the madding crowds.

We can all agree on one thing: no one really enjoys visiting the crowded restaurants and cafes on Wenceslas Square or Old Town Square, plagued by overfilled and noisy terraces and ridiculous prices. To avoid this kind of places and enjoy Prague to the fullest, here’s a list of the best and most uncommon cafes to visit in the Czech capital this summer.

Spižírna 1902

Opened only a year ago, this cafe has already become the favourite place for many young people in Prague. The menu changes daily, and the cafe offers breakfasts from 8 am to 11.30 am and lunch from 12 pm to 4 pm. The average price of a meal for two people is around 15-20€.

Spižírna 1902 is located five minutes from the Jiřího z Poděbrad metro station. It features a beautiful floral interior, pleasant service and, most importantly, delicious food for both meat eaters and vegans. In other words, Spižírna is the ideal place to visit for breakfast and brunch… or to take stylish photos for your Instagram and other social media profiles!

Address: Korunní 86

Grand Cafe Orient

Although Grand Cafe Orient didn’t accept visitors for about 80 years, it now finally re-opened its doors to cater to tourists and locals alike. This historical cafe is located on the second floor of the iconic House of the Black Madonna, the first and most emblematic Cubist building built in Prague in the early 20^th century.

Grand Cafe Orient has an old-fashioned interior decorated in a cubic style and its signature dark green shades. The menu offers an enormous assortment of pastries and desserts. For a good lunch, you won’t spend more than 15€, with the most expensive cakes costing around 7€.

Address: Ovocný trh 19

La Bottega Gastronomica

This restaurant, located right near the famous TV Tower, has a warm and lighted interior with wooden wine racks and bright glass counters showcasing a variety of appetizers and desserts. La Bottega Gastronomica will suit your taste if you’re an aficionado of home-made pasta, freshly baked bread, salamis and hams, truffles and of course excellent wines; in other words, if you like top-notch Italian cuisine.

However, the main uniqueness of the restaurant lies in its extraordinary fresh grilled chicken that you can taste at any time of day during the working hours for a mere 7€ per portion. You can also order appetizers from 2,5€, main courses from 14€ and a glass of wine for 4-5€. Quick tip: the best way to visit La Bottega Gastronomica while on a budget is to order the lunch menu Soup & Pasta for only 9€ per person!

Address: Ondříčkova 17

Momoichi

Momoichi is a lovely and cozy bistro with paper Japanese lamps and Hayao Miyazaki anime “My Neighbor Totoro” posters. Be advised: Totoro is the main hero here, so you’ll definitely notice him somewhere in the cafe, wherever you decide to sit!

Momoichi’s menu offers varieties of Asian dishes from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, as well as the unavoidable hummus. Fans of wontons, yaki gyoza, spring rolls, miso ramen and yellow curry can eat their fill at affordable prices from 5 to 12€. Lovers of delicious Japanese tea, matcha latte and charcoal latte should also put this bistro on top of their to-do list in Prague.

Address: Římská 35

Cyberdog

This place deserves special attention. Cyberdog is a new and unique project of notorious Czech sculptor and artist David Černý and Prague’s first robotic venue. Its modern interior is designed with attention to every detail to highlight the whole concept of the restaurant: “no people service.” To place an order, you need to download the application, choose the meal, use your table QR and, in 10-15 minutes, a trolley will bring your foods and drinks.

Meals from Cyberdog’s galactic menu have a unique futuristic and original feel to it. Prices range from 2 to 7€. And if you are not an abstinent, you should definitely try something from their wine list. To reach the Cyberdog from the centre will take about 30 minutes by metro or tram, and 20 minutes by car.

Kantýna

Kantýna is a dining restaurant in the very centre of Prague, and can therefore be often pretty packed on weekends. However, there are almost no tourists, as they often consider this “canteen” too simple. It truly is, and that’s what gives it its own, specific charm!

This restaurant has everything that Czechs love – meat cooked on fire and draft beer. The menu also has other dishes of Czech cuisine – tripe soup, potato pancake, sour cabbage, cucumber salad, tartar sauce and many others. Prices remain very affordable, despite it offering higher-quality meals than the average Prague hospoda: a good steak will cost around 12€, and side dishes no more than 3€. If you want to try Czech cuisine or just high-quality meat, Kantýna is definitely the place to visit, and open every day from 11.30 am to 11.00 pm.

Address: Politických vězňů 5

Zmrzlinář

There are often huge queues in front of the numerous ice cream cafes in the city centre. But only one metro station from Můstek, you’ll find a charming and quiet cafe with arguably some of Prague’s most delightful ice creams and absolutely lovely people working there.

In Zmrzlinář, ice cream is prepared according to the old family recipe, but new flavours are still regularly added to the shop window. There are four primary flavours – chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and pistachio – while the other twelve are constantly changing. Some ice creams are even entirely vegan and gluten-free. The price for a scoop of ice cream stands at around 1,5€.

Address: Slezská 15

Swim

Another place in the centre of Prague that recently opened but already attracts a lot of young people in the evenings: Swim, a bar-restaurant located on the ground floor mixed with a club downstairs for helter-skelter parties.

Although the stylish and bright interior might be enough to captivate visitors, many people come back to taste Swim’s delicious breakfasts, bottled wine and cheap cocktails. Visit the Swim Club in the evening and come back to the restaurant for lunch between 11.30 am and 3.00 pm to try its signature couscous salad with feta.

Address: Štěpánská 36

By Alena Fedorova

Alena is a freelance journalist from Ukraine, currently based in Prague where she lives and studies. She joined the team of Kafkadesk contributors in May 2019.