Looking for a cultural vacation destination and don’t want to pack tuna, salami, or a Betty Crocker? Look no further than Prague. With a variety of options, finding kosher food in Prague is not an issue!
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Please always follow the guidance of your own Rav and confirm current valid Kosher certification.
I had business to take care of in Prague, so my mother decided to join me for two days. It’s a beautiful city with a rich cultural and Jewish heritage. But, I’ll save that for another time. We had no problem finding kosher food in Prague. We ate somewhere different for almost every meal and there were still options we didn’t try! There’s always next time…
Layover Tips for Jewish Travelers
Hotel King David
Prague has its own kosher hotel. The King David Hotel even has its own shul, spa (hours for men and women), men’s and women’s mikvah.
All room rates include breakfast and can optionally include dinner and even Shabbos meals.
Breakfast is dairy buffet. The buffet includes a wide variety of hot and cold foods, breads, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, and pastries. There is a variety of cheeses, yogurts, cereals, eggs prepared in several different ways, salads, and pasta.
The first day we were so full, we actually didn’t even stop to have lunch. We did stop for a traditional Czech pastry in the mid-afternoon (see below).
We came back to the hotel in the evening and rather than go back out, we opted to eat in one of the hotel restaurants for dinner. There is a dairy café and a meat buffet—both only open in the evening hours.
The café is in what seems to be a closed in outdoor area. I didn’t ask, but it seems as though it is the Succah area. The menu includes pizza, pasta, and sandwiches.
The meat buffet has a variety of hot chicken, meat, and fish options. There are also a variety of salads, breads, and desserts.
Each room is equipped with a coffee maker, a kum-kum with Shabbos mode, and various coffees and teas. If you would like to order sandwiches to go, that is available as well.
The Hotel Itself
While this post is really intended to be about kosher food in Prague, I will add a few things about the hotel itself.
The rooms are well appointed with the standard hotel amenities such as mini-bar, safe, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, and various toiletries. Additionally, there are sinks outside the bathroom with negel vasser cups, Shabbos lamps, Shabbos toilet paper, and Shabbos kum-kum. (Note: we were not there over Shabbos.)
One thing that was lacking was that bathtubs are only available in the highest class of rooms. This may be an issue for those travelling with small children. Also, the top floor is only accessible by stairs from the floor below. It also did not appear to be handicap accessible (i.e. very stroller friendly)—although there may be alternative means of access for those needing it that we did not see.
These downsides, though, are very common in boutique hotels. Particularly in older cities. The buildings were often built centuries before plumbing and electricity.
It’s important to note that the hotel is located about a 10–15-minute walk from the famous astronomical clock and about a 15-20 minute walk from the Charles Bridge or the Jewish Quarter. There are other hotels closer to the other shuls and restaurants. But those don’t cater to the kosher and Shabbos observant guest. Sometimes it’s nice to have something all inclusive.
All signage in the hotel is in English and Hebrew. However, the tours that can be arranged through the front desk are all in Hebrew—which was the majority language I heard spoken by other guests.
Pertinent Details
Kashrus Info: Chief Rabbinate of Prague and Rabbi Eliyahu Rotenberg of Jerusalem; Glatt L’Mehadrin, Cholov Yisroel, Pas Yisroel
Address: Hybernska 42, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
Tel: +420 224 100 100
Fax: +420 224 100 180
Israeli number: 03-9119388
(WhatsApp at +420 774 002 530)
Email: info@hotelkingdavid.cz
Reservation: reservation@hotelkingdavid.cz
Shelanu Pizzeria
On day two we decided to hit the local pizza shop for lunch. It’s located about 1-2 blocks from the Altneushul.
Shelanu looked like a typical casual Italian restaurant complete with red and white checked tablecloths. However, the Asian looking man running the place seemed perfectly conversant in Hebrew! He spoke to us in English and everyone else in Hebrew. I’m not even sure he spoke Czech.
The food was good, however, neither of us ordered pizza—which I think we both regretted since it looked so good on the other tables.
The menu consists of pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wraps, salads, milkshakes, and various coffees. My mother enjoyed her tuna melt and the pasta I ordered was good, but it was my third choice (first two were unavailable). I don’t know if that was related to global supply chain issues or if it’s just typical of the availability of kosher food in Prague. We’ll see what happens next time…
Pertinent Details
Kashrus Info: Chabad of Prague; Cholov Yisroel and Pas Yisroel
Address: Břehová 208/8, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
The Chabad Grill
I didn’t know that my mother had opted for a meat restaurant for dinner hoping to have a hot dog. We’d seen them being cooked all over the streets of town and I guess she got a craving. However, there were no hot dogs to be found at The Chabad Grill. It’s more of a fine dining restaurant.
I hope she was satisfied with her entrecote steak and grilled vegetable skewers. I know I was with my rib eye steak and fries. They also have multi-course prix fixe menu options. The menu includes soups, appetizers and limited desserts, as well as wine, cocktails, and local beer.
The Chabad Grill is located inside the Chabad Maharal Center, a few blocks from the center of the Old Jewish Quarter (ie the tourist area). I didn’t check, but I’m sure depending on the time of year you can catch a minyan before or after dinner.
