I was fortunate to learn about a traditional Czech restaurant just on the outskirts of Prague from friends who had been there a few times; the owner even seemed to recognize him as we walked in. Despite the fact that the restaurant is not a haunt for tourists (am pretty sure we were the only ones), some of the room designs had the wild west written all over them. Zlaty Dul is located on Plzenska 173, Kavalirka in Prague’s 5th district, so a bit of a distance from the center of town. (well worth the drive or cab ride).
The building is a former gold mine, the first gold mine in Prague in fact, each room feeling like a well-decorated stylish cave, with its own unique character. Take a look at some of the shots I took on my iPhone.
And while you’re hanging out in this crazy, creative, eclectic building set on two floors (the lower half feeling more like a cave or a dungeon – a funky one that is), the menu doesn’t disappoint. The wait staff don’t know a helluva lot of English so a strong recommendation if you have an iPhone is to download the Czech English translator (I think it’s around 2.99) but well worth it when you’re stuck in a bind and need to get across that you’re lactose tolerant, allergic to nuts or want the best beer on the menu.
The prices were also very reasonable, much closer to the cost of a meal you’d expect to pay in Prague, which is less than half of what you’ll be presented in the city center. For $2-$3 (at a 15.5 exchange), you can have a scrumptious soup to start (wild mushroom with sour cream, strong garlic with meat, vegetables and nobles or spicy tomato served with cream and jalapenos).
Other recommendations on their starter/appetizer list include the beef carpaccio with basil oil and parma cheese, salmon tartar served with french mustard (I told them to skip that part), sour cream and French toast, the Chicken liver served with garlic and mushrooms (yum yum) and a traditional sausage delicacy called kosirsky.
They also had a homemade pickled brie which didn’t sound appealing to me, but if you are in love with brie, pickled or not, it might be an interesting choice.
We Blog the World recommendation: we definitely give it a thumbs up but know that you’re not going to get 5 star presentation or taste quality. Presentation is okay and food is average (not over the moon), but its good enough and the ambiance, candles, art, crazy floors all make up for what the food is missing. After all, how often do you get to dine in an old gold mine in Eastern Europe
Zlaty Dul has local charm and each room is so unique and precious that its worth going back a second time if you’re in Prague long enough to experience the place with new eyes in a completely different style room.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
