7 Best Restaurants in Moravia, Czech Republic

The menu is on the decidedly short side but offers a constantly changing list of modern takes on fish, meat, and pasta dishes, served in a relaxed but trendy environment. Tasting menus with seasonal dishes include a vegetarian option. The bar serves up new spins on classic cocktails. The light wood furnishings and vaulted ceiling add to the bright and airy feel. Located close to Brno's main theaters.

Wooden paneling and floral upholstery in the Café Mahler recall the taste of the 1880s, when Gustav Mahler briefly lived around the corner while working as a conductor at the theater on the other side of Horní náměstí. It's a good spot for ice cream, cake, light meals, coffee, or simply for sitting back and taking in the lovely view. Service can be abrupt, though.

A low-key, relatively cheap dining option, this popular local pub serves staples like pork, chicken, and duck but nicely turned out. The restaurant is located on the side of a palace but has an uncluttered, modern look inside. In good weather, there is street seating. According to an inscription on the outside of the house, Mozart stayed here as a young boy on a trip with his parents for two days in 1767.

Traditional Moravian dishes like roast duck with cabbage, chicken breast stuffed with almond butter, roast piglet, or fried Olomouc cheese are served in a rustic interior. The wine cellar, open weekdays, is a bit homier than the street-level restaurant. The staff sometimes wear folk costumes, and live musicians occasionally perform folk music of the region. International wines, including rare vintages, are available alongside a large selection of Moravian wine.

A contemporary re-creation of a landmark 1920s coffeehouse (the original was razed by the communists to make way for a theater), this spot is high on flapper flair. Everything from the light fixtures to the furniture was faithfully copied from the original interior. In summer, the windows mechanically retract into the floor. Lofty ceilings provide pleasant, lilting acoustics, and the food lives up to the modern atmosphere. The restaurant now has trendy multicourse tasting menus in the evening and offers gourmet Czech lunches during the day. Reservations can be made online.

After climbing to Spielberg Castle and touring several museums, you can relax at Stopkova pivnice with a cold beer; if you're hungry, try the house guláš. Now part of the Kolkovna chain, there has been a pub on this site since the late 19th century. Its name comes from Jaroslav Stopka, who took over the existing pub in 1910.

It is always standing room only, as this pub has no chairs—just high tables. This keeps the line at the tap moving. The idea of a standing pub—the name means “taphouse at the stand”—goes back a century, when stopping in for a quick snack and a friendly chat with neighbors was the thing to do. The rotating list of beers from microbreweries to complement a menu of marinated ribs, pork knee, sausages, and chicken skewers will also keep you on your toes.

Order a “šnyt,” which is a glass of foam that eventually settles into a small beer.