We’re heading to Prague for this year’s Discourse company meetup, and Loretta and I are heading over a week early for a quick vacay. 
I’ll drop all my photos here as I process them, but this year, I thought I’d also track my ‘try this’ list.
Every time we’re going to take a trip like this, I like to do a bit of research into foods and drinks I should try (along with some restaurants I should try them at), places to see, and activities to do. This year is no different. So I thought it would be fun to drop my list here so I can check them off as I go.
I’m not a huge list person, so I think of these more like what you’d call guidelines rather than a strict to-do list. But here it is as of now:
Dishes to eat
- Chlebíčky - open faced sandwich
- Goulash - stew w/dumplings
- Grilované klobásy - grilled sausage
- Svíčková na smetaně - pureed veggie cream sauce served w/beef & bread dumplings (knedlíky)
- Raiská omáčka - sweet tomato gravy served w/beef & knedlíky
- Hermelín - a brie-like cheese that’s:
- marinated (Nakládaný) or,
- fried (Smažený sýr, or smažák)
- Vepřový řízek - fried pork cutlet (schnitzel)
- Vepřové koleno - pork knee/knuckle
- Vepřo knedlo zelo - roast pork w/ sauerkraut and knedlíky
- Pečená kachna se zelím - Roast duck w/cabbage (…and dumplings…and sauerkraut)
- Vepřové výpečky - a garlicky, roasted pork belly bite often served in pubs
- Dill Sauce
- Kolace - pastry filled with fruit, poppy seeds, or tvaroh fresh cheese.
- Buchty - filled buns (fruit and cheese quite often)
- Trdelník - chimney cake
- Medovník - honey cake
- Míša Řezy - cake of farmers cheese (quark) and chocolate
- Palačinky - Czech pancakes
- Gingerbread (Perníčky) - sliced cake or cookies
- Pardubice is famous for it. Try it @ Perníčkův Sen
- Kynuté ovocné knedlíky - fruit dumplings @ CAFÉ SAVOY
- Becherovka - herbal bitter made of ginger, herbs and spices. Try a ‘Beton’…which translates as ‘concrete’…Becherovka and tonic with slice of lemon
- Břevnovský Benedict - any of the beers made at the Břevnov brewery
Restaurants/Pubs/Bars to visit
- Pult - pub rec from Maisie - map
- Dva Kohouti - brewery/taproom rec from Maisie - map
- (A)void Cafe - cafe rec from Maisie - map
- Lokal - auth Czech style cooking & pub food - map
- Naše Maso - butcher-restaurant - map
- Kro Kitchen - map
- Mincova - ‘remarkable svitcova’ - map
- Pivovar - map
- Kavárna co Hledá Jméno - map
- Créme de la Créme - ice cream - map
- Taro (TimeOut) - Vietnamese - map
- Cafefin (TO) - map
- Kantyna - Mon-Wed ‘waste no part of the animal’ dinner - map
- Špejle (TO) - Czech tapas/skewers - map
- Výstavka - map
- Mlýnec - map
- Výčep - € - map
- QQ Asian Kitchen - € - map
- Grand Cru - €€ - map
- The Eatery - €€ - (Bib Gourmand) - map
- Na Kopci - €€ - (BG) - map
- Dejvická 34 by Tomáš Černý - €€ (BG) - map
- V Zátiši - €€€ - map
- Bockem - €€€ - map
- Field - Michelin
- go for lunch? - €€€€ - map - La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise - - €€€€ - map
Things to do/see
- Vltava River
- Hradčany - c9th Century
- Prague Castle
- Strahov Monastery - book - map
- Loreta
- St Vitus Cathedral - book - map
- Lobkowicz Palace - book - map
- Sternbersky Palace (The National Gallery) - book - map
- Pivovar Strahov - monastery brewery - map
- St George’s Basilica and Convent - oldest surviving church in Prague castle - map
- Letná
- Letná Park - map
- Vyšehrad - c11th century
- Nové Město - New Town c1348
- Wenceslas Square
- Mucha Museum and Municipal House Tour - map
- The National Museum
- The National Theatre
- The State Opera
- Estates Theatre - Don Giovanni premiered here in 1787
- The Dancing House - Frank Gehry - map
- K - David Černý sculpture - map
- Lucerna Palace - entertainment/shopping catch a movie here
- St. Wenceslas - DČ sculpture
- Staré Město - Old Town
- Prague Orlog - astronomical clock - map
- Jan Hus monument - map
- Klementinum - astronomical tower and Baroque library - map - book
- Mirror Chapel concert hall - book
- Clam-Gallas Palace - map - book
- Church of St. Salvator - map
- Quo Vadis (Trabant) - David Černý sculpture -
- Man Hanging Out - David Černý sculpture - map
- Butterfly Effect - DČ sculpture - map
- Vera - DC sculpture - map
- Streams - DČ sculpture - map
- H-A-V-E-L - DČ sculpture sculpture - map
- Three Graces - DČ sculpture - map
- Josefov
- Old Town/Jewish Quarter 2hr walking tour - book
- Old - New Synagogue
- Malá Strana - Lesser Town c1257 - S of the castle
- Petřín Hill & Lookout tower
- Charles Bridge
- Manifesto Market - made of shipping containers
- St. Adalbert/Břevnov Monastery and Brewery - est. 993 - map
- Klášterní šenk - monastery tavern
- Meat - DČ sculpture
- Babies - DČ Sculpture
- Folk dancing - Folklore Garden
- Náplavka Farmers Market
Possible day trips
- Kutna Hora ~ 1hr by train
- Church of St. Barbara
- Sedlec Ossuary (bone church)
- Karlštejn Castle ~ 40 min train ride
- 14th c royal residence of King Charles IV.
- Plzeň - ~50 min train ride SE of Prague - map
- Karlovy Vary
- 3hr train ride west
- Spas (Elizabeth Spa)
- Jan Becher museum
- Grand Hotel Pupp
- Liberec - 1hr bus ride?
- “Take a cable car ride up to Ještěd, a former radio tower turned restaurant and hotel that sits atop the surrounding mountain range. On a clear day, you can see Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic from this viewpoint.”
- Český Krumlov ~2.5 hrs S by train
- České Švýcarsko (Bohemian Switzerland National Pak) ~ 2hrs by train
- Opatov - 2hrs E of Prague by car - map
Souvenir ideas (?)
- Kovap Mechanical toys
- Bohemian Glass - took a tour of Rückl Glassworks and got to make a vase!
- Garnet Jewelry
- Wooden toys
- Botanicus - organic cosmetics, soaps, oils, candles, honey, and tees (near Old Town Square) - map
- Oplatky (aka Spa wafers) - Sweet round wafers, (like opłatek), flavored with cinnamon, hazelnut, or chocolate, are typical in Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně.
- Deelive - design store - map