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Recommended Reviews - Café Imperial
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So glad we made a reservation for dinner at this wonderful restaurant. The food and service was very good but the interior is what makes this place so special. This place is close to the Hilton and Marriott hotels so definitely plan to dine here if you are staying in this part of Old Town.
This place is very beautiful inside. The outside is art deco and the inside is Art Nouveau. The walls are covered in ceramic tiles in a beautiful pattern. It's an elegant restaurant that is very busy. They have a traditional menu. My meal was good but the presentation was really lacking. It was meat with dumplings. So very tender meat with gravy and dumplings that looked like slices of bread. The service was good but impersonal. So while this restaurant makes all the must go lists , I would not make it a priority.
The Art Deco restaurant is on the Michelin guide. The interior is impressive with the high ceiling and colorful mosaic-tiled walls. I ordered the hanger steak. It was rarer than expected, but I enjoyed it overall. It also came with a side and I went with the potato gratin. I was mostly looking forward to their cakes for dessert. I had the Oriente cake and opera cake. I went with Oriente because it had a matcha tea glaze, but the flavor isn't too apparent. I preferred the opera cake a tad more. Service is so-so. They set the tables with a gloved hand. The waiter didn't really check up on us though. When I wanted the dessert menu and the check, I had to flag him down each time. Be aware there is a service charge added to the bill.
Cafe Imperial was recommended to us as a fancy, high-end spot for desserts. We happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to stop by. The space itself is grand and beautiful, but the experience went downhill immediately. The hostess seemed to wield all the power in the room--no smile, barely any eye contact, just a curt and judgmental "no reservation." The restaurant was far from full. She then added, "I only have a side table for you," as if that were some sort of compromise. We accepted. At first glance, the waiters looked well presented, but with a bit more observation, the illusion faded. Some had sagging pants, untucked shirts, and most concerning, repeatedly inappropriate hand placement while on the floor. It happened more than once, which was uncomfortable and distracting (see photo). Overall, the place feels very pretentious without delivering on substance. The food wasn't anything special, and the desserts were average at best and certainly not worth the hype or the attitude. I wouldn't recommend Cafe Imperial to friends, especially if you're expecting a warm welcome or standout desserts.
Stay away! This is a tourist trap and they look to take advantage of tourists by upcharging and forcing a 10% service charge only to foreigners. It's very disrespectful Food is mediocre and overpriced, and there is way better food around the area. Servers bully foreigners and push a service charge, even when the locals eating there don't receive it. They are pushy any pretend like it's common but you won't see this anywhere else in Prague
Let me start by saying that this place is lovely. The service is friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere truly feels imperial, just as the name suggests. As for the food: I ordered the Eggs Benedict, but since I don't eat ham, I asked for an alternative--which unfortunately wasn't available. As a result, the dish felt a bit plain, though still decent overall. The highlight was the Beef Wellington: tender, well-executed, and very enjoyable, although the portion was on the smaller side. Prices aren't cheap, but they're also not unreasonable for the quality and experience.
We love Cafe Imperial! The interiors are breathtaking and the breakfast buffet has everything you need presented in a beautiful setting. I saw several people order the Eggs Benedict and they looked spectacular and the portions were abundant. I liked the idea of the buffet because there were many typical Czech meat options that you could try if you are unfamiliar with some of the local sausages and hams. The scrambled eggs were light, fluffy and flavorful. There were numerous fruits, vegetables and breads as well as other typical breakfast fare. I ordered the hot chocolate which was more of a drinking chocolate. This was my first time to have real European hot chocolate and I was very pleased. So delicious. I bought ingredients to make the hot chocolate at home later on in our trip. The service is impeccable. Cafe Imperial is very popular and rightfully so. I would definitely return.
Part of our Festive Danube Cruise was a short visit to Prague, Czech Republic. We were guests and the Imperial Hotel. Included with our package was Breakfast at Cafe Imperial. Service is efficient. Breakfast Buffet had a nice selection of food, pastries, and fresh fruits. Com temporarily designed dining room. Comfortable seating. We were unable to get seated for lunch or dinner during our stay in Prague. I would recommend making reservations a month or two before your planned arrival.
Two hours can easily slip by when you enjoy a delicious meal at the gorgeous cafe imperial! The food lives to its reputation. We tried roasted beef toast and swordfish from the daily special menu, and a duck confit from the Czech traditional menu. All dishes are tasty and photogenic. It's different from having lunch in the US, you don't feel being rushed or have the urge to rush your meal, maybe it's because everyone around you seem to be so relaxed, happy and take the time to enjoy nice conversations with their friends and friends - no one was on their phone either. The restaurant has beautiful decors. It almost feels like you are dining in a museum. We had a great time and hope to return in the future!
