Solnice Brewery: Our insider tip for Budweis!

Budweis is the secret capital of beer! Anyone who thinks of this picturesque Czech city naturally immediately imagines a cold blonde beer from the world-famous large brewery. But as we were planning our visit, we stumbled upon a place in the historic center for beer fans and foodies that we definitely didn’t want to miss. We were drawn to the Solnice restaurant and brewery.

A Historical Eye-Catcher: From Salt Depot to Beer Heaven

The restaurant is located in one of the most beautiful corners of České Budějovice (Budweis), directly on Piarist Square (Piaristické náměstí 3). When we stood in front of it, we were immediately impressed. The beautiful old building from 1531 is impossible to miss and is considered one of the city’s most striking landmarks.

A nighttime view of the Restaurant Solnice in České Budějovice, featuring a historic white building with a distinctive stepped gable and outdoor seating under glowing streetlights.

The name “Solnice” simply means salt house in English. The building was erected in 1531 in the late Gothic style and stands out in particular with its stepped gable and small, almost fortified windows. As the name suggests, it originally served as a royal salt depot. Over the centuries, the massive stone building was also used as a municipal armory and granary.

Following extensive restoration, the historic vaults now house an ultra-modern restaurant with an attached microbrewery (Pivovar Solnice). The combination of centuries-old wooden beams, exposed stone, and gleaming copper and stainless steel tanks makes the atmosphere in the dining room truly unique. We felt completely at ease from the very first second – so much so that we quickly agreed: we have to come back here a second time!

Two glass mugs of Solnice beer, labeled 12 and 11, sit on white coasters at the Budweis Restaurant Solnice in the Czech Republic.

Straight from the Tank: A Feast for True Beer Lovers

As huge beer fans, we were immediately taken by the concept on site. Pivovar Solnice, whose brewing facilities are located partly right in the restaurant and in a nearby brewhouse, focuses on absolute freshness. The unpasteurized beer flows here as so-called tank beer from massive, cooled stainless steel tanks directly into the taps. It really doesn’t get any fresher than this! What’s on offer is an exciting mix of Czech brewing tradition and modern craft beer.

Four large, stainless steel beer tanks are stacked in a red metal frame at the Solnice restaurant in Budweis, each featuring a black valve wheel and a small chalkboard with dates and temperatures.

The Classics: Which Lager Wins the Race?

The centerpiece is the classic pale lagers (Světlý ležák). There is usually a light, highly drinkable 10° (Desítka), a wonderfully balanced 11°, and a full-bodied, malt-forward 12° (Dvanáctka). They are characterized by a thick, creamy head, a well-rounded malt body, and the fine, aromatic bitterness of the world-famous Saaz hops.

Two glass mugs of Solnice beer, labeled 10 and 11, sit on coasters at the Solnice restaurant in Budweis.

Naturally, we tasted our way through all three variants! Since our tastes differ, we couldn’t agree on a shared favorite in the end: I liked the light 10° best, while Patrick found his favorite in the 11°.

Two glass mugs from Solnice restaurant in Budweis sit on a wooden table, one empty with foam residue and the other full of golden beer with a thick white head.

Dark Delights & Creative Craft Beer

Dark or semi-dark lagers (Polotmavé/Tmavé) provide variety, playing wonderfully with caramel and light roasted aromas. Furthermore, the master brewers like to let off steam here. Thus, you will frequently find specialties on tap like a Solnice Stout (e.g., 16°), which totally surprised us with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and a hint of sweetness.

Modern Bohemian Cuisine: Goulash, Tartare, and a Sweet Dream

On our second visit, we didn’t want to stop at just the beer, but also thoroughly test the kitchen. The concept of the Solnice restaurant is best described as “Modern Czech Cuisine.” The kitchen takes traditional Bohemian home cooking and elevates it to a new level using first-class, regional ingredients and modern cooking techniques.

The menu is hearty, refined, and perfectly tailored to the house beer. The choice really wasn’t easy for us, but ultimately we opted for two savory main courses and a sweet dessert that we shared.

A close-up shot of a traditional Czech dish at Restaurant Solnice in Budweis, featuring sliced sausages simmered in a rich, dark onion gravy and garnished with fresh chives. In the background, a glass of beer and another plate of food sit on a wooden table, capturing a cozy dining atmosphere.

A plate of steak tartare topped with red onions and greens, served with toasted rye bread and garlic cloves at Restaurant Solnice in Budweis.

Patrick chose the Solnický hovězí guláš (beef goulash). It was wonderfully tender and practically melted on the tongue. My choice fell to the mixed tartare with toasted bread and fresh garlic. It is always amazing how different tartare can taste! I’ve tried many variations before, but this one was excellently seasoned and pleasantly lean.

A golden-brown hefekloss, dusted with powdered sugar, sits in a pool of creamy vanilla sauce in a white bowl at Budweis Restaurant Solnice.

As a crowning finale, I treated myself to Buchtičky s vanilkovým krémem. This can best be compared to a small sweet yeast bun (Buchtel/Dampfnudel) in plenty of vanilla sauce: wonderfully sweet, quite rich, and simply incredibly delicious.

An Absolute Must in Budweis!

We had two lovely evenings at Solnice. In addition to good food and highly drinkable, tasty beer, the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. Before leaving, we even took some freshly bottled beer with us, which we enjoyed after our trip.

Address

Piaristické náměstí 3,
České Budějovice 1, 370 01

Website

Published 14 August 2026