November 16, 2021: Hello! Anonymous guest blogger here. Before we start, let me make something clear: I have zero qualifications for critiquing food or coffee. I’m not even a super taster, like Hisui. So if you come across any questionable hot takes, please know that I am just someone with an iPhone who happens to also take an excessive amount of food and coffee pictures.
Anyway, my favorite thing to do when visiting a new place is to consume as many coffees as humanly possible until my heartbeat rivals the speed and sound of a Prague ambulance. So if that sounds appealing to you, let’s explore my favorite café and food finds in Prague. (This blog is not intended to provide medical advice. Please reach out to your physician or other qualified health care professional with any questions regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any new caffeine consumption regimens).
Since I suppose this is a study abroad blog, I’ll begin with a classic study spot—Cafedu. If you’re going to desperately work on an assignment due by midnight, at least do it in style (or until 10 pm, when the café closes). Although spacious, it is often completely packed with students. The drink portions are generous, and my chai latte was sweet and creamy.
My favorite place to study before class is Head Shot Coffee, which is conveniently located by CET and the Franciscan Gardens. When weather permits, I would highly recommend “studying” (aka people-watching) outside. They have oat and sprout milk, the latter being a slightly-grainy-but-still-edible pea protein milk. Although you can’t go wrong here, I recommend the iced cappuccino or dirty chai latte.
iced oat milk cappuccino – my fave! so smooth
cold brew w/splash of oat milk – not too acidic
Choco Loves Coffee is home to the infamous banana matcha latte, a combo that shouldn’t work but does. Rumor has it they have the best hot chocolate in Prague (sorry Café Louvre), but I can’t confirm nor deny this, as I don’t particularly love hot cocoa. I will say though that the experience is like drinking a dark chocolate bar. They also have a huge selection of coffee, pastries, and chocolate gifts!
If that caught your attention, also check out Chocafé. Their extensive menu includes every type of hot or iced chocolate imaginable. My iced chocolate tasted like a luxurious chocolate milk slushie. And fear not if chocolate doesn’t appeal to you for whatever reason (cough, Sara), as they sell white hot “chocolate” for you cocoa butter lovers.
If roleplaying as a pretentious coffee connoisseur sounds like a good time, Mazelab.coffee is the place for you. It is the most modern, aesthetic, and minimalist coffee shop I have ever stepped foot in, with an impressive number of Monsteras and Birds of Paradise decorating the spacious interior. The simple menu highlights their specialty coffees, which are served with cards explaining the origin and preparation of the beans. Fair warning, their minimalism also applies to wifi, as in they do not have any. So be prepared to use a hot spot if you want to study here, but honestly, taking a moment to sit and appreciate a cup of coffee without distractions was refreshing. And yes, I do hypocritically criticize another café later for their lack of wifi. Maybe they should have considered selling good coffee.
I first ordered an oat milk cappuccino after finding out that they did not serve iced drinks. The espresso was strong and light, with the foam melting in my mouth and providing a pleasant mouthfeel. (I know, I know). Not to be dramatic, but it was the best cappuccino I’ve had in Prague, and possibly ever.
The shop owner, who made my drink, was knowledgeable and helpful about the different coffee options. The bar’s open layout also allowed for optimal viewing of the roasting process.
Later, I ordered the three-batch brew combo and enjoyed each one. This is noteworthy because I only ever reach for black coffee during finals, when the need to cram for an exam overrides any bitterness of the dining hall coffee. I did not pick up on even half of the notes that the cards described—how does one detect notes of “stone fruit?”—but each cup was unique, smooth, and delightful to drink. They also nicely cut through the sweetness of the moist pineapple bread.
I like to think of matcha as a palette cleanser between my coffees or a nice 6 pm pick-me-up. Undoubtedly, my favorite has been the iced coconut matcha from The Miner’s Coffee & Characters (top L). The café’s interior is Scandinavian minimalist and a joy to work in, especially with all of the dogs hanging around! In second place is Národní 38’s iced coconut matcha (top R). Third place goes to Starbucks’ iced coconut matcha latte—no (hall of) shame in my Starbucks game. In last place is Moje Masérna’s matcha (bottom L), which was not strong enough for my liking. However, they offer student discounts and the space is pleasantly decorated. It’s also attached to a massage parlor, in case the stress of taking 12 credits abroad becomes too much.
The aforementioned Národní 38 has a variety of tasty and healthy dishes to choose from. I especially respect their choice in calling their eggs benedict “Eggs Benny.” I ate a tofu summer roll and salmon sushi, both of which were excellent. The summer roll didn’t look like much, but the sauce inside surprised me with its tanginess. And while I would recommend the coconut matcha, I was severely disappointed by their iced coconut Butterfly pea latte; it tasted vaguely sweet and like a chai latte, but blue.
