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Prague

Coffee Houses  | Top 10 | Looking for | Bars & Clubs | Others

Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is a truly fascinating city situated in the very centre of Europe. It’s intense appeal stems from its uniquely Bohemian ambience, combining some of the most spectacular architecture in Europe with a roller-coaster ride of historical evolution. The meandering golden streets, sumptuous squares and dazzling Gothic facades of this multi–cultural and deeply romantic city are bursting with colour and creativity. There are infinite options to visit concert halls, operas, galleries, museums, cinemas and music clubs, as well as regular festivals all year round. The innately chilled spirit of Bohemia runs alongside the excitement of a modern, progressive city swiftly regaining its feet after many decades of set back. Prague offers the visitor a truly exceptional experience - a city at once epic, flamboyant and full of vitality.

 

Coffee Houses

  • Obecni Dum   
    • Namesti Republiky 5
    Superb Art Nouveau interior of 1912 – can be touristy in season
    To join a tour of the building call 222 002 101
    www.vysehrad2000.cz/obecnidum
     
  • Kavarna Slavia
    • Smetanovo Nabrezi 2, opposite the National Theatre
    www.cafeslavia.cz
    Vaclav Havel’s favourite. On the river, so wonderful views of the castle – restored 1930’s Art Deco décor – at the very least pop your head in.
     
  • Café Louvre
    • Narodni Trida 22
    www.cafelouvre.cz/en
    Upstairs – great for breakfasts, cakes, pastries and papers – the most authentic coffeehouse in Prague dates from 1902.
     
  • Café Imperial
    • Na Porici 15
    www.cafeimperial.cz/en
    Phenomenal tiled interior - a classic - good food
     
  • Grand Café Orient
    • Celetna / Ovocny trh 19, behind the Estates Theatre
    www.grandcafeorient.cz
    More about the ambience and experience than getting a Latte made to perfection.
     
  • Dinitiz Café
    • Bilkova 12
    Tel: 420 222 313 308
    On the same street as the Imperial - live Cuban music on Fridays.

  • Café Ebel
    • www.ebelcoffee.cz
    This little café in the Ungelt serves the best coffee in Prague

 

Top 10 Dining Experiences Downtown

  • Allegro @ The Four Seasons
    • Veleslavinova 2a, Old Town
    Tel: 221 426 880 www.fourseasons.com/prague/dining
    Italian. Expensive. Ask for a table next to the window overlooking the river. Year in year out voted the best restaurant in Prague.
     
  • Amici Miei
    • Vezenska 5, Jewish Quarter
    Tel: 224 816 688 www.amicimiei.com
    Authentic Italian. Request a table outside on the sidewalk
     
  • La Degustation
    • Hastalska 18, Old Town
    Tel: 222 311 234 www.ladegustation.cz
    International and Czech. An extraordinary tasting experience that has been lauded by the NY Times. 7 small courses and 7 amuses
    bouches over 3 hours, all cooked by a former pupil of Ferran Adria.
     
  • Kampa Park
    • Na Kampe 8b, Mala Strana
    Tel: 296 826 102 www.kampagroup.com/en
    International. Amazing location on the river, beneath the Charles Bridge. Celebrity hangout and one of the most romantic
    spots in town, with outstanding food. 
     
  • French Restaurant @ the Obecni Dum
    • Namesti Republiky 5, Old Town
    Tel: 222 002 770 www.frenchrest.obecnidum.cz
    French and Czech. The most beautiful space in Prague.
     
  • Essensia @ the Mandarin Oriental Hotel
    • Nebovidska 1, Mala Strana
    Tel: 233 088 888 www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/639000039.asp
    The best Asian and fusion food in town, but not a romantic space.
     
  • Coda @ the Aria Hotel
    • Trziste 9, Mala Strana
    Tel: 225 334 761 www.codarestaurant.cz
    International. Roof terrace restaurant with amazing view of Prague Castle and St Nicholas Church.
     
  • The restaurant group www.vzatisi.cz/en has several excellent locations with modern Czech food. 
    • Beside Charles Bridge are Mlynec www.mlynec.cz (with top Prague chef Marek Purkardt) or
    Bellevue with the slightly better view www.bellevuerestaurant.cz Tel:221 082 208
     
  • Palffy Palace
    • Valdstejnska 14
    Tel: 257 530 522 www.palffy.cz
    International. Bohemian atmosphere – a favourite – if you want a truly romantic night in keeping with a slightly decadent image of Prague, this is your spot!
     
  • Radisson SAS Alcron Hotel
    • Štepánská 40, Prague 1
    Tel: 222 820 038 www.radisson.com
     
    N.B. There is also now a Gordon Ramsay in Prague, called Maze. It is in the Hilton Prague Old Town. 
    While the food is good, the service and atmosphere do not score.
 
