Lokál Dlouhááá

Lokál Dlouhááá is the original branch of the Lokál pubs run by Ambiente, the Prague restaurant group behind several of the places in this guide. It opened on Dlouhá Street in the Old Town with a simple idea: to serve the kind of food and beer that Czech pubs were once known for, done properly and without shortcuts. It has since become a reference point for anyone wanting to understand Czech pub culture, and it is as popular with locals after work as with visitors.

The interior is a long room built around a bar that the pub says is almost 70 metres long, with beer poured from a dozen tanks. Tank beer is delivered unpasteurised and stored in large tanks rather than kegs, and the bar staff take pride in the different styles of pour, from a standard glass to a foamy mlíko. The food sticks to Czech pub classics: fried cheese with boiled potatoes and tartare sauce, pork schnitzel with potato salad, grilled sausages with mustard and grated horseradish, and Czech-style baked potatoes with eggs and smoked sausage, served with pickles. Portions are generous and the prices are fair for the Old Town.

This is a good choice for a first taste of Czech food, for groups and for anyone travelling on a moderate budget. The atmosphere is loud and sociable, with shared tables, and it gets very busy in the evenings and at weekends, so book ahead through the website, especially for groups. At lunchtime it is easier to walk in. Service is quick, and the pub keeps long hours: it opens at 11:00 every day and stays open until midnight from Monday to Saturday and until 22:00 on Sunday.

Vegetarian options exist but are limited to dishes such as fried cheese and potato dishes, so this is above all a place for meat and beer lovers. Children are welcome, though the evening crowd is mainly adults. Ask the staff about the beer pours if you are curious; they are usually happy to explain.

Lokál is on Dlouhá Street, a few minutes' walk north-east of Old Town Square. The nearest metro station is Náměstí Republiky on line B, and the Dlouhá třída tram stop is close by. Naše maso, the butcher's counter from the same group, is a few doors away.