U Fleků

Actually 5 stars for the beer and 2 stars for the food. The dismal reviews had kept me from this brewery in prior visits to Prague despite enthusiastic recommendations from many of my local business associates. So, avoiding the food, I went to sample just the beer that here and elsewhere have garnered rave reviews. The beer does indeed make a visit worthwhile. The one beer they brew and serve is dark, reminiscent of a Chimay Blue, seemingly a little less achoholic, but with that creamy texture and vibrant flavor only possible with unpasteurized and unfilitered brews. It is, to date, the best beer I’ve had in Europe (outside of Belgium… I’m still partial to those Trappist tripel ales).
The atmosphere was lively and folksy. My visit was in the late (weekday) afternoon and the crowd was split evenly between tourists and locals having a drink after work. The locals especially were pleasingly roudy, clapping along with and cheering for the musicians, an accordionist and tuba player playing music that seemed to cross Bavarian om-​pa-​pa with Ukrainian folk music.
The service was, as expected, impersonal and abrupt. And if you go there expecting a ‘value brew’ you will likely leave unhappy. It’s not the cheapest brew in the city and the very likely service charge issue will make it even less so. But consider, at 59 Kc, that’s something less than $ 3. Generously call it $ 4 after service, A beer that’s not nearly as good can run five dollars in a New York bar and three pounds in London. So if you do go, don’t think about pinching pennies. Consider the extra ten or twenty Kc not as ‘service rip-​off”, but just a part of the basic cost and you will enjoy yourself and experience a great beverage.

Bar toujours plein avec une bonne ambiance à l’intérieur, à force de passer 2 fois par jour devant, nous avons décidé d’y entrer.
A peine installés, une pinte de bière nous accueille: une bière noire … hum sceptique… je l’ai goûté et elle était finalement assez douce! (bon point)
Il est vrai qu’on y trouve des accordéonistes qui jouent dans toutes les salles et que la nourriture n’est pas spectaculaire mais l’ambiance est vraiment sympa. on né retrouve pas cela dans tous les bars! Je recommande donc :)

«Sin writes histories, goodness is silent.» ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The sprawling building of U Fleku Brewery which houses 8 beer halls and a beer garden has been in continuous operation since the year 1499. That is not a typo: 1499. Let’s think about that for a minute. It would be another 44 years before Copernicus would publish a paper stating his theory that the Earth was not at the center of the universe. Leonardo DiVinci was busy inventing things, and whisky had just been invented in Scotland. The walls here ooze with history.
When you walk through the door, you take a step back in time. Long wooden tables span the length of the beer halls. Stained glass light fills the rooms. The smells of traditional Czech cooking and the signature beer which is brewed on-​site (available nowhere else in the world) immediately put you at ease. An accordion player wanders the rooms adding even more atmosphere to a place that already overwhelms with old-​world charm.
The beer is delicious and the garlic soup is unique. Large, thick slices of dark bread are served to sop up the last of your meal. The business runs like clockwork — a waiter walks by with trays of beers so you just grab what you want and a piece of paper in the middle of the table gets an extra hash mark for each beer taken. Another waiter will be by at some point to offer a shot glass of bitters as a digestive — this is the one thing I’d avoid if I had it to do over. You’re going to see a lot of tourists here, but don’t let that dissuade you — it’s a lot of fun and you will meet interesting people to chat with at the communal tables.

Don’t come here! Very unfriendly. Try to rip you off. High prices. Loud.
Als Tourist besonders ungeeignet. Das Beer wird einem aufgefrängt. Danach wird einem noch ein Shot aufgedrängt, beides zusammen kostet mehr als das Doppelte von den sonst ortsüblichen Preisen.

Came here a few years ago and it was hopping with tourists. The servers went around with trays of beer or Becherovka. That was your choice of drinks. It was lively and loud with live music playing.
Now they serve wine and soft drinks. Didn’t seem as busy or as lively but still jammed with tourists.
An ok bar to visit! I did love the beer glass lights though!

Not changed much in the intervening 10 years. A tourist institution with a sprinkling of locals. Good beer and fast service with live music. Grab a table and enjoy

Amazing food, atmosphere, service, and beer!
Walked in the door to be seated in a beautiful, old fashioned wood paneled restaurant. Had the house beer which was incredible! Very smooth and sweet with lots of flavor. Complemented the food very well.
Ordered the Fleck’s treat which had bread and potato dumpling, red and white cabbage, and pork loin, sausage, and roasted duck.
The duck was INCREDIBLE. Probably the best I’ve ever had. Very well cooked with amazing seasoning. The pork loin was very tender and flavorful.
Finished the meal with a delicious apple strudel. The cinnamon whipped cream was the perfect touch and the pastry itself was a wonderful blend of sweet and tart.
Absolutely loved the honey mead shots that were brought out by the waiters.
Would recommend this restaurant to anyone that visits!

