A Long Garden Lunch in the Heart of Prague

Every city has one lunch spot locals keep quiet about. Ours happens to be hidden behind an unassuming door just off the bustle of central Prague — the Secret Garden at Turquoise, our leafy courtyard where lunch slows down and the Mediterranean takes over.

Lunch, the Mediterranean way

A proper garden lunch here isn't a rushed sandwich. It starts the way meals do on the coast: with mezze to share. Hummus we're proud of, warm flatbread, olives, fresh salads. Then something from the grill, a glass of something cold, and — this is the important part — time. No one hurries you out from under the pergola.

Why the garden changes everything

There is a simple alchemy at work: dappled light through the vines, a table that doesn't feel like it belongs to a checklist, and food that tastes different outdoors. Guests who eat in the garden stay longer, talk more, and order dessert at a suspiciously higher rate. We consider that a feature, not a bug.

It's also the rare Prague lunch spot that feels genuinely calm in the middle of the day. The courtyard swallows the noise of the street, and suddenly a Tuesday lunch feels like a small holiday.

When to come

• Weekdays are the quietest — perfect for a working lunch that doesn't feel like work, or a long catch-up with a friend.
• Weekends hum with families and small celebrations. Come ready to linger.
• September and October are our favourite garden months: golden afternoon light, still-warm air, and the vines at their most beautiful.

Make an afternoon of it

A garden lunch pairs well with a slow walk afterwards. You're minutes from the river, so our usual advice is simple: mezze, a main, a dessert you swore you wouldn't order — then wander down to the water and let the afternoon dissolve.

The Secret Garden is open for lunch whenever the Prague weather allows, and if the sky turns, the brasserie inside is just as welcoming.

Come see why the locals stopped keeping quiet about it.