In 1843, U Pinkasu was the first pub to serve Pilsner on tap in Prague. Mr. Jakub Pinkas, a tailor, visited the city of Plzen, where his friend gave him some of this new beer, which was brewed using a new method. He came back to Prague, and to the enjoyment of his friends, he shared his newly found treasure. Everyone liked the beer so much that he decided to buy more, and open a pub. Since then, U Pinkasu has served many famous Czechs, tourists, and citizens of Prague. You can still see this historic tap in the basement floor. Today, this is still some fantastic Pilsner, and you can easily taste a difference. It’s fresh, creamy, and the flavor is rich. Any visitor to Prague has not truly tasted a Pilsner until they’ve had one like U Pinkasu serves.

There are 3 floors at U Pinkasu, but it still becomes crowded, especially on a weekend night. There is a large basement floor, where the historic tap is, which is more of a pub. The first floor is also more of a traditional Czech style pub, with smaller wooden tables, that are almost always full of someone enjoying some great beer. Upstairs, the atmosphere is also nice, with a wooden interior, but more like a restaurant.

The food here is like Czech food should be- good for putting meat on your bones. Traditional recipes are used, and you have a chance to try some authentic Czech delicacies. They have all the favorites- goulash, svickova (beef in a cream sauce), nakladany hermelin (pickled cheese), as well as some more unusual dishes like deer steak and rabbit legs. And the prices are quite good.

So, if this is your first trip to Prague, or you’re in the mood for a great Pilsner, U Pinkasu is a great choice.