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Meat- and dairy-free dining is no longer the problem it was a few years ago. Many new restaurants, such as Dahab, offer vegetarians a wide variety of tasty meatless meals, while older establishments are increasingly sensitive to vegetarians’ needs. That said, never assume your vegetables won’t come smothered with cheese.

Except for the grander eateries, many Prague restaurants have yet to grasp multiple-course service. Emphasize that you want your appetizer (jako pšedkrm ) before your main course. You will probably also have to order your side dish à la carte . Your steak will be well-done unless you plead otherwise.

Verify the restaurant takes credit cards before you order. Restaurants seldom accept travellers’ cheques. Tell your waiter you’d like to pay with one word: zaplatím . You and your party may pay dohromady (all together) or zvlášt (separately).

While tipping in Prague is approaching the international standard of 15 per cent, it is still common in pubs to simply round up the bill. If your beer and schnitzel cost Kč82, for example, pay Kč90. Rather than leaving the tip on the table, tell your waiter how much you want to give.

Reserving a table is never a bad idea and can save you a great deal of hungry wandering come dinner time. In many restaurants, it’s common for lone diners to join other tables. If you’re alone and want to know if a seat is free, point at it and ask “Je tu volno ?”

Prague restaurants are seldom non-smoking. A local ordinance bans smoking at lunch time, but it is seldom, if ever, enforced. For a smoke-free meal, try the vegetarian restaurants Country Life and Little Buddha.

Unless you’re willing to hazard the sausage stands on Wenceslas Square, finding a bite late at night will prove challenging. The club Radost serves food until the early hours. Better hotels have late-night room service.

Your hotel will probably include a Continental breakfast with the price of your room. While Irish fry-ups can be found at bars such as the James Joyce and Caffrey’s, American diner-style breakfasts are largely unheard of. Cafés increasingly serve hemenex – ham and eggs – but seldom open before 9am.

If you’re travelling on a budget but still want a taste of the good life, you can see how the other half eat without breaking the bank by doing brunch at one of the city’s fine-dining establishments. Brunch buffets, complete with champagne and jazz, abound and seldom cost more than Kč500.

State-licensed eating establishments fall into one of three classes, with first class being the finest and three the plainest. The restaurant’s class should be posted by the front door. These classifications are no indications of quality. A third-class pub may very well offer better food than a first-class restaurant at times.