Staré Město (Old Town) is the historic heart of medieval Prague, centred on one of Europe’s most spectacular town squares (Staroměstské náměstí; Old Town Square). The constant crowds impart a carnival atmosphere but don't detract from the impressive display of Gothic and baroque architecture, much of it floodlit by night, that includes some of the city's most iconic sights, notably the Old Town Hall Tower, the Astronomical Clock, the Municipal House and the Prague Jewish Museum. Staré Město Back to topAttractionsMust-see attractionsPrague Jewish Museum This museum consists of six Jewish monuments clustered together in Josefov: the Maisel Synagogue; the Pinkas Synagogue; the Spanish Synagogue; the Klaus… Municipal House Prague’s most exuberantly art-nouveau building is a labour of love with every detail of its design and decoration carefully considered Astronomical Clock crowds gather beneath the Old Town Hall Tower to watch the Astronomical Clock in action Church of Our Lady Before Týn Its distinctive twin Gothic spires make the Týn Church an unmistakable Old Town landmark Like something out of a 15th-century – and probably slightly… Old Town Hall is a hotchpotch of medieval buildings acquired piecemeal over the centuries Old Town Square One of Europe’s most beautiful and busiest urban spaces or Staromák for short) has been Prague’s principal… Convent of St Agnes In the northeastern corner of Staré Město is the former Convent of St Agnes Church of St James The great Gothic mass of the Church of St James began in the 14th century as a Minorite monastery church and was given a beautiful baroque facelift in… View more attractionsBuild a memorable collectionGet to the heart of Staré Město with one of our in-depth Visit in ShopPrague & Czechia $22.99 Go to checkout (0 items)For Explorers Everywhere No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission The Czech Ministry of Transport has already selected the four consortia that will compete for the work Fcc and Ohla are participating in the Czech government's public-private partnership tender for the construction and subsequent operation of the D35 motorway The Czech Ministry of Transport has already selected four consortia that will compete for the project the daily newspaper El Economista reported and Ohla have formed an alliance with the US management company Tikehau Star Infra the Portuguese fund Tiic and the French engineering company Egis as partners Ferrovial leads a consortium with the Polish construction company Budimex Another consortium is composed of Fcc and the French fund Meridiam The public-private partnership project for the construction of the D35 will cover the 16,6-kilometre-long sections between Opatovec and Staré Mesto the 18,2-kilometre-long sections between Staré Mesto and Mohelnice the 4-kilometre-long Detrichov tunnel and the 1,3-kilometre-long Maletín tunnel Read also other news on Nova News Click here and receive updates on WhatsApp Follow us on the social channels of Nova News on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram Nejrozestavěnější rychlé silniční spojení v ČR která je důležitým alternativním propojením Čech s Moravou bude mít po úspěšném dokončení veřejné zakázky svého koncesionáře zajišťujícího mj výstavbu a provoz 2 úseků dálnice metodou PPP Po skončení kvalifikační fáze Ministerstvo dopravy zahájilo jednání se 4 kvalifikovanými konsorcii firem s mezinárodní účastí v rámci tzv Ve veřejné zakázce na koncesionáře dostavby dálnice D35 dále postupují 4 konsorcia provoz a údržbu úseku D35 mezi Opatovcem a Mohelnicí a zároveň provoz a údržbu úseku od Litomyšle až po Opatovec.  Příprava dostavby dálnice D35 formou PPP postupuje do další fáze Ministerstvo dopravy vypsalo výběrové řízení na koncesionáře (dodavatele) Soukromý sektor pro stát postaví bezmála 35 km dálnice D35 mezi Mohelnicí a Opatovcem a po dostavbě bude celkově provozovat a udržovat 52 km D35 až od Litomyšle Celá tato klíčová dopravní tepna bude hotová v roce 2029 K provozování webu a analýze návštěvnosti používáme soubory cookies. 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Kliknutím na odkaz zjistíte více o souborech cookies jak je používáme a jak je povolit či zakázat By Alex Marshall Describing or delineating a 15-minute city in Prague is an interesting challenge because it resonates with thoughts and impressions I initially had here as my wife and I spent a frantic week looking for an apartment But as I got to know the city over the subsequent months I could walk across a bridge over the Vltava river to the Smichov area on the other side where several hundred thousand people gathered a few days ago to protest Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine where the Nazis staged rallies during their occupation in World War II Václav Havel addressed the packed square (which is really more of a long street)  at the height of the “Velvet Revolution,” helping topple communism here the elegant neighborhood