Beyond Beer: A Guide to the Best Wine Bars in Prague
Think Prague is only for beer drinkers? We explore the city's vinotéky culture. Here is an authentic guide to the best wine bars in Prague for a quiet, affordable glass.
I used to think wine bars were pretentious hangouts, to be honest.
I had this idea of them as stiff, quiet places where you needed to know your terroir from your tannins just to get a drink. But Prague completely changed my mind.
I went with a very close friend, and it turned out to be the perfect city for us. We are walkers. We did about 12 kilometres pretty much every day for four days, and when you walk that much, you aren't looking for "luxury" – you are looking for a chair.
We were glad to sit at a wine bar whenever we found one, and in Prague, that is surprisingly easy.
The city is delicately seasoned with vinotéky (wine bars) on every street corner. Most people associate Prague with pilsner – and rightly so – but the wine culture here is actually ancient. It goes back to the 14th century when Emperor Charles IV, who had a taste for French wine, ordered vineyards to be planted all over the city’s hillsides.
While the vineyards are mostly gone from the centre, the culture remains. These aren’t stuffy tasting rooms; they are neighbourhood spots. To me, they gave us permission to just be. To sit. Relax. Enjoy the simplest delights in life. Time stops for a few hours.
Here were the three that made our list – for the wine, of course, but also for the ambience, the service, and the food.
1. IKONA Wine Bar
This was the first one we found when exploring the area that's around the castle, and nothing else hit the spot quite like it. It’s in Malá Strana and feels modern but warm. There's delicious cured meat and cheeses available.
2. Wine Bar Vinoteka U Mourenina
If you want the classic Prague feel, this is it. It’s a cellar space near the Lesser Town Square. It’s small, dimly lit, and feels like a hideout. It’s the kind of place that feels perfect after a long day of walking on cobblestones. The service we received there was one of the warmest during our trip!
3. Lot of Wine
This spot is in the Old Town. As the name suggests, there is a lot of wine to choose from, French, Czech, Italian etc. However, I know what I like so I stuck with my usual taste profile – integrated oak/vanilla, medium-full body, and balanced acidity. In my defence, I did entertain the sommelier with a few tastings, but I kept coming back to that one I'd first set my eyes on (upon AI's, so far consistently good, recommendation).
If you are in Prague, take the time to check them out. You don't need to be an expert. You just need to be ready to slow down.
About me...I'm Lorna Rose and, by day, I work in the tech industry, but in my heart of hearts, I've always been fascinated by the story that food tells. The magic of a well-cooked meal, the way a simple dish can bring people together, spark conversation, and create lasting memories. On Happy Bellies, I set out to explore and find hidden gems, so that I can indulge in telling stories around food that will make you want to go out and create your own foodie adventures.
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