Best date-night restaurants in Prague, according to a local expert

Prague’s dining scene offers plenty of options, but for those evenings when you want something a little different – whether it’s a setting that feels off the beaten path, a menu that surprises, or simply a vibe that suits a special occasion – finding the right spot can be a challenge. The city’s hidden gems often combine character, quality, and atmosphere in ways that aren’t always obvious at first glance.

We asked Radek Tureček, the general manager at Červený Jelen, for recommendations on where to go when you are looking for something that’s one-of-a-kind.

Červený Jelen offers a rare combination in central Prague: a historic ambience, serious cooking, and a space that feels hidden in plain sight. Tucked inside a former bank hall right off Náměstí Republiky, this modern restaurant’s soaring 30-meter beer tower and industrial chic design provide the perfect setting for a unique dining experience. Executive Chef Marek Fichtner’s open kitchen turns out beechwood-grilled Wagyu and duck confit with impressive consistency.

If Czech food makes you think only of gravy and dumplings, Výčep, nestled in the heart of Vinohrady, will reset the narrative. This modern take on pub kitchen fare turns out fire-grilled meats, house-made salamis, fermented sides, and sauces spiked with things like rum and cognac. The beer, Dalešice tank lager, is poured with old-school precision, and the staff know their way around the menu without overselling it. You’ll find a quiet confidence here. It’s the kind of spot where regulars return not out of habit, but trust.

Field may have a Michelin star, but there’s no pretentious white-tablecloth fuss at this hidden Old Town spot, tucked just off the edge of the center’s main tourist circuit – just sharp technique and full-throttle flavors. Chef Radek Kašpárek’s refined tasting menu shifts with the seasons, but you might find wild mushroom consommé poured tableside, dry-aged beef with fermented garlic, or a surprising take on beetroot that borders on sculpture. The minimalist dining space and calm service add to the sense of focus. It’s a fine-dining experience that doesn’t shout, but lingers long after the last bite.

420 – its name playing off the country’s telephone code – opened last year to much fanfare, offering a quiet respite in the middle of Old Town. Tucked inside a 15th-century house directly across from the Astronomical Clock, the restaurant is also helmed by Radek Kašpárek, who steps away from the formality of Field to offer a more casual dining experience. The menu shifts daily depending on what’s fresh, and there are usually just a handful of dishes on offer: grilled monkfish one night, a slow-braised beef rib the next, always plated with care but without fuss. 

Sharing a wall – and a pedigree – with the Art Deco grand dame Hotel Imperial, Next Door offers a more contemporary lens on Czech cuisine. Overseen by Zdeněk Pohlreich, the space trades ornate tiles for understated elegance, but the same attention to craft remains. Expect carefully executed versions of Czech staples like duck confit, slow-roasted beef, and dumplings served in a setting that feels just formal enough for a special occasion. If Café Imperial is about nostalgia, Next Door is its modern counterpart: familiar flavors, sharpened and stripped of excess.

Chef Jan Punčochář brings serious culinary experience to this otherwise relaxed corner of Prague 6, where traditional Czech dishes are treated with quiet precision rather than flair. Situated in Divoká Šárka’s leafy Šárecké údolí, U Matěje is best known for its magical summer garden terrace and a menu built around the kind of food Czechs crave – slow-roasted meats, dill sauce, perfectly poured Pilsner. It’s a place where the service is brisk but warm, kids are welcome, and the details are considered without being showy. Well worth the detour west.

Known as much for its stunning views as its cuisine, Terasa U Zlaté studně offers a menu that thoughtfully revisits Czech and Central European classics with a contemporary twist. Seasonal ingredients shape dishes like tender duck breast with subtle fruit sauces, delicate freshwater fish, or rich game preparations. The extensive wine list complements the kitchen’s flavors. This romantic Malá Strana restaurant is designed for moments that call for more than just a meal – a quiet toast, a proposal, or a rare night out where the panorama is as much a part of the experience as the dishes.