Botel Ristorante Matylda, a family-run Italian restaurant anchored on Masaryk Embankment, is one of the most picturesque gastronomic places in the center of Prague. In the immediate vicinity of the Štítkov Water Tower, the Mánes Gallery and the Dancing House, it offers an extraordinary view of the Vltava River, Hradčany and passing ships thanks to its glass interior and summer terrace with a pontoon. On board the Botel Matylda, modern Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is served, with a strong emphasis on authentic Italian flavors and atmosphere. The seasonal menu focuses on fish, fresh seafood, homemade pasta and selected meat. Guests return here especially for specialties such as seafood risotto, mussels and shrimp in white wine or the renowned meat from Piedmontese cattle. Beef tartare with truffle mayonnaise or traditional Italian desserts – tiramisu and cheesecake are also popular. The wine list is regularly supplemented with a selection from renowned Italian regions and will delight both connoisseurs and casual wine lovers.
“The greatest asset of our restaurant is the excellent Italian cuisine served on a boat with an uninterrupted view of Prague Castle. Guests will enjoy romance, honest ingredients and exceptional wines,” say owners Andrea and Petr Friebel.
The current chef is Petr Rovenský, who brought not only his experience but also his family roots to the kitchen. He grew up in Staré Splavy near Lake Mácha, where his mother – a cook – and his father, a trained fisherman, introduced him to cooking. He helped prepare fish as a child and gradually decided to stay in gastronomy. He trained as a cook-waiter, later completing his education with a high school diploma in Braník and gained experience in the Czech Republic, Germany and the USA.
He worked, among other things, at the Francesco restaurant, at the Golem pizzeria, spent twelve years with Grosseto and helped open the Grosseto Marina ristorante, where he also worked as an assistant chef. A great experience for him was also working with the American Scott Van Wagenen at the Black Dog Pub. In 2016, he fulfilled his dream when he founded the Molo 23 Grill Bar on the main beach in Doksy.
He has been working at Botel Matylda since 2022 and bases his culinary philosophy on simplicity, quality ingredients and Mediterranean inspiration. “We cook Mediterranean, mainly Italian cuisine. We rely on the best available ingredients, because they will further enhance the resulting dish,” says Petr Rovenský.