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 near the crowds of the Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic. I was ready for a change after eating my fair share of potato dumplings and pork knuckles.

Den Noc was started by a newly married couple who dreamed of opening 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 of the highest quality and locally sourced from small Czech companies, including wines, coffee, soft drinks, dairy, and even marmalade.

Table of Contents

Interior of Den Noc

What I loved about Den Noc’s interior 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. The walls were bright, alternating red and white. The words “Den Noc” and a Czech quote that probably said something about food or life were painted on the walls. Some bottles of wine were stored in racks along the walls.

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

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

Den Noc Menu

The breakfast menu at Den Noc was simple and dominated by savory and sweet pancakes. 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

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 was little to this drink, but sometimes simple is better.

Hot water and a generous amount of sliced ginger were in a bright orange cup. 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, which 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 want it sweeter, add honey or sugar. If you want 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

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 seem boring. With the limited Den Noc breakfast menu, I had no choice but to order pancakes. I’m glad I did.

When my order arrived, I was shocked. 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

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, which reminded me of breakfast lasagna.

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

I am 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 I was getting surprisingly full with each layer. Each bite of the pancakes soaked up all the flavors of the salmon, sour cream, and dill.

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

A generous portion of smoked salmon was mixed into the sour cream. 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, complementing the fluffy pancakes, tart sour cream, and citrusy and bitter dill.

Service at Den Noc

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

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

Drinks arrived quickly after ordering, and my pancakes were scratch-made surprisingly fast.

Conclusion

In a city dominated by massive 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. They were made with layers of fluffy pancakes and savory, smoky, salty, and tangy flavors. My perception of pancakes as boring has been forever changed.

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