voda – a few things worth noting about water in the Czech Republic:

1. Though it’s perfectly safe to drink it throughout the country (and has been for quite some time), many people still prefer to drink bottled water.
2. Tap water is rarely if ever given at restaurants. If you order water, you will typically get bottled water.
3. If you want to specify uncarbonated water, you use the term neperlivá voda.

perlivá voda – is the generic term for carbonated water.

In many places, the cheapest option is just to get a generic sodovka

minerálka (short for minerální voda) – typically refers to nicer bottles of water and can be either perlivá or neperlivá. This is especially what you’ll order in restaurants.

Coffee is widely drunk in the Czech Republic. Prague is renowned for its famous cafes. On the right you can find probably the most famous cafe (kavárna) – Kavárna Slavia. Watch a video about the kavárna here. Or visit the cafe’s homepage.

The word kafe is frequently used as a colloquial word for coffee. It is neuter, so in the description of drinks below, you will find that

černá káva

(černé kafe) – just like in English, coffee without any additions is described as black.

In Czech it can often be described as káva bez mléka a cukru (colloquially kafe bez mlíka a cukru)– ‘coffee without milk and sugar’

Additionally, coffee is frequently served in the form of preso – espresso. Typically there is a bit more water used to make their espressos, so the coffee is not quite as concentrated in flavor.

káva s mlékem

(kafe s mlíkem)

‘coffee with milk’

káva s cukrem

(colloquially kafe s cukrem)

‘coffee with sugar’

Lots of people like sugar in their coffee, otherwise it is hořká – bitter.

ledová káva

(colloquially ledové kafe) ‘iced coffee’

We know the word chai in English as an overpriced sweet spiced tea concoction sold by various coffee chains, but this is just the word for tea in Czech. Tea is also widely drunk by Czechs. If you are in the Czech Republic and love tea, consider stopping by a Čajovna, which is a tea house often stylized in an Eastern fashion. You can often experience different teas from all over the world at these locations.

černý čaj – black tea

zelený čaj – green tea

bylinkový čaj – herbal tea

mátový čaj – mint tea

ovocný čaj – fruit tea

ledový čaj – iced tea

Iced tea is not frequently consumed in the Czech Republic (iced beverages in general are not common). However, you will find it in cans from brands such as Nestea.

světlé pivo – pale lagers (lager – ležák) are the most common type beer drunk in the Czech Republic and is found almost everywhere.

tmavé pivo (also černé pivo – these are also common and slightly sweeter than dark beers elsewhere.)

Wine is produced heavily in certain regions of the Czech Republic, especially southern Moravia. The image on the left above is from vineyards located within the national park Sobeš. The image on the right shows precisely where grapes are cultivated and wine production is heaviest in the Czech Republic.

červené víno – red wine

bílé víno – white wine

růžové víno – rosé wine