Food in Cesky Krumlov, the whole of Czech Republic actually, is heaven for non-vegetarians. We went gaga. Better still, if you happen to go to Czech from Austria, which we did, the rates too bowl you over. Everything seems to cost almost half compared to Austria! Be it ice-creams, desserts or even full meals.
Well, here in Cesky Krumlov too, we went armed with the names of highly recommended restaurants so that there would be no compromise on the food front. Happy to announce that our list didn’t fail us……we have been singing paeans ever since.
Needless to mention, should you too plan a trip to Cesky Krumlov, and should you too be local-food lovers, you mustn’t leave the town without having dined at ALL of the following! 😀
Hospoda Na Louži! Sounds like a greetings, doesn’t it? Well, Hospoda Na Louzi marked the beginning of our gastronomic journey in Cesky Krumlov. A really small restaurant in the city centre, Vladimir, our Bed and Breakfast owner at Pension Nostalgie (Read: Review Pension Nostalgie) swore by it! Being a few steps away from Nostalgie only helped matters – we had been starving post our drive from Hallstat.
Filled to the brim with local residents, we were sure we were at the right place for some good local food. We asked for the grilled Carp (local catch) and traditional Pork Roast with cabbage salad and potato dumplings (Knedliky), with beer of course. Boy! was it good!!! Deepa, being the Bengali she is, fell in love with the grilled Carp while I and daughter enjoyed the pork.
Did you know? Czechs are the biggest beer drinkers in the world? You just cannot have any meal in its soil without the local stuff. Period!
Hotel Konvice: Cesky Krumlov is famous for its exotic meats and one good place for it is here — rabbit in bacon sauce, roast duck and a beef starter. We had been recommended one dish that I regret missing out on called Tatarský Biftek (Beef Tartare with Toast) – fresh, minced raw beef mixed with eggs etc. served with Topinky (fried toast) and garlic. It’s a popular snack with beer in the evening. Try it at the Konvice if you visit the place
Papa’s Living Restaurant: The second day lunch was, once again, at one of the top local restaurants by the Vltava river called, Papa’s Living Restaurant. First, don’t judge it by its name — it has a view second to none and brilliant food. Obsessed by the local fish by now, we had it once again here and also roast beef. Post food, we went off rafting to burn off the calories.
Krčma v Šatlavské ulici: Hugely popular, you can dine here without proper reservations. We didn’t get a table here on our first night in Cesky Krumlov. And so, on the second day, the first thing we did was to book a table here for dinner! Stones throw from Nostalgie, you can smell Krčma v Šatlavské ulici before you see it! A meat lovers’ paradise with open pit and exotic meats, now you know why reservations can take even up to 3 days during peak season.
The first Pork Knuckle I had in the entire trip, I fell in love with it. A must-have when in Cesky krumlov, it is usually 1.1 Kg+ per serving. You obviously can’t finish it off on your own. I shared it with my daughter. It was her first-ever grilled pork and for the next 6 days, she would insist only on having the same. Deepa stuck to grilled lamb.
Note, local beer is cheaper than water here.
(Want to plan a holiday in Czech Republic? We help you with the itinerary, sightseeing suggestions, places to stay, where and what to eat. Read our post — All about a Czech Holiday)