Stunning! In every way, the Cafe Imperial was stunning. Firstly, the entire restaurant is layered with mosaic tiles. Floors, ceilings, walls and pillars. Very colorful and ornate, these tiles make the restaurant shine. When you walk in, you feel like you're in a five star fancy restaurant. You should carry yourself that way, because that is how they treat you. You'll find that the attire by other patrons and the atmosphere is casual, but it truly has the essence of a fine dining establishment. Which....it is... I ordered the French Onion Soup as a starter. As French Onion Soup goes, this was fantastic. It also came out at the perfect temperature so you weren't searing your mouth to literal shreds because you just couldn't wait. Believe me, after the first taste, you won't want to wait. For the main course, I selected the Confit of Duck with Red Cabbage and Potato Dumplings. The duck was out of this world! I don't order duck often, but this is a game changing dish. The sweet/sour flavor of the red cabbage complimented the duck quite well. It wasn't necessary to blend the two, as they were both independently delicious, but it gave you some flavor palette mixing options. The potato dumplings were something else. They were good, but after spending a week in the Czech Republic, I learned that dumplings were quite common. But their not what an American would expect. American dumplings are often found in soups or stews and they are a bit mushy of a texture. These potato dumplings were perfectly shaped spheres, about the size of a ping pong ball, and were surprisingly dense. Alone, they don't impress. Cutting them to smaller pieces and blending them within your bites is a nice addition. Would I go back? 100% and I cannot wait to return. Best of all, the Cafe Imperial, like many places in Prague and the Czech Republic are quite affordable. My dinner, consisting of the Soup, Main and a Pepsi cost a total of about $30. Tip wasn't included. Their tip custom is different than ours so you typically need to leave cash.
I came here for the buffet breakfast on a Friday morning and my party of two was ignored by busy staff for several minutes. A very rude Manager type walked by and we politely asked for some kind of acknowledgment of our presence. We got a rudely expressed reply to wait. We decided to leave due to that interaction. After our local friend told us it was part of the Prague experience, we returned the next morning. I would also note that we left another cafe that same day from being ignored AFTER being seated. That was Cafe Savoy fyi. Anyways, Take two - We decided to try again at Cafe Imperial the next morning.... We arrived and again were ignored for a couple of minutes. The rude Manager type walked by us however, a nicer staff member acknowledged us. Not long after that another staff member escorted us to a table. I'll be quick with the rest of the review. The buffet was decent. Nothing outstanding in the buffet world. Ambiance is good, although it is very tight to get around. A redesign would help but I'm sure they don't care. The sweets looked good but I was a bit disappointed with the taste of the cake and pastries, with exception to the filled doughnut ball. There was a few good juice options, Hot Chocolate, and I enjoyed the Bacon and Mushrooms, even though it was a bit oily. It's an experience, and a decent one if you're based nearby.
I went there for dinner in mid-July of 2024. I did not have a reservation, but found a seat when I walked in. The inside was stunning. The menu was short, which I liked (as I get lost with long menus). I order the endive salad, grilled tuna, and a juice. The food came quite soon and came with free bread. The tuna was too salty. Other items were good. The service was great. It cost me about $40 U.S., which is not bad given that this is a Michelin star restaurant and ranks high in all kinds of rankings. Overall, I was reasonable happy with the experience.
