I have spent some time – maybe too much time – in the pubs of Brno last year and here is my personal choice of the restaurants, pubs and bars with best draught beers that you definitely should try out (I am sorry about the quality of pictures – I am leaving my DSL camera at home when I go out for some fun):
Betlém
I dare to call Betlém the best pub of the year. Excellent Dalešice beer, great (even though expensive) meals and a funny rule that allows you to drink after the closing time, just for 20% higher prices.
Betlém at Krkoškova st.
Once we were given a big bowl of cracklings when we ordered our 5th beer.
Bláhovka
Legendary old-school pub with probably the best Pilsen on the tap in Brno. Usually you have to drink it standing if you come after 1 p.m. and drink it standing outside if you can’t make it before 3 p.m.
PUXpub
A recently opened pub at Jaselská st. offers a new beer every week – sometimes you can enjoy Polička, sometimes Richard from Brno-Žebětín, sometimes Opat. There are always great waiters and waitresses.
Zelená kočka
Dalešice again! This time in the very centre of the town. What I love about Zelená kočka is a big garden (closed during winter, of course), great meals and excellent service.
The old school interior of Zelená Kočka.
Pegas
Excellent homebrew beer – however the experience is somehow damaged by rude waiters that don’t get they are not ruling the guests but serving them. Give Pegas a try anyway!
Pegas at Jakubská st.
Veselá vačice
“Happy opossum” regulary offers Dudák but has several other beers on tap. Sometimes you can get my favorite Polička.
Starobrno brewery
Well, I am not a big fan of Starobrno beer, but if I am to drink one (or two, three, seven, eight), Starobrno brewery is a clear choice. Good beer, huge garden, tasty meals and nice atmosphere!
Cheese rolls at Starobrno brewery.
Hluchá zmije
Non-smoking pub at Jugoslávská st. is close to being as legendary as Bláhovka.
U srdcí
This underground pub in Královo Pole is a dent of old hippies and young pot-smokers. You are not going to forget this night – because you will not ever remember it anyway.
Domácí club Gurmán
This tiny pub with family-like atmosphere has several beers from small breweries on tap, including Polička and Pelhřimovský Poutník.
My friend Ondra enjoying a glass of Poutník.
Tell us about your favorite pubs and beers
So – you know about my favorite restaurants, now leave a comment to let me and other readers know about yours!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I haven’t any other tips – I just agree with yours :) Good choices.
Not a fan of Starobrno? I love that stuff. My wife being from Brno and I from the US, whenever we visit Brno I can’t wait to guzzle fresh Starobrno on tap. I like Husa, although not so much a pub.
There are a few green cats around Brno, but Ambra at Králova 28 serves Dalešice and has the best ribs I’ve EVER had! It’s a must! Also, I love Starobrno as well and my girlfriend makes fun of me (since she’s from Slovakia) whenever i order it instead of Staropramen.
P.S. – Husa was a good pub when they had the HUGE beers… since then the price just isn’t really worth it.
Xander, thank you for the ribs tip, gonna try it out soon! M.
never been to betlem or pux, have to check them out…
current best places for brno, based solely on the quality of the beer for me are (in no particular order):
11 degree cerna hora tas @ klub cestovatelu – kr. pole @ veleslavinova
12 degree poutnik @ pivnice u poutnika – off of starobrnenska next to acko
pilsner urq. @ blahovka
dalesicke/poutnik @ grill haus in zabovrevsky @ fanderlikova
i also like 11 degree starobrno but it is hard to find in a quality that is worth drinking, the last good one i had was at “u spinavcu” in zidenice on the corner of jilkova and kliny
12 degree svijany in obrany at the outdoor pub right at the end on the no. 4 tram stop
pegas svetle – i haven’t had a problem with the wait staff in a while but in any case, the quality of the beer outweighs the surliness of the waiters
so went to pux, first couple of times i sat out back in their nice garden and the beer was quite good. but the last three times i have been there, the beer has been god awful – very warm and flat tasting, perhaps with poorly cleaned pipes, too. was there with my wife and they were serving tapas and sangria, tapas were decent but the sangria was pretty bad… if they can get the beer back up to par, i would go back, i like the interior and the garden is a fine place to catch a beer/chat with friends.
Great review. Just what we were looking for to help us with our trip to Brno in December. Hope to try them all!