Den Noc in Prague, Czech Republic: Savory Salmon Pancakes

Den Noc near Prague's Old Town

Den Noc, meaning day and night, is a small and cozy bistro and wine bar located not far from the crowds of the Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic. After eating my fair share of potato dumplings and pork knuckles, I was ready for a change.

Den Noc was started by a newly married couple with a dream to open their own business. That dream came true. Today, one handles the cooking and baking while the other focuses on wine.

Everything served at Den Noc was only of the highest quality. The wines, coffee, soft drinks, dairy, and even the marmalade were all locally sourced from small Czech companies.

Simple interior of Den Noc

What I loved about the interior of Den Noc was how tiny it was. The place felt cozy and quiet with only a handful of wooden tables inside a small open L-shaped dining room.

The design was simple but stylish and clean. There were bright alternating red and white painted walls. Painted on these walls were the words “Den Noc” along with a quote in Czech that probably said something about food or life. Some wines were displayed in racks along the walls.

Hanging from the ceilings were glaring modern lamps, brightening up the dining room which was lacking natural sunlight.

As mentioned before, with limited seating, making a reservation is a must.

Den Noc Menu

Den Noc menu (1/2), Prague, Czech Republic
Den Noc menu (1/2)
Den Noc menu (2/2), Prague, Czech Republic
Den Noc menu (2/2)

The breakfast menu at Den Noc was simple and dominated by pancakes, both savory and sweet. There were also a few more breakfast items including bread with marmalade, scrambled eggs and bacon, muesli pancakes, and fresh yogurt.

Gluten free and lactose free pancakes were available for an extra 15% charge.

As for drinks, there was coffee, hot drinks, soft drinks, bottled water, Budvar beer, and wine.

Hot Ginger, Honey, and Lemon Tea

Hot ginger tea with lemon and honey on the side
Hot ginger tea with lemon and honey on the side

Since it was a cold winter day in Prague, it seemed like a no-brainer to order the Hot Ginger, Honey, and Lemon Tea (60 CZK or about $2.52).

There wasn’t really much to this drink, but sometimes simple is better.

In a bright orange cup was hot water and a generous amount of sliced ginger. The ginger was cut fresh and had a slightly spicy bite with a sweet aftertaste. After a few minutes, all the wonderful flavors of the ginger infused into the water. It smelled amazing.

On the side was a slice of lemon, honey, and a few packets of sugar. There was no right or wrong way to prepare the tea. If you wanted it sweeter, just add honey or sugar. If you wanted more of a bite, squeeze a few drops of lemon in.

I was surprised how something this simple could be so refreshing and flavorful. It was so memorable that I now make this same drink at home.

Savory Pancakes with Salmon, Sour Cream, and Dill

Savory Pancakes with Salmon, Sour Cream, and Dill, Den Noc, Prague, Czech Republic
Savory Pancakes with Salmon, Sour Cream, and Dill

To be honest, when I first ordered the Savory Pancakes with Salmon, Sour Cream, and Dill (140 CZK or about $5.89), I wasn’t expecting much.

I find pancakes to be one-dimensional. I usually don’t order them for breakfast because they just seem boring to me. With the limited Den Noc breakfast menu, I really had no choice than to order pancakes. I’m glad I did.

When my order arrived, I was blown away. The pancakes looked like a culinary work of art. I have never experienced pancakes so colorful and plated beautifully. I was hoping they tasted as great as they looked.

Layer after layer of pancakes, salmon, sour cream, and dill
Layer after layer of pancakes, salmon, sour cream, and dill

What was so unique about these pancakes was the layering of ingredients. Four layers of pancakes, sour cream, smoked salmon, and dill were stacked on top of each other to create this beautiful dish. It was like a breakfast lasagna.

This thing was ridiculously good and instantly changed my narrow-minded perception of pancakes.

Starting with the first layer. The pancakes.

The small round pancakes were light, fluffy, and slightly tart in flavor. They may have looked small, but with each layer, I was getting surprisingly full. Each bite of the pancakes soaked up all the flavors of the salmon, sour cream, and dill.

On top of the pancakes was a blanket of bright white sour cream. Though simple, the sour cream added a creamy, fresh, and tart bite to the dish.

Mixed into the sour cream was a generous portion of smoked salmon. The salmon was definitely the star of the dish and brought together all of the ingredients. The slightly cold smoked salmon was salty and smoky which, complimenting the fluffy pancakes, tart sour cream, and citrusy and bitter dill.

Service

If you have been to Eastern Europe before, then you understand that service can be lacking, to say the least. Fortunately, at Den Noc, this was not the case.

With only a few tables, service was friendly and very personable. The servers were great at asking any questions and helping any guests.

Drinks arrived quickly after ordering and my pancakes arrived surprisingly fast as they were scratch made.

Conclusion

In a city dominated by huge pieces of pork and potato dumplings, I was delighted to find a place that served breakfast like like Den Noc.

The salmon, sour cream, and dill pancakes were fantastic. Layers of fluffy pancakes with savory, smoky, salty, and tangy flavors. My perception of pancakes being boring has been forever changed.

The food, the drinks, the decor, the service. Everything was perfect. I highly recommend Den Noc in Prague if you want to try something different. Just remember to make a reservation.

Pros

  • The salmon, sour cream, and dill pancakes were delicious with layers of flavors
  • Locally sourced ingredients and beverages
  • Cozy interior
  • Friendly staff

Cons

  • Not great for big groups
  • Limited breakfast menu
  • Those without a reservation will usually have to wait for a table

Hours

Bistro
Monday-Friday: 8:30-15:00
Saturday-Sunday: 9:30-15:00

Wine Bar
Tuesday-Friday: 15:00-22:00

Address

Templova 7
110 00 Prague
Czech Republic
Stare Mesto, Praha 1

GPS Coordinates: 50.088083,14.425469

Map



Last Updated on January 17, 2023

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