Meal with a view in Prague

By Dee Poujade
This item appears on page 33 of the January 2015 issue.
Dee Poujade (left) and Kay Van Patten dining in Prague.<br />

When my friend Kay Van Patten and I spent a week in Prague, Czech Republic, in September-October 2014, we knew we wanted to have at least one “special” meal there. Based purely on location — riverside tables with a view of the Charles Bridge — we chose Hergetova Cihelná (Cihelná 2b, Prague, Bohemia 118 00, Czech Republic; phone +420 296 826 103, www.kampagroup.com/en).

Because it was the end of “peak” tourist season in Prague and because we were early (it was 5:30 p.m.), we were fortunate to get a table right at the edge of the terrace overlooking the river. Not only was our view of the sunset over the River Vitava “to die for,” but the meal was exceptionally good and, surprisingly, no more expensive than any of the meals we’d had in Prague’s touristy city center.

Kay enjoyed an entrée of filet mignon, and I dined on perch. We had predinner drinks and wine with our meal plus dessert, all of which was attractively presented and attentively served. The total bill came to CZK2,000 (near $90) — certainly reasonable by any standard.

We later discovered that this restaurant had been mentioned for “best meal with a view” in the Frommer’s guidebook Kay carried with her. We would not disagree.

DEE POUJADE

Portland, OR