Hey everyone. I'm doing a really special trip with my dad who just retired and my sister to Prague-Bratislava-Levice-Kosice-and then circle back to Prague via the High Tatras. As my sister does not drink, I am limiting the beercentric aspect of this trip, but would like to sample some good local beer in any/all of these regions. Bars are less likely since I don't want to bore the sis, so I'm hoping to tie into good restaurants. So basically, what are some good restaurants in those regions that have good/great quality beer? I'm not a huge pils guy and generally prefer Belgian styles, but I'd like to see what the area has to offer. Thanks everyone. PS - I saw the thread for Bratislava so I'm familiar with the rec for http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23898/?view=beerfly&ba=LambicKing which sounds good.
I love Prague. Have been there twice. I would love to go back sometime. Klasterni Pivovar Strahov is a nice brewpub at the Strahov monastary up by Prague Castle. Good beers and good food. http://www.klasterni-pivovar.cz/ U-Medvidku is a large pub serving tankova Budvar. Excellent fresh Budvar. It also has a small brewery upstairs and a gift shop selling Czech beer t-shirts and beer glasses/mugs. http://www.umedvidku.cz/ Galerie Piva is a small beer shop just off of the Charles Bridge. Everyone goes to see the bridge! It has some very good Czech beers that I didn't see anywhere else on my travels, including Opat and Kocour beers. http://www.czechbeershop.com/en/index.html There are lots of beer places in Prague. Have fun!
Nearly every restaurant will have beer, so don't stress about finding on that doesn't. Pub culture is huge in the Czech Republic. The hard part is finding variety with beer, as most bars stock some form of the big breweries - Pilsner Urquell/Gambrinus, Budvar, Staropramen, etc. - think the BMC here, but legitimately good beer. So if you're looking beer-centric at any point, you might need to explore U Medvidku is great and very central. Also check out U Fleku, a pub dating to 1499 - you can have a beer or two and hit somewhere else, but beware as the shots they pass around are not free! Off the top of my head, I would also say U Vejvodu, U Sadu, or Konvikt, depending on how far you stray from the center. Message me if you still haven't gone, I'm sure to remember a few more
When you are in the High Tatras (which are gorgeous), Stary Smokovec is a nice town, but we didn't see any (nor did we really look) good bars/beer. But if you head to Tatranska Lomnica, there's a great little "log cabin-like" restaurant/bar there called Humno with a nice selection of beer for the area (you can google it)...very solid Czech/Slovak and German styles. Sorry, don't remember seeing any Belgian stuff. Random point - We're told the Escalade hanging upside down from the rafters was a gift from Madonna...as a result of her time in Prague. FWIW, I don't know if you are going to Levice for a specific reason or not, but my fiancee tells me it's a dump. She's from Trencín. Have fun on your travels!
