Pilsen Restaurant Prag: Art Deco & Prague Food

I’d been enjoying the Art Deco architecture and decor of the buildings in Prague, Czech Republic and went on a search for a dinner spot that would be just as intriguing to the eye but delicious to boot. The Pilsner Urquell brewery of the Municipal House immediately piqued my fancy and off we went.

Beginning its operation on January 5, 1912, this restaurant in Prague prepares a menu of Czech traditional dishes. The meals are hearty, the decor is artistic and fun, and to top it off, they have an accordion player on staff that will amp up the festive atmosphere.

Pilsen Restaurant Prag, Prague, Czech Republic; Art Deco restaurant

Looking for a place to eat in Prague? I’ve got a spot for you:

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Basic Info

Address: Náměstí Republiky 5, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
Hours: Every day: 11:30am ~ 11:00pm

Architectural Splendor

The Municipal House itself is a marvel, built in 1912 on the site of the former Royal Court to celebrate the Czech nation. It’s a blend of various architectural styles, predominantly Art Nouveau with neo-Baroque, neo-Renaissance, and even oriental influences.

This unique mix of styles makes the Municipal House one of the jewels of Prague’s architectural heritage. The restaurant has that typical Hofbräuhaus charm which was exactly what we were looking for.

Where Is It Exactly?

Finding the Municipal House Cellar can be a bit of a challenge, as it’s tucked away beneath the Municipal Hall. However, the effort is well worth it.

As you enter the main doors of the building, you might be confused as upon entering you’ll notice a restaurant on both the left and right sides of the building. Taking a look at the menu, I was sure these were not what I’d seen online, so continuing straight, we came upon a staircase up that leads to a theater. The theater attendant let us know that we should head down the staircase to the right.

There is an elevator, but it didn’t seem to be operating when we visited, so if you’re looking for a place with easy accessibility, this may not be it. The staircase does provide some nice inlays to enjoy as you make your way down the two flights of stairs though.

The Restaurant’s Unique Ambiance

Located in the basement, the original Pilsner restaurant is a masterpiece of arts and crafts. The space is adorned with three stunning paintings in ceramic mosaic, and the interior has been meticulously restored to reflect its original glory. We visited on a weeknight and I wondered if on the weekends the Hofbräuhaus becomes more of the bustling space you’d expect of a space like this.

Faithful reproductions of window boxes, tables, chairs, lamps, and clocks, along with original ceramic tiles and decorative stained-glass windows, transport you back to an era of elegance and charm.

The Festive Feast

The food at the Municipal House Cellar is traditional, hearty, and plentiful. We started with the Nakládaný hermelín, or pickled hermelin, a dish made with Czech camembert, hot pepper, garlic, and herbs. The idea of pickled cheese… or is pickled toppings we wondered, sounded interesting. Served with bread, it was delightful. I could definitely have eaten more of this.

For our mains, we ordered the baked duck with red cabbage and potato dumplings. You can order a 1/2 or 1/4 of the duck making it a great dish to share, which we did. Delicious and enticing.

Having had an amazing pork knuckle when I was in Cologne, Germany, I was looking forward to the Czech version to see how it stood up. The pork knuckle was enormous and delicious. The flavors were on point, both crunchy and juicy just the way I like my pork knuckle, the portion size ensured no one left hungry. Don’t be afraid to share!

To round out our taste test, I ordered the Bavarian spätzle with creamy mushroom ragout. Our meals up until this point were very meat heavy and we expected both the pork knuckle baked duck to be quite big, which they were, so it was good to have something a bit different on the table. Just as filling, to be fair, it was a nice way to round out the meal with something a little different.

From the beautifully restored decor to the friendly and vibrant ambiance, every aspect of the Municipal House Cellar makes it a great restaurant in Prague to enjoy for an evening.

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