Food and catering

Czechs say love comes through the stomach and the love for Prague is no exception. Help us to produce, process and sell food in ways that are environmentally-friendly and help the people of the metropolis.

A popular organic alternative to shopping for food in supermarkets in Prague today are farmers' markets. In addition to mostly selling regional food unencumbered by the carbon footprint of transporting it halfway across the planet, they are an ideal business platform for local producers and the local economy. Both are important: by buying you are supporting sustainable agriculture, and you have the opportunity to get authentic information about the origin of the food and the way it is grown. Therefore, give preference to direct producers over middlemen, whose origin is far less transparent.

Most farmers' markets also use plastic-free packaging, some even have this obligation enshrined in their market regulations. Packaging-free (in your own containers or bags) sales are preferred, then also reusable packaging (jars, keep cups, etc.) and finally packaging made of recyclable materials.

Apart from interesting shopping, you can get to know the authentic life of Prague’s residents: Spontaneous neighbourhood meetings are held here, and local artisans and craftspeople present their wares. With the necessary respect for the local community, you will experience the real atmosphere of the metropolis, free from the inevitable mass tourism of the popular walking routes in the historic centre.

Among the most popular farmers' markets are those on náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad, Vítězné náměstí in Dejvice, at Anděl, on Tylově náměstí and Řezáčově náměstí in Holešovice. Visit at least some of them.

Local products

More often than raw materials, however, you will certainly buy ready-made food in Prague. Again, please give preference to locally produced food that has not burdened the planet with emissions and other negative external influences. Freshly pressed apple juice is certainly more environmentally friendly in Prague than fresh orange juice or avocado spread.

Acting responsibly and sustainably certainly does not mean giving up on high-quality and interesting gastronomy. On the contrary, local cuisine will bring you many times more interesting culinary experiences than the uniform menus of multinational food chains. Try typical Prague bistros such as KRO in Vinohrady, which offers chicken from nearby farms, local bakeries such as Antonín's, or one of the cafés offering fair trade coffee. In many outdoor cafés in particular, disposable cups, trays and cutlery made from recyclable materials are now commonplace (Hlína café in the Hybernská Campus).

Vegetarian restaurants

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants, whose meat-free catering strategy is helping to reduce greenhouse gases produced by the mass rearing of slaughterhouse animals, are also expanding rapidly. In addition to chains such as Loving Hut and Country Life, Prague offers a number of vegetarian or vegan establishments with a unique atmosphere determined not only by the specific offer of meatless or plant-based cuisine, but also by the location and the regular clientele. These include, for example, the Sandokan vegan bistro in Vinohrady, the Natureza restaurant in Malá Strana or one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Prague, Lehká hlava in Old Town. The first flexitarian restaurant in our country - Spojka Karlín - is definitely worth a visit. This restaurant is frequented by customers who very much prefer a plant-based diet, but sometimes also include meat in their diet, paying great attention to its origin. 

Street food

Street food concepts also increasingly take into account the ecological burden that the production, sale and consumption of food in Prague represents. Increasingly common are low-cost mobile café concepts with a minimal impact on the surrounding environment, distribution of food in reusable boxes and returnable cups (e.g. re-kelimek.cz), edible packaging concepts (wafer cones and bowls, vine and cabbage leaves, seaweed, split fruit).

Packaging-free shops

If you are thinking about how to reduce the waste you produce during your stay in Prague, we recommend shops where you can buy quality products in your own reusable containers.
The assortment includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also homeware, natural cosmetics, cereals, pulses, nuts, drinks, etc.  Spolková prodejna self-service stores is located in Dejvice. For more tips on packaging-free stores, visit Vegezione.cz.