"Suckling pig spit-roasted in a 400-year-old jail cellar, about 450 crowns a head: book it for a raucous team dinner."
About Šatlava
The fire is the first thing. A spit turns over open flame in a vaulted stone cellar that served as the town jail four hundred years ago, and the smell of roasting pork reaches the lane before you find the door on Šatlavská. Krčma Šatlava has been Český Krumlov's medieval-tavern set piece for years, seating eighty inside and forty more on a terrace, and it trades on atmosphere as much as on the food. Expect armour on the walls, Budvar by the jug, and a bill that rarely tops 500 crowns a head.
The Grill
There is no celebrity chef here, and the menu does not pretend otherwise. The kitchen runs an open wood fire in full view of the room, and the headline order is a whole suckling pig roasted on the spit and carved for the table. Around it sit grilled game, pork knuckle, chicken quarters and ribs, with roasted potatoes and braised cabbage alongside, and pickled vegetables to cut the fat. Vegetarians get a grilled-vegetable platter and little else.
Drink is Moravian wine by the jug, Budvar on tap and Becherovka, the local herb spirit, by the shot. Pudding is honey cake, the layered medovník, or apple strudel. A meal runs roughly 400 to 500 crowns a head, which is why groups fill the benches at Horní 157, the address on Šatlavská lane, most nights of the week. It rates 4.3 on Google across more than five thousand reviews and sits in Tripadvisor's top ten for the town.
The Room
The room is the whole point. It is a reconstructed Renaissance cellar of the old town jail, low and vaulted, lit by candles and iron lanterns, with suits of armour on the walls and long wooden benches that put strangers elbow to elbow. The sound level is loud and cheerful, especially after the first jug of wine, and the eighty inside seats fill fast in season, so book ahead for dinner. In summer the forty-seat terrace on the lane is the calmer option. There is no dress code; come as you are.
Best for a Team Dinner
Book this room for a team dinner or a birthday because it is built for noise and numbers. The benches seat groups without fuss, the spit-roasted pig is made for sharing, and the jugs of Budvar and Moravian wine keep the table loud. Nobody stands on ceremony, the bill stays modest, and the jail-cellar setting gives visitors a story to take home. For other group ideas see our best restaurants for a team dinner and our birthday dinner picks.
Not for
Not for a quiet, refined dinner. It is a loud, bench-seated medieval hall built for groups, and the menu is roast meat over fire, not delicate plating.
Frequently Asked
Is Krčma Šatlava worth it?
Yes, for what it is: a genuine medieval-tavern night rather than a fine-dining meal. The setting in a former jail cellar is the real draw, the spit-roasted pig and grilled meats are honest and generous, and at 400 to 500 crowns a head it is cheap by tourist-town standards. Go for the atmosphere and the fire, not for refinement, and you will get your money's worth in Český Krumlov.
How do I book a table at Krčma Šatlava?
Book by phone on +420 380 713 344 or through the tavern's website, and do it ahead for dinner. The eighty indoor seats fill quickly in summer and around weekends, and walk-ins are often turned away at peak times. For a large group ordering a whole roast pig, call a day or two in advance so the kitchen can prepare it. The terrace is easier in fine weather.
What is the dress code at Krčma Šatlava?
There is no dress code at all. This is a rustic cellar tavern with wooden benches and open fire, so come as you are, in whatever you wore walking the Old Town. Casual clothes are the norm and nobody dresses up. Bear in mind the cellar can get warm near the fire and a little smoky, so light layers are more comfortable than your best jacket.
How much does a meal at Krčma Šatlava cost?
Plan on roughly 400 to 500 Czech crowns per person, before heavy drinking. Mains of roasted meat, a side and a drink land in that range, which is around 18 to 22 euros. The whole spit-roasted suckling pig is priced for sharing across a group. Jugs of Moravian wine and Budvar on tap keep drinks affordable, making it one of the better-value sit-down dinners in the Old Town.
Is Krčma Šatlava good for groups?
Very. The long benches, sharing platters and loud, festive cellar make it one of the best group rooms in Český Krumlov, and the modest bill suits a table of friends or a team. Order a whole roast pig for the table and jugs of wine, and call ahead so the kitchen is ready. See our team dinner guide for more rooms that handle a crowd.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Krčma Šatlava
By phone or web · busy at dinner
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Practical Information
AddressŠatlavská 157, 381 01 Český Krumlov
NeighbourhoodOld Town (Šatlavská lane)
CuisineWood-fired Czech tavern
Average Spend400–500 CZK per person
Dress CodeNo dress code
ReservationBy phone or web · book ahead
Seating80 inside · 40 terrace