Pertinent Details
Kashrus Info: Chabad of Prague; Glatt Kosher
Contact Info: U Milosrdných 6
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 1:00 PM-10:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
Trdelnik & Coffee
I’m sure anyone who has been to Prague has seen the traditional Czech sweet pastry “Trdelnik” cooking on an open fire—literally. As you walk the streets you see this pastry cooking on a spit rotating over burning coals. This cooking method is where the name, translated as “spit cake” comes from. However, understandably that’s not good marketing. So, the English signs read “chimney cake”. It looks beautiful and smells delicious. AND IT’S EVERYWHERE! Every other shop seems to be a Trdelnik shop. And in the winter, they are all over the place outdoors.
And You Can Get It Kosher
Those looking for kosher food in Prague will not be disappointed and will also get to sample this delicious local favorite. Trdelnik & Coffee, located in the heart of the Old Jewish Quarter, has you covered.
Think of Trdelnik as a churro coiled around a hollow space about the diameter of your forearm. You can eat it in the “classic” style—meaning plain. But, why would you want to do that when you could fill it with ice cream, apples, strawberries, chocolate, plum jam, lotus butter, whipped cream, etc?
I went into Trdelnik & Coffee thinking that since I keep Cholov Yisroel, I would only be able to order the “classic”. I was wrong! They had several pareve options; and I enjoyed one filled with lotus butter, strawberries, and whipped cream. I also ordered a latte and was able to have it made with Cholov Yisroel milk by request.
Another local specialty available at Trdelnik & Coffee is mulled wine. This is wine that is spiced, sweetened, mixed with fruit, and served warm. It was also delicious, perfect on a cold day, and surprisingly not too sweet. Although that may have just been in juxtaposition to the uber sweet Trdelnik.
When traveling, I love to be able to try local cuisine. I was happy to be able to find that kosher option in Prague.
Pertinent Details
Kashrus Info: Chief Rabbinate of Prague; pareve and dairy with certain Cholov Yisroel options upon request; Pas Yisroel Sunday thru Friday (non-Jewish owned so open on Shabbos)
Address: U Starého Hřbitova 42/2
Hours: Monday through Friday 11:00 AM-6:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
Unfortunately, we were only there for two days. So, we didn’t have a chance to try all the kosher food in Prague. Below is a brief synopsis of a few we did not try.
U-Milo
U-Milo is a dairy (Cholov Yisroel) Italian sit-down restaurant only a couple doors down from The Chabad Grill. All the advertising we saw around town indicated that it was new—although it could be old advertising😉 .
From the outside it looked nice and I would definitely try it out on a future visit (and update here).
Pertinent Details
Kashrus Info: Chabad of Prague; Cholov Yisroel and Pas Yisroel
Address: U Milosrdných 4
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 8:30 AM-10:00 PM
Closed Friday
Saturday Night 30 Minutes after Shabbos-11:30 PM
Shalom Restaurant
This is a meat restaurant that is currently only open for lunch and Shabbos (by pre-order).
Pertinent Details
Kashrus Info: Chief Rabbinate of Prague; Glatt
Address: Maiselova 250 (in the Jewish Town Hall)
Hours: Monday thru Friday 11:30 AM-2:00 PM and Shabbos meals by reservation
More to Come
The availability of kosher food in Prague continues to expand. We heard a new meat restaurant was opening a few days after we left. I’m looking forward to updating this post when I go back.
Kosher Store
There is a kosher grocery in the Jewish Town Hall. I did not visit as it is closed on Tuesdays, which is when I was in the area. But they do carry Cholov Yisroel products, amongst other things.
Pertinent Details
Address: Maiselova 250 (in the Jewish Town Hall)
Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
Friday 10:30 AM-3:00 PM
Chabad Kosher Mini-Market
There is a small kosher grocery in the basement of the Chabad Center (ie downstairs from The Chabad Grill).
Address: U Milosrdných 6 (downstairs)
Hours: Daily 12:30 PM-10:30 PM
Traveling with a Big Group
If you are looking for kosher food in Prague for a large group, there is a space in the same area as the grocery that is blocked off by a mechitza and can be used for group dining. When we were there, there was what looked like a group tour of girls in their late-teens/early-twenties enjoying a meal together. (We didn’t go to the grocery, but it shares a restroom with the restaurant.)
A Word of Caution
It is important to always confirm current kashrus status of any place you decide to eat and be sure to maintain the standards that you are accustomed to. Prague sees a very large number of Israeli tourists. As such, within the areas of Jewish interest, there are several restaurants with Hebrew signage and menus. Not all of them are kosher.
Helpful Tips
Prior to my trip, I was in touch with both the local Chabad Rabbi as well as the Office of the Chief Rabbi (amongst others). Both were very helpful. They both confirmed that Rav Moshe Feinstein’s heter for chalav stam that applies in the US, applies locally as well. And the Chief Rabbi’s office sent me a 2 PDFs of over 30 pages each of guidelines and kosher products available locally.
There are many vacation destinations that require additional logistics and planning for the kosher traveler. Fortunately for those looking for kosher food in Prague, there are enough options to satisfy anyone.
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