As someone who enjoys the sterile, LED-lit environment of Anderson and Little Joy, I tend to gravitate towards modern, minimalist cafés. But I know there are students with questionable architectural tastes who like the “old charm” of buildings like Laird and Blue Monday, so this one is for you.
La Terra Coffee (top L) is the epitome of dark academia, furnished with interesting artwork and comfy armchairs. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the americano with soy foam or their lox bagel, but I’d recommend checking it out for the ambiance anyway. They also have free water on tap, which is quite the concept in Europe.
Café 11 (top R) is a cozy study spot near Old Town Square. Their iced americano with soy milk was weak, but the turtles and I appreciated the metal straw.
Kavárna Pražírna’s (bottom L) ambiance is that of a fancy cave with good wifi. The iced latte was smooth and I have zero complaints.
Coffee and Riot (bottom R) has plants, tons of tables, and zen décor. The espresso in my iced oat milk latte was light but not bitter, and the servers were really kind.
Café Graff is right by CET and has great outdoor seating to people watch and study. But there is a certain bougie atmosphere inside that makes me hesitant to recommend just whipping out your laptop.
Life hack – go to Costa Coffee instead of Starbucks to avoid being featured in the Hall of Shame. They are everywhere and make great places to study. Their espresso is sweet and far superior to the burnt taste of their American counterpart. As soon as their holiday drinks were available, I ordered a less-sweet Toblerone latte, expecting Christmas in a cup. It unfortunately did not live up to my expectations, but it did come with a mini Toblerone on the side—”free” Toblerone is my kind of Christmas miracle.
Toblerone latte with almond milk
Quick shoutout to My Coffee Story for their cute interior, pastries, and oat milk lattes! And huge shoutout to Coffee Source Francouzská for having all of the qualities of an amazing studying space (minimalist aesthetic with plants, natural light, quiet), aside from wifi! So I recommend coming here if you know how to enable your hot spot (which I embarrassingly did not at the time) or want to do a puzzle or something. The espresso left a sour taste in my mouth, but that could have been from my frustration about their supposed lack of wifi (despite them having two wifi networks with their name).
oat milk flat white – bitter, just like me w/o wifi
Okay, now onto the cafés that are perfect for everything but studying. Although, it is important to remember that any spot is a study spot with enough confidence; I’ve definitely channeled this energy at some of these places.
It wouldn’t be a Prague café review without Café Louvre. The elegant interior transports you to Paris in a way that somehow avoids being pretentious. Sadly, my soy cappuccino catfished me with its pretty appearance and bland taste. I did not try their infamous hot chocolate due to my evolutionary defect of being lactose intolerant, but heard it lived up to the hype. The consistency was viscous and pudding-like, so be prepared to eat your hot chocolate instead of drinking it. My daily lunch special (not pictured) was delectable and filling, but my fellow Louvre attendees weren’t too impressed with theirs. Take that as you will. But definitely try their desserts because my pavlova was art that melted in my mouth and saturated it with its sweetness.
La Bohéme Café offers nice brunch options, but I do not endorse ordering the cold brew with orange soda. The novelty of it really tourist-trapped me at a vulnerable time, aka week one.
I clearly did not learn my lesson because would you look at that, another questionable coffee-fruit fusion. The mango: espresso ratio was too high for my taste and it was not enjoyable. I think a lot can be learned from the Czech Republic’s separation of the church and state, namely that coffee and fruit should remain as their own separate entities. I also ordered a divine avocado toast with beetroot hummus, pomegranate seeds, microgreens, and bacon. I had never appreciated mouthfeel as much as I did while eating that beautifully textured toast.
avocado toast – but elevated
Café Susu serves Korean classics with American twists, such as their Oreo 빙수 (bingsu) and cream cheese 붕어빵 (bungeo-ppang or “carp bread”). Bingsu is shaved ice with condensed milk, ice cream, and toppings. My red bean & matcha bingsu was indulgent and filling. Although I’m lactose intolerant, I had no regrets. I also ordered the strawberry latte, apparently forgetting about my past coffee and fruit debacles. Luckily, it was just fresh strawberry oat milk. The bungeo-ppang was not my favorite; the red bean filling was alright but the cream cheese was too plain. 붕어빵 is usually served hot and this was unfortunately room temperature. Nevertheless, Café Susu has been one of my favorite Prague finds, and I am definitely not at all culturally biased in having this opinion.
붕어빵 – red bean & cream cheese “carp bread”
Marthy’s Kitchen is a must-visit for brunch. My eggs benedict with salmon was savory and scrumptious, and everything tasted fresh. I think the pictures speak for themselves.
