U Černého vola

Very cosy authentic Czech beer pub. There are only 3 kinds of beer: Kozel light and dark and Pilsner. Great ambience, helpful stuff and low prices!
Actually, we loved this place so much that returned there twice :). It is not a restaurant, so do not expect great service and variety of foods. However the starters are cheap and delicious. I’d recommend to try ‘nakladny hermelin’ as well as ‘smazeny syr’ (fried cheese)

This place has been around literally for centuries and is one of the must –go spots in town. Delicious Kozel beer, surly service, great prices. Plus the only decent place in the area. A classic.

Seriously bad service. Owner essentially told me that if I’m not Czech, I should leave. Nice.

Wir kennen die Kneipe seit Jahren von mehreren Besuchen. Wer authentisch in Prag sein Bier trinken möchte, sich am herben Charme der beiden, seit Jahren immer gleichen Kellner und an mäßig bequemen Sitzen nicht stört, der wird hier echt tschechisches Kneipenleben zu sehr günstigen Preisen erleben können.
Die Kneipe verfügt auch über eine kleine, preisgünstige Speisekarte. Diese wird auf Nachfrage auch in fremdsprachiger Ausführung vom Kellner ausgegeben.
Die Speisen waren einfach, aber erst recht angesichts der Preise völlig in Ordnung!

J’adore cette authentique taverne praguoise avec ses clients tchèques au nez rouge et ses quelques touristes bien informés ou chanceux d’être arrivés là.
(Voir photo ci-​dessous) Par ici, entrez donc !
L’établissement se trouve en face de la superbe église Notre Dame de Lorette pas loin du château.
Qyper de passage, né t’attends pas ici à des égards, à des courbettes à des merci d’être venu.
Tu seras installé là où il y a de la place, collé à d’autres amateurs de bière autour d’une grande table.
(Voir photo ci-​dessous)
Le serveur débraillé, renfrogné et taillé comme une armoire à glacé, né se déridera que si tu daignes prononcer quelques mots de Tchèque.
Sache déjà que bière se dit pivo, c’est le minimum vital dans ce pays.
L’unité est la chope d’un demi litre. Si tu oses commander moins, tu seras tout simplement ridicule et gratifié d’un «pfffffffff «sonore par le serveur à la classe folle.
Mais que la bière est bonne ici ! Commande donc une Velkopopovický Kozel une belle blonde à la mousse délicate. Un vrai régal !
(Voir photo ci-​dessous) Kozel veut dire bouc. Strange name for a bier ! Mais l’essentiel est qu’elle soit bonne
Pas étonnant que les Tchèques soient les plus gros consommateurs de bières du monde, ils font certaines des meilleures (la Pilsner Urquell est excellente aussi)
Accompagne ton breuvage de saucisses de Debrecen (importées de la Hongrie voisine) bien grasses mais goûteuses ou bien choisis, comme ma femme, les harengs marinés accompagnés de quelques tranches de pain.
Les plats sont sans prétention mais très corrects et d’un prix dérisoire, tout comme le demi litre de Kozel facturé à peine plus d’un euro (29 couronnes exactement)
J’ai fait l’effort de demander l’addition en tchèque «Kromě toho, prosím «et j’ai eu droit, tenez-​vous bien à :
un léger sourire.
Que demande le peuple ?
Moi rien de plus.

Una de las «pivovar» (cerveceria) imprecindibles de visitar si estas por Praga.
Podras saborear una cerveza de medio litro, de elaboracion propia, deliciosa por 1’5−2EUR. Y si tienes hambre pide algun «snack» de salchicha.
El local es como todas las pivovar clasicas checas con mesas de banco corrido con lo que no te extrañe sentar junto a unos extraños.

You could easily miss this place as from the outside there is very little to indicate that this a drinking/​eating establishment.
I found the servers to be a bit short with me, but then I was making no effort to speak their language :(
Basically, these are neccesary evils, how else would a pub retain its authentic Czech atmosphere (I have it on good authority) in such a touristy area. Most of the places in this area have various signs detailing their special offers (clearly targetting tourists) and people outside advertising their meals and drinks. In comparison U Cerneho Vola plays hard to get but its well worth the effort.
The beer is great and its very easy to chat with the other people there and the servers turn out to be a lot friendlier than they may seem at first (even if you can’t understand what they are saying).
I didn’t have any of the food but it looked pretty good! This was the best Czech bar I found on my trip! This is a must visit!

Not much more to add to dmj1962’s review, but this is a straightforward Czech-​style pub, which concentrates on its beer and being a palace to meet.
The Kozel beer is simply wonderful, especially if you like the darker styles: although there is a ‘bar’, service is at the table. As is common in traditional bars, they will tend to keep on serving you beer, so if you don’t want any more, you need to make it clear (nicely) or ask for the bill.
The food is rather basic — various forms of traditional toasted snacks, cheeses in oil with pickles — but filling (isn’t all Czech food?) and good value. The interior is also pretty basic — half a dozen long wooden benches (which means you’ll probably have to share with others), and that’s about it.
Recommended.

A very unpretentious, authentic and straightforward pub and something of a Prague institution, U Černého Vola (the Black Bull) was bought up by its patrons to ensure it was not redeveloped into just another anonymous, trendy bar.
The pub is situated a few minutes’ walk from the castle and cathedral at the top of the hill in Hradčany, just opposite the Loreto church. It’s easy to find as the exterior has impressive baroque murals. Inside, it’s rather plainer, with painted walls, simple, dark wooden benches and a tiled floor.
Although it’s location inevitably means that it’s full of tourists, it makes few concessions to them: this is essentially a beer bar, and the main draw is its excellent Velkopopvicky Kozel beer, in light (tmavé) and dark (světly) variants, as well as Pilsner Urquell, all served in 0.5l glasses. They serve a limited range of hearty Czech snacks, including some vegetarian items (various forms of cheese).
The staff are efficient and workmanlike rather than especially friendly; expect a hard stare if you just have one beer! Locals tend to sit at the front, with visitors at the back. However, the old-​fashioned feel means that it is one place you really ought to try is you’re in the area, and it makes a great antidote to the touristy crush of the castle.
If it’s open, stroll afterwards to the Loreto church, one of Prague’s most over-​the-​top Baroque creations and containing the body of St Wilgefortis — a few beers to fortify you first may not be a bad idea, in fact!
It’s quite a hike up the hill to the Hradčany area, but trams 22 and 23 will take you (via a scenic, circuitous route) to within a few hundred metres, making the climb for you!