The real place to enjoy Czech beer is a pub or beer hall (pivnice). Each pub is supplied by a single brewery (pvovar), so only one brand of beer is available, but several different types are on offer.
The usual drink is draught light beer (svetle), but a
number of beer halls, including U Fleku (see below) also serve special strong dark lagers (ask for tmave).
A half litre of beer (just under a pint) is called a velke (large), and a third of a litre (larger than a half pint) is called a male (small). The waiters bring beers and snacks to your table and mark everything you eat and drink on a tab. In some pubs there is a tacit assumption that all the customers want to go on drinking until closing time, so don't be surprised if more beers arrive without your ordering them. If you don't want them, just say no. The bill is totted up when you leave.
Pivovar U Fleku
Kremencova 9, Praha 1, Tel.: 02-296879,02-291709
Prvni Novomestsky Restauracni Pivovar
Vodickova 20, 110 00 Praha 1, Tel.: 02/2423 3533
Ma-Fr 10-23:30,
Sa 11:30-23:30
Su 12-22
Founded: 1993
This brewery is inside a restaurant reminiscent of 'Old Prague. While this micro-brewery just off of Wenceslas Square is one of Prague's largest restaurants - with five cavernous rooms - it's often difficult to find a seat. The slightly sweet 11 degree Lavek beer isn't cloudy due to improper brewing, but rather because the yeast isn't strained out after brewing, as it would be at a large commercial brewery.
Pivovar Branik
Udolni 212/1, 147 00 Praha 4, Tel.: 02/461841-5, 463002
Founded: 1898
Types of beer: 10% Branik, 12% Branik lager