In case you don’t drink caffeine but need energy to start your day, consider chasing that sweet, sweet sugar high at Waf Waf. The Waftella was heavenly, with each pancake layer generously covered in mascarpone and Oreo crumbles, creating a beautiful contrast of textures. This was further topped with strawberries, raspberries, Oreo crumbs, lots of Nutella, and an Oreo.
Den Noc is a bistro specializing in savory and sweet pancakes. I enjoyed their pancakes with Nutella, a Lindt truffle, bananas, and whipped cream, although the portions were smaller than expected.
The Globe Bookstore and Café is an English-speaking café with fun weekly events, like trivia night on Wednesdays! The food wasn’t really the main attraction though; I came for the trivia and stayed for the trivia. But the savory British breakfast certainly did not hurt.
The avocado toast saga continues at Kampa Café. Although it looks like any other basic, healthy brunch, I swear this one was different. The side herb salad was light and acidic, balancing out the savory flavors of the bacon and poached egg. My iced cappuccino had coffee beans on top, adding some textural fun. To top it off, the décor reminded me of a cozy, modern Ikea showroom.
Sweet & Salty Cafe is a cute bakery in Old Town with picture-perfect, girly décor. I was seduced by the macaron latte, which I asked the barista to make as unsweet as possible. It didn’t taste like macarons, but like a vanilla latte with hints of almond and butter. I enjoyed the latte despite it being sweeter than I prefer. I can’t imagine drinking their lattes at the normal sweetness level, but would recommend it for any Frappuccino lovers.
Following the girly theme, La Donuteria Praha Spalena is a small donut shop with interesting flavors. The coconut donut was cute but dense and hard. As I was eating it, the only thought going through my head was about the Tesco donut I had the day earlier. Don’t sleep on Tesco donuts! They’re so pillowy and soft, and I’ve yet to find a better one in Prague (although I haven’t tried very hard).
Dolcemente lived up to its name; both the pastries and servers were sweet. The fruit cheesecake was bursting with juicy goodness, and the currants popped in my mouth, like nature’s boba. The pistachio cake was delicious, with the pistachios adding nice crunch and saltiness. It recently came to my attention that not everyone appreciates nuts as much as me. I personally think a good nut can only elevate a dessert, with this cake being a case in point. But their hazelnut coffee was my favorite. It included espresso, hazelnut on the glass rim, whipped cream, nuts, and cocoa powder. Yet again, the addition of nuts only increased the culinary experience.
Trdelník follows you everywhere in Prague. I finally caved and tried one with strawberries and mascarpone at Trdlo. It was good to the extent that a sugary dessert naturally is. For some reason, the strawberries in it were the most delicious I’ve had here—so much so that I was tempted to ask for their strawberry supplier.
IPPA Café has many locations and fun pastries in different shapes, like this hruška, or pear. It pleasantly surprised me, as I was expecting it to be all show and no substance. But it was quite tasty! The outer shell was made of white chocolate ganache and was filled with cream, pear puree, and fresh, candied pears! Bonus points for being so satisfying to cut open.
Café Imperial is another supposed must-try with its intricate décor and expensive food. My soy cappuccino was admittedly delicious, and I would return just to drink it again. The chocolate fondant with mango puree and coconut ice cream was tasty, but I’m not convinced that Café Imperial is worth the price tag or superior to many other cafés in Prague. If you want to try it for yourself, be sure to make a reservation in advance.
A slightly controversial take, but I may like Angelato’s vegan gelato more than that of Crème de la Crème. They have many fun flavors, like mascarpone and figs! Pictured in the front are the vegan tiramisu and vegan pistachio. The pistachio was creamy and didn’t taste vegan, but the tiramisu was just sweet with no hints of coffee.
Crème de la Crème is a cult classic, and for good reason. The flavors are endless and differ by location (my favorite is the one near Národní Třída). Their vegan flavors are rich and creamy, with the best being their dark chocolate flavors, pistachio, and coconut. However, I was severely disappointed by their vegan coffee and its icy, Halo Top-esque texture. This is perhaps an exaggeration, but I felt betrayed. Regardless, their gelato is so good that it has been used multiple times to bribe people on this trip.
Despite what this blog so far may suggest, I do spend some of my food budget on actual meals that aren’t coffee or gelato. One of my favorite spots is Paprika, a casual Mediterranean restaurant with generous portions. They also accept ISIC! Their hummus is thick, creamy, and life-changing, especially as someone who had only consumed Sabra hummus prior to this (I blame it on living in MN). Their pita are fluffy pillow vessels, too.
