Food is often based on Austro-Hungarian dishes. Western-style fresh vegetables are often missing in lower-class restaurants. There is a wide selection of restaurants, beer taverns and wine cellars.
National specialities:
• (Wiener) Schnitzel and pork are very popular.
• Bramborak, a potato pancake delicacy filled with garlic and herbs.
• Prague ham.
• Meat dishes are mostly served with knedliky, a type of large dough dumpling, and zeli (sauerkraut).
National drinks:
• Popular beverages include beers (lager, dark ales, pilsner); red, white and sparkling wines from Bohemia and Moravia; fruit juices and liqueurs.
• Particular specialities include becherovka (herb brandy) and two Moravian favourites, slivovice (plum brandy) and merunkovice (apricot brandy).
There are no rigid licensing hours.
Tipping: A 5 to 10 per cent tip is usual.

Theatre and opera are of a good standard. Nightclubs, bars and casinos are found in major cities.

Souvenirs include Bohemian glass and crystal, pottery, porcelain, wooden folk carvings, hand-embroidered clothing, and food items. There are a number of excellent shops specialising in glass and crystal, while various associations of regional artists and craftspeople run their own retail outlets (pay in local currency). Other special purchases include pottery (particularly from Kolovec and Straznice); china ornaments and geyserstone carvings from Karlovy Vary; delicate lace and needle embroidery from many Moravian towns; and blood-red garnets and semi-precious stones from Bohemia. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1200. Supermarkets and food shops in large towns and cities are open from 0700 and often stay open until late. The number of shops also open on Sunday is constantly increasing.