Fresh food--to go
If you are exploring for the day and have lots to see, but little time, better not to waste your time--and money--at the first tourist trap cafe or restaurant that catches your eye, and your stomach. Instead, why not stock up on rolls, cheese and fruit where the locals go--the fruit and vegetable market, an inspiring food shop, featuring colorful and very symmetrical displays of fruits and vegetables of all sorts, regional and exotic alike. And because these markets are mostly owned by Vietnamese families, you will come across some rather yummy foreign delights, aside from the Czech beers and wafers, including sweet tamarind pods, bamboo shoots, sesame candies, coconut water with young coconut pulp, and plenty more.
If you happen to be renting out an apartment for your stay in Prague and want to do some cooking, these markets are the best place for spices, eggs and fresh fruits and vegggies, as the huge grocery chains like TESCO or Albert or Bila tend to have rather bleary looking produce--although meat is best bought at a chain grocery shop or fresh from a butcher shop. You can ususally find everything you need at both a market and at a chain shop, but the markets tend to be a little more expensive. However, the convenience of not having huge lines and large crowds of people all around you in an overly lit up space is often worth the few crowns extra you spend at a market. Plus if you happen to speak Vietnamese, you will really enjoy yourself!
A great place to begin your market adventure is at the large market (beside the Indian restaurant Haveli) right off Hradcanska metro (green line). There is also a large market down the street from the I.P. Pavlova metro stop (red line).