The Ultimate Guide To Prague’s Beer Spas

Thinking of visiting a beer spa in Prague? Here’s everything you need to know about this unique Czech wellness experience.

Prague is well-known for it’s beer scene, with traditional pubs serving Czech beer to tourists and locals alike. There are also plenty of unique beer experiences in Prague, from pulling your own pints to soaking in a tub of hops. Both come highly recommended – but it’s the latter I’ll be talking about today.

As a treat for my birthday trip, we booked an hour-long beer spa experience at Bernard Beer Spa. A friend of mine went years ago and raved about it, so I knew it would be the perfect experience to celebrate my birthday in the city (alongside a visit to this iconic Prague horror bar!).

And honestly? It absolutely exceeded my expectations, and was an absolute highlight of our weekend in Prague.

In a minute, I’ll get into all the juicy details of what went down and what you can expect visiting a beer spa in the Czech Republic. But first up – what’s this beer spa business all about?

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Where did Prague’s beer spas originate?

The concept of a beer spa actually dates back to the Middle Ages, with the first known beer bath documented over 2000 years ago. In the Czech Republic (then known as Bohemia), King Wenceslas would take beer baths with wort, and folk healers throughout the ages have praised the effects of bathing in beer ingredients.

Prague has a reputation for being a city of beer-lovers, so it’s no surprise this activity has been popular with Czechs and tourists alike for hundreds of years. However, traditional beer baths didn’t have what makes Prague’s so popular today – taps to pour your own unlimited beers! They’ve been so popular, the concept has spread around Eastern Europe, including Poland and Hungary.

What is a beer spa?

It’s not exactly a straight up ‘beer bath’, if that’s what you were thinking. You’re not actually bathing IN beer. Instead, you’ll find yourself presented with a bubbling hot tub, and the ‘beer’ part comes from the hops and yeast that your host will drop into the bath just before you jump in.

After you’ve had a soak in the hot tub, the second stage involves lying down on a wheat bed, giving your body the chance to fully absorb all those delicious antioxidants and vitamins. Delicious.

Here’s the REALY exciting part, though: a beer spa experience offers unlimited consumption of beer during your relaxing soak. Drinking beer in a hot tub for self-care reasons? Absolutely count me in!

What are the benefits of a beer spa treatment?

Other than the ultimate vibe that’s enjoying some beer in a bubbling bathtub?

Well, as it turns out, according to modern science, the ingredients of beer can apparently work wonders for your skin and hair – not just your tastebuds! Hops have antioxidant and antibacterial properties, while barley contains vitamin B, amino acids and zinc. (some beer spas in Prague, including Bernard Beer Spa, use yeast rather than barley to avoid the small chance of an allergic reaction).

As the steam from the warm water opens up your pores, all the goodness from the beer ingredients are absorbed. They’ve been reported to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and generally help with overall skin health.

And, of course, the potential benefits of the warm bath itself include reducing stress, improving circulation, promoting better sleep and reducing joint and muscle aches. But mostly, I enjoyed the decadence of sipping beer in a warm bath, which kept me smiling for hours (that MAY have been the beer talking…)

Where can I visit a beer spa in Prague?

Prauge beer spas have absolutely exploded in popularity in recent years, so as a result, they’ve popped up all over the city (and beyond!). Many different Czech breweries have their own beer spas in Prague, and if you have a particular Czech beer you like, that’s one way to choose.

We chose Beer Spa Bernard based on good reviews and proximity to our hotel. Here are a selection of the best beer spas in Prague:

• Beer Spa Bernard (4 locations in Old Town, New Town & Vinohardy – we visited the Bernard Beer Spa in the Majestic Plaza Hotel, and I can definitely recommend it!
• Original Beer Spa Prague (New Town)
• Spa Beerland Prague (multiple locations) – some locations offer individual tubs as well as larger two-person ones.
• Eden’s Garden Grandior Spa (Florenc)
• Pivni Spa (Bubeneč) – also offers a wine bath experience for non-beer drinkers!

What to expect at a Prague Beer Spa

We’d booked our experience at Beer Spa Bernard for 2pm – giving us enough time to have a delicious brunch, and wander around Wenceslas Square for a while before arriving 20 minutes ahead of our reservation.

The entrance to the Bernard Beer Spa is via the rather plush Majestic Plaza Hotel lobby, so we already felt a bit luxe before we’d even rung the bell at the spa door. We were escorted down to the reception area of the spa, and recieved a friendly greeting and some forms to sign as a health declaration.

Our host showed us to the changing area, which had a lockable cubicle with shower, toilet and a handwash basin (one male, one female). Slipping into swimwear, we left our belongings in lockers, put on the slippers provided, and were shown to our private room.

The treatment room itself was spacious, with three individual oak tubs, a wheat bed, and a hop sauna – which we didn’t partake in, as it costs extra and I’m not huge on saunas anyway! The décor felt very traditional and rustic, with cave-like arched ceilings and exposed brickwork. The low lighting added to the calming atmosphere, and soft music played through speakers – although we couldn’t always hear it over the bubbling bathwater.

After tipping a bowl of hops and yeast into the tub, and explaining how the beer taps worked, our host left us to get comfortable. If we needed anything, there was a bell to ring to get assistance.

Sinking into the hot water, we relaxed into our beer spa session, and immediately began to feel more relaxed. The tub was big enough to fit two people comfortably – including my 6ft 3 partner, who had more than enough room to stretch out. On the side of the bath, water taps let us adjust the temperature to our own personal comfort levels.

Making sure we didn’t get the water and beer taps mixed up, we helped ourselves to a fair few glasses of the unlimited tank beer. Beer Spa Bernard offer two styles of beer on draught – a light and a dark beer. Neither of us are particularly dark beer fans, so we chose the light beer. We found it light, refreshing and easy to drink.

