The Czech Republic’s Best Restaurants 2026: Golden Lions for Culinary Excellence

Czech gastronomy at its finest: 126 restaurants from all regions of the country have made it onto the Best Restaurants of the Czech Republic 2026 list – a testament to excellent cuisine, first-class service, and the highest standards.

Czech gastronomy continues to thrive. This year, a total of 126 establishments from across the country made it into the guide Best Restaurants in the Czech Republic 2026 (Nejlepší restaurace 2026), published by TopLife Czech. The result demonstrates that the quality of local restaurants continues to rise. Only those restaurants that successfully passed a demanding, long-term, and completely anonymous evaluation process were selected.

The project manager of Nejlepší restaurace 2026 emphasises that the award is now in its twelfth year. A team of trained testers visits the establishments several times a year, always incognito and at their own expense. The evaluation covers not only the quality of the dishes – their presentation, taste, aroma, the ingredients used, and originality – but also service, ambience, beverage selection, and value for money.

Foto: Casa de Carli (Prague)

“The current awards clearly demonstrate that gastronomy in the Czech Republic has reached the highest level. Following the publication of the first MICHELIN Guide for the Czech Republic, this is further proof of the quality of local establishments. Visitors today can enjoy authentic flavours, a respect for tradition, high-quality ingredients, and exceptional culinary experiences not only in the country’s urban centres but also off the main tourist paths,” says František Reismüller, Director of CzechTourism.

Daniela Mrzenová, Publishing Director of TopLife Czech, highlights: “In the current edition of Best Restaurants 2026, established culinary leaders once again confirm their outstanding position. At the same time, numerous new restaurants, as well as establishments that have significantly improved compared to last year, appear on the list. The awards therefore reflect the dynamic transformation of the Czech gastronomy scene and demonstrate the restaurants’ ability to work on quality in a long-term and systematic manner.”

Foto: Červený Jelen (Prague)

Golden Lions as a Benchmark for Excellence

The award of a Golden Lion (Zlatí Lvi) represents restaurants with consistently high standards in cuisine, ambience, and service. Two lions guarantee outstanding cuisine and high service standards with a recognisable individual style. Three lions honour excellence, originality, and individuality – all thoughtfully and perfectly executed down to the last detail.

In this year’s Best Restaurants 2026 guide, 21 restaurants received three lions, 47 establishments received two lions, and 38 restaurants received one lion. Other venues impressed the testers so much that they were awarded recommendations TIP (11 establishments) or GUIDE (9 establishments), indicating particular potential or reliable quality.

Foto: Grandrestaurant Pupp (Karlovy Vary)

“Czech gastronomy continues to professionalise steadily. Differences between establishments are often visible only in subtle details. Continuity, the ability to maintain quality while simultaneously evolving, is crucial for our evaluations,” adds co-author of the project, writer, journalist, and gourmet Václav Budinský.

Czech gastronomy thus confirms that it is built on a solid foundation, follows a clear course, and continues to be a strong attraction for both domestic and international guests.