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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.
Came here for dinner and were able to be seated without a reservation, although our party of 7 were split into 2 separate tables. I got the duck with potato dumplings. Some parts of the duck were really tender, but other parts were more dry. The potato dumplings were large, but they were plain and not super tasty. I tried my boyfriend's escargot, and that was tasty/tender, although the pieces were quite small. The ambiance is beautiful inside
3 months ago
2 months ago
Overall great experience! The gnocchi would've been better with a red sauce, but other than that, the dessert and drinks were great! Server was awesome! read more
So the good - service was (relatively) friendly compared to what I've experienced in the rest of Prague. Secondly, the place is gorgeous, no doubt about that. It has the most ornate setting with stunning artwork. Onto the bad - there is a compulsory tip even for the buffet, which I think is ridiculous. I am serving myself, what am I paying a tip for? I would have tipped because as an American I'm used to our stupid tip culture so whatever but I found it really unusual for Prague. Most importantly, the food wasn't good. Oddly the best thing I had was the bread, which was top notch - soft and clearly baked fresh. But the sausage was okay at best, the eggs were meh, and the veggies weren't anything special. I also found it incredibly frustrating that the food for breakfast started running out at maybe 10:15 and they didn't refill anything. Similarly, the juices were almost empty when I arrived at 9:30 and weren't refreshed. Can't believe this place is Michelin recommended. Needs some serious review on the food quality. read more
4 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
9 months ago
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 read more
9 months ago
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
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! read more
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
4 months ago
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. read more
2 years ago
Came here for dinner and were able to be seated without a reservation, although our party of 7 were split into 2 separate tables. I got the duck with potato dumplings. Some parts of the duck were really tender, but other parts were more dry. The potato dumplings were large, but they were plain and not super tasty. I tried my boyfriend's escargot, and that was tasty/tender, although the pieces were quite small. The ambiance is beautiful inside read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
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 read more
The ambiance at this restaurant is absolutely amazing. The food and the service was excellent. My wife thought that the teriyaki salmon was made perfectly while the shank of lamb was a giant serving a huge cut of meat. Also tried their Matcha-mango iced tea and chocolate fondant dessert. read more
2 years ago
Yelp Review 2023 #20: Prague has some beautiful restaurants and cafes. With a limited time in the city with a list of things to do and see, and food to eat - I figured Cafe Imperial needs to be on the top of my list. Ornate walls, art nouveau interior. It's quite nice. It's easy to get to as it's near a tram station. I came here for a late lunch. I lost track of time and ended up hungry at 1pm. I did have a reservation at 12:45pm but they weren't busy when I got there and immediately got seated even if I was 15 minutes late. I saw Matcha Mango Iced Tea on their drink menu and I was missing things I had easy access to back at home so, that's what I got. It's a small glass of matcha with a subtle hint of mango. They have French food, international food, and Czech food. I went with one of their Czech specials, Braised Beef with Creamy Sauce, Bread Dumpling and Cranberries which was comfortingly simple but delicious. I got a side of fries in case I didn't like the bread dumplings. Turns out, I didn't really need the fries (it was good though. Thin and crispy). The beef was tender and the gravy was savory with a smidge of sweetness. They have pastries, cakes, and ice cream for dessert. I got the Hazelnut Meringue. It's light, airy, but creamy and crunchy at the same time. I loved it. When it comes to service, I don't expect friendly service which is common in the US. Surprisingly, Cafe Imperial has friendly service and I was pleasantly surprised. read more
Beautiful art deco style classic restaurant! It's one of the best known cafes in the city and it's just outside of the old town. Service is very professional with the formal old school style. I stayed at the hotel and had the breakfast buffet one day and ordered from the menu one day. It's worth going to at least once and you can get a full Meir just have a coffee and pastry. read more
Super cute spot with great decorations, elegantly plated foods, and friendly service. The waiters here were all attentive and since they worked as a team, there were multiple people ready to help you at all times. My friend and I got the braised beef in creamy sauce and the duck confit. Both of them were a little dry but the flavor was great. Out of all the braised beefs with creamy sauces I got on my trip to Prague, this one definitely had the most savory, tastiest sauce. read more
Possibly the best café in Prague! Excellent food and great service, in an exceptional atmosphere. I ordered braised veal cheeks with mashed potatoes, paired with a Pilsner Urquell beer, excellent. For desert I had an Oriente cake (pistachio and sour cherry), with a Viennese coffee, just amazing. An important part of the experience is the art deco style of the restaurant, you can stare the whole time at the ceiling without looking like an idiot, it's so beautiful! I will be back tomorrow for more! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
This place.... Simply fantastic. All around great. Suggest going for lunch if you forget to make reservations. WORTH IT! Just lovely. We had beef Wellington duck salad desserts escargot and onion soup. Delicious all! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
I visited there twice during my stay in Prague because the choux cake with framboise was extremely delicious and wanted to try other dishes. The confit was well made and the dessert was artistic. I ate too much so I walked a lot around Vyšehrad in the afternoon. read more
5 years ago
This historic cafe is beautifully decorated in the Art Deco style. The service definitely gave this visit the three stars. The waitress took our coats & hung it up. They were also attentive & helpful. However, we decided to try the breakfast buffet & it was not exciting. The scrambled eggs were runny, the small pancakes were rock hard. The meat & bread selection was pretty good. You could also get some yogurt and fill your bowl with toppings or fruit. If I return, I will most likely order from the menu instead. read more
3 years ago
Fantastic food great service in a beautiful setting! We had the liver terrine and duck confit with a great dessert and wine and coffee for less that $40 per person. Don't miss it. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
After settling into our hotel in Prague, we decided to go ahead and walk around and find a place to sit down and eat and stumbled upon here. When walking in, the restaurant was absolutely beautiful on the inside, however, that's when everything turns sour. Service: This was the first major issue we had. When we walked in, it seemed as though we weren't welcome there at all. They sat us in a table within the bussle of the service, which is find but already put a damper. However, after that, our server (or should I say servers because they changed almost every time they came to our table) were extremely dismissive and were trying to push us out. When we ordered our appetizer, they actually said "That is going to be 20 minutes, you know that right? We don't want you to have to stay long". After that, service was whoever came over. Food: Now, after seeing the reviews and such, I was hoping for a decent meal, but even that fell flat. Rabbit Croquet: (3/5) - This was the best thing we had during our dine in, however, it honestly was a very small portion and tasted exactly like a chicken pot pie. Rack of Lambs: (2/5) - These were probably the smallest lambs I've ever had. I don't know if my life of growing up on a farm makes me picky, but they were small and over cooked with a desperate need of salt. Roast Beef with Bread Dumplings: (2/5) - we did want to try something authentic to Czech, so we decided to get this. The beef was very very over cooked, with the only thing saving it was the gravy. Overall, our experience was far less than amazing. If you are in Prauge, I recommend maybe going to find a hole in the wall before stopping here. read more
3 years ago
Another great restaurant experience in Prague. Located in the Imperial Hotel (restaurant access from the street) we were greeted immediately and seated quickly. Opting to order from the menu vs the breakfast buffet (which looked delicious as well) we were very pleased with the food and coffee. The French breakfast and eggs Benedict were delicious and served quickly. A very comfortable setting and English speaking with English menus read more
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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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