Czech Easter is a spring holiday that is still bound by a lot of traditions, although the religious aspect of it has subsided in time given the fact that Czechs don’t really do organized religion very much. (According to the latest census, only about 11% of the Czechs said they were actively religious.)
The most peculiar tradition - and one that is the hardest to explain to foreign guests of our Prague food tours without raised eyebrows or bursts of laughter - is the pomlázka, where men whip the women on their behinds with whips made of willow branches. This still goes on - if the 21st Century has arrived, the Czechs haven’t got the memo. This post is not about that, so if you want to here more about this weirdness - or “rich cultural heritage” depending on where you stand on it, click here to read our blog post about it.
In any case, there are also many traditional Czech Easter meals, usually revolving around lamb, eggs, and spring, so while we don’t do religion, we at least eat as if we did. The classics include lamb of any kind, egg salads, stuffing with nettles or wild garlic. Also, loads of baking is involved - sweet bread on the form of lamb, or the classic “mazanec”, which is a challah-like sweet bread with raisins, almonds and lots of butter.
But where can you get a meal like that without having to spend the whole weekend making it… and probably failing at it? Well, you’re in luck - we have set up a small overview of Easter menus and specials by Prague restaurants that we like. Since this is early 2021, these are all offered for take out and can be ordered online and delivered to your home. So here we go!
U Matěje
We like U Matěje, the beautiful pub in the even more beautiful Hanspaulka district run by the veteran chef (and a judge on Czech Masterchef) Jan Punčochář. His pub turns out dishes that solid and deeply rooted in Czech culinary tradition. This Easter, they offer two three-course menus, which include lamb, quail filled with veal and mushroom ragout, rabbit entree, and their infamous caramel egg. We like this menu because it is straightforward and priced well at CZK 490 each.
Výčep
The „Wallachian pub“ in the Vinohrady districts is a favorite for traditional Czech dishes that pack a punch and show touches of haute cuisine. This Easter, they’ve prepared a menu for two with a wide variety of small dishes and condiments - nettle butter, their own cheese with herbs, egg salad and so on… with the main being suckling pig with nettle stuffing, kohlrabi sauerkraut and potato gnocchi. Also included in the CZK 1450 menu: ttwo great pear jam frgále for dessert and a big bottle of craft beer.
Vallmo
The modern Czech cuisine outpost over at Výtoň is offering an „Easter feast“ with lamb roulade and nettle stuffing, egg salad, wild garlic soup and mazanec Easter bread. CZK 1390 for a menu for two without wine, optional wine pairing available at CZK 600.
Mlýnec
The elegant restaurant with a view of the Charles Bridge (if you get the right table) has taken a different approach to Easter and offers an Easter brunch. The 8-course meal for two that includes spinach-pea soup, rabbit paté or quinoa salad… and a bottle of Prosecco… costs CZK 1390. God stuff.
La Rotonde / Alcron
It’s really nice to see La Rotonde back on the scene under the leadership of the young, promising chef Lukáš Hlaváček (whom we interviewed here). This Easter, La Rotonde offers a 4-course menu with all the usual suspects: lamb, nettle roulade and rabbit paté with fennel salad. The dessert (rhubarb crumble with lemon and thyme) also sounds delicious. It can all be yours for CZK 790. They also sell mazanec bread for CZK 200 and two types of baked lamb - gingerbread and biscotti. Excellent stuff.
Next Door & Imperial Café
The seasonal game of chef Pohlreich, the ubiquitous TV chef personality (he ran the Czech version of the Kitchen Nightmares program), has always been strong, and it’s no different this Easter. What’s great and different about his offerings is that they are always a la carte, as opposed to a fixed menu, so you can mix and match everything to your liking. This Easter, the standout is the whole roasted duck, and the veal leg with morel sauce and asparagus. Also notable is the gluten-free beránek sweet bread. Kudos for that.
Červený jelen
The humungous pub in the New Town, occupying three floors of a former bank with a 700+ seat capacity (gosh we hope their landlord has waived the rent during the lockdowns), is offering some traditional Easter dishes that sound very tasty. No fixed menu but a list of a la carte dishes that hit the right spots: lamb roulade, rabbit terrine, Kaiserschmarrn and so on. Good stuff.
Krystal Bistro
Karlín’s veteran restaurant that used to feed foodies way before it was the post-industrial up-and-coming hipster haven that it is today has another great offering for Easter - their Easter bag. It’s basically a 4-course meal that includes soup, rabbit or salmon rillettes, rabbit confit or lamb on wine, and chocolate mousse or blueberry dumpling. So except the soup, you can always choose between two meals for each course, which makes it ideal for families. Price? CZK 850 for two. A steal.
Café Savoy
The only Grand Café in Prague that serves really high quality food with modern touches and specialty coffee is offering lamb specials (lamb knuckle and lamb burger), chocolate eggs, some of which include vouchers for a meal at Savoy, and mazanec and beránek breads. You can order a la carte only: no fixed menus are offered, which we like.
Pastacaffé
The Italian restaurant of the ubiquitous Ambiente group surprisingly offers a pretty great Easter meal. We’re talking wild garlic soup, lamb knuckle with spinach and potato mash, and Easter stuffing for two. Includes a mazanec Easter bread. The price for two is CZK 1150 without and CZK 1650 with Nebbiolo wine.
Mezi srnky
Mezi srnky, the Vinohrady bistro that is at once incredibly popular AND flies below the radar of most, offers a great brunch box for two this Easter: chestnut stuffing muffins, croissants, almond Danishes with raisins, eggs with potato and onion mash… it can all be yours for CZK 790. Available Friday through Sunday.
Nejen bistro
Karlín’s Nejen bistro has a well-put together yet incredibly well-priced menu with one starter, two mains (lamb shoulder and fried breaded rabbit leg, and a fantastic dessert. At CZK 590, this is a steal.