The research project “Beer and Pubs in Czech Society,” conducted continuously since 2004 by the Centre for Public Opinion Research (Centrum pro výzkum veřejného mínění), provides insights into the visiting behavior and preferences of the Czech population regarding gastronomic establishments. After a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest data has now been published, highlighting recent developments and trends.
There have been no new results since 2018, as comprehensive analysis could only resume once the pandemic situation had stabilized. The current report is based on the latest data collected and shows how visiting behavior in Czech restaurants and pubs has changed.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, researchers managed to conduct surveys regularly in the early autumn months when restrictions were relaxed and a degree of normalcy returned. Notably, after an anticipated decline in restaurant visits during the pandemic, visitor numbers have resumed their long-term upward trend. However, these figures mainly reflect the proportion of the population that occasionally visits restaurants rather than the frequency or total number of visits.
One particularly interesting aspect of the study is the gender trend: the proportion of women visiting restaurants has steadily increased over the last 20 years, particularly among those over 45. There has also been a slight increase among men since 2016. As a result of this development, the gender ratio among restaurant visitors is now much more balanced than it was two decades ago.
The pandemic has had varied effects on the preferences of the Czech population regarding dining out. While the proportion of visitors has increased, the frequency of visits has, in many cases, remained the same or even decreased, especially in traditional Czech pubs and beer bars, which are predominantly frequented by men.
Despite the convergence in the number of pubs visited by each gender, clear differences in preferences remain: men prefer traditional pubs and beer halls, as well as stylish beer restaurants and bars, while women increasingly favor cafés and patisseries. The popularity of cafés among women has surged in the last two years, surpassing the previous preference for restaurants.
The project provides valuable insights into the development of restaurant culture in the Czech Republic and the changing habits of the population. The results demonstrate how social and cultural factors influence restaurant behavior and how these trends have evolved over time.
