8 Places in Prague for Cheap Local Lunches: A Guide to Polední Menu

Polední menu is a Czech tradition of a fixed lunch menu that restaurants and pubs offer on weekdays during set hours (usually from 11:00–11:30 to 14:30–15:00): soup, a main course, and sometimes a drink or dessert, all for a set price noticeably lower than the evening menu. It's a great way to try Czech cuisine (and more) without overpaying — here's a selection for anyone who wants to eat like a local, whether you're a tourist between sightseeing stops or someone working in the city centre.

Lokál Dlouhá, Prague 1

This legendary pub, part of the Ambiente group, sits at Dlouhá 33 in Prague 1 — historically the first and longest-running "Lokál", serving beer from 12 tanks and drawing up to 1,300 guests a day thanks to its buzzing address in the heart of Prague. During lunch hours, a separate daytime menu with soups and hot dishes is available; the place is known for down-to-earth prices and generous portions — travelers regularly praise Lokál Dlouhá for its affordability, hearty servings, and excellent value, especially considering its central location.

Pasta Fresca, Prague 1

An Italian bistro on Celetná Street, right in the heart of the Old Town. This cosy restaurant with great pasta offers a lunch menu that includes soup plus a choice of three main courses. Prices here are remarkably reasonable for the Old Town, which is why it's such a popular spot for Praguers grabbing a quick lunch with colleagues or family.

Pastacaffé Vězeňská, Prague 1

This Italian eatery is housed in the building of the Spanish Synagogue on Vězeňská Street in the Old Town. If you're wandering around the Old Town and hunger strikes, you can choose one of three hot dishes here after your soup — and beyond the lunch menu, a regular à la carte menu is also available for those who arrive after lunch hours.

Kyvadlo, V Jámě 5, Prague 1

An atmospheric restaurant near Wenceslas Square, named after an Edgar Allan Poe short story. Meat lovers should drop by for lunch: the midday menu runs from 12:00 to 16:00, with starters from 39 CZK and mains from 129 CZK. It's one of the longest lunch windows among central Prague eateries — handy if your plans shift around.

Zapomenutý čas, Anglická 23, Vinohrady, Prague 2

A First Republic-style restaurant in Vinohrady, near Náměstí Míru. Located in Prague's Vinohrady district, it serves both Czech and international cuisine, with a garden open in summer, and offers a lunch menu on weekdays from 11:00 to 15:00. The restaurant's own website highlights its lively midday menu, a charming courtyard garden great for groups, burgers, and seven kinds of draft beer.

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Restaurace Hybernská, Prague 1

Czech cuisine right in the city centre, near the street of the same name by the Powder Tower. The restaurant serves Czech classics, ribs, and a lunch menu, while evenings bring a daily selection of beers, wines, and cocktails. A solid choice if you're after classic home-style cooking without frills, at a fair price.

Tonkin, Prague 5 (near Anděl) and Dejvice

A Vietnamese bistro just steps from the Anděl metro station in Prague 5. One food blogger notes that this is mainly a lunch spot — it's five minutes from work near Anděl, the food is excellent, and the lunch menu costs 100–130 CZK. The bistro recently opened a second location in Dejvice at Na hutích 9 — convenient if you're exploring that neighbourhood.

Café Savoy, Vítězná 5, Malá Strana, Prague 5

A beautiful Viennese-style café-restaurant dating back to 1893, located in Malá Strana near the Újezd tram stop. One of Prague's largest and most successful café-restaurants, it offers excellent food and an extensive wine list — an ideal spot for a refined breakfast or lunch. A daytime lunch menu is available here too, and the First Republic atmosphere, complete with ornate ceiling stucco, turns lunch into a proper occasion rather than a quick bite.

All these places share the golden rule of polední menu: get there before 3pm on a weekday, and lunch in the very heart of Prague will cost you a fraction of the evening menu. Do check current hours and menu offerings on the venues' websites or Google Maps before you go, as dishes and prices are updated weekly, and some places pause their lunch menu on especially busy days.

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Source: aroundprague.cz

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