14 Best Restaurants in Prague, Czech Republic

Gracious, gregarious, and extremely confident, Aromi is easily among the top tier of Italian restaurants in the city and proud of it. Classic pastas made in-house and fresh seafood shown off tableside are two of the crowd favorites, as are the superb salads and well-chosen Italian wines. With airy modernist interiors and alfresco dining in summer, the restaurant imparts a continental feel without being kitschy. Leave room for a post-dessert treat: Aromi stocks an exclusive list of rare grappas. The price of dishes reflects the high quality; come during the week for a better value lunch menu.

Meat lovers will be in their element at this French countryside-inspired steak restaurant, situated just behind the National Museum. Take a seat beneath the wood-beamed ceiling and choose from a menu dominated by dishes of expertly aged Charolais beef, from steak tartare and tenderloin carpaccio to juicy rump steaks and hearty beef bourguignon. There are other dishes on offer, too, from frogs' legs and roast pigeon to a smattering of vegetarian and vegan options, but make no mistake: cow is king here. Go all in with a selection of steaks for two, including rare Czech wagyu beef, served with your choice of sides and sauces. Save room for a theatrical dessert in the form of curd ice cream that's frozen at the table with liquid nitrogen, as well as a taster of traditional Czech fruit spirits from Palírna Radlík distillery.

One of Prague's hottest tables, La Finestra is the meaty counterpart to its sister restaurant, Aromi, right down to the wooden tables and brick walls. Catering to local gourmands and boldface names, this restaurant lives up to the hype. As at Aromi, waiters display an array of freshly caught fish that comprise the day's specials, but here they also do the same with meat, including cuts flown in from Italy.

Despite the quality of the cooking, La Veranda remains somewhat overlooked by visitors (though popular with locals), making a visit to this stylish, softly lighted room feel like you've been let in on a wonderful secret. The food is top-notch, with seasonal specials and a not outrageously priced six-course tasting menu showcasing the restaurant's greatest hits, like an incredibly rich beef tartare with egg yolk and black truffle. The à la carte options are equally inventive and deliver on flavor, too, from beef steak, beluga lentils, and zucchini to rabbit leg confit. Wine pairings are available.

Although a little out of the way, this lovely restaurant overlooking Smíchov (the name means "On the Hill") serves exceptional, high-end Czech and international cuisine within a comfortable and casual setting. The menu is completely overhauled every three months, making the best use of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients—from rabbit and wild boar to porcini mushrooms—to create surprising and satisfying dishes. Yet for all the fine-dining credentials, there's not an ounce of pretentiousness, thanks to the unstuffy decor (including walls plastered in family photos), the friendly and informal service, and the reasonable prices.

The restaurant is about the same walking distance (15 minutes) from Radlická and Smíchovské nádraží Metro stops (both Line B), but you can save a walk uphill by arriving at Radlická and leaving from Smíchovské nádraží.

This old-fashioned tavern puts on airs, but if you're looking for the perfect Czech venue for a special occasion, it's hard to beat the "Blue Duckling." Dusty portraits hanging on the walls and lavish curtains and table settings impart a certain slightly frilly 19th-century look. The menu, filled with succulent duck and game choices, brings things down to earth a notch. There's dining on two levels, but the upper floor's intimacy—with secluded tables in each nook and cranny and soft piano music wafting through the air—is preferable. There's now a second, smaller restaurant (unimaginatively named U Modré kachničky II) near Old Town Square.

Don't let the slightly weird name and offbeat location fool you: this is a gem. Great seafood, service, and wine at this hidden-away restaurant on the edge of the Mala Strana district, serving choice meals from all over the world.

This appealing Vinohrady restaurant serves up innovative, high-quality, and beautifully presented cuisine in a soothing and unstuffy setting. The à la carte menu is all about fresh and flavorful Czech dishes with occasional French, Italian, or Asian twists (and added seafood): think duck breast with parsnip and cranberries, shrimp and carrot cream soup with yellow curry, and pan-fried sea bass with fregola and bok choy. For the best-quality dining experience, opt for the seasonal, five-course Chef's Tasting Menu with wine pairing. The service is impeccable and the staff are unfailingly friendly.

The twin stars of the show at this Gallic import are beef entrecote and French fries. Café de Paris even makes its own "special sauce" (béarnaise with a hint of mustard). The look is classic French bistro, down to the old photographs and red banquettes lining the walls, which makes sense considering its location near the French Embassy. There are a few other things on the menu, classics like Caesar salad and a rotating option of soups, but there's little reason to stray from house specialties.

The simple decor—white walls and plank floors—at this wine-centric Italian restaurant on a quiet street near the Týn Church belies the quality and complexity of its food. Whether you stick to a simpler beef carpaccio or try something more complex like goat cheese and truffle mousse, the dishes are skillfully prepared and attractively presented. Beef cheeks braised with marsala and spinach or loin of wild boar with garlic polenta make excellent entrées, but if you're not up for a huge meal, opt for a pasta. The all-Italian wine list is one of the city's best.

Serving possibly Prague's most scenic meal, Ginger & Fred occupies the top floor of Frank Gehry's iconic Dancing House along the Vltava River, and the modern French-style food and service live up to the quality of the castle views. Of course, diners pay a premium for the view, and the wine list, though extensive, suffers from extreme markup. Still, it's a great choice for a splurge.