Pivovarský dům Benedikt in Prague: a microbrewery with history and a tasting menu

In Prague's New Town, on Ječná Street 16, just steps from the Štěpánská tram stop, you'll find Pivovarský dům Benedikt, a restaurant-microbrewery — one of the oldest and best-known establishments of its kind in the Czech capital, which reopened in August 2022 following renovation.

The venue occupies the ground floor of a six-storey functionalist building constructed in 1937 by architect Gustav Paul as the headquarters of the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting — an institute that still operates there today. The 140-seat restaurant first opened its doors in spring 1998 and, according to available records, quickly became one of Prague's most popular spots: the menu always featured at least eight varieties of beer, with its own microbrewery producing roughly 1,000 hectolitres a year.

A few years ago the establishment seemed to have closed for good, but it was bought out by Benedikt group s.r.o., which resumed brewing in partnership with the Břevnov Monastery Brewery of St. Adalbert. Thanks to this collaboration, the menu today spans both classic Czech lagers and unusual flavours — coffee, cherry, blueberry, even banana beer.

Signature dishes include slow-braised "Benedikt" beef goulash on an onion base served with dumplings, fried pork sirloin schnitzels in a sesame crust, beef sirloin in cream sauce, duck leg confit with red beetroot cabbage and potato pancakes, as well as braised pork neck with pumpkin gnocchi and spinach. Draught beer prices range from 69 to 89 CZK, most dishes cost around 295 CZK, and the duck leg is priced at 395 CZK.

The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 to 23:30, and guests are advised to book a table in advance.

Read also: U Černého vola: the Hradčany pub where time stopped in 1965

Around Prague, based on reporting by turistika.cz