We invite you to a dream culinary day

Close your eyes and imagine what it would be like to simply switch off for a day and spend the whole day doing nothing but enjoying the captivating atmosphere of local establishments, with their exquisite cuisine served by friendly staff. Does it sound like a dream? Then come and treat yourself to this luxury and let yourself be pampered for at least one day.

We all have our favourite places. In Bohemian Switzerland, new ones are springing up like mushrooms after rain. We’re grateful for that, because there’s never enough good food and drink. So why not join us in spending your dream culinary day, following our recommendations?

Start the day with a coffee, perhaps with the Dužár family at Bohemian Coffee House. One of the most charming spots in the region will captivate you. This family-run café and roastery is situated in Rumburk and is definitely worth the trip, no matter which corner of Bohemian Switzerland you’re in. I hope everyone is lucky enough to meet Jiří Dužár here, for whom the café is yet another labour of love. He’ll show you the heart of the café – the roastery. The coffee beans arrive straight from Mexico, from the Rancho La Victoria farm; they’re then roasted, and you get to enjoy some superb speciality coffee. The atmosphere, often complemented by art exhibitions, will captivate you so much that you’ll feel like staying here all day. And that’s no problem at all. The kitchen bakes the finest cakes and tarts, and with all-day breakfast on offer, that’s exactly what you’ll want.

And here’s a little tip from Jirka: “As well as the coffee, do try one of the six chocolates from Míša’s Chocolates. Her handmade chocolates have won over 30 awards from around the world since 2017 “.

Read the paper, have a natter and enjoy a couple of glasses of wine – it tastes completely different with breakfast. But make sure you leave some room, as a delicious lunch awaits you at U Fořta, where they love food and it really shows. Traditional recipes are cherished here, so you can enjoy both classic Czech cuisine and dishes such as chicken breast with tarhoňa or salmon steak with black beluga lentils. Even though the restaurant is in Mezní louka, which is very busy with tourists, you won’t have to wait long.

And if you’d like to stretch your legs during your trip and fancy something quick, you can grab a Czech takeaway from the takeaway window. If you look around, you’ll also see the visitor centre and some unusual accommodation in haylofts or a 200-year-old gamekeeper’s lodge, which belong to Fořt.

And a tip straight from the source? “Don’t forget to try Fořt’s 12°, a beer created in collaboration with the Kapitán brewery in Děčín, or their own syrup made from spruce shoots”.

Just a few minutes’ drive away, in a perfect location, a stone’s throw from Šaunštejn and Malá Pravčická brána, you’ll find the newly renovated Hotel Kortus, dating from 1868. The Kortus couple have achieved what no one had dared to hope for: breathing new life into a former coaching inn. Stone, century-old beams and wood everywhere create just the right rustic atmosphere. Take an easy walk to the newly renovated Šaunštejn rock castle, and when you’ve worked up an appetite, return to the terrace. Snuggled up together under a blanket, by candlelight and with a delicious flank steak, a glass of cocktail in hand, soak up the perfect atmosphere of the moment. The only thing you might be missing after such a lovely day is a sweet treat to round it off. How about some homemade strudel?

You could spend countless culinary days in Bohemian Switzerland. The places we love are scattered in every corner. We can’t list them all, but we’d be happy to give you a few more tips:

• Where else to go, not just for a coffee? Kavárna Nostalgie in Krásná Lípa, Coffee and Books in Děčín or Bylinková čajovna v Nobilis Tilia.
• Where else to go, not just for lunch? Na Stodolci, Stará hospoda in Doubice, Ave Restaurant in Jiřetín pod Jedlovou or Lužan in Rumburk.
• Where to go for a romantic dinner? Hotel Ostrov, Wellness Hotel Zámeček, Garden Hotel Mezná or Resort Mezná.

What to have to round off the day? A Falkenštejn or Kocour beer, or spirits from GALLI DISTILLERY? We’ll leave that up to you…