Malý Pivovar (the Small Brewery) is one of the better beer halls in the city centre, just off the main square. The atmosphere is exactly what you want from a South Bohemian pub: low ceilings, wooden tables, efficient service, and a menu of Czech standards done well. The fried cheese (smažený sýr) and the goulash with bread dumplings are reliable. Freshwater fish dishes — carp, trout — appear on the menu and are worth ordering in a region where the fish ponds have been producing since the medieval period.
The bar pours Budvar on tap alongside a couple of other Czech lagers. Prices are reasonable and the portions are large. It gets busy on weekend evenings; arrive early or expect to wait for a table.