New Intern Tips – Picking a vegetarian restaurant in Prague

For all those who’ve been here, you know “vegetarian” and “Prague” don’t get along too well… it just doesn’t sound right in one sentence. The following conversations take place with high frequency:

• Customer: Do you have vegetarian food?
• Confused waitress: Vegetarian? Hmmm, we have this pasta with chicken.

• Customer: Sorry I thought I ordered the potato soup and you said there wasn’t any meat when I asked.
• Friendly waiter: That’s right, there’s no meat here.
• Customer: But the soup itself… it’s meat soup.
• Friendly waiter: (Long pause)… But there’s no meat in this soup.

• Visitor: So, what’s typical vegetarian food here?
• Host: Fried cheese, and potato pancakes.

It takes a lot of effort for a vegetarian to feel comfortable and “safe” here (well ok I know a Chinese can’t talk). Still, there are a few good options for vegetarian food in town and when I say vegie, it’s some real stuff, not the random “vegetarian salad with chicken breast or Italian special dried ham” in the penguin restaurant around the corner.

Albio

Claims to be the only organic restaurant in the Czech Republic. Good food, good decoration, and good atmosphere. Their pumpkin soup is just brilliant… SPLENDID! Be careful though it’s organic food, not 100% vegetarian, which means you will find “organic beef” on the menu. Be prepared. Their organic food shop next to the restaurant is impressive, too. Well, so is the price!

Clear Head

A tearoom “project”. Asian style. A good tea collection. Food is reasonably priced, and good. Actually, very good. A quiet place to chill out in over a cuppa tea and good conversation…. Quiet probably because they don’t serve beer there. First time I found this place and told people about it everyone was like “cheap, vegetarian, good food, non-smoking, no pivo… wait, in Prague?” Yes, in Prague, a city that never ceases to surprise you. And what’s more interesting? A piece of tourist information for you – It’s located in the shortest street in Prague. I hope it won’t take too long for you to find this place among the altogether 11 houses in this street.

Café FX - Radost

Famous. The best vegetarian restaurant in town in terms of food quality. A good variety of pure vegetarian food, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Mediterranean, American, etc. A bit pricey but worth it. Well decorated. A nice establishment indeed. Make sure you check out their cocktail menu. The drink names are just… exotic. They seem to have a good brunch menu too. I know I’ve been talking about it for a whole year. If I were ever going to be able to wake up sober in the AM on a Sunday, I will make it… one of these days…

Country Life

Not that I’ve tried their food. But it seems to be easygoing and not pretentious. Very simple canteen style. You pick your food, weigh it, grab a seat and bite or take away. Nothing complex. It has an organic product shop attached too which is also worth checking out.

Beas

There are quite a few Indian restaurants in Prague but Beas turns out to be an all time favorite. Your stomach will explode with a set menu of 75 Kc (2.5 EUR). I don’t have to say too much about Indian food… it’s just the bestest. Located in one of the side streets around Old Town Square, right behind Tynsky Church, Beas is almost the best place for you to take a rest and fill your tummy after an exhausting walking tour being irritated by the overpriced restaurants in the same area trying to rip you off. Props to Danka who took us there on my first tour around the town. Good call.

Cool thing that there are more and more vegetarian restaurants opened in Prague lately, and more and more restaurant are adding vegetarian section in their menu, even though you still need to keep your eyes wide open when you choose your food.

Dobrou chut.