14 Best Restaurants in Vinohrady and Žižkov, Prague

Gracious, gregarious, and extremely confident, Aromi is easily among the top tier of Italian restaurants in the city and proud of it. Classic pastas made in-house and fresh seafood shown off tableside are two of the crowd favorites, as are the superb salads and well-chosen Italian wines. With airy modernist interiors and alfresco dining in summer, the restaurant imparts a continental feel without being kitschy. Leave room for a post-dessert treat: Aromi stocks an exclusive list of rare grappas. The price of dishes reflects the high quality; come during the week for a better value lunch menu.

Meat lovers will be in their element at this French countryside-inspired steak restaurant, situated just behind the National Museum. Take a seat beneath the wood-beamed ceiling and choose from a menu dominated by dishes of expertly aged Charolais beef, from steak tartare and tenderloin carpaccio to juicy rump steaks and hearty beef bourguignon. There are other dishes on offer, too, from frogs' legs and roast pigeon to a smattering of vegetarian and vegan options, but make no mistake: cow is king here. Go all in with a selection of steaks for two, including rare Czech wagyu beef, served with your choice of sides and sauces. Save room for a theatrical dessert in the form of curd ice cream that's frozen at the table with liquid nitrogen, as well as a taster of traditional Czech fruit spirits from Palírna Radlík distillery.

A hopping burger bar on the fringe of Riegrovy Park in Vinohrady, the Tavern arguably serves the city's best hamburgers and cheeseburgers. The restaurant began as the dream of an American couple to use classic U.S. combinations, like bacon-cheddar or blue cheese and caramelized onion, and then re-create them with locally sourced beef and toppings. The result? It's been packed since the 2012 opening and shows no signs of slowing down. They also do veggie and vegan burgers, along with other American-style diner food, plus cocktails and craft beers.

There's limited seating, so make a reservation for dinner online (there's no phone).

One of the oldest pubs in Žižkov, this classic Czech pub offers a warm and inviting setting, great beers, and authentic Czech food. The name means “At the Linden Trees,” a Czech and Slovak emblem, and while there are tourists here, it’s also a meeting place for locals.

This unexpected pastry paradise—essentially, a service hatch set within a regular apartment block—offers whole strudels (repeat: not a single slice, but a WHOLE strudel) for just 60 Kč. You can choose from three fillings: apple, tvaroh (curd cheese), or poppy seed. There are also seasonal flavors available on occasion, including plum in the summer months and raisin and almond at Christmas. Only open weekdays.

This appealing Vinohrady restaurant serves up innovative, high-quality, and beautifully presented cuisine in a soothing and unstuffy setting. The à la carte menu is all about fresh and flavorful Czech dishes with occasional French, Italian, or Asian twists (and added seafood): think duck breast with parsnip and cranberries, shrimp and carrot cream soup with yellow curry, and pan-fried sea bass with fregola and bok choy. For the best-quality dining experience, opt for the seasonal, five-course Chef's Tasting Menu with wine pairing. The service is impeccable and the staff are unfailingly friendly.

For an alternative to pilsner in the Czech capital, this superb Belgian brasserie offers a choice of half a dozen Belgian beers on draft, and more than 60 others in bottles. The beers, which are often tinged with fruit or nut flavors, are served alongside kettles of mussels (cooked in wine or beer), golden frites with mayo sauce, and ridiculously tasty waffles. It's a large and grand-looking place, with high ceilings and dark paneling, but the service is friendly and it's a big hit with families, who come for the large kids corner with ball pool.

For traditional Czech fare from the same team, head next door to Vinohradský Parlament.

This lovely little sit-down spot on a sloping street serves excellent coffee, tasty homemade soups, and an impressive choice of vegan dishes. In the summer months, there's a pleasantly green courtyard garden.

This popular Vietnamese-Czech coffee shop offers a real mix of Western and Asian coffee culture, from cappuccinos, espresso tonics, and hot chocolates to Vietnamese coffee, matcha lattes, and kombucha. The food is great, too: come for the excellent Western-style breakfasts and brunches (things like granola, scrambled eggs, and banana bread), or the tasty Asian-influenced lunches and dinners (like bun bo nam bo, Penang curry, and bibimbap).

A nice counterpoint to the heavy, meaty cuisine found in most Prague diners, Hanil serves good-quality sushi as well as Korean and other Asian dishes at premium but affordable prices. The open, casual setting, which is accented with elegant light and dark woods, burnt-orange chair cushions, and curves galore, attracts a largely local crowd of young professionals who appreciate the blend of high-quality food with a lack of pretension. Opt for the good-value sushi sets, or if you're feeling adventurous, try the pa-jeon, a tasty pancake with spring onion and seafood, or the ojingo bokkum, a squid stir-fry served on a hot plate.

Vinohrady has several very good Indian restaurants, but this corner restaurant along one of the area's prettiest streets may just be the best. Those familiar with Indian cooking can expect all of the standard curries, tandoori dishes, samosas, naans, and other staples of Indian cuisine. The difference here is the level of cooking and the unwillingness to cut corners. The lamb dishes, for example, will have three or four good-size pieces of lamb. Another winning detail: the English-speaking waitstaff will go out of their way to please guests.

A mini-oasis in the heart of Žižkov, this family-owned restaurant sits on a busy street but has a hidden garden terrace and conservatory around the back. The menu features a mix of Czech staples (like beef goulash) and lesser-spotted dishes (like salmon fillet with pumpkin purée), as well as lots of vegetarian options. There's a lovely ambience throughout, and the service is fast, attentive, and unfailingly friendly.

Prague's large and long-established Vietnamese community means the city is littered with cheap Southeast Asian dining options, but this cellar restaurant is one of the very best. While it's certainly no-frills—order at the counter and then find a table; in a few minutes someone brings around your food—the dishes are unfailingly fresh and delicious. The most popular order remains pho bo, a flavorful tureen of noodles and sliced beef (or its chicken-flavored cousin pho ga) that you spice up at the table with a squeeze of lemon and shot of hot sauce. The fresh spring rolls, nem sai gon, make for a delicious accompaniment.