4 Best Restaurants in Moravia, Czech Republic

Wooden paneling and floral upholstery in the Café Mahler recall the taste of the 1880s, when Gustav Mahler briefly lived around the corner while working as a conductor at the theater on the other side of Horní náměstí. It's a good spot for ice cream, cake, light meals, coffee, or simply for sitting back and taking in the lovely view. Service can be abrupt, though.

Indulge in good, freshly made cakes or an ice-cream cone at Cukrárna u Matěje, a little café and pastry shop at Na baště 2, on the street leading past the château to a small lake.

After climbing to Spielberg Castle and touring several museums, you can relax at Stopkova pivnice with a cold beer; if you're hungry, try the house guláš. Now part of the Kolkovna chain, there has been a pub on this site since the late 19th century. Its name comes from Jaroslav Stopka, who took over the existing pub in 1910.

It is always standing room only, as this pub has no chairs—just high tables. This keeps the line at the tap moving. The idea of a standing pub—the name means “taphouse at the stand”—goes back a century, when stopping in for a quick snack and a friendly chat with neighbors was the thing to do. The rotating list of beers from microbreweries to complement a menu of marinated ribs, pork knee, sausages, and chicken skewers will also keep you on your toes.

Order a “šnyt,” which is a glass of foam that eventually settles into a small beer.