Are you planning to hike the Ridge Trail as a long-distance route and wondering how much dry food you can fit in your backpack? Check out an inspiring article by experienced travellers. Alternatively, consider the option to stop mentally preparing tons of prunes and beef jerky and realize that the Ridge Trail offers a wild experience. Spend the night in a bivouac under an overhang and start your day with a handful of raisins in the morning. However, you can also take advantage of the fact that it's a long-distance trek in the heart of Europe.
Why not enjoy the wilderness the Ridge Trail still provides today and indulge in the best local gastronomy to fuel your body? If this idea intrigues you, keep reading.
In the very first stage, go through the maze of Tisa Walls, head down to Ostrov, and relax on the terrace of Hotel Ostrov. Here, you'll find authentic gastronomy, slow-roasted meats, homemade ice cream, and dessert creations reminiscent of MasterChef's. Be sure to try the Ostroff beer, brewed by the Falkenštejn brewery, especially for Islanders (Ostrov = Island). If you have enough resources, take a look at the wine list.
A certain percentage of "Ridge Hikers" will decimate themselves with good food and drink in Ostrov to the extent that they would rather dream about the following stages in fluffy hotel duvets.
But if you resist, don't overdo it and bravely go on; know you will have several more such experiences. Just jump over the Snowy Peak (Sněžník) and roll down to Děčín, where you can eat decently in several places. You won't discover anything new at Kocanda, but you can reliably find something to eat here, whether you're a carnivore or a vegetarian.
Bistro Les, known for its vegan offerings, is a must-stop along the way. It's the best vegan buffet around, but arrive early as they may run out of food by 3 p.m.!
You can kick off the second leg of the Ridge Trail with a satisfying breakfast, such as at the Coffee and Books cafe in Děčín. Don't forget to grab some local sandwiches to enjoy as a snack while crossing the Pink Ridge.
You'll be spending the evening in Hřensko, which offers a variety of restaurants for you to choose from. However, if you're looking for a unique insider's suggestion, consider going half a kilometre over the border to Schmilka for dinner. You can try the German Soljanka, Bienenstich, and local brewery beer in the Mill beer garden or opt for selected food in the romantic, organic restaurant by the banks of the Elbe.
The next, third stage of your journey will take you to Mezná, where one of the top culinary experiences of the Ridge Trail awaits you. Restaurant U Forta invites you to "taste Bohemian Switzerland," and we highly recommend it. They use seasonal and local ingredients to create exceptional taste experiences. This place is well-known, so making a reservation several days before is advisable.
Remember to pack a backpack for Šaunštejn, which is on the fourth stage of the Ridge Trail. If you take a 600-meter detour off the route to Vysoká Lípa, you'll be pleasantly surprised by Hotel Kortus. You won't go wrong with choosing pub classics or something from the quick menu. If you stay at the hotel, you can enjoy a romantic evening in the illuminated garden under a chestnut tree, where you can easily roll into bed.
The fourth stage ends in Jetřichovice. If you arrive before six in the evening, don't miss Bistro Falk. You don't usually go to food stalls for gastronomic experiences, but this is an exception. They brew great Falkenštejn beer and make excellent currywurst, burgers, and quesadillas, even in a vegan version.
And since Bistro Falk is open from ten in the morning, you can start the next fifth stage of the Ridge Trail with a pleasant breakfast. It is worth looking at Wellness Hotel Zámeček, for example. Chef Miloš Daněk cooks with ingredients from farmers from Bohemian Switzerland. The regional Falkenštejn beer also flows here, and connoisseurs will appreciate the distinctive organic wines from Tibor Zapletal.
On the last, sixth stage of the Ridge Trail, you will encounter numerous pubs. However, make sure to visit the Falkenštejn brewery in the square at Krásná Lípa at the beginning of the stage. From here, the famous local beer of the same name, which you find all over the Ridge Trail, comes from. You'll have the opportunity to taste the brewery's flagship Světák, the semi-dark Ostroff, the top-fermented Rudoch, or one of the specialities like the fresh hemp Kanár.
In addition, chef René Vokurka prepares a dream menu, without which no proper pub can do. It features surprisingly combined delicacies, from crispy belly with radishes to marinated fish to vegetarian baba ganoush.
When you finally get out of there after a few days, crawl through the St. John the Evangelist Drift (Štola sv. Jana Evangelisty) in Jiřetín, climb Křížová Hora (Cross Mountain) and roll over the last landscape landmarks of the Ridge Trail, Jedlová and Tolštejn, an exceptional gastronomic spot awaits you at the Jedlová train station, which you cannot miss. The local classic train station in the middle of the desolate forests will surprise you unexpectedly, but all the more pleasantly, whether in winter or hot summer. Don't expect Michelin stars; the miracle is that they are open here in the wilderness! :)
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