Prague summer 2020 food scene: new openings, recent closures, and picnic-perfect tips

While it’s not what any of us imagined, summer 2020 has finally arrived. Due to COVID and after-effects, it’s sure to be an abnormal season for the restaurant scene. This month we said goodbye to some favorite restaurants and hello to new ones.

Regardless, fancy indie theaters and prosecco on the banks of the Vltava have us excited. We hope to see you out and about, slathered in sanitizer, and ready to enjoy these warm summer nights.

Here’s what the ladies from LasSaboritas are looking forward to and our tips for the Prague food scene this summer:

Fine-dining value menus

It’s post-COVID but the tourists aren’t back in full force yet. Rather than sit empty, Prague’s smarter fine dining restaurants are making a pivot. Value lunch menus appeal to expats and locals by offering high-quality cuisine at a fraction of the price. So far we’ve tried Bellevue’s 3-course lunch for 490 Kc and Field’s Michelin-starred lunch at 590 Kc. Don’t miss the chance for a swanky date without the swanky price tag.

Bellevue debuts an affordable 490 Kč lunch menu to impress. Browned drumfish, magical prawn raviola w wasabi cream, buttery asparagus risotto, + crisp cider apple tatin. New location, confident kitchen + service. Not perfect (tuna, octopus) but fine dining done well.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ pic.twitter.com/EPzOW7SMfz
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) June 11, 2020

(Re)Opening day for indoor dining in Prague & we tried new value lunch menu at @fieldrestaurant. Staff masked up 👍🏼 Delightful bread & spreads, mains a bit salty, dessert good. We wanted more magic & creativity. Fab service. 895Kč/person (w/water & 1 drink). 🌶🌶🌶 pic.twitter.com/INFUCnnTFj
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 25, 2020

Other fine dining restaurants with well-priced lunch menus worth a look:

Coda Restaurant at Aria Hotel
V Zátišií Restaurant

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New restaurants on the scene

Quite a few brave entrepreneurs opened restaurants in Prague in 2020. After the March/April quarantine, surely these new spots would love to see people walking through the doors.

Přítomnost – upscale cinema in Žižkov with drink service during the movie
Cafe Graff – Viennese-style cafe on Palackého
Knedlín – multi-colored dumplings on Národní next to Cafe Louvre
Bistro Botič – coffee, pasta, and pastry at Botičá 12 near Vyšehrad
U Pivrnice – whimsical Czech pub near Prague Castle
Liška Vegan Street Food – vegan grill and beer garden in Vinohrady
Cantina – expansion to a second location on the east bank of the Vltava
Spravovna – modern Czech pub serving tank Pilsner near JZP
LAbspace – Náplavka’s newly opened waterfront café

La Patrona – Mexican street kitchen with margaritas behind Kotva

QQ Asian kitchen – this old favorite has a new location at Mosaic House Design Hotel Prague

Stopped by to see the newly opened Café Graff. What a transformation!

A change of ownership + full interior renovation delivers Prague a Viennese-style modern café.

Just coffee today, but can't wait to review the menu. Extremely reasonable prices: daily 49 Kč lunch option. pic.twitter.com/1TFtAIHW1k
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) June 11, 2020

Spotted at the corner of Rašinovo nábreži & Drevná: a new branch of Cantina Mexican restaurant, opened April 22. The website says it is continuing the tradition from the Újezd original location, “on the other side of the Vltava.” Have you been? https://t.co/kdokuisgx5 pic.twitter.com/X5qix25ce0
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 25, 2020

Spravovna Czech pub on the corner of Ondříčkova opened just before the pandemic, replacing a large potraviny.

Looks like they are prepared for customers again.

Anybody tried it yet? pic.twitter.com/3PLqpfeKo3
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 22, 2020

Picnic in the park

There’s no better place to be on a warm summer day than in one of Prague’s parks. Combine an outdoor film with deliveries of ice cold beer and delicious food and you’ve got the makings for a memorable evening.

Kuře;dak(꾸제닭) 'chicken chicken' Korean restaurant in Vinohrady is perfectly located for picnics. Classic boneless was crunchtastic but needed dip for flavor. Thin garlic butter + red chili. Honey curry was the business. Veg gimbap impressed. Perfect radish pickle.
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/M6IsUSakZy
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 28, 2020

Pivotoč on Koněvova is a takeaway craft beer shop. ~10 taps rotate weekly. Small Czech brewers: Gwern, Axiom, Permon, Antoš, etc. Delivered my FB order to Riegrovy sady for 89 Kč. Affordable prices 31-47 Kč per 0.5L. Lrg bottles available. Carefully labeled. A+!
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/gzwykrnb46
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 28, 2020

COVID-related closures

Whether permanently closed or under temporary renovations, the final word is unclear. All we know is that some of our favorite restaurants in Prague went under. We saw the doors shuttered at Momoichi, Yes Burger, Bistrot Valentino, La Cava Valenciana, and Restaurace MotoBurger before the summer in Prague even started.

Seems like we are seeing more and more of these around Prague. Are your favorite restaurants still open? pic.twitter.com/jHaogVtwVk
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 31, 2020

The Czech government has extended support to small businesses impacted by coronavirus until the end of August. Here’s hoping this post-COVID assistance can save a few more restaurants on the brink.

Reconsider Old Town

At the height of the tourist season, most locals and expats avoid the mobs of people in Staré Město. During these recent quiet times, we’ve found that visits to Old Town Prague can be positively enjoyable. It’s not just the empty streets that are inviting–the restaurant customer service is especially attentive as well. We were pleasantly surprised by our visits to Bistro Monk for brunch and Autentista wine bar for drinks.

Brunch at Bistro Monk on Michalská is served daily from 8:00 - 17:00. Food is delicious and beautifully presented. Great service. Avocado toast & eggs Benedict on point. Save room for a dirty chai (chai latte + espresso shot) & a fresh, cream-filled donut, yum! 🌶🌶🌶🌶 pic.twitter.com/N9VjV0z3fH
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 30, 2020

Autentista on Řetězová in Old Town is our kind of wine bar. Moody, interesting mid-range local stock, knowledgeable presentation, + quality snacks to keep things rolling. Still swooning over the 80 Kč/glass unfiltered Martin Vajčner Havranické vřesoviště from Znojmo.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ pic.twitter.com/RXfFbIyHhd
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) June 7, 2020

Let’s hear it. Did you lose a favorite restaurant? Have you tried a new one from our list? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us at @lassaboritas today. Find us on Instagram and Facebook too!