Die Atmosphäre war sehr ausgelassen fröhlich, wie es sich für ein großes Brauhaus gehört. Die Speisen waren deftig und das hauseigene Bier sehr süffig.
Für gemütliche Zweisamkeit ist man hier sicher fehl am Platze.
Geselligkeit wird hier groß geschrieben. Man sitzt an großen langen Tischen in uriger Atmosphäre.

Tourinepp. Sinnlos teuer und das Essen ist auch nicht besonders. Und das Hofbräu-​Haus-​Flair ist mehr als gewöhnungsbedürftig.

Stay away… many much better pubs (eateries) in this town.
This was a place recommended by a colleague who was a Czech citizen from Prague. He told us he visits family here yearly and this place serves good traditional Czech food. We placed this restaurant as an itinerary item trusting his recommendations.
If we hadn’t already had three days worth of varying style of Czech meals, to include several «traditional» meals, we would have thought Czech food was really bad.
Wife and I both ordered the 150 gram roast pork with cabbage, potato dumplings, and bread dumplings. It was bad. Best part of my plate was the cabbage. Actually, the best part was the rye bread they severed at the beginning of the meal… a big basket full with no bread plates or butter. I was hungry and forgot they would charge me for the bread as a separate item.
Pork was dry, tough, and flavorless. Bread dumplings were almost hard like refrigerated bread… which I think it was. They sell pre-​made bread dumplings in sausage like rolls of them here at the local super-​markets (refrigerated sections). Definitely did not taste house made (meaning fresh). The potato dumplings were warm and had a somewhat better texture. I ate just one of those. With the just two ¼ inch thick (thin) wedged shaped slices of pork and the one slice of potato dumpling, I used up all the gravy. You think at least they would give you enough gravy for the two potato and three bread dumplings. They went cheap even on the gravy.
Real Czech pubs have that dumpling/​sauce ratio down to a science… they give you enough, but too much… when you take your last bite of dumpling, your plate will be clean of gravy or sauce.
I can live with bad bar food… had plenty in my times. But now why this place gets only one star. It is the beer, service, unsolicited items, and the high price of everything.
The size of the beer served is only .3l if even that. Lots of foam and when settled, only about glass full, at most. It also cost 58 kc. Most pubs charges 35 – 45 kc for .5l glass. The beer is a good dark beer with a light smokey hint. Drinkable… but will not go out of my way to pay this high price for this beer.
We ended up paying 700 kc (670 rounded up to 700) for 2 orders of the 150 g roast pork, two glasses of beer, two shot of the honey schnapps, and likely the basket of bread which we ate only two slices from.
This is definitely a tourist trap. It is decorated for photo opportunities, but none of the wait staff seems to support lookey-​loo type activities. Not offered to take photos… for a rough gruff Czech pub attitude, they charged way too much.
To their credit, they did try to be more tourist friendly and liven up the place. During our meal, two separate guys showed up playing accordions and singing badly for our entertainment. Good attempt, but failed very badly.
Last…why only 30 kc as tip. The waiter made the point of saying «service» is not included. For him treating me like a local with local service, I tipped him like a local. Local Czech don’t tip and at best, round up to the nearest 100 kc.
Again, don’t come here…

Really fun dinner. Big, long wooden tables. They walk around with little shots of something that was honey-​ish tasting, but yummy! Good, traditional Czech food with great atmosphere– lively and loud but had a man playing the accordion!

Excellent beer (big surprise; it’s the Czech Republic), great venue, good food, indifferent service. They know all the tricks to gouge tourists, such as offering shots as if they’re complimentary and charging for bread you didn’t ask for. Definitely a tourist trap, but there are worse things in the world.

Natürlich sind hier viele Touristen…, aber das Schwarzbier, welches automatisch an den Tisch gebracht wird, schmeckt einfach nur lecker! Die Location ist toll, erinnert an eine kleine Burg und auch das Personal war sehr freundlich. Böhmische Küche und wie schon gesagt, sehr sehr leckeres Schwarzbier! Zu dieser Jahreszeit, kann man auch super draußen im Innenhof sitzen!
PS: Auch den traditionellen Honig Likör kosten :)

The atmosphere here makes this place. The waitiors continually walk around to give you beers and shots if you like. Love that. This place was great. The food and beer was really good. I was with a group of four and we all really liked this place.

