Just A Pack’s Vegan Travel Tips For Prague

Having spent nearly a month in small towns of northern Italy with few vegan options aside from cheese-less pizza and pasta I was starting to feel starved for variety. So, needless to say when Michael and I decided to head to Prague and we discovered it was a paradise for traveling vegans I was thrilled…and a little confused. Wasn’t the country’s cuisine mostly made up of stewed meats, dumplings, and root vegetables? I boarded the bus from Milan with two missions. The first: to sample as much vegan food as I could get my hands on, naturally. The second: to try and figure out why Prague has such a vibrant vegetarian and vegan scene.

In the past decade vegetarian restaurants have been popping up all over Prague and at least eighteen of them are vegan. Nearly every day I would stumble upon a new one and no matter where I found myself in this magnificent city.

Apparently the growth is organic. Czech people have started to change their thinking and are very curious. They are happy to try vegan food even if it’s ingrained in them that if you don’t have meat in your food then you don’t have food.  Additionally, even though the past two years have brought about most of the new restaurants, vegetarian dining is nothing new to this city. Prague had four vegetarian restaurants before World War II.  Czechs are also very open, they like variety and because of the 2008 recession are now looking for quality over quantity when it comes to food. The last few years have also seen an influx of health food stores exposing locals to vegetarian and vegan products and since Czech’s are embracing international nutrition trends there is more of a market for vegetarian and vegan cuisine in Prague.

Thanks to the curious nature of Czechs I was fortunate enough to dine at several vegan/vegetarian restaurants and had my fill of insanely good food during my time in what is now my favorite city in Europe (sorry Paris). Here are just a few of the fantastic restaurants catering to herbivores you can have your pick from when you visit Prague.

LoVeg

LoVeg is just a stones throw from Charles Bridge. The restaurant’s owner, Karel Chlumec, wants to prove that you can “veganize” anything and his menu reflects that with its wide range of global cuisine. During my first visit to LoVeg I was not only treated to great food and delicious organic beer but also an excellent atmosphere, friendly wait staff (something not so easy to find in Prague), and a fantastic playlist in the background.

Though there were endless tempting options on the menu I had to order the burger, it was topped with tempeh “bacon” after all! The flavorful patty was made from red beets and chickpeas and accompanied by baked fries and a vegan mayo dipping sauce. A messy but delectable dish.

During my second visit, because once was not enough, I had the Indonesian specialty Nasi Goreng which was made from fried rice with Shiitake mushrooms, tempeh, and vegetables. A well seasoned, slightly spicy, and wonderfully flavored dish. Luckily I was dining with a friend and had a chance to try a veganized version of a traditional Czech dish that included a marinated root vegetable sauce with vegan cream and cranberries, served with “meat” and dumplings. Another hit.

The grand finale, and attention whore of the meal, was the raw raspberry cake for dessert. Made with a delicate, nutty crust, creamy raspberry filling, and luscious chocolate ganache topping. It was by far the best raw/vegan dessert I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Secret of Raw

Secret of Raw was opened in 2013. The owners Jan Plajner and Eva Kavkova want to share the Raw Diet with Prague and all the health benefits that come along with it. Their aim isn’t to convert people but simply to provide an option to try something new.

When I visited Secret of Raw I had the Mushroom Crepes with Spinach and Garlic Spread, a dish that left me admiring the talent and knowledge it takes to be a raw chef. The crepes were delicate, yet hearty, mushrooms earthy and flavorful, and the garlic spread had a zesty bite. It was accompanied by a mixed green salad and tangy dressing. If I didn’t know better, I would have never guessed the dish was raw.  To wash it all down, a freshly pressed, vibrant orange glass of carrot juice that left me feeling energized for hours after the meal.

Whether you eat raw every day or have never tried it, Secret of Raw is a must visit for an invigorating and fully satisfying meal while in Prague.

 

Country Life

Country Life, open since 1998, is located a few meters from Old Town Square and next door to its health food store, also named Country Life. If you’re looking for vegan meat alternatives, grains, nuts, non-dairy milks, and basically anything healthy, it is the place to go to. In addition to the store and restaurant they also have an ecofarm, eshop, and a bakery.

Country Life, a great lunch spot, offers a wide variety of simple, country style food to choose from. It’s self serve and you pay by weight so take as much or as little as you like. When I visited, I loaded up on bean and vegan sausage stew; a tofu, carrot and cabbage stir-fry; rice; bulgur; and a few vegan meat alternatives. To be honest, at first glance I didn’t think I was going to love my meal but the dishes surpassed my expectations. Each was well seasoned, tasty, and comforting.

With its location, daily changing menu, and cozy atmosphere Country Life is a great place to frequent for a relaxed and casual lunch while staying in Prague.

Maitrea

Maitrea’s aims is to create a pleasant atmosphere in which to meet friends and enjoy healthy vegetarian fare. Each option on the menu is accompanied by symbols indicating whether the dish is vegan, dairy free, gluten free, etc., making it easy to stick to whatever kind of vegetarian diet you might have. My lunch included a refreshing and healthy fresh pressed beet and apple juice to start. A revitalizing and much needed beverage after having sampled so many of Prague’s beers. For the main course I had the Thai eggplant and tofu cooked in a sweet and slightly spicy coconut milk sauce and served with rice. A massive portion that I had the rare problem of not being able to finish.

Maitrea is a good place to visit if you are looking for a wide variety of options to choose from, have dietary concerns beyond being vegetarian or vegan, and have a little extra room in your budget.

 

With support of open minded, health conscious locals and an ever growing tourism industry, Prague’s expanding vegetarian scene shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, most of the restaurants I visited had plans of expanding. LoVeg’s owner is already working on an e-shop called Vegan Foods in order to make food more accessible to everyone throughout the Czech Republic. Maitrea is working on opening a fast food restaurant in the center of Prague soon and Secret of Raw already offers a delivery service, a candy store, and a line of products like crackers and chocolates. As if that weren’t enough, the owners hopes to expand with more restaurants and candy stores beyond Prague to Brno, Liberec, and other major cities in the Czech Republic soon.

Prague could very well be the capital of vegetarian dining in Central Europe and at this rate might eventually become the vegetarian capital of Europe!

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