Zlaty Had Restaurant

Zlaty Had Restaurant Overview

Zlaty Had is certainly one of Prague's most interesting, welcoming and eclectic of restaurants. Managed by the ebullient and ever so friendly Mr Svaty this restaurant has a charm and a quality which is irresistable. It has an immediate old-time feel as soon as you walk through its sturdy double doors entrance where space is plentiful to give a nice distance between all dining tables. Red tiling dominates the flooring while on the walls are hung a quite splendid collection of Imperial paintings from the the time of Empire one hundred years and more ago. And that it just the ground floor. There is also a quite stunningly wonderful basement reached by a real fin-de-siecle stairwell where a world of antique cabinets awaits you full of rums, tequilas and vintage wines. Here the dining area is even more intimate, some of the tables having soft, easy chairs. Remarkably, one neatly tucked away corner of the basement functions as the atelier of leading contemporary artist Michal Singer, his enormous post-modern canvasses kaleidoscopically coloured are on full view for all to admire.

The cuisine at Zlaty Had seems to encapsulate the very best of both classically Czech dishes as well as many varied international favourites. What strikes one as being quite unique about this restaurant - and what should be of especial interest for wine lovers - is their belief that the food should suit the wine. They value their wines very much at Zlaty Had and it should come as no surprise that they have as many as 250 varieties on offer on a daily basis, drawn as it were, from all corners of the world. Furthermore the helpful and very informed staff will gladly allow you to taste as many of the wines as you wish - without charge of course - until you decide upon the one that will best suit your choice of meal and indeed your dining experience in general.

The cuisine at Zlaty Had is quite excellent with quality of fare being far more important to them than having the widest variety of dishes ever seen. Some really delicious appetisers both hot and cold make up the entrees and then as regards the main dish one must really decide carefully. Freshness, and products which are in season are paramount here and so you could go for a Fish Dish depending on the that day's offering, or perhaps some Argentine Beef, some Chicken Dish expertly prepared by the talented chefs, a Pork Dish, or perhaps you could abstain from meat and try a healthy and very enjoyable Pasta Speciality. A nice number of Side Orders, or indeed Salad choices can accompany your meal too. Already we have mentioned the Wine List and also the fact that there are so many other fine spirits, rums and cognacs too but continuing with the unique attention to detail of this restaurant one can also choose a incredibly refreshing unfiltered and unpasteurised Beer which is really magnificent. Naturally all well known non-alcoholic drinks are on offer too. By the way the Teas and Coffees of which there are many varieties here can be just delightful.

Some more aspects of Zlaty Had which really impressed us was that they have live music every evening of the week excepting Sunday where on the discrete stage just inside the door some smooth and relaxing jazz numbers are played by some fine musicians. Speaking of Sundays, the manager Mr Vlastimil Svatý allows up and coming bands to use the stage on Sunday afternoons free of charge providing them with a choice from the menu also. The friends, family and acquaintances of these musicians can then come along and listen and watch. Zlaty Had is handily located just 500 metres away from the National Theatre, one need just walk or take a tram one station across the bridge to stop at Ujezd where on one left side - with the river behind you - is the street Plaska and the short walk to number 4 is your location. It is also fantastic to know that it is possible to come in, sit down, and order from the full menu right up until 2am in the morning. Therefore if you are coming from the theatre or a movie or any late evening event this is the ideal location to come to.