Restaurace Hybernská — Restaurant in Prague

The best reasonably-priced restaurant in Prague. For years I've been coming here (to Potrefena Husa) to get decent lunch (see below review from 5 years ago), and it was really nice to recognize some of the waiters still working there today.

Atmosphere: They really nicely modernized the interior, it feels very spacious, pleasant and classy. Only the soap dispenser on the toilets could be more generous.

Food: They've upped the level. Nice new plates, and well-arranged food on it. All we had tasted gorgeous too. I didn't take photos to not spoil the surprise, but you want to try it. Trust me, I'm very demanding, and I just returned form Italy.. For starters we had shrimps in such good sauce that we had to wipe the plate clean. Matched well with fancy fries and bread. We also had beef tartar, which felt a bit mild. Then we had kulajda and salmon, both delicious, and the chocolate desert with icecream my friend had looked like nothing I've seen in Czech restaurant before.

Drinks: I was a bit disappointed when we sat down and saw that they moved from unfiltered Staropramen (which we came in for) to overrated and tasteless Pilsner. But thankfully they also have 2 specials from small breweries: Libertas Bohemian and Konrad Gepard. You want to taste these beers too, while they still have it.

Prices: 4 beers, 2 nice meals and water - 700 per person plus tip it's actually not that expensive for what it was. Some will surely say that the portions are too small for the price, but firstly you shouldn't overeat yourself for dinner, and secondly it's time to prefer quality over quantity. At least once in a while you should treat yourself to enjoy the taste.

Service: It's the only restaurant I know of where the manager regularly walks around and talks to guests. They did that back then and I'm pleased they still do. You feel well-treated, and while some of the bad reviews may be true (yes, sadly us Czechs often like to make fun of others), everyone has been kind to us.

There's been probably one issue with the service though: we ordered water without reading the menu. "Carafe?" was the only question. It took really long to arrive, and was bad-tasting tap water. Here's where I suggested to the manager just walking past to add lemon, and he told us we should have ordered "infused" water with lemon and mint. Well, we would have, if we knew, but the waitress taking the order didn't mention options. This was the only slightly disappointing moment, because at the end we were billed "infused" water. So it looks like the waitress just automatically ordered the more expensive variant without asking, but then it must have gotten lost somewhere, and when she urged the delivery 15 minutes later, in rush they probably forgot it was meant to be "infused".

The waitress also confused the beers, claiming Gepard was from Libertas, but I could only find it from Konrad, so I suppose that's what we had. It's just a tiny detail with no negative effect, but as a waiter you simply must know what you're selling.

If they address these issues going forward, I can gladly say it's the best reasonably-priced restaurant I've been to in Prague. I liked it more than Cerveny Jelen, or anything in Karlin, and I'm happy we choose to come here.

Old review from 5 years ago: This place rocks day and night. The kitchen can't handle restaurant of this size when it comes to delivery times, but you don't get a better lunch than here and it's even for a decent price. We love to come back even in the evenings. Though some staff members could smile more, and watch out for...

The restaurant is conveniently located in the city center, making it an ideal spot for those looking to experience local flavors in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment. The atmosphere is pleasant, with the upper floor offering a quieter and more relaxed dining experience compared to the bustling lower floor.

We ordered the "Konfitované žebro," "Kulajda s houbami," and "Tatarák z hovězího." The soup was outstanding, unlike any I’ve ever had, with mushrooms that took the flavor to another level and a Benedict-style poached egg that added a unique and delightful touch. The presentation was also impressive, as shown in the photo, where the soup looked as good as it tasted.

The main course of confit ribs was quite ordinary and lacked distinct flavor, but the mashed potatoes served alongside were delicious. However, the inclusion of pork in the mash gave it a heavy taste and smell, making it a bit challenging to eat. The dish was beautifully presented, as seen in the photo, with a vibrant garnish that added to the visual appeal.

The beef tartare was decent, prepared in a unique style I hadn’t encountered before. While the taste was acceptable, I’ve had better tartare in Prague, and considering the price, the portion size was a bit small. The tartare was served with crispy fries and toasted bread, making for an aesthetically pleasing and appetizing dish, as evident from the photo.

Service at here was impressively fast, and I must commend the staff for their efficiency. The prices were neither cheap nor overly expensive, though I did expect them to be slightly lower. However, considering the current state of the restaurant industry in Prague, where prices have soared across the board, it’s understandable and not something I can fault the restaurant for.

Overall, Hybernská is worth a visit if you’re in the city center and want to try traditional Czech cuisine in a comfortable setting. The pleasant atmosphere, efficient service, and unique dishes make it a noteworthy...

Very disappointed. I initially ordered the wrong dish by mistake, so I thought it was my own fault and quietly ate the fries without complaining. A thoughtful server noticed that I hadn’t touched the main dish and kindly asked the manager to check in. The manager offered to replace the meal, which at first felt very considerate.

When the manager asked if I wanted to switch to steak or pork, I replied "steak." However, there was no clear explanation or confirmation about which steak dish from the menu would be served or its price. The manager did confirm I wanted steak instead, but didn’t clarify which specific steak or how much it would cost. I only found out when the bill arrived, and by then it was already too late to make a different choice. A situation like this really should be communicated clearly — the restaurant should confirm the exact replacement item and its price before making the switch. What initially felt like good service ended up feeling like a tactic to upsell a more expensive dish.

As for the food:

Fries: Tasted okay, but some parts were overcooked and burnt.

Steak: Really disappointing — it didn’t taste fresh and had the unpleasant smell typical of packaged beef soaked in blood. It reminded me of vacuum-sealed beef from Australia or New Zealand that gives off that odd scent when first opened.

Water: The menu claimed it was filtered water, but it still had a raw, metallic taste. A proper filtration system shouldn’t leave that kind of flavor.

That said, the one thing I truly appreciated was the attitude of both the server and the manager — they were kind, patient, and sincerely apologetic about my dissatisfaction. That part of the experience did leave a...