Pilsen (Plzeň) Pub Guide: the best beer bars, brewpubs and beer gardens

Pilsen (Plzeň) Pub Guide

Bars - Brewpubs - Beer gardens

Introduction
The City In most of the world, Plzeň is known for one thing: beer. Yet those expecting a romantic old town like Bamberg might well be disappointed. For Czechs it's just as renowned as an industrial city, home to arms and car manufacturer Škoda.
Pilsen pubs You would never guess that Pilsner Urquell was brewed in Plzeň. Only azound 99% of pubs sell Pilsner Urquell or Gambrinus. Most of those that don't (or at least sell something else as well) are listed below. SABMiller (see right) have obviously decided to have Pilsner Urquell as the 12° and Gambrinuss as the 10° in their pubs. If a dark beer is required, it's Velkopopovický Kozel 10°. Gambrinus12°, the favourite tipple of my mate Phil in the old days, is barely to be found. Which makes the choice of beer pretty limited. One pub does sell unfiltered Pilsner Urquell. The "also available" beers provide little comfort. Such classy Inbev products as Hoegaarden Witbier and Stella Artois are disappointingly widely available. That Stella Artois - the epitome of a low-quality, factory-made lager - can be sold in Plzeň depresses me beyond belief. Fortunately, there are a few interesting beers on tap - Bernard, Svijanský Kníže, Modrá Hvězda, Chodovar 13°, Lochota 14° and Pernštejn Porter, if you know where to look for them. Which is where this guide should help....	Pilsen breweries During the communist days, though lumped together in the same state-owned organisation, Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus operated independently. The stupid way privatisation was implemented in the brewing industry (state firms running all the breweries in a region were sold of as single units) left both in the same ownership. SABMiller, is the current lucky owner. Unsurprisingly, as the breweries were right next to each other, the two sites have been merged. So today there is only one industrial-strength brewery in Plzeň. The role of second brewery has been passed on to Minipivovar U Rytíře Lochoty, a brewpub founded in 2001.
Pilsen info Who would have guessed it? Plzeň has a brewing museum. Public transport Plzeňské městské dopravní podniky operates a network of trams, trolleybuses and petrol buses. A 24-hour ticket, valid on all three, costs 40 crowns. Single tickets cost from 12 crowns.	Addresses Pivovarské muzeum Veleslavínova 6, 301 14 Plzeň. Tel.: +420/377 225 955 Fax : +420/377 235 574 Email: muzeum@pilsner-urquell.com www.prazdroj.cz/ Plzeň city transport authority http://www.pmdp.cz Ttransport planner for the whole Czech Republic (in English) Plzeň city site Guide to Plzeň pubs (Czech only).

Pilsen Pub Guide

Pub Listings

Map Index
A Bernard-In B Bilej Medved C Hospudka v Chaloupce D Club Bar E Ve Dvore F Pivnice U Fertu	G Hamburk H Hospoda u Hamburku I Hemingway J Kavarna Inkognito K Senk Na Parkanu L V Plachovce	M Potrefena Husa N The PUB, Pilsner Unique Bar O Minipivovar U Rytire Lochoty P Restaurace U Salzmannu Q Restaurace Na Spilce R Zachs Pub

Bernard-In
Sady Petatřicátníku 6, 301 00 Plzeň. Tel: Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours:
Number of draught beers: 5
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Bernard 10° Bernard 11° Bernard 12° Bernard 13° Bernard 14°
Food: Snacks, meals.
Pub in the centre of town with a modern interior (industrial ducting and the like). Serves pretty well a full set of beers from the well-respected independent brewery Bernard.
Rating:	Public transport:

Bílej Medvěd
Prokopova 30, Plzeň. Tel: 377 322 445 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 15:00 - 01:00, Sat - Sun 17:00 - 05:00
Number of draught beers: 5
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé Staropramen Granát Kelt Stella Artois
Food: Snacks, meals.
Town centre pub. Has a beer garden in the summer.
Rating:	Public transport:

- Jižní Predmestí

Hospůdka v Chaloupce
Podebradova 415/12, 301 00 Plzeň. Tel: 736 / 647 808 Fax: Email: hospudkavchaloupce@seznam.cz http://hospudkavchaloupce.sweb.cz
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 09:00 - 22:00, Fri 09:00 - 23:00, Sat 12:00 - 23:00, Sunday closed.
Number of draught beers: 1
Number of bottled beers: 6
Regular draught beers: Gambrinus 10° Chodovar 10° Tmavý Chodovar 11°
Food: Snacks 20-50 kr, meals 45-60 kr. Beer 16 kr for 0.5l.
Pub in what looks like a large shed. It has a rustic interior. There is a beer garden. A little to the west of the city centre.
Rating:	Public transport:

