by Emily Bertha and Gabby Brooks
The Czech Republic isn’t known for their healthy diet. People here drink more beer than any other country. Popular national dishes include goulash (a beef and gravy dish), roasted pork, and sausage. But recently, more and more vegetarian and vegan restaurants have been popping up around Prague. If you follow a plant-based diet, or just miss eating vegetables, here are a few restaurants worth checking out:
1. Lehká Hlava or “Clear Head”
This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants we have been to. I dragged nine non-vegetarians here for my birthday celebration, and some of them went in with an attitude of “ew, they are just going to serve leaves.” But everyone ended up loving their dishes. When meat lovers are satisfied then you know a vegetarian restaurant is successful.
Lehká Hlava can be a bit pricey for Prague’s standards, but it’s still definitely less than most vegetarian meals in New York. We sampled their guacamole, which was delicious and super exciting since it can be hard to find avocados here. The menu offers a huge variety including Thai curry, tacos, veggie burgers, and raw vegan desserts. We ordered the skewers (mostly just because it is fun to say “skewers”) and would highly recommend them. The mushroom pasta dish and quesadillas also did not fail to impress.
The atmosphere of the section of the room we were in added to our satisfaction. There was a fireplace, and the ceiling was blue with lights in it that gave off a feeling more magical than the first bite of quesadilla. They have particularly good lunch deals, and it’s only about a 10 minute walk from campus. We would advise making reservations when going for dinner.
Lehká Hlava is located at Boršov 280/2, 110 00 Praha 1.
2. Maitrea
The larger sister restaurant of Clear Head, Maitrea, is not as good as the OG, but nothing ever is (with the possible exception of Shrek 2). Maitrea’s menu offers more Asian dishes, but I ordered the vegetarian goulash which came with potatoes. I was potato-ed out after my first week in Prague but quite enjoyed these ones. I was not a fan of the goulash, which contained seitan instead of meat. However, that is mostly because one piece of seitan was in the shape of a cockroach, so I got it in my head that I was eating cockroaches and could not enjoy it. But do not let my delusion deter you. I sampled a coconut and rice combination and enjoyed that. Service was prompt, but even though I went at 4pm, all the tables were reserved. We had to be out by 6:30, which was not a problem, but if you are a slow eater, I would again recommend calling ahead to make reservations. As for the atmosphere, I much prefered Clear Head’s homey, earthy feel. Maitrea has beige walls and is going for a more minimalist, fung shui deal. It is about a 7 minute walk from campus depending on how many tourists on segways block your path and slow you down.
Maitrea is located at Týnská ulička 1064/6, 110 00 Praha 1.
3. Country Life
Cheap, fast, and a one minute walk from campus, Country Life is good if you are in a rush and want some healthy vegetarian food. The restaurant is buffet-style, and you pay by the weight. There are additional fees for drinks and desserts. While it is convenient, the food is subpar. The food sits out all day heated by lamps, and the options are mostly mushy tofu dishes in sauce. This is not the place for a birthday dinner, but it is fine for a quick meal in between classes. Country Life also has a grocery store attached to the restaurant, and a few other locations around Prague, that offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free products.
Country Life is located at Melantrichova 15, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha 1.
4. Beas Dhaba
Also a buffet restaurant, Beas Dhaba is definitely a better option than Country Life. Sometimes Czech food can be lacking in flavor, but this vegetarian-friendly Indian restaurant certainly makes up for that. For less than 150 crowns, you can get a huge plate of a variety of delicious foods like samosas, naan, and curries with legumes, vegetables, and potatoes. This is also less than a ten minute walk from campus. Since it is a casual buffet restaurant, it is also ideal for a quick lunch in between classes.
Beas Dhaba is located at Týnská 19, 110 00 Praha 1.
5. Moment
This vegan cafe is on the same block as Slezská, so if you live there or are in the neighborhood, it is definitely worth a visit. They offer a huge menu that changes daily. Even though I have been there many times, I am not even close to getting sick of it. You can get cafe fares like coffee and pastries, but they also offer brunch, lunch, and dinner foods. They are very dog friendly, so all the more reason for those who love petting animals, not eating them, to visit.
Moment Cafe is located at Sleszká 62 120 00, Praha 2.
6. Radost FX
If you live in Slezská or Machová dorms, you will probably make it to this restaurant/ record store/ bar/ club at some point. They are most known for their club, which has a themed hip hop night every Thursday. Rihanna even filmed her music video for “Please Don’t Stop the Music” here.
Yet eating is just as big as dancing here. The food is definitely worth trying. Radost offers a variety of cuisines from Mexican to Thai, and they also have a huge menu of cocktails. We took another non-vegetarian friend here who loved it. Pro tip: get their nachos.
Radost FX is located at Bělehradská 234/120, 120 00 Praha.
