Zájezdní hostinec Na Štěpáně

The story

Zájezdní hostinec Na Štěpáné in Neratovice: A Roadside Czech Kitchen

The road and the recipe

Zájezdní hostinec Na Štěpáně sits along a historic river crossing outside Neratovice, where records show travelers stopping since the fifteenth century. They built their kitchen around a straightforward mission to satisfy hungry visitors with authentic Czech cooking. The current owners follow a simple promise printed on the exterior sign. Meals here deserve a dedicated trip.

The kitchen and its ingredients

Chef Martin Slezák leads a small brigade that treats Czech cuisine as a study in local geography. Forest game arrives directly from Kokořínsko woods while vegetables travel short distances from Mělnicko farms. He applies those fresh arrivals to time-tested preparations, such as an eight-hour roast of young pig belly glazed in a spice blend. You will also find stuffed boar loin paired with rosehip sauce and gingerbread dumplings when the season allows.

The room and the rhythm

The dining space keeps a straightforward country inn layout that favors conversation over ceremony. Staff rotate daily lunch boards based on market deliveries and point guests toward the strongest seasonal items. That grounded approach earned the kitchen a solid twelve from Gault&Millau for 2026. The guide noted how a rich game broth wakes the palate before even the simplest potato dish demands attention.