Club Bar
Lobezská 65, Plzen - Slovany. Tel: 777-335-688 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Fri :00 - , Sat 10:00 -
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers: 7
Regular draught beers: Gambrinus 10° Eggenberg 12° Kristian 11° Černý
Food: Snacks.
Club and bar in the suburb of Slovany. Get there with the number 30 bus.
Rating:	Public transport:

Ve Dvoře
Slovanská 74, Plzeň. Tel: 377 455 511 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours:
Number of draught beers: 4
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Krušovice Černé Krušovice 10° Mušketýr 11° Krušovice 12°
Food: Snacks, meals.
Pub south of the railway station with a bright, modern interior.
Rating:	Public transport:

Pivnice U Feřtu
Gerská 1866/60, 323 00 Plzeň - Bolevec. Tel: 377 536 655 Fax: Email: hukot@volny.cz http://sweb.cz/pivniceufertu/
Opening hours:
Number of draught beers:
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé Velkopopovický Kozel 10° černé
Food: Snacks 20-50 kr, meals 50-120 kr. Beer 22-24 kr for 0.5l.
Traditional pub in a long, low building. It´s right next to the terminus of the number 4 tram.
Rating:	Public transport: Tram 4 to the Košutka terminus

Hamburk
Nádražní 16, Plzeň. Tel: 736 488 985 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 24:00, Sat - Sun 17:00 - 24:00
Number of draught beers: 4
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Budějovický Budvar 10° Budějovický Budvar 12° Budvar Černý 12° Granát 12°
Food: Snacks, meals.
Pub opposite the railway station with a dark, wooden interior. The Budvar makes a welcome change in a town where every other pub seems to sell Urquell.
Rating:	Public transport:

Hospoda u Hamburku
Nádražní 18, Plzeň. Tel: 739 060 963 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 11:00 - 24:00, Sat - Sun 16:00 - 24:00
Number of draught beers: 4
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Svijanský Máz 11° Svijanský Kníže 13° Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé
Food: Snacks, meals.
Pub with a modernish interior close to the station. Interesting for having beer from Pivovar Svijany, one of the Czech Republic´s dwindling band of regional breweries.
Rating:	Public transport:

Hemingway
Houškova 16, 317 00Plzeň - Slovany. Tel: 377 441 577 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Sun 18:00 - 01:00
Number of draught beers: 7
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Modrá Hvězda 12° Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé Kelt Velvet Hoegaarden White Guinness Stout
Food: Snacks, meals.
Supposedly the town´s first English-style pub. Included because it sells Modrá Hvezda, a micro-brewed beer from Dobrany. Located about 500 m southeast of the railway station.
Rating:	Public transport:

Kavárna Inkognito
Husova 24, 30 124 Plzeň . Tel: 377 237 970 Fax: Email: http://www.inkognito.cz/
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 07:30 - 23:00, Sat - Sun 17:00 - 23:00, Public holidays 17:00 - 23:00
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers: 3
Regular draught beers: Bernard Svetlý ležák 11° Bernard Speciální Černý pivo 13° Hoegaarden White
Food: Snacks, meals.
A modern cafe/bar with lots of pine and pastel colours. Stages live music. Located on the edge of the old town.
Rating:	Public transport:

Šenk Na Parkánu
Veleslavínova 4, 30114 Plzeň. Tel: 377 235 574 Fax: 377 224 955 Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 11:00 - 23:00, Fri - Sat 11:00 - 01:00, Sun 11:00 - 22:00
Number of draught beers: 1
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Pilsner Urquell (unfiltered)
Food: Snacks, meals.
Pub/restaurant in the old town. The only outlet for unfiltered Pilsner Urquell. Part of the Pivovarské muzeum (Beer Museum).
Rating:	Public transport:

V Plachovce
Plachého 31, 301 00 Plzeň. Tel: 377-226-084 Fax: Email: http://
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 22:00, Sat 13:00 - 22:00, Sunday closed.
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Chodovar Zámecký ležák Speciál 13° Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé
Food: Snacks, meals.
A typical hospoda about 1 km east of the station. Has a no smoking room!
Rating:	Public transport:

