The Prague Feed: New openings, pop-ups, and events for spring 2023

Although the weather outside seems to disagree, spring is in full swing, and its return is filling the food calendar of the Czech capital with exciting events, including the Bocuse d'Or competition, considered by many the culinary Olympics. In addition to events, a crop of recent openings includes Czech family-style restaurants, Chinese dumplings, and a green dining experience.

New look for a Prague legend|Following renovations, which preserved the original architectural elements, including crystal chandeliers, Michelin-starred Alcron restaurant changed its name to Almanac X Prague. Its menu includes upscale dishes like deer with Jerusalem artichoke, onion, and elderberry, plus charcuterie platters, and vegetarian options like a starter of leek, potato, mushrooms, and rye bread.

New chef at Augustine|After cooking in numerous luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Restaurant Jordnær in Copenhagen, Ristorante Cracco in Milan, and Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, Chef Jan Horák brings a new vision to Augustine Restaurant. Horák says that he “cooks from the heart,” adding that he cooks what he likes, “using the best local or foreign ingredients,” and he values feedback from the guests who taste his creations. 

Family-style Czech restaurant|Taste a menu inspired by the cuisine of the Beskid Mountains at Kamin, with recipes that take you to a fairytale time and place, such as a vegetarian-friendly dish of carrots, herbs, and cow cheese, or trout with buckwheat, pickled onions, and cabbage, and a fried cheese bun that you can dip in a Bryndza sauce for even more cheesy delights.

Homemade Ukrainian food|The newly reopened Na Krásné vyhlídce offers visitors staples of Ukrainian cuisine, like traditional Ukrainian borscht, beef or pork Pelmeni, also available in vegetable broth, Ukrainian potato pancakes, and pancakes, filled either with mince meat or with salted cottage cheese and dill. 

A place of leisure|On the ground floor of the Nerudova 211 hotel, the No.211 Café & Wine offers a respite from the tourist hustle and bustle at nearby Prague Castle, plus leisurely breakfasts. "More than one breakfast stretches out here and smoothly transitions into a wine tasting. Even our special cocktails are on offer throughout the day," establishment owner Jakub Franke told Czech Crunch.

New Vinohradský Pivovar brewery|Prague 2-based beermaker Vinohradský Pivovar opened a new brewery in Káraný, northeast of Prague, which is not only a production facility, but also a taproom where visitors can sample fresh pours and take home cans and kegs. The taps have been officially running at Vinohradský Pivovar's new Káraný location since mid-April. Read more in our article.

Bottomless Mimosa brunch|Starting on April 22, The Monkey Bar is offering a Jungle Brunch every Saturday and Sunday, with bottomless Margaritas whose flavor changes each month. In addition to delicious brunch dishes, the outdoor bar, and its daily cocktails, you can also enjoy a live DJ on Sundays.

Scandinavian bistro|Bára Karpíšková, influencer and author of the successful Bjukitchen blog and cookbook has opened the Bjukitchen Scandinavian-styled bistro with a number of breakfast options, including sweet and savory housemade granola (the menu recently featured walnut granola, with cherry milk and greengage compote), egg dishes, and old-fashioned Czech baked goods like carrot rolls filled with plum jam.

Vegetarian tastiness|The GreenTable bistro brings “modern sustainable gastronomy with respect to locality and seasonality,” with a menu that includes vegetable cream soups, mint hummus with beetroot, oyster mushrooms with buckwheat meatballs, green curry with broccoli, and many other creative dishes.

Authentic Chinese|If you want to try the Chinese cuisine of the Chongqing region, head to Chi Xiao Mian, which according to food blogger Czech Please has delicious chao shau veggie dumplings, dumplings with freshly chopped shrimp, spicy bowls, and xiao mian noodle soup. 

New Belgian|Despite its funny name, Be Silly Prague is taking casual Belgian food very seriously, with a selection of Pistolet burgers (both vegetarian and beef, in the traditional Pistolet Belgian bun), Waffles (either with pulled turkey or pulled pork, or as a dessert with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream), Belgian fries, and, of course, 16 types of beer from the Silly brewery in Belgium.

Stick to your ribs|The newly opened Ribs of Prague promises juicy, crunchy ribs (of the pork, lamb, or beef variety) plus the Czech cuisine classic pork knee, and mouthwatering appetizers such as an original take on sliced beef tartar, fried cheddar cheese coals, and onion in beer batter. 

Exclusive event|Three big names of Czech gastronomy will meet in one exclusive evening on April 19, a unique culinary experience will be available in Trezor Špork, which is part of the Červený Jelen restaurant. Together with judges of the Czech version of the international MasterChef competition, Mirko Kalina and Mark Raditsch, Červený Jelen Chef Marek Fichtner will cook a special six-course menu featuring seasonal ingredients, with each dish personally presented to the guests.

New York street food|It’s all about pastrami on May 4 at Holešovická tržnice, the host of the Pastrami Pop Up event with the participation of Take Eat CZ, Big Smokers, Meat Vandals, and Vinograf Slow Cafe. You can wash down the delicious pastrami sandwiches with beers from small breweries, a selection of fine wines, or premium alcohol cocktails.

Culinary history in front of your eyes|The Bocuse d'Or Czech Academy, composed of renowned Czech chefs, has now chosen the ten finalists following a national round of selection. Book your table for the final, where the winner who will represent Czechia in the continental round of the food industry Oscars, will be selected based on scores from the technical and tasting juries. The event takes place at Prague's O2 universe from May 4 to 6 as part of the Makro Czech Gastro Fest.