Beer is the essence of any Czech culinary attitude

As you would have thought you may find more than 800 pubs in Prague to choose from and a few of them have existed for centuries. Unfortunately, a genuine Czech pub culture has developed drastically during the last decade. Some historic pubs are now a waste of time, having forced out local drinkers with inflated prices. It means that a lot more attention has to be paid in selecting places to visit, if you want to avoid the unpleasant experience of paying four times as much as is necessary. Whereas before all pubs charged pretty much exactly the same prices, there are now important differences. It is caused by the successful tourism industry as foreigners are happy to pay prices which, although still cheap by western European standards, are much higher than those normally charged in the country.

Tip: Take a guided tour and visit most famous Prague Pubs, great value too!

Czechs like to drink and once, a few years ago, were the biggest drinking nation in the world. So when you want spend all night drinking you have plenty of choices of where to go. Czech pubs serve traditional Czech meals and snacks. Beer comes in half-litre jars and is usually quite cheap. However, price should not be the only reason for considering visiting pubs. You will also have a chance to experience the Czech pub atmosphere, which is so different when compared to that of English pubs. Popular beer snacks are ‘utopenci' (sliced sausage pickled in vinegar with onions) and ‘topinky' (fired toasted bread). Some pubs serve snacks such as the famous Prague ham with gherkins. You should try it. Most pubs may close a little bit early, especially on weekdays, at around 11pm, which allows you to visit many clubs or bars. Bars are usually open until early morning. Drinking at clubs is more expensive than in pubs; generally you should expect to pay double the price and possibly an entrance fee. There are some famous pubs which are very popular with overseas visitors, so you may meet a few of your country folk. It is worth remembering that smoking is permitted in all pubs but some pubs have smoking and non-smoking sections. Pubs in Prague are safe and violence is very uncommon. In the summer time beer gardens are very popular with tourists and locals. Enjoying your chilled glass of premium Czech beer with an awesome view over the city is just ... do it!

Tip: Prague has its own selection of Irish pubs and they are also worth visiting. Another alternative is wine bars; they are generally a bit more expensive by Czech standards, but definitely worth trying especially in September for young wine called 'burčák'.

Running Tabs
If you intend spending a lot of time in one pub then consider running a tab. Normal rules apply i.e. if you order food then you can have a tab (credit) where you can order more drinks and pay later. The only issue here are that if waiters/waitresses are changing shift then you have to settle that part of the tab or finish it completely. But be careful - the more the bill goes up the more are the chances of extra unrecognised charges being included. Almost all the bars and pubs in the city centre are used to running tabs for individuals as well as stag groups.

Good places to have a beer in Prague

Pivni Galerie
This is a bar and bottle shop together. They have a few beers on draught, and hundreds of bottles of different Czech beer. If you're not sure which to choose, ask the staff for help. The bar is located away from the city centre, about a kilometre from the Holesovice station. Because of its location, it's a shame that not many foreigners visit this very friendly bar with its great atmosphere.
www.pivnigalerie.cz

Pivovarský Dům
The food is average, but the beer is experimental and very good. This place is definitely worth a few pints, with a nice atmosphere and friendly service. It gets crowded, so expect to wait if you come at dinner time. This brewpub is situated close to Charles Square.
Location: Lípová 15, New Town

Ferdinanda
Two centrally located restaurants: one in Lesser Town and the other in New Town. Ferdinanda serves the tasty and unique Ferdinanda beer, or try the "Sedm Kuli" (Seven Bullets), which is an excellent Vienna-style beer, and of course they also have a good selection of pilsners and lagers. The food is different from what you will find in other similar places, and the staff is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable.
Location: New Town (corner Opletalova and Politickych veznu), Lesser Town (Karmelitska 18)
www.ferdinanda.cz