Výtopna: The Train Restaurant in Prague
Výtopna: The Train Restaurant in Prague
Prague is a city I have already visited twice for conferences over the past ten years. The sun was brilliant, the buildings were antique and charming, and enjoying food and drinks here made me happy. It still does. There aren't many places in Europe that provide such a satisfying experience as Prague. That's why I always wanted to revisit this city with my wife and children. Despite spending around 20 days in Prague, I had never heard of this train restaurant. While planning the trip, I saw an episode of the Korean variety show Dokbak Tour 3, which featured a trip to Prague and a visit to this restaurant. My son watched the show and was immediately drawn to it, so we decided to go.
https://images.app.goo.gl/1QmKeNkQC1BgeMQg8
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| Korean variety show Dokbak Tour 3 vistis here |
1. Location
Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) was a place I had often walked around during my conference trips, as I had stayed nearby. However, I never imagined that there was a train restaurant there. If you stand in Wenceslas Square facing the statue of Saint Wenceslas (Svatý Václav), the patron saint of the Czech Republic, and look to the left, you will see a KFC. This train restaurant is located on the second floor of that building.
Various trains with intricate details
2. Reservation
Reservations are a must when visiting this place. Of course, you can try to walk in and wait for a seat, but we had made a reservation for 8 PM, right after returning from Český Krumlov. When we arrived at the building, a long line stretched from the first-floor entrance to the ground floor. Thankfully, we could skip the line and enter immediately since we had a reservation. Therefore, I strongly recommend making a reservation in advance.
Výtopna
3. Menu
You can order individual dishes or opt for a set menu. As of December 2024, the price for a set menu was 790 CZK (around 50,000 KRW), while a beer cost 120 CZK. By Czech standards, this is quite expensive. Prague is known as one of the cheapest places in Europe to drink beer, but the beer here costs about 1.5 times more than in a typical pub. Still, even at this price, it remains one of the cheapest beers in Europe.
Výtopna's menu
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| Výtopna's menu |
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| Výtopna's menu |
The portion sizes are large. While a single menu item per person might be enough for Europeans, for Koreans, three set menus would be enough for a group of four. We ordered three set menus and an additional steak for two adults, an elementary and a middle schooler. However, we were too full and had to return the leftovers. Since the staff are always around and you can order more food any time, it's a good idea to start with a small amount and add more if needed.
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| Burger Set |
Tenderloin steak PECENÁ VEPROVÁ LEBRA KURE TERIYAKI Beer sampler and beef tartare
Despite the enjoyable experience, the food's taste didn't quite meet expectations. Perhaps it was because we had already visited some of the best burger places in Hamburg and several famous restaurants in Prague. The dishes were neatly prepared, but something felt lacking. My wife and I agreed it would have been better to enjoy the train experience here but eat elsewhere.
4. Ordering and Receiving food
Ordering is simple: look at the menu and tell the staff what you want. Each table has a designated number, and when you place an order, a train arrives carrying your food or beer with a tag displaying your table number. The train stops for about 15 seconds, during which you need to take your food and drinks. When you're done, do not place empty plates or bottles on the train—call a staff member, and they will take care of it.
5. Overall Impression
This is the only restaurant in the world that delivers food and drinks via a train system (although there is another branch in Vienna). Watching the little trains passing by while having a meal was thrilling. The kids especially loved it and had a great time. If you're traveling to Prague with children, this restaurant is worth a visit. After eating, sipping Prague's craft beer while watching the miniature trains go by was quite a unique experience. However, the prices are higher compared to other breweries in the city. If you have already tried the beer and food from Prague's famous breweries, the food here may feel underwhelming.
