Prague's Breweries
Any trip to Prague should take in some of the breweries. Unfortunately some of the more famous ones have prices to match, or worse, are touristy rip off joints whose staff know bugger all about beer. Fortunately smaller micros have recently arrived to spice up the scene. Here is my very honest guide to Prague's brewery scene ( with one obvious exception which doesn't deserve to be listed here ). Click on the logo for the brewery website.
Richter Pub ( U Bulovky )
Bulovka 17, Prague 8. Booking recommended in the evening.
Out in the suburbs of the Prague 8 district, it's definately worth the tram ride. A really nice wooden interior, nice clientele, with no other foreigners and some superb beers. Their standard house beer is a superb unfiltered light. They usually have 3 other rotating, ranging from wheat to stout and doublebock and marzen and they are usually all great. Food is a bit pricey for the area but the lunch menu can be excellent if you are early enough.
Update: They have just opened another larger branch, known as Jihomestsky Pivovar. One of their beers is now on at one pub in old town and one in Vinohrady suburb.
@ U Balbinu( 14 dark ) / Balbinova Hospudka Naproti( 12 light, 14 dark )
Others: Srub Gizela
Out in the suburbs of the Prague 8 district, it's definately worth the tram ride. A really nice wooden interior, nice clientele, with no other foreigners and some superb beers. Their standard house beer is a superb unfiltered light. They usually have 3 other rotating, ranging from wheat to stout and doublebock and marzen and they are usually all great. Food is a bit pricey for the area but the lunch menu can be excellent if you are early enough.
Update: They have just opened another larger branch, known as Jihomestsky Pivovar. One of their beers is now on at one pub in old town and one in Vinohrady suburb.
@ U Balbinu( 14 dark ) / Balbinova Hospudka Naproti( 12 light, 14 dark )
Others: Srub Gizela
Pivovar U Bansethu ( Basta )
Taborska 49, Prague 4. Booking recommended in the evening.
Catch this realatively new micro on the right day and it's one of the best beer experiences available in the country. First the smell of the beer being made right in front of you, the nice German style layout and beer dispenser, the cute young waitresses, superb lunches and the fantastic, smooth, malty beers. Usually they have a light, amber and one other at nice prices of 30-33 crowns. Other occasions staff can be off and beer is not quite up to the mark. I advise an afternoon visit to the interesting Nusle neighbourhood when its quiet and the lunch is simply superb ( go before 1pm ).
Update: Beers now 33kc / 38kc for specials! / Beers seem to be back to their best after a return to previous recipe:)
Note: I think it's only open from 3pm on weekends.
Catch this realatively new micro on the right day and it's one of the best beer experiences available in the country. First the smell of the beer being made right in front of you, the nice German style layout and beer dispenser, the cute young waitresses, superb lunches and the fantastic, smooth, malty beers. Usually they have a light, amber and one other at nice prices of 30-33 crowns. Other occasions staff can be off and beer is not quite up to the mark. I advise an afternoon visit to the interesting Nusle neighbourhood when its quiet and the lunch is simply superb ( go before 1pm ).
Update: Beers now 33kc / 38kc for specials! / Beers seem to be back to their best after a return to previous recipe:)
Note: I think it's only open from 3pm on weekends.
Jihomestsky Pivovar ( U Bulovky )
Podjavorinske 11, Prague 10.
A huge, new pub just opened out in the 'burbs' from Mr.Richter, the man who brought you U Bulovky. Despite the size, it's pretty much the same as the original with similar beers, but more of them(maybe 6) same food and the same decoration. There is a similar lunch menu, plenty of pretty staff. However, there is a real potential at this place with live music and more beers on tap promised after it gets going.
Update: Beer quailty is slowly improving, but Bulovka is still better.
A huge, new pub just opened out in the 'burbs' from Mr.Richter, the man who brought you U Bulovky. Despite the size, it's pretty much the same as the original with similar beers, but more of them(maybe 6) same food and the same decoration. There is a similar lunch menu, plenty of pretty staff. However, there is a real potential at this place with live music and more beers on tap promised after it gets going.
Update: Beer quailty is slowly improving, but Bulovka is still better.
Pivovar U Medvidku
Na Perstyne 7, Prague 1
One of the most famous pubs in old town, but bizzarely they come for Budvar and it's consequently full of tourists. However the real gold can be found in the mini brewery tucked away at the back of the restaurant and then upstairs. Here you can find 'old gott', a superb amber beer, packed full of flavour when it's on form and a new and pretty decent '1466' light beer aswell as the 'X33' a startlingly strong( about 12% ), but quite drinkable beer with a price to match. The normal beers are 50kc for 0.5l, which is just about ok, worth checking out in the afternoon.
