Top Michelin star restaurants in Prague

During my travels I have found out that travelling is to a large extent about food. When you think about it, our daily lives seem to revolve around food – looking forward to breakfast, hoping for the lunch break in the middle of a tough day, getting excited for a delicious dinner… It has even more impact when travelling , as you are more inclined to try new things, to spoil yourself or simply get hungrier from all the experiences.

This article will be a good suggestion guide for visitors and expats alike. Please note that those are personal preferences (although all of the places have starling ratings from thousands of people). As we go through the different restaurants, you will be able to read about the specific history of each, what kind of food they offer, why it is considered good and where to find it.

And since I am getting hungry just thinking about those places, let’s get this thing over with, shall we?

1. La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise

Source: La Degustation Wikimedia Commons

It is only fair to start with a Czech place, Prague being the capital and all.  However, this is not your typical Czech restaurace – at least not according to the general impression that local places are cheap, rely on quantity and have a… unsavory kind of service. La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise is the exact opposite.

This Michelin star jewel is a high-end destination for a profound culinary experience. At the very beginning you will be greeted by muffled colors, soft music and attentive staff, who ensure that everything is poised to enjoy the food – from the atmosphere, to the placement of the tables. You will be savoring the evening through a degustation menu of many, many courses, coming in small portions. With that you will be given sips of beer, wine and/or juice which are specially selected to fit the bite you are currently experiencing. Most of the dishes are based on a 19th century cookbook, which must be the secret of the head chef Chef Oldřich Sahajdák.

But why listen to me go on and on about it, when you can simply go yourself at Haštalská 18, Prague 1, 110 00?

2. Field

Let me cut any possible confusion – it is not an actual field, nor based in one. What this place is a Michelin star awarded restaurant within a year  of its foundation date. Now that is what I call impressive, especially in eastern Europe.

Source: Field Official Website

There are plenty a difference from La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise, the most prominent of which is the choice of menu. While in our first choice it is already selected, here you have the option to order specific dishes and choose your drink from a great selection of wines and juices produced specially for the restaurant.  This comes as no surprise, given that Chef Kasparek, the main judge on Czech  edition of Masterchef, is one of the culinary artists that work there.

It’s a shame that they recently took out their lunch menu’s cheap offerings, as it was a great place to grab lunch on more regular basis. Nonetheless, they have focused on their main menu, which is spectacular. You can expect a range of modern dishes, many of which Czech based, but far from limited to local cuisine.

An important note here – last time I checked kids are not allowed.

You can find the place at  U Milosrdných 12, 110 00 Staré Město in Old Town.

3. Eska

Source: Eska Official Website

Eska has some similarities with La Degustation, mostly in the selection of local ingredients. However, this little gem relies less on richly ornamented plating and extra-fine service in favor of more casual and relaxed atmosphere. The place has its own charm, as i tis situated in a former factory for water heaters.

What you can find here si a wide selection of offerings, from brunches to lunch menus, to the oh so familiar eight course dinners where wine pairing is crucial and tasting the food occupies more attention than the conversation.

Something I absolutely love about Eska is the fact that it is not only a restaurant, but also a bakery, which contributes greatly to the aromas of the place. For some reason I always find myself attracted to the smell of warm bread – more so than most other foods. Anyway, their bakery uses more than 500 kilograms of flour a day, mostly pastries that go well with the coffee shop attached to it. I’d definitely give extra points for diversity, as you can enjoy a lot more than fine dining at this place.

Eska is located slightly out of the city center, in the reviving Karlin area – a more modern place, usually preferred by younger crowds.

Go and see for yourself at Pernerova 49, 186 00 Karlín.

4. Sansho

Source: Sansho Official Website

Sansho describes itself as “Asian fine casual dining” which is very much on the spot as long as short descriptions go.  You can expect a careful selection of dishes indigenous to the pan-Asian cuisine.

The strongest point of this place is the high-quality organic meat, which is quickly, efficiently and precisely worked over from an in-house butcher shop. Furthermore… the ingredients. I’ve always believed that a big part of cooking properly is choosing the freshest, most perfect ingredients. In this case they come directly from the Sapa market – a Vietnamese open market that we discussed in a previous piece. Don’t get me wrong about the butcher shop though – the restaurant offers a selection of vegetarian dishes as well.

A peculiar aspect of the place is how casual it is. The clientele is situated across big communal tables (although there are separate ones in the corners) in the midst of a very unpretentious, minimalist interior. If I had to describe it in a simple way, I’d call it vaguely retro minimalism. That stretches all the way to the young-ish waiters and waitresses, all dressed in casual and smart-casual clothing.

I’d recommend this place for a bigger group, or at least an informal event. Of course, you can also squeeze in a nice romantic dinner but I’d first make sure to reserve a corner table.

You can find the place at Petrská 1170/25, 110 00 Nové Město.

