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The colorful garlands and floral decor are the first hints that a slice of true dolce vita awaits inside. It’s a place where Italian passion for life meets the elegance of Prague’s Vinohrady district. “Prague has a magic that captivated me back in the nineties,” says owner Roberta Marangon, a Venice native, with emotion. “Today, I see how Czechs have opened up to the world and new flavors. That inspires me to bring them the best of Italian gastronomy every day.”
Dolce Mente is built on precision in every detail. “All our ingredients are Italian. We import fresh fish and seafood directly from Italy, and our pasta is either homemade or sourced from trusted producers,” explains the founder. “Quality and purity are my top priorities.” Under the guidance of an Italian head chef, who also mentors students from Prague’s culinary school, dishes are crafted with respect for timeless Mediterranean traditions. Freshness is paramount, just as it is on the Apennine Peninsula — herbs like basil and rosemary are lovingly grown in the courtyard garden.
A standout in Dolce Mente’s offerings is the premium UNO 61 pasta, made from special durum wheat and packaged in fabric resembling a shirt—a sophisticated nod to Italian heritage. “Being one of the few places in Europe to sell this pasta is an honor. We’re in the company of names like the luxury department store Rinascente in Milan, Rome, and Florence,” the owner says proudly.
Among the treasures Dolce Mente proudly offers are wines from Terre di San Rocco. This boutique winery, nestled in the picturesque hills between Montello and the Venetian Lagoon, has taken a bold and unconventional path — producing sparkling wine using the méthode champenoise in a region famed for Prosecco. “Creating such original, eclectic wines requires courage. And maybe even a touch of madness,” Roberta Marangon says with a smile. “But it’s that uniqueness and uncompromising commitment to quality that connect us.”
While Prosecco is made using a shorter process in stainless steel tanks, the classico method involves secondary fermentation in the bottle, typical of Champagne production. Though more demanding, this process gives the wines exceptional complexity and elegance. With small-scale production, the winery can devote meticulous care to each vine, cultivating both classic sparkling wine varieties and reds like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. At its heart lies an ancient borgo — a small historic estate that blends seamlessly into the Italian wine landscape. “Terre di San Rocco wines are like living beings. Each vintage is unique, shaped by microclimate, weather, and the vintners’ care. It’s like our business — every day is different, every visit special,” adds Roberta Marangon.
Beyond gourmet experiences, Dolce Mente offers a unique setting. It’s housed in a meticulously renovated apartment building at Italská 5, a project to which Roberta Marangon, as chairwoman of the owning company, devoted exceptional attention. “Vinohrady is a special neighborhood. I love its elegant architecture and abundance of greenery,” she says. In just two years, she transformed the historic building into a luxury residence with twenty long-term rental apartments. Clients enjoy hotel-like services and access to underground parking.
The true gem, however, is the heated azure pool in the courtyard—a nod to the building’s fascinating history. “For over a century, this was home to public baths. Before the renovation, I saw the original tubs where Praguers would bathe when they didn’t have bathrooms at home,” the owner recalls. During the renovation, she preserved as many original features as possible, from historic entrance doors to the hallway tiles. “This is a house with history, and I want to continue that history,” she says, embodying the Italian reverence for the beauty of the past.
The success of Dolce Mente speaks for itself. Perhaps it’s fate — after all, Roberta was already helping out in her friend’s mother’s restaurant by the age of twelve. Or maybe it’s simply passion and unwavering dedication to her craft, as the Dolce Mente team brings a piece of Italy to the heart of Vinohrady every single day, from 6 in the morning until 10:30 in the evening.
