Bite-Sized News: Local Links from the Prague Food Scene

We know that lots of travelers want to experience the life of a local, not a tourist, when they come to a city. But it can be hard to squeeze a lifetime of experience into one long weekend. These local links can help you study up before your trip, plan ahead for local food events, and get a glimpse into the local life of a Praguer.

What to Do in November

November 11 and 14: St Martin’s Day

This local holiday is a treat for wine fans. At 11:11 on 11/11/15, the first bottle of St. Martin’s Wine is opened, and you’ll find it paired that evening with a traditional dinner of roast goose, red cabbage and dumplings at most of the Czech restaurants in town. The celebration will continue at the popular farmer’s market at Naplavka, along the banks of the Vltava River, on November 14.

November 21: Restaurant Day

For a unique food experience, visit any of the pop-up restaurants around Prague that exist for one day only! Anyone can join, from an aspiring baker with a folding table on the sidewalk to culinary student experiments lining blocked-off streets. Keep an eye on this map to see what’s popping up in Prague this November.

November 19 – 22: Deli Market

Prague’s Holesovice neighborhood hosts the first Deli Market festival. Visiting vendors will offer a taste of cold cuts, pickled vegetables, jams, cheeses and other culinary delights from European countries and beyond (e.g. India, Bulgaria, Japan). Information (in Czech) can be found here.

November 20 – 28: Christmas Markets

Let the countdown begin – Christmas Markets are almost open in Prague! You’ll find grilled meats, mulled wine, handmade goods and a festive atmosphere at various squares all around the Czech capital – including the first at the Prague Castle.

• Nov 20 – Namesti Miru
• Nov 21 – Andel
• Nov 23 – Tylovo Namesti
• Nov 25 – Namesti Republiky
• Nov 28 – Old Town Square and Prague Castle

Local Bloggers to Watch

Pivni Filosof (a.k.a. The Beer Philosopher) is Prague’s resident expert on all things pivo in English (and Spanish). His blog offers a conversational glimpse into Prague’s beer scene, including strongly worded thoughts on craft beers and corporate breweries. His book titles explain more than we ever could – Prague: A Pisshead’s Pub Guide (new edition as of October 2015) and The Unbearable Nonsense of Craft Beer. His blog frequency has slowed considerable since its start in 2008, but he remains active on Facebook and Twitter.

Where to Eat Now

A sit-down breakfast can be harder to find in Prague than one would expect (although many places do excellent weekend brunches). A grab-and-go pastry is popular with the commuter crowd. But one of our favorite places for breakfast and a deep breath is Cacao. This year-old café just off Namesti Republiky has everything from health-conscious smoothies to decadent cakes and freshly made ice creams, plus a delicious acai bowl for breakfast with granola and fruit.

In the News

• Popular soup connoisseurs Home Kitchen recently got an upgrade with a new location in Old Town. No menus in sight, just a sample of everything available that day, dependent on fresh local ingredients, laid out across a wooden table. There are also expansion plans for a fourth Andel – Smichov location by the end of the year.
• Looking for a place to watch an important hometown sports game at an odd hour while in Prague? Expats BBQ Bar also recently moved to a more central Old Town location and will show everything from cricket to American football on request if you ask in advance. Plus we have a soft spot for anyplace with Svijany on tap.
• Prague food wins raves from the celebrity set! Katie Couric (news anchor from the US) and John Moulner gushed on Instagram over their meal from La Finestra, and we can’t say we blame them.
• The cafe scene is getting better by the hour in Prague, with plenty of great places to sip slowly. But sometimes just you need a quick caffeine fix to squeeze in all of the sights and sounds of Prague on your bucket list. Expats.cz rounds up the cutest cafes in town to grab some coffee to go.
• It’s never fun to get sick while traveling, but if illness strikes, Prague TV has a few local food and drink recommendations to ease your pain.
• Prague is named 7th Best City in the World! Sure, these lists are always subjective, but it still warms our hearts to see Prague break the top ten of a Reader’s Choice Award. We totally agree, Condé Nast Traveler!

Blogged: Eating Prague Food Tour

Thank you to German blogger Lillie’s Diary for capturing our Prague Food Tour in vivid color! To read more (in German), click here.

Day Trip: Liberec

There’s far more to the Czech Republic than just Prague (no matter how much we love it). The mountain town of Liberec, one hour north of Prague, offers a growing culinary scene all its own, which you can explore courtesy of The Culture Trip. Plus autumn is a gorgeous time to watch the leaves change color in the nearby Bedrichov area, visit the white tigers at the Liberec zoo, or enjoy a meal with a view of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic at Ješted tower.

Instagram of the Month

We’re a little obsessed with Veg Sýr, a newly opened cheese shop, and apparently so are our Instagram fans. This adorable shop near Jiřího z Poděbrad in Prague 2 is friendly, stocked with options that you can sample, and even carries a vegan cheese substitute. “Say sýr (= cheese)!”

As a thank you, we want to recommend some of our favorite local instagrammers that you can also follow to get a feel for the city.

• @Bohemianfoodgasm This self-described food lover and kitchen enthusiast shares drool-worthy pics from restaurants around town (and occasionally her own kitchen).
• @ievaozolaart is sharing a beautiful collection of sketches and watercolors against the Prague backdrops that inspired them, every day for a year, and we’re liking every. single. one.

Stay tuned for more local foodie links next month!