Discover an expat’s honest take on Bistro Di Napoli in Brno. Is it worth a lunch break? Authenticity, prices, and more reviewed in detail.
For the past few months, I’ve been working in an office, like many expats in Brno. And, like many of them, the lunch break can be tricky—especially if you’re not inclined to prepare something at home the night before or in the morning (spoiler: I never do). Since I often eat out for lunch, what better opportunity to recommend—or not—some restaurants and similar spots?
As a proud Italian (a point I emphasize in every post, especially when reviewing pizzas), I occasionally crave pasta. This sparked an idea: why not review the Italian—or wannabe Italian—places I visit, beyond the ones I already know well and frequent often (which I may dedicate posts to in the future)?
Let’s start with Bistro Di Napoli, located at Štefánikova 20 in the Královo Pole district.
Bistro Di Napoli review: name debate, atmosphere and menu
With very positive reviews (4.8 stars on Google Maps from over 450 reviews at the time of writing), I went in with high expectations. With a name like this, I assumed the owner was Italian. Turns out, he likely isn’t—judging from the brief exchanges we had—but he’s certainly very kind, which is one of the highlights of this small bistro. Because of that, I’d never be overly critical, and what follows is simply my honest opinion.
Choosing a name is tricky—for a book, a song, or even a child. In this case, I Googled “Bistro Napoli Brno” because I couldn’t remember the name after discovering the place through nearby locations. To my surprise, there’s at least one other wannabe posh place with the same name. While Naples is undoubtedly a wonderful city emblematic of Italian culture, a touch of creativity wouldn’t hurt.
The Atmosphere: the space is small and simple but cozy enough for a lunch break. That said, I wouldn’t suggest it for a romantic date (although, as the poet once said, “E poi quand ascimm u sabat e’ ser / ci sintemm ricche indà sta povertà / na pizze e na birre ci fann cuntent e ‘nnamurate chiù” – “On Saturday nights, we feel rich in our poverty. A pizza and a beer make us happy and more in love”).
The Menu: the menu doesn’t exactly scream Italian authenticity but aligns perfectly with Czech tastes. Personally, I’m not a purist—go ahead and make carbonara with ham if you like (your choice)—but you’ll never see pasta with chicken in Italy.
As is typical with wannabe Italian places, the dish names are sometimes inaccurate. For instance, scampi are scampi, and you can’t call shrimp pasta “scampi pasta.”
My Order: I ordered a pasta dish with “scampi” (actually shrimp) and spinach. I’ll admit I feared the worst—not because of the glowing reviews but because of the presence of chicken pasta on the menu. Surprisingly, the portion was decent, though I would have used less sour cream (smetana) and garlic. Still, it matched local tastes.
That said, I wonder: if a shrimp-and-spinach pasta has this much garlic, how much would they use in a proper aglio e olio? Definitely vampire-proof!
A major plus is the pricing. My pasta dish cost less than 190 CZK, and other dishes (including pizza, though I can’t vouch for the quality) are similarly affordable—especially in these times of rising inflation.
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