Best rabbit and escargots. Very happy with my food choice. It was very hard to pick because everything sounded great. Very quick service and brought my food very fast. Definitely would come back
Decadent restaurant located in the city center under Hotel Imperial. My friends came for the breakfast buffet, essentially a standard American option, that covered juices, water, teas, etc. I ordered the 2 eggs Benedict and a caffe con gelato, which as the name implies, is a whipped cream and chocolate flake topped espresso with a layer of creamy gelato at the bottom. A bit pricy for the drink compared to other European cafes, but the mix of those flavors paired well for my palette. The eggs Benedict were pretty delicious. For all you social media glamorists out there, poking the eggs benny makes for a good slo mo video. I felt the dish was a bit too sour (not in a contaminated sour) but the Hollandaise was slightly overbearing. Cafe Imperial is a beautiful place to dine nonetheless and captures the culture that makes Prague so loved. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
I feel a bit like a Russian princess may have felt. This hotel is absolutely stunning. Heavy wood, leaded glass. marbles and friendly, accommodating staff. It is located in the heart of downtown Prague within easy walking distance of eateries, shopping, some patisseries I plan to visit tomorrow and other interesting sights including gorgeous cathedrals and the old Jewish quarter is nearby too- another destination for tomorrow. A sumptuous place to stay in this city. read more
4 years ago
After traveling from the west coast of CA, we were too tired to venture far from our hotel for dinner. We wanted something with a little local flavor, & Cafe' Imperial hit the spot. After a peak at the interior we decided to give it a try. There is a menu in Czech posted outside, but we were given an English version after being seated. We each tried something different and were not disappointed. The chef's special Braised Veal cheeks was the favorite. It was SO tender & flavorful. The wait staff was very friendly & did a nice job of making us feel welcome. It was more than worth the final tab. read more
7 years ago
Came here for breakfast with couchsurfers because the interior is supposedly worth the view. It was pretty elegant but eh. I don't think it's a must see. The prices are kind of high - average for being in the US but expensive for being at Prague. They didn't have traditional Czech food for breakfast so I had to order the English breakfast - eggs, bacon and carbs. It was huge and average in choice. It also comes with assorted bread with jam and butter. I enjoyed the cafe latte and the super thin/tiny water serving. Seating was comfortable and service was fast but I couldn't help to be a tad upset for wasting calories on an English breakfast in Prague..that's equivalent to getting McDonald for me. read more
Great place for breakfast/lunch/brunch! Gorgeous and lovely scenery for a great meal, we liked it so much that after lunch, we decided to go back for breakfast the next day. Free wifi, friendly staff and exceptional interior! Btw, check out the sinks on the toilets! They are shaped as gold swans! read more
7 years ago
Staff was by far the best. BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE IN ALL PRAGUE. we visites close to 30 different restaurants. Food is great, Breakfast Buffet is the only way!!!! Please take it. read more
12 years ago
This was my first time here. I ordered a Caesar salad for an appetizer then the veal cheeks (according to my waiter, the most popular item) for the entree. Salad - it was sweet...? Kind of strange, but I added some salt and it was tolerable. You could and should probably go with something else. Veal cheeks - DELICIOUS. Very rich and tender. Absolute must. If I come back to Prague, I would come back here for a nice dinner. read more
9 years ago
This place is good with local design ,however the was great ... it was a small portion, but the was delicious. the food and atmosphere was great ... Veronika at the front desk was great with warm welcome. Peter the waiter at the beginning was rough when I asked him about some food details , then he change to nice after i order. At the end my experience was good with the food and atmosphere read more
10 years ago
More of a 3.5 but I'll round up for ambiance. This restaurant is SO PRETTY. I loved everything about the interior, it made the place feel so regal. I ordered a coffee with kahlua(?). I honestly forgot what exactly is in it but it tasted great, and it was practically the same price as a regular non-alcoholic coffee and cheaper than the glass of orange juice that my bf ordered. I ordered the french onion soup and braised beef with bread dumplings. My bf ordered the dill soup and the chicken roulade. The dill soup was the BEST part of the meal. Omg it was SO GOOD. I thought it would be really sour but it was actually very creamy and the right amount of sourness. It also came with a poached egg in the soup which was a great touch. The french onion soup was good, but tasted like most french onion soups I've had and wasn't anything to rave about. I wasn't a huge fan of my beef and bread dumplings. I think I might just not be a fan of bread dumpings in general.. it tastes like you're eating carbs but without any flavor. I wasn't crazy about the cream sauce that the beef came in and the beef was not very tender. My bf really liked his chicken roulade though and thought the dish had great flavors, especially with the barley rice risotto at the bottom. I think this place is good choice for brunch, especially if you're feeling a little fancy. It may not be the best in terms of traditional czech dishes (i.e. beef with bread dumplings), but I do think there are some great things on the menu and a wide variety. read more
5 years ago
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8 years ago