U Fleku c’est l’attraction locale de Prague. On a toute la recette du lieu kitch par excellence :
— l’histoire de leur fameuse bière dont la recette n’a pas changé depuis 500 ans: une bière sucrée sans doute plus accessibles pour les non amateurs
— la décoration qui doit avoir le même age que la bière (j’exagère, c’est propre et rénové mais très kitch)
— la nourriture, traditionnelle au possible, pas mauvais mais sans beaucoup de gout: j’ai testé la viande à la crème avec les dumplings. Sans plus…
Et bien sûr l’accordéoniste qui vous éclate les oreilles quand vous avez le malheur d’être placé juste à côte de lui. Non amateurs d’accordéon, s’abstenir.
Bref, un lieu que je n’aurais jamais visité si des collègues locaux né m’y avaient pas traîné et que je né risqué pas de retester à l’avenir.

We came here since this place is in every tourist brochure.
It was run like and resembled a huge Disney world restaurant. You sit down anywhere and are ushered and offered beer (everyone gets the same thing) as well as beer shots (they are very pushy with this but keep saying no!). The service wasn’t that great and after our beers we decided to get going and not even try the food.

Wunderbar! Hier erlebt man das authentische Prag! Richtig leckeres Bier, bodenständige Küche und schön garstige Kellner die an den kölschen Köbes erinnern.
Die leidige Touri-​Buden-​Debatte greift hier ebenso wenig wie im Münchner Hofbräuhaus oder im Kölner Früh Brauhaus.
Qualität spricht sich eben rum. Heutzutage in unserer vernetzten Welt eben bis zum Touri aus Japan, USA und Australien.

Here its not about food, or service. It is about atmosphere. The decorum and arcodenist give the restaurant a typical medievally czech style.
The home-​brewed beer really worth it.
Besides, food is correct but not excellent :)

Service is so — so. Avoid food. Watch your bill. Otherwise good. Prague has plenty better restaurants.

Folks were much nicer the second time in. I was remembered for giving a hard time to the waiter who was giving us a hard time for ordering the red cabbage and not a whole plate (we ordered other thingys). Apparently they warm up to you for being a little brash.
Despite everyone telling you their beer is the best. This place has the best beer in Prague.

This place is perfect example of those restaurants that benefit from history but it´s more like tourist trap these days.
Restaurant was here already 500 years ago. It wasn´t called U Fleků in that time but still the history is very rich. The symbol of this place is lager beer Flekovská 13. It´s famous beer. But the quality is not what it used to be. Also the whole process of brewing doesn´t take place in the restaurant as it was. It´s simple. To many people wanna try and they don´t have capacity to brew enough beer so they let big brother from Smíchov do the most of the work.
It´s a tourist restaurant so obviously the service sucks. As it´s common in these kind of restaurants. And by that I mean they are not really nice or helpful. Just give us your money and get out. Tourist will always come so why to care.
Meals are pretty good though. Even if the ratio price/​quality is very bad. But again, we are in a tourist restaurant.
So all and all. I know guys that it´s a duty to visit this place. That it´s written in any guide. But trust me. there are better restaurants with better service and better price/​quality ratio.

C’est marrant Unilocal,parfois ça rappelle des souvenirs.
La dernière fois (et la seule fois) ou je suis allé chez U Fleku, c’était en 2009. Une éternité.
A l’époque ce resto était réputé pour offrir une cuisine traditionnelle, et un choix restreint de boisson…
Comprendre: on mange du poulet ou du boeuf, avec des pommes de terres revenues (light) et en boisson, bière ou schnaps …
Chaque verre vidé était remplacé par un identique. Il fallait voir les serveurs se balader avec un plateau en équilibre sur l’épaule, 30 verres de bière brune dessus. Un vrai spectacle qui concurrençait l’orchestre qui jouait au milieu des convives. Une ambiance…
Le soucis, c’est que l’on perd vite le compte de ce que l’on boit. Une balade le long de la Moldau, toute proche, fait du bien.
J’en garde un très bon souvenir, même si j’ai pu lire sur les avis en anglais (plus récent que mon expérience) que c’était devenu une attraction touristique…

True, this is a tourist trap, but was pretty fun to be there mixed in with Italians, Germans, and Czechs at long group tables. The waiter was also pretty cool trying to speak Italian, German, and English.
Yes, they only have one kind of beer and it was pretty expensive, and probably the most I paid for beer in Prague at 89 CZK, but I ended up having at least four of them since with the exchange rate being so great it was about $ 4.
The food is also pretty good here, mostly all Czech cuisine like Gulas with bacon dumplings. It has been proved once again that bacon makes everything better! If you are not into roasted meats, then this may not be the place for you.
Lastly we sat in the Kabaret which is a big hall with a stage up front. This was fun to sit here since it was loud and there were musicians walking around playing accordions. I saw a lot of Americans not having fun here, and wondered why in the f*ck are they even doing in Prague.