 

Looking for

 
  • For the best duck try The Blue Duck / U Modre Kachnicky at two locations - Nebovidska 6, Mala Strana & Michalska in the Old Town  Tel: 257 320 308 www.umodrekachnicky.cz
 
  • For brunchgo to Café Savoy, Vitezna 5, Prague 5 (across the bridge from the National Theatre) with a splendid interior – some of the best cakes and pastries in town, and where the glamorous people gather for brunch, plus excellent wine list.
 
  • For the most fun try Gitanes (Trziste 7, Mala Strana, Tel: 257 530 163 www.gitanes.cz) a colourful Balkan restaurant with a great ambience in its different rooms and snugs –gypsy music on Friday nights
 
  • For a medieval atmosphere go to U Sedmi Svabu, just off Nerudova on the left going up the hill to the castle – there are roaring fires, wenches serving beer and only food that dates from pre 1492
 
  • For the best Czech pub food go to Kolkovna (V Kolkovne 8, Jewish Quarter, Tel: 224 819 701 www.kolkovna.cz) run by the most famous Czech Pilsner Urquell brewery
 
  • For reasonable pre- or post-opera dining and quick service either Garden at the Opera / Zahrada v opere (Legerova 75, Prague 1, Tel: 224 239 685 www.zahradavopere.cz) next door to the State Opera - serving international cuisine until midnight with a funky interior by Czech architect Bara Skorpilova, or beside the National Theatre, Parnas (Tel: 224 239 604) in the entrance beside Slavia café on the river.
 
  • For the best river views either have lunch at the little folly on the hill in Letna Park called Hanavsky Pavilion (Letenske Sady 173, Tel: 233 323 641 www.hanavskypavilon.cz) or dine at Perle du Prague in Frank Gehry’s Dancing Building (Rasinovo Nabrezi, New Town) Tel: 221 984 160
 
  • For a reasonable food in a cool cellar go to Klub Architectku (Betlemske Nam. Old Town, Tel: 224 401 214)
 
  • For international Italian food favoured by local expats go to Kogo Ristorante
    at Slovansky dum, Na Prikope 10, Prague 1, Tel: 221 451 259) in a very large courtyard away from the masses.
 
 
  • For great food in the Castle District go to Lvi Dvur at the top of the Royal Gardens (Tel: 224 372 361)
 
  • For great food near Old Town Square at local prices go to Mlejnice (Kozna 14, Tel: 224 228 635)
 
 

Bars & Clubs

Great early evening bars

  • Bokovka on Pstrossova, New Town - wine bar owned by 3 film directors
  • Al Capones on Bartolomejska, Old Town – tiny cocktail bar
  • Duende on Karoliny Svetle – great café
    •  
 
Best late night bars
 
  • Blue Light Bar, Josefská 1, Prague 1 - first street on the right over the Charles Bridge.
    • The best cocktail bar in Malá Strana, Blue Light is a clubby two-room space that's almost entirely patronized by locals. Although it's situated on the ground floor, the arched interior does it's best to mimic a ancient jazz cellar, with plenty of "scratchiti" and Ornette Coleman posters on the aged walls. Tunes here are all over the map, emanating from a terrific sound system that never overpowers conversationalists.
  • Le Clan – Balbínova 23, Praha 2, Tu - Th: 22:00 - 08:00, Fr - Sa: 22:00 - 11:00
    • - this late night spot gets going after 3am and continues  well into the late morning.  
  • Le Mirage - Lublaňská 48, Prague 2.  A bar with live music, Dj’s – one of the best after hours clubs in Prague
  • Blind eye -  Vlkova 26, Prague 3.  On the corner of Vlkova and Krasova in Zizkov
    • This grungy former speakeasy finally went legit in September 2006, though customers still have to ring a buzzer to get in. The name of its best drink is unprintable but fitting, containing 20 ounces of vodka, gin, tequila and white rum.
     
 Clubs
  • Roxy - old cinema converted into concrete cellar club – definitely the place to go for techno, drum and base and general decadence.
  • Akropolis Kubelikova, Zizkov - three separate parts to this gaff with DJ’s, a live venue and a restaurant - has many great international acts playing, especially world music.
  • Radost Fx - Belehradska 120, Vinohrady (Tel: 603 193 711www.radostfx.cz) - where the determinedly hip and good looking congregate to party

 

Others

  • Cheap Car Hire
    • www.vecar.cz
    www.alimex.cz
     
  • We recommend you use either Profi Taxi + 42 844 700 800 or AAA +42 222 333 222
    •  
  • Private driver
    • Mike’s Chauffeur Service
    www.mike-chauffeur.cz
    Tel: 241 768 231
    Mobile: 602 224 893
     
  • Embassy of Ireland
    • Tržiště 13, Prague 1, 118 00
    Phone: 257 530 061-4

     

  • Post and Banks
    • There are numerous ATM’s in Prague. The nearest are on Francouska. For a bank head to Namesti Miru. For a post office head to Italski.
     
  • Trams and Underground
    • The quickest way to get downtown is via subway or tram. The subway is probably quicker but on the tram is definitely more beautiful.
    Take tram No 22 or 23.
     
     

     

     

     

 

 

 

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