Potrefená Husa
Kopeckého sady/Martinská 1, Plzeň. Tel: 377 320 832 Fax: Email: husa@janakbros.cz http://www.potrefena-husa.cz
Opening hours: Mon - thur 09:00 - 01:00, Sat - Sun 11:00 - 01:00
Number of draught beers: 8
Number of bottled beers: 6
Regular draught beers: Staropramen Světlý Staropramen Ležák Staropramen Granát Staropramen Černý Kelt Velvet Hoegaarden White Stella Artois
Food: Snacks 50-100 kr, meals 20-200kr. Beer 27 kr for 0.5l (hoegaarden 45kr
Corner pub in the town centre. The interior is a modern take on a traditional Czech boozer. Bottled Leffe Blond and Bruin (69 kr). The menu even offers steak cooked with Leffe Bruin. It´s depressing to see shitty Inbev beers (especially Stella Artois) on sale in Plzen. What self-respecting Czech would drink that crap?
Rating:	Public transport:

The PUB, Pilsner Unique Bar
Prešovská 16, 301 00 Plzeň. Tel: 377 221 131 Fax: Email: thepub@seznam.cz http://www.thepub.cz
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 10:00 - 01:00, Fri - Sat 10:00 - 04:00, Sun 13:00 - 01:00
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé Velkopopovický Kozel 10° černé
Food: Snacks, meals.
Modernish pub with a vaulted brick ceiling in the old town. What makes it "unique" are the beer taps on each table from which customers dispense their own drinks. Sounds like a recipe for chaos to me. The Pilsner Urquell is unpasteurised and served from cellar tanks.
Rating:	Public transport:

Minipivovar U Rytíře Lochoty
Karlovarská třída 103, 323 17 Plzeň. Tel: 377 540 946 Fax: Email: leas@volny.cz http://
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 09:30 - 23:00, Fri - Sat 09:30 - 24:00, Sun 09:30 - 22:00
Number of draught beers: 4
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Lochota 11° Lochota 14° Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé
Food: Snacks, meals.
Brewpub in the northern suburb of Lochotín. It says something about Urquell´s dominance of the town that it´s sold even here. Located in a large detached house with several modern, light rooms. There is also a garden.
Rating:	Public transport: Tram 4, Bus 33, 39 or 40 to Lochotín Karlovarská.

Restaurace U Salzmannu
Pražská 8, 301 00 Plzeň. Tel: 377 235 855 Fax: 377 235 476 Email: info@usalzmannu.cz http://www.usalzmannu.cz
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 11:00 - 23:00, Fri 11:00 - 24:00, Sat 11:00 - 23:00, Sun 11:00 - 21:00
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé Velkopopovický Kozel 10° černé
Food: Snacks, meals.
Plzen´s oldest beerhall, dating from 1637. The building has an impressive facade, with a tower at either side. The interior is in the usual style, with panelled walls and long wooden tables. Located in the centre of the old town, just off the main square. The pub was run in the 19th century by Martin Salzmann (hence the name), the man who in 1843 sent beer to publican Pinkas - the first Pilsner Urquell sold in Prague.
Rating:	Public transport:

Restaurace "Na Spilce"
U Prazdroje 7, 304 97 Plzeň. Tel: 377 062 755, 377 062 754 Fax: 377 062 703 Email: e-mail: naspilce@naspilce.com http://www.naspilce.com/
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 11:00 - 22:00, Fri 11:00 - 23:00, Sat 11:00 - 22:00, Sun 11:00 - 21:00
Number of draught beers: 2
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers: Pilsner Urquell Velkopopovický Kozel 10° černé
Food: Snacks, meals.
Brewery tap, opened in 1992 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Pilsner Urquell.
Rating:	Public transport:

Zach´s Pub
Palackého nám. 2, 301 16 Plzeň. Tel: 377 223 176 Fax: 377 223 176 Email: zachs@zachspub.cz http://www.zachspub.cz
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 13:00 - 01:00, Fri 13:00 - 02:00, Sat 17:00 - 02:00, Sun 17:00 - 04:99
Number of draught beers: 5
Number of bottled beers: 9
Regular draught beers: Pernštejn Porter Pilsner Urquell Gambrinus 10° světlé Velvet Guinness Stout
Food: Snacks 30-60 kr, meals 60-70 kr. Beer 10° 19 kr, 12° 32 kr for 0.5 l.
Fake Irish pub in the town centre. It has a vaulted brick ceiling and a real fire. A rare draught outlet for what used to be Czechoslovakia´s strongest beer, Pernštejn Porter from Pardubice.
Rating:	Public transport:

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