There are not many ‘100% pure’ vegetarian restaurants in Prague, so if you are searching for one of those, it’s good to know that many restaurants that appear in vegetarian directories are often mixed restaurants, serving both meat and only a few veggie dishes. Except for well-known vegan restaurants like Country Life, Govinda, check the ingredients in the dishes, as it’s not unusual for your potential veggie meal to even include pork.
It is true that Czechs like Czech food, but it would be false to say that all Czechs are non-vegetarian. As part of the international trend, Czechs are getting into healthy and organic food, and as the demand increases, new vegetarian restaurants are opened every year.
For veggie self-catering, head to the “Bio-Market” shop, straight over the Charles Bridge on the left of the road on the Lesser Town side, or try Albio BioShop in Truhlarska. Here you can get organic yoghurts and milk, canned or dehydrated soups, bread mixes, and puddings, as well as other items like bread, pastries, candy and sundries.
Govinda Vegetarian Club
Vegan restaurants (two locations) run by the Hare Krishnas – cheap, quick, and tasty. Various kinds of Indian specialities and other meals inspired by western culinary art are served.
Address: Soukenická 27, Prague 1 & Na hrázi 5, Prague 8; Open Mon-Fri 11.00-17.00, Sat 08.00-17.00
Loving Hut
This restaurant is part of an international chain of vegan restaurants opened by Supreme Master Ching Hai followers, an advocate of vegetarian living. The varied menu includes noodles, rice, faux meat dishes, tofu, pasta, soup, and more.
Location: Truhlarska 35, Prague 1; Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-9.00pm, Sun closed.
Country Life
This caféteria-like or buffet-style vegetarian food hall offers various ready-made selections, including sandwiches, salads, veggie burgers and veggie goulash. The extra healthy, unprocessed, unrefined, non-dairy food is charged according to weight. This place gets really busy, but don’t get frightened by the long line – it moves quickly. It also has a health food store where you can pick up some items to cook at home. Non-smoking.
Address: Jungmannova 1, Prague 1 and Melantrichova 15, Praugue 1; Open: 9.00am-8.00pm Mon-Thu, 9.00am-6.00pm Fri, 11.00am-8.00pm Sun.
Lehka Hlava (Clear Head – Restaurant Borsov)
Excellent and cheap vegetarian cuisine featuring specials, tapas, soups, salads, desserts, pasta, main entrees, fresh juices, and other beverages. No eggs used. The interior is unique, with each room having a different theme; a small colourful contemporary room, a warm orange room with a fish tank, and a blue heaven room where the ceiling is decorated with stars. Reservation recommended. No smoking.
Address: Borsov 2/280, Prague 1 – Old Town; Open: Mo-Fr 11:30-23:30, Sa-Su 12:00-23:30.
Radost FX Cafe
This popular nightclub has a lounge and vegetarian restaurant. The extensive veggie food menu is also in English and features choices including soup, salad, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, Asian dishes, Mexican food, and more. Most dishes contain dairy and/or eggs. The regular menu has only a couple of vegan dishes. The weekend brunch menu, served until 3 pm, is American style, with omelettes, waffles and French toast, and has a few vegan plates. The brunch menu also has smoked salmon, so it is not all vegetarian. There is also an extensive alcohol menu.
Open daily. Full menu from 10.30am-5.00pm and 7.00pm-12.00am. Light food menu Thur-Sat from 12.00 am-4.00 am when the nightclub is open on those nights. Smoking is permitted, except from 11 am-3 pm.
Maitera
Centrally-located vegetarian restaurant with unique wood interior, offering local Czech hemp beer in addition to a varied menu with tapas, specials, hot meals, salads, and more. Affiliated with Lehka Hlava (Clear Head restaurant).
Open Mon-Fri 11.30-23.30, Sat-Sun 12.00-23.30. Address: Týnská ulička 6, Prague 1 (behind Tyn’s Church)
Albio Restaurant and BioShop
This health food restaurant and organic shop sources all its food from local organic farms and has its own onsite bakery.
Location: Truhlarska 18, Prague 1; Open: 11.30am-10.00pm Mon-Fri