Gastronomy

Brno has transformed into the “foodie heaven” of the Czech Republic. While traditional flavors remain, the city is now defined by world-class specialty coffee, innovative bistros, and a legendary bar scene.

The best recent guide published by the Brno municipality is the Gourmet guide available online and in print.

Eating out can be very cheap. A meal in a mid-range restaurant costs under 8 EUR and a glass of beer (0.5l) about 2 EUR. (You can find more prices at numbeo.com). People can afford to eat out often, going to restaurants for lunches and dinners on a regular basis, to cafés and bistros for breakfast and coffee breaks. High demand causes the restaurant scene to bloom. With the competition getting tough, venues have to try their best to make people keep coming back.

Traditional Czech & Modern Dinners

A traditional Czech meal is hearty and delicious, but the modern Brno scene offers everything from old-school pubs to fine-dining steak houses.

• The Classics: For the quintessential Pilsner beer and Czech soul food, Stopkova Plzeňská Pivnice and Lokál U Caipla remain top choices. For the local Starobrno beer, head to the Starobrno Brewery or Zlatá Loď.
• Modern Meat: If you’re looking for the best steak in the city, Pavillon Steak House is the 2025 category winner. For modern twists on traditional dishes, visit Atelier Bar & Bistro.
• International Excellence: Brno’s international scene is booming.
  • Italian: Castellana Trattoria remains the gold standard, but Zaza and Doe Boy are now the top-ranked spots for authentic Neapolitan pizza.
  • Asian Fusion: Manya Sushi & Sake (Japanese-American fusion) and Večerka Brno (Czech-Vietnamese fusion) are the current local favorites. For authentic bibimbap, visit Hatsu, and for the best ramen, head to Ramen Brno.

The Daily “Menu” (Lunches)

Lunch is the main event for locals. Between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, most restaurants offer a denní menu (daily menu)—a fixed-price soup and main dish that is fast and affordable.

• Pro Tip: Use apps like Wolt or Zomato to check daily menus, or look for chalkboards outside restaurants. For a quick, high-quality bistro lunch, Bistro Bastardo (Mexican) or Būcheck (food truck style) are must-tries.

The Coffee Capital

Brno is officially the coffee capital of the Czech Republic. It’s hard to find a bad cup in the center.

• Top Picks: Kafe Friedrich (winner of the 2025 Gourmet Brno category) offers a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Industra Coffee is legendary for its industrial vibe and top-tier roasting.
• Multi-taskers: SKØG Urban Hub is a “shapeshifter”—a vegetarian-friendly café by day that transforms into a vibrant cocktail bar by night. For a weekend brunch, try EGGO BreakFeast Bistro or The Roses.

World-Famous Bars & Nightlife

The New York Times wasn’t exaggerating: Brno’s bars are world-class.

• The Legends: Super Panda Circus offers a surreal, immersive experience (voted the best bar in 2025). Bar, který neexistuje (The Bar That Doesn’t Exist) is the iconic heart of Brno’s cocktail culture.
• Unique Concepts: Visit 4pokoje for a 24-hour concept that changes its menu based on the time of day, or Slast for hookahs and cocktails in a stunning underground labyrinth.

Wine: The Spirit of South Moravia

You are in the heart of the Czech wine region. In Brno, we don’t just drink wine; we taste it.

• Where to go: Klára Bára Wine Café is currently ranked as the most welcoming wine spot. For a wider European selection, check out Jungle by justWINE or the French-inspired Franck & Thierry.

Sweets & Bakeries

The artisan bakery scene has exploded in recent years.

• Bakeries: William Thomas artisan bakery is famous for its buttery croissants, while Chleba Brno has revolutionized the sourdough scene.
• Ice Cream: Even in winter, people queue for Božský kopeček, a fleet of vintage trucks serving 100% vegan, chemical-free ice cream. Or simply ask for “one-more” at Ještě jednu.

Delivery & Practicalities

• Ordering In: Wolt and Foodora (formerly Dáme jídlo) are the primary delivery services.
• Dietary Needs: Brno is incredibly vegan and vegetarian-friendly. Most modern bistros (like Die Küche or Fryends or Forky’s) cater specifically to plant-based diets.
• Gourmet Guide: Every year, the city releases the Gourmet Brno brochure. It’s the ultimate independent ranking of the top 10 places in every category—look for the printed version at the Tourist Information Centres (TIC).

Grocery shopping

The latest hit is to order your groceries online: through services such as rohlik.cz (they deliver in 120 minutes) or Tesco Delivery. Wolt and Foodora deliver groceries (from Albert supermarket for example) too. Wide range of products for households or pro-kitchen is available at Makro. 

Markets

One of the squares in the centre – Zelný trh – houses a vegetable market throughout the whole year – with local farmers selling their vegetables, fruit, herbs and plants every day. When looking for more exotic food, particularly for Asian products, pay a visit to the Vietnamese market Vinamo on Olomoucká 1193 with authentic bistros serving lunch to local Vietnamese shopkeepers and all visitors. A grocery shop with Asian seasoning, preserved food, fresh herbs etc. is right in the bistro aisle.