Like Brno and South Moravia, South Bohemia and its capital České Budějovice often go unnoticed by travelers eager to quickly take a train to the postcard-perfect Český Krumlov after visiting the famous Budvar brewery. This is a loss because the city offers much more than just Budvar beer. As you will discover in my guide, there are several microbreweries within a short distance of the city center, and the beers produced here are far better than Budvar. (Budvar isn't bad here either, actually) Come for the beer, stay for the food: in terms of gastronomy, there are fantastic places here in Český Krumlov that are much better. České Budějovice is a perfect base for exploring the region, but it also requires at least one night’s stay. The city center, the magnificent Přemysl Otakar II. Square, is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, and you will discover great bars, eateries, and true South Bohemian hospitality in several side streets.

BRIO Restaurant

Address: Riegrova 1867/8, 370 01 České Budějovice 1, Czech Republic

Managed by chefs Pavel Vostracký and Tomáš Krafl, BRIO has become our favorite restaurant in České Budějovice along with its namesake team. This might be one of our favorite places in the Czech Republic. The quality of the food is excellent. Sabrina had the roasted duck with truffle mashed potatoes (in the picture), while I opted for the seafood shrimp pasta. (The restaurant orders fresh fish every day.)

The daily changing lunch menu offers incredible value—starters start at 49 Kc (€2) and main courses begin at only 149kc (€6). I didn't expect such high-quality food at these prices. They also have a really good wine list.

Esence Cafe

Address: Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II. 8/5, 370 01 České Budějovice 1, Czech Republic

If you're looking for a nice place for breakfast, this cafe located in the main square is perfect. Locals and tourists flock to the terrace to greet the morning sun, with a perfectly brewed coffee, fresh orange juice, or perhaps a glass of sparkling wine in hand. They make a great eggs benedict on avocado toast (or ham), and the pancakes made with fresh fruits are equally delicious.

Restaurace Naše Farma

Address: 301, U Černé věže 300/15, 370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

With a focus on local, high-quality ingredients, Naše Farma offers another excellent option for dining out in the city, especially for meat lovers. The menu changes every two weeks and highlights seasonal produce. Like Brio, the lunch menu is quite affordable; main courses start at only 149kc, and starters are around 50kc.

Embark on a Beer Journey

When you come to České Budějovice, everyone will tell you that the Budvar Brewery is the best place for beer. However, if you chat with the locals, you will learn that Budvar has not quite maintained the high status it once had during the time when bars were banned within a 10-kilometer radius of the city by Bohemian King IV. Charles. A group of local microbreweries quietly continues the beer production tradition, and I have compiled a few of my favorites for you to visit below.

Minipivovar Krajinská 27

Address: Krajinská 27, 370 01 České Budějovice 1, Czech Republic

One of the oldest beer producers in the city, Minipivovar Krajinská 27, dates back to 1482, and the beer production tradition was revived in 2014 after a brief period of operating as a butcher shop. Here, beers are produced according to old Czech recipes - using premium raw materials, with no chemical additives, and undergoing bottom fermentation that matures in an open fermentation room and then in lager tanks. The beers here are not processed, filtered, or pasteurized in any way, thus preserving their natural taste. There are 5 different beers available in the constant selection and seasonal specialty beers.

Minipivovar Knezinek

Address: Haklovy Dvory 2235 370 05

The Kněžínek Micro Brewery, located on the outskirts of České Budějovice, started the micro beer production trend in 2012. Like others, they produce typical Czech beer in small batches, using only local raw materials and applying traditional production techniques, avoiding chemicals, and trying to preserve the character of the original lager beer without filtering or pasteurizing it. You can taste all the varieties of beer produced at the brewery; Pivo Kněžínek – light lager 11°; semi-dark lager 11° and my favorite, light honey beer 14°.

Pivovar Solnice

Address: Hroznová 34, 370 01 České Budějovice 1, Czech Republic

Located in one of the oldest and most famous buildings in České Budějovice, where old salt mines used to be, Solnice is another excellent local microbrewery that has emerged in recent years. They produce a wide range of beers, including new English-style IPAs and classic stouts. They also have a great restaurant and often host live music events, so don’t forget to follow their Facebook page for updates. (Facebook Page)

Kavarna Vlnna

Address: VLNNA Cafe, Floating Cafe on the Malša River. Sokolský ostrov 1, České Budějovice

When the sun is out, this houseboat cafe by the river is the perfect place to enjoy the sun with a coffee in hand. You can also rent pedal boats by the hour here for a pleasant tour on the river; this allows you to see the city from a different perspective.

Singer Pub

Address: Česká 55, 370 01 České Budějovice 1, Czech Republic

Singer Pub, a popular Irish bar offering the largest variety of beers in the city, also houses the smallest microbrewery called Beeranek. They produce a typical Czech pilsner lager, unfiltered and unpasteurized. Besides the light pilsner Beeranek 11°, they also produce a stout-like 13° beer called Diablo Negro and a 14° beer called Honey Bunny. They also host live music events on some nights; check their Facebook page before your visit. (Facebook Page)

Visit the Budweiser Brewery (Budejovicky Budvar)

Address: K. Světlé 512/4370 04 České Budějovice

The Budweiser Brewery has a long history of producing this unique beer. In 1265, King Ottokar II of Bohemia granted the city the exclusive right to produce beer, and the unique beer produced here was named Budweiser Beer (the beer from Budweis - the German name of the city). The Budweiser Budvar Brewery in České Budějovice is famous for its special pale lager made with local ingredients such as Moravian barley, Saaz hops (a special variety of hops), and artesian water. The maturation of the lager takes 90 days, which is considered quite a long time. The beer produced at the brewery is a source of national pride. The varieties of beer include classic, pale draft beer, the original 90-day matured pale lager, and other dark, strong, or low-alcohol beers.

Visitors can participate in a 60-minute tour of the brewery, which is offered in many languages (English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Czech, Italian) and the regular admission fee is set at 190 CZK (90 CZK for students/children). Beer tasting is available for individuals aged 18 and over.

Address: K. Světlé 512/4370 04 České Budějovice

Where to Stay in České Budějovice

In the low season, we stayed at the 4-star Residence U Černé věže; here you can find a studio apartment for just £35, while prices can double in the high season. Among more budget-friendly options, you can find the excellent Hotel Bohemia, where you can get a family room for £35, or reserve a stylish double room with breakfast at the Grandhotel Zvon, located right in the middle of the square, for £27 in the low season, while prices range from £60-£100 in the high season.

Transportation to and from České Budějovice

Getting to České Budějovice is quite easy and inexpensive. Train connections from Prague and Český Krumlov are slow, so I recommend taking the bus. A one-way trip from Prague takes 2 hours and 20 minutes, while it only takes half an hour by bus from Český Krumlov. Both the bus and train stations are about a 10-15 minute walk from the main square (if you have a lot of luggage, a taxi ride costs €5-€7), so keep this in mind when planning your trip. The city itself is quite compact and walkable, but if you want to explore the South Bohemia region, I recommend renting a car to provide as much freedom and flexibility as possible.

Further connections: Munich is a 6-hour and 45-minute train journey from České Budějovice, while the fastest train from Vienna takes only 3 hours and 18 minutes and costs €9.90 when booked in advance through OBB.