Vegetarian and Healthy options

The phrase “healthy food in Prague” may seem an oxymoron. All you herbivores out there are probably having a hard time getting away from fried cheese, fried cauliflower and dumplings drizzling with gravy. It is even possible that, much to your chagrin, you have found scraps of mystery meat lurking in your “vegetarian” dishes. Miniscule salads drowned in creamy dressing are not exactly a treat either. Don’t despair, however, a handful of restaurants do exist which offer healthy, hearty, meatless dishes.

Bar Bar
Všehrdova 17, P1
Tel.: 532941, daily 11-24
Metro: Malostranská
Salads are fresh and tasty, the crepes are light and delectable. Eveything is prepared with care and the results, but not the prices, reflect it. The Viennese Salad with chicken and a variety of veggies is a great dish to try, and the dessert crepes are special treats.

City Go-Go
Štepánská 32, P1
Tel.: 2421 7044
Daily M-Sa 11-23
Metro: Mustek
Falafel and goulash are served side by side at this cafeteria-style restaurant. When speed is the priority, this is the place to go for quick, quality bite.

Country Life
Jungmannova 1, P1
Tel.: 2419-1739
M-Th 9:30-18:30, F 10-15
Metro: Národní trída
Melantrichova 15, P1
Tel.: 2421-3366
M-Th 7:30-18:30, Su 12-18
Metro: Mustek
A caféteria-like vegetarian establishment offers a variety of ready-made selections including sandwiches, salads, veggie burgers and goulash. Don’t get frightened by the long line – it moves quickly and it’s not difficult to squeeze yourself into a chair at someone’s already cramped table. Visit the health food store on the way out and pick up items to cook at home.

Erra
Konviktská 11, P1
Tel.: 2423 3427, daily 9-23
Delicious and creative salads are artfully prepared at Erra. The business lunch crowd gives way to a more artsy dinner scene.

Gafrujola
Rathova pasáž, Ovocný trh 12, P1
Tel.: 2163 7171
M-Sa 10-19
Metro: Nám. Republiky
A caféteria-like restaurant, featuring a variety of hot and cold vegetarian dishes. Many of the hot dishes look like meat, but are actually hearty and creative vegetarian concoctions. You won’t leave here hungry.

Govinda Vegetarian Club
Soukenická 27, P1
M-F 11-17, Sa 8-17
Metro: Nám. Republiky
Na hrázi 5, P8
M-F 12-18
Metro: Palmovka
A vegetarian restaurant run by the Hare Krishnas, it offers the vegetarian potluck meal of the day for a mere 55 Kc. Cheap, quick, and tasty.

La Creperie
Janovského 4, P7
Tel.: 878040
M-Sa 12-23
Metro: Vltavská
French owned wine bar which serves crepes.

Lotos
Platnérská 13, P1
Tel.: 232 2390
Daily 11-22
Metro: Staromestská
Dishes are creatively concocted with only the healthiest and purest ingredients at this quiet and classy restaurant.

Medúza
Belgická 19, P2
No phone
Daily 11-2
Metro: Nám. Míru
A romantic café furnished with dilapidated antique tables and frequented by Prague’s young intellectual set. The service is unbelievably slow, but the laid-back patrons don’t seem to mind. One of the few cafés in town to offer a non-smoking section.

Il Panino
Linhartská 2, P1
No phone
Open: M-Sa 10-20, Su noon-20
Metro: Staromestská
Even though it is only half a block off of Malé námestí, few tourists seem to find their way to this Italian-owned café offering a dozen kinds of grappa and other Italian treats.

T.G.I. Friday’s
Na príkope 12, P1
Tel.: 2421 0204
Daily 11-24
Metro: Mustek/Nám. Republiky
You’ll find the same atmosphere, decor and gregarious wait staff characteristic of Friday’s everywhere. Although the menu is not as extensive as elsewhere, healthy options include salads, baked potatoes, or grilled chicken with pasta and veggies.

Zlatá Praha
Hotel Intercontinental
nám. Curieových 43/5, P1
Tel.: 2488 9914, 2488 9916
Metro: Staromestská
Large, fresh salads, with or without grilled chicken on top, are among the healthy options here. Guiltless and convenient after a workout at the hotel fitness club.

Politics has always been done, and is still done, over a beer or with a glass of wine. The vote is then taken on the stairway. Jaroslav Hašek, The Good Soldier Švejk