Halfway through our beer bath, the bubbles turned off – we’d been told about this already, so we rang the bell to get them turned back on. The hostess arrived quickly to help us, and also happily took a souvenir picture of us enjoying our beer spa experience!

Although the wheat bed is part of the experience, we ended up enjoying our soak in the tub so much, we actually didn’t get around to doing that bit and spent the full hour in the bath. Oops.

An hour after entering the room, we were politely informed that our time was up. I’d read reports of staff being quite direct about getting you out quickly, but the Bernard Beer Spa team left us to rinse off in the showers and get dressed at our own pace. We had some beer left in our glasses, which we finished off before leaving.

The reception desk also gave us a bottle each to take with us, letting us choose from Blonde, Dark or Amber ale, as well as a certificate of completion which makes a super cute souvenir!

Stepping out into the fresh air afterwards, I felt much lighter and incredibly relaxed – physically AND mentally. It may have been the beer we drank rather than the bath itself, but I definitely felt a bit giddy too!

READ MORE: How we kept up the (somewhat) wellness vibes with dinner at the best vegetarian restauraunt in Prague.

What’s included in your Prague Beer Spa experience?

Exact inclusions may vary from spa to spa, but a visit to a usual beer spa in Prague will include:

• A private room for you and your companion(s) – some spas may have shared rooms, so check before you book!
• Unlimited beer, with a self-serve beer tap next to your tub for ultimate convenience.
• Towels and slippers to wear between the changing area and treatment room
• A sheet for the wheat bed
• Some beer spa experiences will also include a serving of fresh homemade beer bread, and you can also order extra snacks as a package, if you fancy.
• Some beer spas may give you a small gift after your experience – Bernard Beer Spa let us choose a bottle of their beer each to take away with us!

What do you wear to a beer spa?

Swimwear is the usual option! A top tip we overheard is to wear darker colours if possible – although the hops won’t stain clothes permanently, lighter shades can pick up some temporary stains.

It’s a private room, though, so it’s completely up to you – some visitors forego the swimsuit and jump in naked…

(Just don’t forget to bring spare underwear to change into once you’re done!)

How much does a Prague Beer Bath cost?

For a one hour treatment at Beer Spa Bernard, we paid €119 in total.

Although individual costs for beer spas in Prague may differ slightly, most keep their prices similar, so these prices should be a good guide to how much a beer spa costs.

Sharing a bath between two people works out cheaper per person than having an individual tub, and you can expect to pay around €60pp this way.

Beer Bath Bernard (60 minutes) – total price

• 1-2 people (1 bath): 2790 CZK / €119
• 2 people (2 baths): 3690 CZK / €160
• 3-4 people (2 baths): 5290 CZK / €230
• 3-4 people (3 baths): 6990 CZK / €305
• 5-6 people (3 baths): 7990 CZK / €350

As well as the standard beer bath experience, most beer spas in Prague offer additional extras including sauna and massage. The prices for these at Beer Spa Bernard are:

Beer Bath Bernard + beer bio infrared sauna (90min)

From 3790 CZK / €164 (1-2 people)

Beer Bath Bernard with 20 minute massages (90min)

From 3990 CZK / €175 (1-2 people)

Beer Bath Bernard with 20 minutes massages + beer bio infrared sauna (120min)

From 4990 CZK / €220 (1-2 people)

Top Tips for visiting a Beer Spa in Prague

Book your beer spa in advance

Prague beer spas can get booked up weeks ahead, so walking up and hoping for the best isn’t a great strategy here. Booking in as much advance as possible is advised – if you book through a site such as GetYourGuide, you have the flexibility to change or cancel if your plans change. (especially relevant if you only have one day in Prague!)

Arrive early

Beer spas in Prague generally ask you to arrive 15 minutes ahead of your appointment time, to check in and get changed. If you’re late, it’ll cut into that sweet sweet tub time…

Bring clean underwear

The easiest way to change quickly for your beer bath is to wear your swimsuit under your clothes – just make sure you don’t forget to bring clean underwear for afterwards!

Eat before your beer bath

You’ll be consuming beer in a warm, steamy environment, so make sure you’ve had something to eat to avoid feeling lightheaded during your treatment. If you’re feeling snacky, many beer spas in Prague also offer the option to add on refreshments.

Avoid showering for two hours afterwards

It’s recommended that you avoid showering (other than a quick rinse-off) for two hours after your beer spa treatment, to fully reap the benefits.

The Health and Safety Bit

If you’re allergic to protiens, yeast or hops, you should talk to your doctor and chosen beer spa before taking part in the treatment. The beer spa may be able to adjust the ingredients based on allergies, if they’re aware in advance.

Pregnant people should consult their doctor before taking part in a beer spa – generally, it’s not advised after the first trimester. Under 18s are usually able to participate in a beer spa experience – although they won’t be able to drink alcohol. As with any spa experience, if you have any health conditions that may be effected, chat to your doctor first before taking part.

Find out more about visiting a beer spa with kids.

Summary: Is a beer spa in Prague worth it?

In a word: YES! Even my partner, who isn’t your traditional spa kinda guy, sung the praises of the beer spa experience. 

Like most spa visits, the effects we felt were temporary, but I was impressed with the benefits the beer spa provided. The immediate effects were clear and very welcome, leaving us both feeling relaxed and much less achey than when we went in.

My skin felt properly soft afterwards, and as someone who suffers with eczema, I felt my problem areas had a temporary improvement after visiting the beer spa. It was the perfect experience for the end of our three day trip to Prague, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s thinking about booking!

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