Five Rivers Indian Kitchen and Bar — Restaurant in Prague

As someone who grew up between the street food chaos of Delhi and the refined spice science of Mumbai, I tend to approach “Indian” restaurants abroad with the same cautious optimism I reserve for Bollywood remakes of Hollywood films. But Five Rivers in Prague? This one deserves a standing ovation — or at the very least, a round of applause with freshly fried papad.

Tucked into the beautiful heart of Prague, Five Rivers isn’t your usual watered-down “butter chicken with sugar” experience. This is authentic, unapologetic Indian cuisine — where the spices sing, the gravies comfort, and the aromas teleport you to a Delhi dhaba or a Punjabi farmhouse, depending on your order.

I ordered the butter chicken, which was so spot-on it could have passed the rigorous taste test of any Dilliwali dadi. The garlic butter naan was soft yet not too heavy, buttery enough that it slipped straight out of my hand — yes, I dropped a whole plate like the rookie I am. And the dal tadka? Light, soulful, and exactly the kind of lentil hug every Indian abroad secretly craves after a long day of being exoticized.

Now, let’s talk about the masala cocktail. One of the servers asked about my spice tolerance and proceeded to create a personalized cocktail infused with kala namak, green chilli, and citrus. Somewhere between a chaat and a swanky bar drink, it was absolutely brilliant — a proper desi mixology moment.

What truly sets Five Rivers apart is the staff — warm, attentive, and deeply knowledgeable. They weren’t just taking orders; they were sharing stories, recommending pairings, and making sure I felt right at home, as if I were back in India and someone’s mum had insisted I eat more.

Whether you’re an Indian expat craving real food, a Czech local curious about flavors beyond goulash, or an American tourist looking for something genuinely unforgettable — this place will expand your palate.

I’m now personally instructing all my Prague friends (and their friends, and their future in-laws) to make Five Rivers their next stop. It’s that good.

Pro tips: • Ask for spicy. They’ll deliver. • Try the tandoori broccoli — trust me. • And yes, get the masala cocktail. Your chakras will thank you.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 5

Come for the food. Stay for the feels. Leave with a full belly and...

We had a calm diner at this place which provides a good quality and choice of Indian dishes. It has a very typical, maybe even a bit "kitsch", Indian decor which we certainly didn't mind. We were served very polite and promptly so also no remarks to that.

There are only 2 things I'd like to mention and this is also why I give it a 3 out of 5. Firstly, it was not very warm inside. I don't know if the heating was broken or they were just saving a lot on the cost of heating the place, but we got offered a little electric stove when we arrived. It was first placed behind us for warmth, but for the size of the accomodation it did not really help and we asked to place it under our table. Only after this we had a comfortable temperature. Secondly and lastly, me and my partner did not appreciate the fact I could not get the requested "starting" drink. I wanted to order a typical Indian drink, which for me seemed quite interesting and worth trying, but the waiter kept advising me to not take it because only Indian people normally like it... After 2 times trying to convince him to still give it to me and I would for sure consume/pay for it we gave up and chose something else. But it really felt like only non-foreign people could get it which is a shame if you want to try new things.

Aside from the warmth and the "drink" issue we had a nice...

UPDATE: Things have improved since I wrote this below. Service always friendly now. Upgrading to 4*.

The service: One day they open the door for you and welcome you like a royalty, another day they wouldn’t even return your “Hello”. One day the order is taken in fast, friendly manner, another time the order is forgotten or wrong food served. One day the waiter embodies a cultivated professional, another day is walking around bored and burps (this actually made me rewrite and downgrade my review). The difference is in the person. You never know if you get a great waiter or a horrible one.

The food: Always exquisite! You must have great team in the kitchen. Always a great taste and beautiful serving. The price of the lunch menu is surprisingly low. Especially for the Old Town area. A la carte is fine. The price of sides is surprisingly high.

The interior: Rather grandiose. Looks like very expensive wood and authentic materials. In contrast, some photos are pixelated and flowers plastic. This does not ruin the majestic feeling of the interior though.

The unsolicited advice: Reward your dedicated professionals in service, and train those who...