5. Na Kopci

Source: Na Kopci Official Website

Now that is something I consider more my style. It is a place somewhat hard to find, as it is located in a very residential neighborhood – as in, completely residential, on a hill above Smichov.

So what can be said about the place? A pleasant surprise are the large portion sizes, which fit so well with the casual atmosphere and the infusing aroma of French wines. If you want a fancy exterior I wouldn’t recommend this place – the walls for example are lined with childhood photos of the owners. On the other hand, if you are looking for a homely place, boasting refined French cuisine in big portions, then this is your choice.  Go to Petrská 1170/25, 110 00 Nové Město and see for yourself.

6. Divinis

Source: Divinis Official Website

Places like Dvinis have a special place in my heart. They simply need  to exist. Just picture it – a luxurious wine bar supporting a fine Italian restaurant, with the head chef being none other than the most famous Czech chef Zdeněk Pohlreich.

I absolutely love the interior which matches light brown hardwood floors with gentle nuances of pink, blue and beige. As far as I can remember the biggest table serves six people and the smallest two. It is a perfect place for intimate gatherings and romantic diners.

And the food! Exclusively Italian seasonal cuisine, with, needless to say, the freshest highest quality ingredients. The menu is à la carte and offers you a variety of traditional dishes. You can also select a six course degustation menu based on the season with a plethora of wine choices – something I’ve always appreciated, as I tend to have specific tastes for wine pairing.

The first smell that hits you there is the fresh basil and oregano. The appetizers, such as scallops with tomatoes and basil oil, prepare you for the culinary journey with gentle and balance taste, washed off with a light red wine.  The whole kitchen is Italian, which explains the smell of the ingredients – you can expect it to change with the seasons, but you can always expect the best. Of course, this also means that the menu is more conservative – the chef is, after all, known for having the philosophy of not trying to fix something that ain’t broken, aka. he won’t change the menu as long as it works.

And before I continue, let me  just mention some facts about the head chef. He is also the owner of the place and is famous as the main talent of the Czech version of Kitchen Nightmares. Something I love him for, as he has been urging the Czech public to acquire more appreciation of fine dining and demand and expect better quality and more effort from restaurants. Among the locals he is known for cooking traditional dishes, which is why to some it comes as somewhat of a surprise that he manages a purely Italian restaurant.

The place is located on Týnská 21, 110 00 Staré Město, just next to the Church of Our Lady before Tyn (the Disney Castle looking building in the old square).

7. Casa De Carli

Source: PragueStay

Since we are on the subject of Italian food, I cannot help but mention Casa De Carli. The owners define it as the “rebirth of authentic Italian cuisine”, which I cannot help but agree with, as the place offers fresh and seasonal ingredients that are by far not limited to a single region of Italy.

They have both a regular and a seasonal menu and, something I usually opt for, daily specials according to the momentous ideas of the chef. Furthermore, you can also ask for dishes outside of the menu, as the chef has been known to take on challenges – if you have anything desired don’t hesitate to ask. You might still be able to get it.

The dishes vary from rather simple combination of tastes, such as a braised wild boar with herb mashed potatoes, to Grilled beef fillet from Maso Klouda farm, potato terrine, broccoli rabe, cauliflower and cocoa nibs. I also especially like their starts – the selection is amazing. Personal favorite is Handmade Tortellini in Double Beef Consommé with Parmesan Cheese.

So what can we say about the interior? Darker colors, deep brown floors, light brown chairs, beige napkins and muffled lights that throw intricate shadows. The biggest tables are circular and can fit six people, the smallest ones are for two and the majority are square tables with four seats.  Things get a bit more fun when you get into the private wine cellar, which has what i can only describe as a conference sized table surrounded by a millionaire’s net worth in wine. It is simply amazing.

A strong personal recommendation, go to Vězeňská 116/5, 110 00 Staré Město and soak yourself in amazing, high end Italian Cuisine.

Before we leave you

To my knowledge there are 31 Michelin star restaurants in Prague. Naturally, I haven’t been able to try all of them, nor have I met someone that did. Feel free to explore by yourself, if you are not satisfied with the seven options presented today – I encourage it. Most of the Michelin star restaurants here are Italian, although there are some truly amazing choices when it comes to Asian cuisine and what I can only describe as creative cooking.  So with regards to that, here are some honorable mentions, at least by reputation, which I have heard a lot about but never tried:

• Spices (a mix of Asian cuisines)
• La Finestra (Italian)
• Alcron (modern cuisine with a breathtaking interior)
• Levitate (the so called “creative cuisine”, you simply need to go to see what we are talking about here)
• SaSaZu (Asian)

So with this we leave you my fair traveler. I hope that you have the culinary experience of a lifetime in Prague. In case you have energy after all the food, be sure to check the trips we offer at DiscoverWalks – after all, there is more to travelling than food.

That is all for now – so long and bon appetit.