Update: Recently had excellent honey beer, superb plum and chestnut specials and unusual rose beer here. Beers are also on in a small pub next to the main restaurant.
One of the most famous pubs in old town, but bizzarely they come for Budvar and it's consequently full of tourists. However the real gold can be found in the mini brewery tucked away at the back of the restaurant and then upstairs. Here you can find 'old gott', a superb amber beer, packed full of flavour when it's on form and a new and pretty decent '1466' light beer aswell as the 'X33' a startlingly strong( about 12% ), but quite drinkable beer with a price to match. The normal beers are 50kc for 0.5l, which is just about ok, worth checking out in the afternoon.
Update: Recently had excellent honey beer, superb plum and chestnut specials and unusual rose beer here. Beers are also on in a small pub next to the main restaurant.
Trebonicke Rudokelny Pivovar
K Reporyjum 4, Prague 5
A new micro brewery in a very hard to reach location with current opening hours of Saturdays 19.30-22.00. However, anyone who has tasted the beers at Zly Casy can testify to how amazing they are. From strong dark beers, to ales and a superb smoked beer, they are all top notch. Keep an eye on this page for any updates.
Update: They are very regular at Zly Casy, usually for 45kc.
A new micro brewery in a very hard to reach location with current opening hours of Saturdays 19.30-22.00. However, anyone who has tasted the beers at Zly Casy can testify to how amazing they are. From strong dark beers, to ales and a superb smoked beer, they are all top notch. Keep an eye on this page for any updates.
Update: They are very regular at Zly Casy, usually for 45kc.
Suchdolsky Jenik ( Student Brewery )
Kamycka ?, Prague 6
A true oddity. Beer made by students of the agricultural faculty as part of their course, lucky buggers. You can't visit the brewery but the campus has a few bars which allegedly stock it ( every person has a different story ), but by far the best bet is the restaurant Na Farme( best early in the week ). It's a fair way out here, but the unfiltered beer is very good and should be 28kc and it's the kind of adventure, lazy arse tourists never bother to do. You need to get a bus ( 107, 147 ) to Zemedelska Universita stop from outside Dejvice metro and once there enter the campus. Check the maps for Na Farme or ask.
Update: Heard some bad things about the quality and no longer on tap outside the student bar. Rumour has it it's on at another student dorm bar in a different location, news soon.
Update 2: Don't look for it in summer, I don't think it's available.
@ Na Farme / Hvezda student club?
A true oddity. Beer made by students of the agricultural faculty as part of their course, lucky buggers. You can't visit the brewery but the campus has a few bars which allegedly stock it ( every person has a different story ), but by far the best bet is the restaurant Na Farme( best early in the week ). It's a fair way out here, but the unfiltered beer is very good and should be 28kc and it's the kind of adventure, lazy arse tourists never bother to do. You need to get a bus ( 107, 147 ) to Zemedelska Universita stop from outside Dejvice metro and once there enter the campus. Check the maps for Na Farme or ask.
Update: Heard some bad things about the quality and no longer on tap outside the student bar. Rumour has it it's on at another student dorm bar in a different location, news soon.
Update 2: Don't look for it in summer, I don't think it's available.
@ Na Farme / Hvezda student club?
Klasterni Pivovar Strahov
Strahovské nádvoří 301, Prague 1
The 2 main beers ( Svaty Norbert )served here are amongst the best beers on offer in Prague. The amber is packed full of flavour and the dark is an extremely good example of this type. The place itself is inside a monastery complex in the castle district. The prices also match the surroundings at 59kc for 0.4l, but the food menu looks very appetising and not too badly priced, well worth a visit if there is space.
Note: These beers are now avalable at 1 other place in Prague at a much lower price, which is a superb place with Matuska beer also on tap.
@ Bar Chyse( Amber and dark )
The 2 main beers ( Svaty Norbert )served here are amongst the best beers on offer in Prague. The amber is packed full of flavour and the dark is an extremely good example of this type. The place itself is inside a monastery complex in the castle district. The prices also match the surroundings at 59kc for 0.4l, but the food menu looks very appetising and not too badly priced, well worth a visit if there is space.
Note: These beers are now avalable at 1 other place in Prague at a much lower price, which is a superb place with Matuska beer also on tap.
@ Bar Chyse( Amber and dark )
Pivovarsky Dum ( Beer House )
Ječná/Lípová 15, Prague 2. Booking recommended in the evening.
Although full of tourists this place is stil magic and the staff are quite pleasant, unless your on your own and fancy a quick beer, in which case they will ignore you. The famous 'stepan' light beer is superb, one of the best unfiltered beers around ( 40 crowns ) when it's on form and the dark is not far behind. Other flavoured beers are on offer, try the 8 samples of 0.1l, they even serve a 'giraffe' containing 4l of beer for the price of 3.5l. Food is slightly pricey but excellent and they have a cheap lunch menu. It gets pretty busy at night, so book or go early. Its sister pub Pivni Klub is also a must.