Ich glaube das ist der Tourimagnet in Prag. Atmosphäre wie im Hofbräuhaus in München. Hier gibt es eigentlich nur ein Bier, dass dunkel und malzig ist. Läßt sich sehr gut trinken und man wird immer zügig mit Nachschub versorgt. Das Essen ist typisch für die Region und alles schon vorgegart für den schnellen Verzehr. Nach Order kam die Haxe ungefähr 3 Minuten später. Ich habe extra gefragt, ob diese gegrillt ist. Das wurde bestätigt, doch anscheinend wurde sie danach warm gehalten. Das hat zur Folge, dass sie nicht mehr knusprig ist. Aber naja… das Fleisch war trotzdem sehr lecker und für die Massenabfertigung, war es okay.
Ob Japaner, Russen, Deutsche. hier findet sich alles. Das Areal ist riesig und hat sogar hinten raus noch einen Hof. Shows werden auch angeboten, wir waren aber nur zum Essen hier. Es laufen noch 2 Schifferklavierspieler rum, die leider nur viel zu selten mal Applaus bekommen.
Es war mein 2. Besuch in Prag und auch hier war ich nun schon 2 mal. Komme auch gerne wieder, weil es einfach urig ist. :)

Hemos estado un grupo muy grande (60 personas) y no solo hemos estado en el restaurante sino que primero nos han enseñado como elaboran la cerveza (completamente natural) y desde hace 500 años!!!
La visita bien, seguramente no la contrariara para ir pocos porque tampoco hay mucho que ver: primero un vídeo sobre la elaboración de cerveza. Luego la sala donde la mezclan con levadura, después en la planta de arriba del edificio donde la fermentan y luego como una bandeja gigante donde baja de temperatura, seguro que a los amantes de las cervezas caseras les encanta, para un grupo muy grande esta muy bien porque es lo suficientemente corto para que la gente no se distraiga.
Comimos un menú que había elegido la empresa que nos invitaba a cenar. Una sopa de ajo, correcta y que no se parece en nada a la española y goulash a la cerveza con pan y dumpkings muy rico (el goulash, los dampinks un poco mazacotes, pero creo que me ha dado esa impresión en todos los sitios donde nos los han puesto).
De postre apple strudel que estaba bien.
La cerveza ligera y muy rica, le faltaba un punto de frescor para. mi gusto, pero queda dicho q lo dice una amante de la cerveza helada.
No puedo decir nada del. precio pq fue una invitación y no se por cuanto saldría.

Ein sehr gutes Restaurant. Das selbst gebraute Bier (dunkel) ist sehr gut. Preislich zwar eins der höherpreisigen mit 59 Kronen/0,4l, aber dennoch sehr zu empfehlen. Das essen wiederrum ist preislich absolut in Ordnung für die Portion die einem geboten wird. Die Bedienung ist freundlich und sehr zügig.
(Hinweis: Der Schnaps der einem zu Beginn gleich geboten wird ist sehr lecker, aber eigentlich zu teuer)

This restaurant still has it’s rustic charm from the 1400’s. Try the specialty smoked beer which is smooth and delicious. If you’re after a hearty meal tuck into generous portions of pork, sausages, sauerkraut and potatoes and enjoy feeling like you’ve stepped back in time for a few hours.

A bit of a tourist trap, but at the same time absolutely stunning! The food I can not really say that I can recommend. But the beer, it’s so good! Absolutely wonderful and stunning, it’s a dark and slightly sweet beer that tastes delicious.
Inside is typical Czech, simple wooden benches and tables.
One thing that I always impressed by this is how the waiter has a big vat of beer on the shoulder as he swings up empty glasses on the same time as he serves fresh beer to the guest. If you then take a minute to look at when they dispense beer at the taps so you can see which craft that’s, fun that it is kept!
This is one of my favorite places in prague

