Weekend Watering Hole: U Fleku Pub Restaurant & Brewery, Prague, the Czech Republic

As a regular weekend feature, Lyke2Drink will visit some of the world's great watering holes. This week's stop is said to be the oldest brewpub in the world.

U Fleku Pub Restaurant & Brewery
Kremencova 11
New Town, Prague 1
+420-224-930-019

http://www.ufleku.cz/en/

This place has its fans, and some who believe it is nothing more than a tourist trap. When I visited a few years back I had an enjoyable evening with great beer, my first taste of Becherovka and some decent traditional Czech food at very reasonable prices. U Fleku traces its roots back to 1499. It is a large maze of 8 rooms and an outdoor beer garden. There is entertainment in the Cabaret, but it was not running during our visit. I suspect this part of the venue might be why some come away thinking this is more Disney than a legitimate stop on any beer traveler's quest to visit the world's best pubs. From what I saw, I think your experience at U Fleku is determined to a large degree by which room you are seated in. If you have a choice, go for the outdoor garden, Akademie, Vaclavka or Jitmice rooms.

U Fleku sells just one beer, a well balanced dark lager that comes in half liter or one-third liter mugs. The wait staff will keep your glass filled, so when you are ready to stop place a coaster on top of your beer or another round is sure to arrive. The Becherovka was one of the highlights of my visit to the Czech capital. It is an herbal liquor that is dangerously smooth for a drink weighing in at 76 proof. Becherovka is made in the Czech town of Carlsbad and originated in 1805. Like the beer at U Fleku, the Becherovka will keep flowing until you call a halt.

Prague is a beautiful city with a number of great traditional pubs. U Fleku is certainly one of the stops that should be on your itinerary if you are lucky enough to visit the city.