Where to find the best sourdough bread in Prague
Eska
Organic flour, beech wood, an Italian oven, and 12 hours of resting — that’s all it takes to create Eska'a renowned 66 and 33 loaves. The numbers indicate the proportion of rye flour in the dough; the rest is wheat flour. The bread at Eska is characterised by its distinctly dark, well-baked crust, which is created by baking directly over a fire and wood — at first glance, it might appear burnt, but that's not the case.
The creation of this local bread is the result of years of recipe fine-tuning and being conscious all the factors that influence the final product — over time, the bakers have gradually identified 52 of them. A three-stage rye sourdough plays an important role, and in the “33” bread, potatoes cooked in their skins also contribute to the dough’s softness and airiness. The result is a bread with a distinctive flavour, a crispy crust, and a soft crumb, the production of which has gradually stabilised at Eska after years of experimentation, measurement, and experience.
📍Pernerova 49, 186 00 Prague 8-Karlín
📍Veletržní 290/42, 170 00 Prague 7-Bubeneč
U Kalendů
Pastries and bread — that’s what U Kalendů is all about! Every morning, the counter is overflowing with sweet pastries, and the adjacent shelf proudly displays loaves, crafted by the shop’s bakers under the guidance of head baker Sláva Grigoryk. And if you're looking for something to spread on your fresh loaf, take a look in the fridge opposite.
At U Kalendů, they bake sourdough bread by hand, without chemicals, stabilisers, or leavening agents. It’s made from plain wheat flour, whole-grain spelt, and whole-grain red wheat known as “purpura”, complemented only by their own sourdough starter, salt, and water. The dough is then given time to rest, left in a cool place for about 20 hours before baking, allowing its flavour and texture to develop.
Sláva Grygorik’s recipe is based on using darker and more aromatic types of flour. The result is a distinctly aromatic loaf with a crispy crust and a soft, dense crumb that’s great on its own with butter, but also works well as toast. At U Kalendů, the bakery is closely intertwined with the kitchen, where stale bread is given a second lease of life, and conversely, ingredients from the restaurant are used in baking.
📍Rašínovo nábř. 383/58, 128 00 Nové Město
Praktika
At Praktika, they were among the first in Prague to bake artisanal bread. They take their craft very seriously, grinding their own organic flour on a stone mill. Today, the bakery has two locations in Karlín and Vinohrady, and their doughnuts and cardamom-cinnamon rolls are particularly famous. In Karlín, you can stop by for breakfast, too — we recommend the grilled cheese!
📍Sokolovská 6/85, 183 00 Prague 8-Karlín
Artic Bakehouse
This Icelandic bakery quickly made a name for itself among fans of authentic bread. The branch at Újezd was soon joined by bakeries on Myslíkova and Štefánikova streets. Be sure to try the “Old Bastard” rye sourdough bread, inspired by an old Scandinavian tradition.
It takes three days to make, and thanks to slow, natural fermentation, has a rich flavour and a soft, chewy texture. The loaf stays fresh for a long time, and you’ll appreciate it when preparing healthy snacks. Be sure to try the famous raisin doughnuts known as “love balls” or “monkey muffins”, too.
Alf & Bet
They describe themselves as a “bakery for non-bakers” because none of the founders had any baking experience to begin with. They learned the basics at London’s E5 Bakehouse and have now established a solid presence on the Prague scene. Choose from six types of bread, named after different nationalities. Would you like a Swede, a Czech, or an American?
📍Komunardů 1584/42, 170 00 Prague 7-Holešovice
Antonínovo pekařství (Antonín’s Bakery)
This bakery has a lot of locations — every neighbourhood in Prague has its own. The taste of their bread is unmatched, and the prices are on the lower end. Antonín’s sourdough bread is available in two sizes, as well as rye, wheat, olive, nut, and buckwheat varieties. Be sure to try slices of bread with local spreads, rolls, sweet pastries, desserts — and in the summer, soft-serve ice cream with sprinkles!
📍Náměstí Míru 585/11, 120 00 Prague 2-Vinohrady
Hotel Josef
At Prague’s Hotel Josef, designed by leading Czech architect Eva Jiřičná, they bake their own sourdough bread. You can buy it right in the hotel lobby, and enjoy it with a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or grab a sandwich to go.
The bread is made exclusively from high-quality Czech wheat bread flour, water, salt, and their own wheat sourdough starter, which they’ve named Steve. It is thanks to this sourdough starter that the dough rises without industrial yeast. The entire process begins at 7 a.m. when the dough is mixed, then manually folded three times during the morning using the stretch and fold technique. After maturing all day, the dough is shaped and placed in a basket, where it slowly ferments in the cold at a temperature of 8–10 °C from noon until 5 a.m. the next day.
“This long, cold fermentation (known as ‘retardation’) produces a more distinctive taste and makes the bread easier to digest. In the morning, the loaf is then placed in a hot oven, where it bakes for 50 minutes at a temperature of 250–260 °C. The result is bread with a recognisable flavour, a beautifully crisp crust, and a light, airy crumb,” explains baker Bára Kaninová.
Etapa
The selection of baked goods at this Karlín bistro and bakery are made with 100% whole-grain sourdough, and you can pre-order for a specific day to ensure you don't miss out. If you become a regular — which is likely to happen — it’s worth getting a canvas bag designed specifically for their bread. You’ll find it, along with many other items, in their online store.
La Caveau Boulangerie
This café and bakery on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square is best known for its baguettes and pastries, but they also bake excellent bread, including sourdough and rye, with walnuts or figs. The country-style bread, packed with seeds, is particularly popular, but the focaccia with rosemary and olives is also worth trying. Kosher bread is also available here. Oh, and never leave without a croissant, pain au chocolat, or brioche!
📍Jiřího z Poděbrad Square 9, 130 00 Prague 3-Vinohrady
Kro Coffee & Bakery
Next to the now-legendary Kro rotisserie on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, a café and bakery of the same name opened a few years ago. In addition to sweet pastries, they offer rolls and four types of bread. If you had to choose just one, go for the whole-grain sourdough!
📍Vinohradská 1012/64, 130 00 Vinohrady
