We chose the Municipal House Restaurant Prague as the venue for a recent milestone birthday celebration of mine.
We had caught a tram from our home in the suburbs into Prague city centre and checked into the nearby Art Nouveau Palace Hotel.
Notching up another decade required dining out at an extra special restaurant in Prague, and I couldn’t think of anywhere better than Obecni Dum – better known by its English name, Prague Municipal House.
I opted for Restaurace Obecni Dum as I had walked past it a great many times, always admiring the sumptuous Prague Art Nouveau interior.
It’s one of the finest landmarks of Prague, dominating the southern end of Náměstí Republiky.
The Obecni dum restaurant and Municipal House Prague café are both on the ground floor of the building, either side of the main entrance.
It looked like a second lockdown was looming, and this was to be the last night the restaurant would be open for some time.
Municipal House Prague – An Introduction
It’s one of the greatest buildings of Art Nouveau Prague
Obecni Dum is right on the edge of Prague Old Town, situated next door to Prašna brana – Powder Tower – a late medieval gateway that is one of the finest towers in Prague and one of the best viewpoints of the city
The independence of Czechoslovakia was first proclaimed there in 1918
Obecni Dum Prague is a well-known classical music concert venue, with the superb Smetana Hall the largest setting of several in the building
The Obecni Dum has been home to several restaurants and bars, and there had been a change of management during the first Covid 19 lockdown of 2020
The Municipal House Prague Restaurant – called Restaurace Obecni Dum or Obecni Dum Restaurace – is in the main hall on the right as you enter the building – until early 2020 this was the French Restaurant, now sadly no more.
There has also been a Pilsen Restaurant in Obecni Dum, a cellar-type beer restaurant, but this has been closed since 2020.
Municipal House Restaurant Prague – The Venue
It is – in a word – stupendous.
I’ve dined in many amazing restaurants around the world, but could not – and still cannot – think of anywhere to match this.
It’s a vast Art Nouveau Hall, with astonishing décor ranging from murals to a beautiful golden clock and some gorgeous lighting.
Ambience
The Restaurant was fairly quiet the night we visited, probably around a third full with family groups dining out. A few couples also dropped by for a beer surrounded by the jaw-dropping Prague architecture.
Service
This was exceptional throughout – polite, friendly helpful and attentive throughout the three hours and more that we spent there.
And The Food?
Each course we had was of a very high standard, some of the best food in Prague that we have had in almost a year in the city.
Faye and I ordered the same starter, the goat’s cheese with beetroot, lettuce, nuts and citrus salad. It made for a wonderful combination of flavours, and we were delighted with it.
For the main course, I went for the lamb chops cooked medium rare with spinach, an excellent roasted garlic sauce, carrots and potato rolls. Faye also thoroughly enjoyed her grilled trout.
For dessert, our son Sam (having dined elsewhere beforehand) showed great interest in the evening special, plum dumplings with poppy seeds, a favourite of local Art Nouveau genius Alfons Mucha. I ordered the apple pie, while Faye chose the cheese platter.
Sam ended up needing a helping hand with the dumplings, so I ended up polishing off nearly two desserts.
The Drinks
Faye chose a wonderful red wine, while I enjoyed a few glasses of Kozel 11°, one of the most enjoyable beers in Prague.
Would We Go Back?
Absolutely, in a heartbeat. The three of us loved every moment of the experience, and even got to take a peek from the upstairs gallery over the restaurant, which was breathtaking. We rate it one of the best things to do in Prague, and can’t wait to go back.
How Many Stars (Out Of 5)?
5*****, and emphatically so at that.
Municipal House Restaurant Prague Review – Final Words
I hope you have found my review of the Municipal House Restaurant in Prague helpful and informative.
I have lived in Prague for four years, and written many more guides on the city. The best place to begin is my guide to the best Things To Do In Prague, which gives you a great overview of the city – ideal for first-time visitors. Also see my guide to the best landmarks of Prague so you know all the main sights.
Don’t miss my guide to the most famous landmark in the city, the Charles Bridge Prague. It’s one of the most beautiful bridges in the world – just set your alarm early for sunrise to avoid the crowds!
Check out my guide to the sights along the Vltava River in Prague, exploring the sights along both sides of the River. And don’t miss my Prague area guides, including Old Town Prague, the stunning old heart of the city.
Don’t miss my guide to New Town Prague, the neighbouring district which is nearly as old. Take a look at my guide to Mala Strana Prague, the gorgeous area around the Hotel between the River and Prague Castle.
Check out more of my themed articles on places to visit in Prague. Don’t miss my guide to the best churches in Prague to visit, And don’t miss my guide to the most beautiful Prague streets. My guide to the best hidden gems in Prague reveals even more amazing places to seek out.
And finally, if you’re intrigued by Prague history, check out my guides to Communist Prague and Prague World War 2 Sites.
David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times. David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.