Czech Food and Drink Guide: What to Eat and Drink in the Czech Republic

Why Czech food is worth your time

Czech cuisine is hearty, meaty and built for cold winters. Expect slow-cooked sauces, dumplings and some of the best beer on the planet. Portions are generous and prices outside tourist-heavy Old Town squares stay friendly.

Signature dishes to try

• Svickova na smetane - braised beef in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings (knedliky), a dollop of cranberry and whipped cream. The national favourite.
• Vepro-knedlo-zelo - roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut, the classic Sunday plate.
• Goulash (gulas) - thick beef stew, usually served with dumplings or in a bread bowl.
• Smazeny syr - deep-fried cheese with tartar sauce, the beloved cheap meal.
• Kulajda - a creamy potato-and-dill soup with a poached egg.

Street food and snacks

• Chlebicky - open-faced sandwiches sold in delis (lahudky); try them at Sisters in Prague.
• Trdelnik - a sugar-coated rolled pastry. It is a tourist invention, not traditional, but tasty.
• Parek v rohliku - a hot dog pushed into a hollowed roll, sold from kiosks.
• Bramborak - a garlicky fried potato pancake.

What to drink

The Czech Republic drinks more beer per head than anywhere on Earth. Order a Pilsner Urquell, Budvar or Kozel. A half-litre (velke) often costs 45-60 CZK in a local hospoda. Try Becherovka, a herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary, and slivovice plum brandy. Moravia produces good white wines worth seeking out.

Dining tips and etiquette

• Tap your beer mat or just say dalsi for another round; staff keep a tally.
• Tip by rounding up or adding about 10 percent; tell the server the total as you pay.
• You usually seat yourself in a pub and may share a table.
• Carry cash for small hospody, though cards are widely accepted in cities.
• Say dobrou chut (enjoy your meal) before eating.

Stay connected in the Czech Republic

A HelloSIM eSIM keeps you online for maps, menu translation and restaurant bookings with no roaming fees the moment you land.