City Guide: Prague

Butcher shops, mlíko pours, and enduring architecture

Hi, friends! Chef James here.

I had heard great things about Prague for a few years before I visited. Recommendations spanned from “great beer city” all the way to “favorite city in the world”. In December of 2022, I spent four nights there with my girlfriend Sam and it has lived in our minds as a place we both dream of revisiting.

visitczechrepublic.cz

Sam is not the biggest drinker but found herself completely in love with the beer culture here. You can thank Pilsner Urquell. It’s hard to even start talking about Prague without first talking about Pilsner Urquell. It’s like holy water at the Vatican. If you don’t drink alcohol, I still recommend Prague. But it is a drinking culture for sure. So plan accordingly. Pilsner Urquell is a brewery dating back to 1842 and from nearby Pilsen, in Czech Republic. If you have the time, you can take the train and tour the brewery. But if you don’t visit Pilsen you will still have access to the best and freshest beer in Europe as they truck it in to Prague CONSTANTLY. Czech Republic ranks #1 in beer consumption per capita and you will too, when in Prague.

Prague Castle

Czech Republic was part of the Soviet Bloc as Czechoslovakia until 1993. That is extremely recent history considering the depth of this region. From the 9th century settlement to its golden age in the 14th century alone Prague has had many lives. Speaking of the 14th century, this is when its castle was improved and fortified into the gothic style representing what it is today. In fact, it’s the largest coherent castle complex in the world. I say this because it overlooks the city and will be a backdrop of much of your stay. Its mood and romance can’t be overstated. I kept thinking to myself: Prague is the type of magic that Disney tries so hard to replicate (but can’t).