Ugh such a tourist trap. The overall food and dining experience was fine, but there were elements of it that I think anyone who just goes in looking for a meal should be aware of. When you first walk in, people overwhelm you by offering shots and beer. Logically, I should have known that the shots were not free, but the way they just come in and ask you which one you want makes it seem like it’s free. But it’s not. It’s absurdly expensive (85 kc), and they’re really really good at giving you more and more. Once you finish a cup, someone is right there about to offer you another, and it’s actually pretty hard to turn them down because the waiters are really aggressive about forcing one into your hand.
I think my biggest issue with this place, and perhaps it’s just the result of a culture shock, is how disdainful they are of you not getting their beer. U Fleku has their own beer and it’s pretty delicious, but it was frustrating because I came with friends who were sick and some of them just wanted water instead of alcohol but the waiter was extremely unwilling to give them the water (ironic given the fact that water is more expensive than beer and they would be profiting).
Beyond this, the food was alright. Typical Czech food but clearly marked up at the tourist prices. I ordered a chicken which came with very delicious potatoes and a gravy like sauce. It was also nice to have just plain steamed vegetables rather than red cabbage or something.
tldr; such a tourist trap, wouldn’t really recommend unless you just want to come because it’s the oldest pub (supposedly open in 1499!)

Uzasna hospudka s paradni atmosferou. Hospudka byla zaloha uz v roce 1499. Cepuji tady cerne pivo, ktere si vari samy. Doporucuji take ochutnat medovinu prostredi je takove prijmne staroceske. Obsluha velice prijemna. Vecer zde take hraji na harmoniku. Pres den zde delaji exkurze po cele pospudce.

This place has become one of my favorite places. Whenever I have friends over, I always try to take them out to Fleku. Fleku gives the vibe of authentic Czech food and beer. It is very touristy but totally worth checking it out. One of the oldest building in Prague since 1499. Décor is very traditional and clean.
Beer is amazingly good! It has a dark smooth taste and from what I’ve heard beer contains 13 percent alcohol. I felt buzzed after just two beers. I also tried one of the honey shots from a tray, It was pretty good. While you drink and eat, a man walks around the restaurant playing music. Makes it a little more fun! This place is definitely on a little expensive side, but well worth trying it.

Bereits im Jahre 1499 wurde das Haus vom Mälzer Vit Skřemenec erworben. Die Bierbrauerei ist die einzige Brauerei in Mitteleuropa, wo man ununterbrochen seit über 500 Jahre Bier braute. Unter dem Kommunismus war das Brauunternehmen in Nationalem Besitz. Im Jahr 1991 wurde das Restaurant und danach auch die Brauerei an die ursprünglichen Inhaber, die Familie Brtník, zurückgegeben.
Dieses Brauhaus hat verschiedene Säle, die je 42– 200 Gäste aufnehmen. Die gesamte Kapazität des Brauhauses reicht für 1200 Besucher. Im Sommer lädt ein schöner Biergarten ein, dort das dunkle Bier zu geniessen und lecker die Gerichte böhmischen Küche zu verspeisen. Dieser Biergarten war jetzt dick eingeschneit.
In verschiedenen Sälen z.b. Kabarettsaal wird auch «Fleksche Kabarett» geboten. Hier sind 200 Sitzplätze vorhanden. In diesem Saal finden Unterhaltungs– und Musikprogramme statt.
Die stilvolle Atmosphäre des urigen Brauhauses wird durch die verschiedenen Säle betont. Es gibt gotische Gewölbe und viele Räume mit farbigen Bleiverglasungen. Besonders gelungen ist der romantische Rittersaal, der 150 Gästen Platz bietet.
Etwas kleiner ist der Wenzel Saal, der 42 Gäste aufnimmt. Dies war ein ehemaliger Stallanbau.
Manche Gäste kommen nur um das tschechische Bier zu trinken (0,4l für 59 CZK) was bei ofiziellen Kurs 1 € –25 CFK (Man bekommt aber meist nur 21 – 23 CFK berechnet) etwa 2,75 € entspricht.
Andere wollen die bekannteste Gaststätte Prags besuchen um auch hier zu Essen.
Die Böhmische Küche mit Ihren vielseitigen Braten vom Rind und Schwein, Gulasch, Ente, Hähnchen gepaart mit vielen Sorten Klössen wird als Tellergericht mit Rotkohl und Sauerkraut für 189 CZK angeboten (9 €) man kann auch noch div. Beilagen wie z.B. Speckklösse zusätzlich noch dazu ordern, dies kostet 29 CZK.
Insgesamt ein Ort den jeder Prag Tourist auf jeden Fall einmal aufsuchen sollte.