Although full of tourists this place is stil magic and the staff are quite pleasant, unless your on your own and fancy a quick beer, in which case they will ignore you. The famous 'stepan' light beer is superb, one of the best unfiltered beers around ( 40 crowns ) when it's on form and the dark is not far behind. Other flavoured beers are on offer, try the 8 samples of 0.1l, they even serve a 'giraffe' containing 4l of beer for the price of 3.5l. Food is slightly pricey but excellent and they have a cheap lunch menu. It gets pretty busy at night, so book or go early. Its sister pub Pivni Klub is also a must.
Novomestsky Pivovar ( New Town Brewery )
Vodičkova 20, Prague 1
A curious brewery this one, not many beer afficianados will touch it with a barge pole. They have unfiltered light and dark, which are ok for a session beer and at 38kc, not much different from an average price these days. It is very intimidating when you enter the vast space and you will be made to feel like a daft tourist by waiters anxious to get a tip. A relaxed place it is not. However i discovered if you go for lunch in the room on the right and pay before 12.30 you can get a very nice cheap lunch( ask for poledni menu ) and beer for about 19kc. Just take a Czech friend:)
Update: Beer is superb recently, get the tuplak ( 1 litre stein for 38kc ) before 12.30 to take advantage of the massive discount.
A curious brewery this one, not many beer afficianados will touch it with a barge pole. They have unfiltered light and dark, which are ok for a session beer and at 38kc, not much different from an average price these days. It is very intimidating when you enter the vast space and you will be made to feel like a daft tourist by waiters anxious to get a tip. A relaxed place it is not. However i discovered if you go for lunch in the room on the right and pay before 12.30 you can get a very nice cheap lunch( ask for poledni menu ) and beer for about 19kc. Just take a Czech friend:)
Update: Beer is superb recently, get the tuplak ( 1 litre stein for 38kc ) before 12.30 to take advantage of the massive discount.
Prazsky Most ( U Valsu )
Betlemska 5, Prague 1
A pretty new ( 1+ year )small brewery/restaurant seemingly aimed at none English speaking tourists. I popped by when the promotion on beer was on ( 30kc for a bizzarely sized 0.47l!!, rather than 45kc )and the beers were ok, nothing too great. The lunch and service were fine, but then i speak some Czech, which helps. Definately worth another look, but 45kc for average beer,mmm.
A pretty new ( 1+ year )small brewery/restaurant seemingly aimed at none English speaking tourists. I popped by when the promotion on beer was on ( 30kc for a bizzarely sized 0.47l!!, rather than 45kc )and the beers were ok, nothing too great. The lunch and service were fine, but then i speak some Czech, which helps. Definately worth another look, but 45kc for average beer,mmm.
U Dvou Kocek
Uhelny trh 10, Prague 1
Brand new micro in a famously badly staffed old town tourist joint. First time I went I was abused by the staff, second time I took a Czech friend and it was ok. The dark and light beers are nice, lunch is decent and well priced. However I always feel uncomfortable as in U Fleku. I even saw the dreaded Becher trick( see below ) and staff really are shite. Not really worth the bother. I now just pop in and buy a beer at the beer dispenser and stand up, this has been ok thus far.
Brand new micro in a famously badly staffed old town tourist joint. First time I went I was abused by the staff, second time I took a Czech friend and it was ok. The dark and light beers are nice, lunch is decent and well priced. However I always feel uncomfortable as in U Fleku. I even saw the dreaded Becher trick( see below ) and staff really are shite. Not really worth the bother. I now just pop in and buy a beer at the beer dispenser and stand up, this has been ok thus far.
Pivovar U Fleku
Kremencova 11, Prague 1
Well you've probably hears of this one if you have a cheesy tour guidebook at hand. My advise is avoid or try to pop in for a quick one without getting fleeced. Large tour groups, pushy staff gagging for tips, pricey at 59kc for 0.4l and worse of all a scam where they give you a shot of Czech Becherovka. It's not only not free, it's about 100kc a pop and certainly tastes like crap with a decent beer. So, i still have never had what by all accounts is a very nice, unique, dark beer, shame really.
Well you've probably hears of this one if you have a cheesy tour guidebook at hand. My advise is avoid or try to pop in for a quick one without getting fleeced. Large tour groups, pushy staff gagging for tips, pricey at 59kc for 0.4l and worse of all a scam where they give you a shot of Czech Becherovka. It's not only not free, it's about 100kc a pop and certainly tastes like crap with a decent beer. So, i still have never had what by all accounts is a very nice, unique, dark beer, shame really.