The Prague Feed (July 2022): New ice cream openings and Texas kolache comes to Old Town

Praguers are spoiled for choice when it comes to world-class ice cream offerings. From gelatos to sorbets in a variety of tantalizing flavors, this summer sees a new wave of ice cream shops arrive in the Czech capital.

Local favorite Crème de la Crème has opened a branch in Prague 6 while Grom gelateria which debuted on Wenceslas Square in 2020 has a new location, Gelateria Mánes, at Masarykovo nábřeží. Entirely new this year: Gelatology has handmade gelato under Prague Castle.

Move over trdelník – a real Czech pastry has landed in the tourist heart of Prague. Newly opened on Celetná Kolacherie serves a variety of twists on the classic koláče from double-filled to savory sausage and jalapeño. Open this May, Sugar Mama on the border of Prague's Vinohrady and Žižkov districts, amps up traditional Czech desserts and international favorites: try the signature cheesecake with rosemary.

The former owners of the famed Oliva restaurant, Peter and Svetlana Červenka, and the owners of the vineyards at Domaine de Bonaguil, Barbora and Daniel Donath, have opened Lot of Wine Prague in Old Town. Wines from Donathovi's winery in southwest France are served alongside small bites of foie gras, terrines, and sausages and the house crispy crackers.

In Karlin, Přípitek z Roudnice is a new vinoteka next to the reconstructed Negrelli Viaduct pouring wines from the Lobkowicz family vineyards produced via centuries-old traditional methods. Further afoot, craft cider makers Cidre Kliment has moved closer to Prague from Všenory to Dobřichovice.

Manifesto has opened a Ukrainian restaurant, Barva, headed by Ukrainian entrepreneur Anna Temnenk, the winner of an incubator for Ukrainian refugees. The menu will offer traditional and family recipes from different regions of Ukraine at very affordable, prices from CZK 129 to 209 CZK.

Prague is experiencing a resurgence of hotel openings with world-class dining outlets. Zem Prague is one of them. Housed in the newly opened Andaz Prague on Senovážné Square, the aesthetic is described as an "avant-garde Czech bistro, juxtaposing the aesthetics of Prague's traditional coffee houses with 1920s retro-futuristic Czech art, literature, and engineering." The menu blends Czech ingredients with hints of Japanese flavors.

Opened in Karlín in June, the expat-owned Fitzgerald is a newly refurbished hotel, bar, dining venue, and performance space. Formerly the Hotel Alwyn, the new loungey, upmarket vibe, and menu of bistro classics from the Twisted Fig restaurant make it a must not only for visitors but for locals seeking a date night all under one roof; drinks, dinner, and a show.

Newly opened in Karlín Samurai combines Czech and Eastern traditions, sending out vegan versions of classic dishes like Szegedin goulash and Asian favorites such wontons and Pad Thai.

Locavores will love to sit down at Leaf in Strašnice. The new culinary venture celebrates nature’s diversity, changing seasons, and local terroir to highlight sustainability while elevating simple ingredients, like beets, potatoes, and greens to a gourmet experience.

The former owners of Pho Vietnam have opened Ăn Quán Bistro in Dejvice. A renowned culinary family in Vietnam who relocated to Prague over twenty years ago the Trans have since pioneered Vietnamese cuisine in Czechia with pho kitchens on Slavíkova and Anglická and a bistro on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square. The new bistro offers street food in the Hanoi style and a more authentic take on their home cuisine with fresh ingredients and larger portions.

In 2020 we polled Mexicans in Prague on the city's absolute best tacos, margaritas, and guacamole. Alebrijes Cocina Mexicana took home the prize for best Mexican restaurant as selected by the Czech capital's Mexican community. With an outpost at Manifesto Market as well as a Malá Strana location, Alebrijes has now opened a branch at Žitomírská 10.