Traditional Czech desserts you must try, and where to find them in Prague
Before we dive into the list, let’s clear one thing up: trdelník isn’t a traditional Czech dessert. Despite being available on almost every street corner in Prague’s historic centre, its popularity is much greater among tourists than locals. Czechs don’t typically eat it, and it’s not considered part of the country’s pastry heritage.
If you want to experience true Czech sweets, look for desserts that have had a place in Czech homes, cafés, and bakeries for decades. Some date back to the Austro-Hungarian empire, and others are still a regular part of Sunday gatherings and family celebrations to this day.
Here are the Czech desserts you should not miss when visiting Prague.
Kolache: A Czech classic made with sweet leavened dough
Kolache (koláče) are among the most traditional Czech sweet pastries. They are made with soft yeast dough and topped with a variety of fillings, most commonly curd cheese, poppy seeds, plum jam, or seasonal fruit. A generous layer of buttery crumble is the finishing touch.
Every region has its own version. In Moravia, you will find small wedding koláčky, while in Bohemia, larger round kolache are often associated with Sunday visits, celebrations, and family gatherings.
Kolache are a perfect representation of Czech baking tradition. There’s no excessive sweetness - the focus is on quality dough, seasonal ingredients, and simple flavour combinations.
Where to try kolache in Prague:
Want to try your hand at baking Czech kolache at home? Here are some recipes to get you started:
- Leavened kolache from Eska with three kinds of filling
- Leavened blueberry kolache with crumble
- How to bake both traditional Czech and Moravian kolache
Buchty: The taste of Czech childhood
Few Czech desserts bring back as many childhood memories as buchty. These soft, fluffy leavened buns are baked together in a tray, with each one hiding a sweet filling on the inside.
The most common fillings are plum jam, curd cheese, or poppy seeds. They are best served slightly warm, dusted with icing sugar, and enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Buchty are primarily a homemade dessert. Unlike classic cream cakes, they aren’t something you’ll frequently find in a café, and for that reason, stumbling across a truly excellent version outside a Czech home kitchen is quite special.
Where to try buchty in Prague:
Větrník: One of the most famous Czech pastries
If you want to try just one Czech pastry, make it větrník. An elegant dessert made from choux pastry filled with vanilla cream and whipped cream, then topped with a layer of caramel glaze, a well-made větrník is light, creamy, and perfectly balanced.
It is a true staple of Czech pastry shops and remains one of the most popular desserts Czechs order with their coffee.
Where to try větrník in Prague:
Věneček: The smaller cousin of větrník
Věneček and větrník may look similar, but everyone has a favourite. While větrník is larger and more distinctive thanks to its caramel topping, věneček is a smaller ring of choux pastry, filled with a delicate vanilla or egg-yolk custard cream. It is often finished with a light sugar glaze.
Věneček is a perfect example of a traditional Czech dessert that you can still find in classic pastry shops across the country.
Where to try věneček in Prague:
Kremrole: A crispy pastry filled with sweet, whipped egg whites
A dessert you will recognise immediately, these are thin layers of flaky pastry rolled and baked in a tube shape, filled with light, whipped egg whites.
Making good kremrole requires skill – the pastry needs to be crisp, but sturdy enough to hold its shape, while the filling should be delicate and airy.
Where to try kremrole in Prague:
Bábovka: A symbol of Czech home baking
Bábovka may not look like a luxurious pastry-shop dessert, but it holds a special place in Czech culture.
This traditional cake is baked in a tall, decorative ring mould, and there are hundreds of variations, from classic marbled bábovka to lemon, curd, or walnut versions. It is closely connected with Sunday visits, family celebrations, and afternoon coffee.
Where to try bábovka in Prague:
Apple štrúdl: A dessert that smells like cinnamon
Štrúdl (apple strudel) is known throughout Central Europe, but in the Czech Republic it has become an essential part of home baking traditions.
Best served slightly warm, it’s made by filling thin pastry with sliced or grated apples, cinnamon, sugar, raisins, and often walnuts. In Czech households, it remains one of the favourite cakes to enjoy with Sunday coffee.
Where to try apple štrúdl in Prague:
More Czech desserts worth trying
Czech pastry traditions go far beyond the classics above. If you have the chance, also try:
- Laskonka – a delicate coconut or hazelnut meringue with a creamy filling.
- Rakvička with whipped cream – one of the oldest Czech pastries. Its name literally means “little coffin”, but the dessert itself is light, delicate, and surprisingly elegant.
- Punčový řez (punch cake) – a colourful sponge cake flavoured with rum, topped with characteristic pink icing.
- Indiánek – a sweet whipped dessert on a biscuit base covered in chocolate.
- Buchtičky se šodó – small sweet yeast buns served with warm vanilla custard, a nostalgic Czech school-canteen favourite.
The best places to try traditional Czech desserts in Prague
If you want to sample the best Czech desserts in Prague, start here:
Myšák
One of Prague’s most famous pastry shops. Founded in the early 20th century, it continues the tradition of First Republic-era Czech confectionery while presenting classic desserts with modern flair.
📍Hradčanské nám. 185/2, 118 00 Praha 1-Hradčany
📍710/31, Vodičkova, Nové Město, 110 00 Praha
📍Bubenské nábř. 306/13, 170 00 Praha 7-Holešovice
Myšák: Pastry shops on both banks of the Vltava River
Cukrář Skála
A pastry shop that combines respect for traditional Czech techniques with a contemporary approach to desserts.
📍V Celnici 1034/6, 110 00 Nové Město
📍Dlouhá 727/39, 110 00 Staré Město
Café Savoy
An elegant historic café where you can enjoy Czech desserts alongside excellent coffee or breakfast.
📍Vítězná 124/5, 150 00 Malá Strana
Café Savoy
Reserve your table online or by phone. Drop by our hatch, or find us at savoydomu.cz, where you can order breakfast, mains or desserts straight to your door.
Eska
A modern bakery and bistro showing that Czech baking can be creative and contemporary, whilst staying rooted in tradition.
📍Pernerova 49, 186 00 Praha 8-Karlín
📍Veletržní 290/42, 170 00 Praha 7-Bubeneč
A bakery and kitchen full of life
Kus Koláče
A small bakery dedicated to one thing and one thing only – the perfect Czech kolache. Expect fluffy yeast dough, generous seasonal fillings, and buttery crumble made with high-quality local ingredients.
FAQ: All you need to know about Czech desserts
Is trdelník really a traditional Czech dessert?
No. Although trdelník is extremely popular among tourists visiting Prague, it’s not considered a traditional Czech dessert. If you want to taste authentic Czech sweets, try koláče, buchty, větrník, or věneček instead.
What’s the most popular Czech dessert?
Some of the most famous Czech desserts include větrník, věneček, koláče, and traditional cakes served in Czech cafés and pastry shops.
Where can I try traditional Czech desserts in Prague?
Some of the best places to try Czech desserts in Prague include Myšák, Cukrář Skála, Café Savoy, Eska, and Erhartova cukrárna.