Soul Kitchen is another great Mediterranean restaurant. The pita wasn’t as fluffy but it was spiced well. I had the Greek salad, no onions. The olive oil and dressing nicely lubricated the cucumbers and tomatoes, creating great textures and acidity. The olives were unpitted, which threw me off a little.
As per recommendation, I checked out Ngô Restaurant and concluded that it was the best Vietnamese food I’d ever had. I had the “Exotic Garden,” or chicken strips marinated in coconut milk and breaded in crispy, crunchy corn flakes. The mango fruit and dressing were juicy, complementing the sprouts, peppers, lettuce, and peanuts.
For colder, rainy days—or any day to be honest—check out BON Fresh Ramen and their beautiful broth noodles. Pictured is the tasty seaweed salad and the kitsune soba. The soba, in classic Czech form, was topped with (sweet) potato. I was genuinely upset when I finished the bowl.
For delicious sushi, try Yami Sushi Bistro and their menu of fun names, like “Marilyn Mon Roll.” I recommend the salmon chirashi, which included salmon sashimi, salmon roe, and salmon caviar over sweet and savory sushi rice.
Prague has many conveyor belt sushi spots, like the pictured Baifu Ramen or Running Sushi in Bruselska. Although they don’t have the biggest selection, eating all-you-can-eat sushi and chicken nuggets(?) in one place for a good price is all you can ask for.
First things first, Prague mall food courts are superior. In particular, Nový Smíchov’s food court is classy and has many culinary options, with seating areas themed to each one. I had the spicy chicken ramen at Thai Thai & Ramen, which was fatty and flavorful. My tastebuds definitely got the kick they needed after being in hibernation from eating Czech food for so long.
Dim Sum Spot is a quaint restaurant with a dim sum for everyone. The dumplings were filled generously with seasoned meats, and you can mix and match flavors.
Although it looks simple, the chicken gyro salad plate at Barakat Lebanese Restaurant was savory and filling. The pita was some of the best I’ve had in Prague, too.
If you’re craving Indian food, try Shahi Indian. I had the chicken korma, a creamy yogurt-based curry, and naan. My naan was a bit burnt but the overall meal was satisfying.
Las Adelitas is a tasty Mexican restaurant with a couple locations. Their tacos never fail me, and I also recommend the nachos. To quote Diana, “they are surprisingly authentic…better than some of the tacos in Texas.”
One of the best meals I’ve had at Prague was at Bad Jeff’s Barbecue, even as someone who doesn’t love meat. But the loaded pulled pork fries (no cheese) were smoky and nicely sauced. I also had the sweet potato croquettes, aka little pillowy balls of the most superior potato.
The best burger I’ve had was at The Street Burgers & Cocktails Konviktská. My Mexican burger had guacamole, salsa, cheddar cheese, nachos, chipotle sauce, tomatoes, and salad. Need I say more? In case I do, it was juicy and hit the savory spot. I was nostalgic for Sayles’ sweet potato fries, and these did not disappoint.
Pizza is pizza. Given this universal truth, I’d recommend Johnny Pizza for a satisfying slice and unique toppings. I prefer it over Pizzeria Einstein, although Einstein does offer ISIC discounts.
I guess I can’t avoid it forever—I will now discuss my favorite Czech cuisine. Although Šenkovna Fine Wine Pub might not qualify as traditionally Czech, I’m going to count it because it checks the boxes of meat and cheese. I had the chicken breast, beets, zucchini, walnuts, and goat cheese. The combination is something I never would have thought of, but it worked harmoniously. The grilled zucchini and walnuts provided crunchiness that balanced the sweet beets and creamy goat cheese.
A classic example of a Czech meal was from Restaurace U Pinkasů during the scavenger hunt. Pictured are bread dumplings, pickled white and red cabbage, and pork meat. The meal was so heavy that I couldn’t even get through half of the plate, but it was good while it lasted.
I was just about to say that I’m being too harsh on Czech cuisine but then I looked at this picture from Lokál U Bílé kuželky, one of the most popular Czech restaurants. This meal of three ingredients was pork schnitzel, potato puree (mashed potatoes), and three pickles. The potatoes were not seasoned well and I had to ration the pickles for each bite of the pork and potatoes. On the plus side, they offer all-you-can-eat food options, like unlimited bread or bread dumplings.
Okay, it is too painful to end my food blog with that sad picture, so here are some bonus pictures of food and drinks that I didn’t include because they weren’t the best or weren’t from Prague.
I feel like one of those bloggers who describes their entire autobiography, or Prague food journey in this case, before their recipe. But I hope this was helpful, entertaining, or at least pretty to scroll through quickly. I definitely will not read this blog post at Carleton and cry while eating the sad, LDC chicken breast. Ciao!