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Czech folk dinner: what happens
What happens at a Czech folklore dinner show in Prague: the mead toast, four courses, unlimited drinks, the dancing and singing, and who it suits.
Book the folk dinner ↗Quick answer
A Czech folklore dinner show in Prague opens with a mead toast, then serves a four-course Czech dinner with unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks while dancers and musicians in Bohemian and Moravian costume perform. Guests learn a few dance steps and sing along. It lasts about two and a half hours in a restaurant outside the centre, in Praha 5 – Hlubočepy. It is lively and sociable, not a quiet dinner.
The short answer
A Czech folklore dinner show is a shared evening built around food, drink and live folk entertainment. You are welcomed with a mead toast, you eat a four-course dinner of traditional Czech recipes, and unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks and water are on offer while dancers and musicians in costumes from Bohemia and Moravia perform. The band plays songs from both regions, guests are invited to try some of the dance steps, and the evening finishes with everyone singing along. Count on two and a half hours or so, in a restaurant outside the centre, in Praha 5 – Hlubočepy.
The evening, in order
The order below follows the booking page. The start time is beside each date on the booking calendar and is repeated in your confirmation, so rely on that and not on a time written anywhere else. Treat the list as the evening the booking page currently describes, not as a promise for one particular night. The order is what matters: the toast and the dinner come before the show gets going, and the dancing and singing build to the finale.
- A traditional mead toast opens the evening
- A four-course dinner with a main dish of your choice
- Unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks and water during the show
- Dancers and musicians in Czech and Moravian costume
- A chance to learn traditional dance moves and to sing along
- A finale of national songs from your own country
What the ticket includes
The booking page lists a welcome drink, unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks, a four-course traditional Czech dinner and live entertainment. A round-trip transfer is included only if you select that option on the calendar. The description names the drinks as beer, red or white wine, soft drinks and water. The activity provider named on the booking page is Fun in Prague. If you need anything beyond what the ticket lists, ask the provider before your date and not at the table.
Read next: Transfer or public transport?
Where it takes place
The restaurant stands outside the city centre, at Na Zlíchově 18 in Praha 5 – Hlubočepy, according to its own website. Wikipedia describes Hlubočepy as a cadastral district of Prague and places it within the municipal part Prague 5. The booking page puts the trip at about 20 to 25 minutes from the centre by public transport. That is the main planning fact: this is an evening trip out of the old town, not a table you walk to after sightseeing. The district guide on this site says more about the area.
Read next: Hlubočepy and Praha 5
The costumes, dances and songs
The costumes are kroje, the folk dress of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. Czech Wikipedia says each costume has distinctive elements and that costumes differ by region, with Moravia keeping its costumes better than Bohemia. The songs come from both regions. Wikipedia notes that Moravian traditional music is known for the cimbalom, while Bohemian traditional music includes that of Chodsko, where bagpipes are common. The booking page promises a live band and names no instruments, so read these as the traditions behind the show and not as a list of what will be on stage.
Read next: Czech kroje, explained
Where the folklore comes from
Wikipedia's entry on Czech folklore says the folk tradition developed over centuries and was influenced by a mix of Christian and pagan customs. Each ethnographic region has its own songs, costumes and traditions, and the article names Slovácko, Haná, Wallachia and the Plzeň region. Ensembles of all ages preserve the dances and songs and perform at festivals. A dinner show borrows from that living tradition and stages it for visitors, so it is best read as an introduction to Czech and Moravian folk culture and not as a village festival.
Read next: Polka, furiant and mazurka
How much you join in
Joining in is part of the evening. The booking page says guests learn traditional dance moves, naming the mazurka as one, and can sing along with the band, ending with national songs of their own countries. The mazurka is a Polish form, which Wikipedia ties to Mazovia, so expect a mix of dances and not Czech steps alone. The booking page describes the dancing as learning traditional steps, so beginners are the audience. The dances guide explains the polka, the furiant and the mazurka.
Read next: Polka, furiant and mazurka
The dinner and the drinks
The dinner has four courses of traditional Czech recipes. You choose your main dish, and it is served to the middle of the table or as a garden buffet. The choices include halal, semi-kosher and vegetable mains. Wikipedia says Czech meals usually have at least two courses, soup and then a main dish, with a sweet third course on festive occasions, so four courses make this a generous version of the pattern. The food and drink guide goes through the mead, the beer and the wine.
Read next: Mead, beer and a Czech dinner
Who it suits
It suits visitors who want a loud, warm, sociable evening with the food and drinks settled in one ticket: couples, groups of friends, first-time visitors who would like some context for Czech folk culture, and anyone who enjoys joining in. The booking page says the standard group size is up to 99 people and lists the venue as wheelchair accessible. It rates the evening 4.6 from 1,709 reviews, and travellers there praise the lively music and dancing, the attentive staff and the plentiful food and drink. A seated concert is quieter and rarely includes dinner, so choose this one if you would rather share a table and a toast.
Who this isn't for
Look elsewhere if you want a hushed dinner, a seated concert or a refined tasting menu. The room is busy, the tables are shared and the show asks guests to take part. Staying in the old town all evening is not possible with this one, because the restaurant is a trip away. Seating is a risk if you need a guaranteed view: travellers on the booking page say clearer seating allocation would help avoid obstructed views. People who do not drink alcohol can still go, since soft drinks and water are unlimited.
Choosing a date and booking
Start on the booking page by choosing a date, then choose between the plain ticket and the one with the transfer, and name your main dish when asked. You can cancel free of charge until a day before, and paying can wait. There is no price on this page because the calendar shows the current amount in your currency. The transfer guide here helps you choose between the two versions.
Read next: Transfer or public transport?
Frequently asked questions
What happens at a Czech folklore dinner show?
You are welcomed with a mead toast, eat a four-course Czech dinner and drink unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks while costumed dancers and musicians perform Bohemian and Moravian songs and dances. Guests learn a few steps and sing along. It lasts about two and a half hours.
How long does the evening last?
Roughly two and a half hours. The start differs by date, and your confirmation gives it.
Is it in the centre of Prague?
No. It is in a restaurant in Praha 5 – Hlubočepy, about 20 to 25 minutes from the centre by public transport according to the booking page. A round-trip transfer is available as an option.
Are drinks included?
Yes. The ticket lists a welcome drink and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks, and the description names red or white wine and water. Check with the provider before your date if you need anything else.
Do I have to dance or sing?
Joining in is part of the evening, and the booking page says guests learn dance moves and sing along. It is offered as part of the show, so how much you take part is your choice.
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