Hands down fantastic restaurant!!!! Great last dinner in Prague!!! From service to food everything was just divine. read more
8 years ago
We went for a late night tea as we had so many places to go and just wanted a o be surrounded by the beautiful "Art Nouveau." Next time in Prague I will go for dinner. This is upscale to casual. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
Out of all of the places that we ate during 1.5 weeks of travelling, this was the one meal that felt overpriced for tourists and was a bit disappointing compared to the Yelp reviews. The alcoholic "milkshake" was a very small cocktail served in a martini glass. The wait for our entrees was very long to the point that we wished that we had gone somewhere else. Unfortunately, the food was not worth the wait. While the tilework and décor looked nice in the pics, the atmosphere felt more like a cafeteria to me. Perhaps this place is better for breakfast or lunch but I wouldn't recommend it for dinner or any kind of "special" celebratory dinner. read more
9 years ago
Awesome! A buffet fit for royalty! Everything on this was fresh, top quality, and what should be expected from a top quality restaurant. I can't wait to go back....... Tomorrow! read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
9 years ago
Amazing ambiance, a place you go if you want something fancy. The food was great! I loved the grilled tuna and grilled shrimp. The service was also very good. Five star, recommended! The chocolate bomb surprise looks good, but the taste is ok, not that great. read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
The servers are not very friendly first of all. Also made me wait forever last time when I came by myself. This time the service was slightly better since I came with 2 of my friends. What is up with the attitudes in classy cafes seriously? The dishes are ant size portion, including the drinks (a tiny cup of macchiato and a teeny tiny cup of water). Felt like Alice in Wonderland. I ordered from the lunch menu, but when the dishes came, I wouldn't even call it an appetizer at its best. So I ordered from the menu again for a beef goulash and also got desert. I liked the rice from the beef goulash because it's sticky. Might be some kind of Japanese rice. The service was terrible and the meal potion is ridiculous, however, I am very satisfied with the dessert and I guess sitting under a high ceiling with elaborate ceramic tile design was an experience. Hence the 3 stars. I would recommend going to this cafe for the desert ish but not a meal. The desserts in the photo below are raspberry, walnut(?), and cafe imperials signature cake. The raspberry cake was my favourite. The aspic is a bit sour and not overly sweet. Therefore the fruity taste is still present. The walnut cake is light and smooth in comparison so it's my second favourite. The cafe imperial signature cake has caramel flavour and maybe dates(?), overall very thick and chocolaty heavy taste. read more
8 years ago
What a beautiful place! Not enough words to describe how much we enjoyed our coffee and dishes there, I think it was the highlight of the trip, very affordable too! I would go back in a heartbeat! read more
10 years ago
12 years ago
Came here on recommendation of my hotel. The place is beautiful, all tiled with Art Deco, Egyptian influenced, tiles. Our table was ready, the waitstaff was attentive without being overbearing. There were four of us. We started with soups. The chicken soup was as good as my mother's maybe even better - a meal in itself it gets a 9 plus. The dill soup was a perfect balance of mushroom soup in a cream base with eggs and potatoes and dill. It gets an 11 on a scale of 1 - 10! The schnitzel was a 9 - a schnitzel without any sauces to muddle the perfectly executed dish. The duck ravioli was a disappointment - too salty so the flavor of the minced duck was lost - a 7. The liver was a 10, two small medallions served over a scallion mashed potato sitting in a poached apple sauce. Eaten in layers it was like having your dessert at the end of the main course. The apples were perfectly poached, firm and flavorful. The chicken breast was a 9, not dry and nicely balanced with vegetables. Two of us had the cucumber salad so common in Slavic counties: cucumbers, dill, salt and sour cream - we'd rate it an 8-1/2. We also ordered bread. The sliced baguette (2 kinds) came with a spread made of chopped ham, mustard, mayo and possibly lemon juice - it was excellent and definitely worth while ordering. Dessert: the Black Forest cake was to die for ( a 10 ), the lemon sorbet tasted like silky lemonade. It gets an 8-1/2. I liked the one at U Modre Kachinicky II much better. The strawberry sorbet was excellent. It gets a 9. Total bill for 4 people with one large and one small beer and a bottle of still water 2 decaf Americanos and one tea came to about $120 (tip and VAT are included in the bill). Service was so excellent that we added a $10 personal tip. As a note, from our spot in the restaurant we observed that when the waitress opened a bottle of wine, she observed the cork, sniffed it and called for a wine taster to check the wine. He poured, swirled and tasted, hesitated and then O.K.ed it. Seemed very professional. A great place and a great value! read more
8 years ago
This place is an art deco stylish restaurant that serves typical Czech meals. I like to come here with my foreign friends who come to Prague and want to experience something typical yet special. I would not come here with my Czech friends but I believe that for foreigners this place is just amazing. The service and also the food are great and the prices are reasonable. read more
6 years ago
More info about Café Imperial
Na Poříčí 15
110 00 Prague
Czech Republic
Nové Město, Praha 1
Directions
246 011 440
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http://www.cafeimperial.cz
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Café Imperial - czech - Updated August 2026
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