of grand apartment buildings and parks I could get almost everywhere in 15 minutes My wife and I live in the lower half of the “new town,” or Nové město was laid out in the mid 1300s by Charles IV who did almost everything important in the city Charles established a new city outside the walls of the old city So “new town” (Nové město) is still what the area is called and its formal delineation The old town dates back to the 9th century Outside this historic core lies the really new Prague It’s the Prague of highways and road tunnels and shopping malls It’s here where the bulk of Prague’s 1.3 million people live Several hundred thousand live in the historic center I discovered that the population in the older sections of the city ha dropped dramatically in the last 40 years starting even before Communism ended in 1989 I will confine my 15 minutes to what I can reach on foot and I will exclude old town and Wenceslas Square even though I can reach both if I walk fast I will confine myself to what I can easily reach and I’ll try to give a flavor of this town that and in its grand—and often very sad—history it has the physical embodiment that allows a culture to be born and grow The restaurant Na Křižovatce is hard to pronounce But I will give a hint in that the second letter “ř” is pronounced like a soft “z” in English with some sort of trill sound in front of it and activitiy continues well into the late evening below and to one side of my third-floor apartment It has been my best introduction to Czech culture and cuisine an unsmiling waitress delivers plate after plate of steaming Czech favorites and so people sit down to plates of meat in gravy and Czech-style dumplings even though it was initially hard to get the waitresses to notice me or give me a table I walk by and see people sitting at the bare tables I’ve noticed this Czech custom now at many restaurants and bars around town Na Křižovatce has several small interconnected rooms and several times I have seen a table with people singing to acoustic guitars I don’t know where this Czech custom started I theorize it may have strengthened during Communism from 1948 to 1989 Can the imitation be better than the real thing Baron Von Haussmann blew the mind of the city planning world with his modernization of Paris including his new avenues on the Right Bank cities from Boston to Cairo imitated Haussmann’s Paris I sometimes think Prague has more Parisian-style apartment buildings than the actual City of Lights I can see them on both sides of the Vltava River as I look around a new section of the city that sits up on a hill and was created in the late 19th century As Barcelona did with its “ensanche” by Cerdà i Sunyer The name comes because it was originally a vineyard A fair number of vines with wine-producing grapes still survive in one of the large parks there Cities are like stock markets: they tend to rise suddenly during booms and bubbles something was happening in Prague between about 1895 to 1905 you see block after block of ornate apartment buildings clearly competing in their ornament and detail and fenestration The apartment buildings here are the grandest in the city Sometimes when I walk here I say it’s my favorite part of Prague and the fulsome bosom have not adorned many new buildings in any city that I know of because even though I love modern architecture which converted the world to the merits of revealing structure and cleanness of lines I find I respond emotionally to all the adornment on so many of the buildings here This ornament usually borrows from the natural world and can take the form of trees and flowers and animals I find myself thinking about all that architecture gave up when it collectively decided to abandon the human figure sit or stand in a variety of positions and places on buildings here a balcony or often the entire building itself Whatever social signifier of status they might have once held I would like to learn more about the techniques used to make them I haven’t found a book or an expert to tell me This building by Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry was an instant hit when it opened in 1996 It symbolized to many the openness of the new where Prague and the Czech Republic had rejoined the rest of the world and were ready to try anything It was originally known as Fred and Ginger The entire building resembles a human figure I wonder if it works that well as a building or a place Although it occupies a prime street corner on the river the city in its great wisdom has surrounded it with heavy traffic and tram streets The other factor is that the building achieves much of its power by extending out into the sidewalk But I’m not pronouncing any final judgment although I ate dinner at the fancy restaurant on top whose spires you could see dotting the landscape before all the tall condos were built it was one of the ways to distinguish a building as special but so also does the tower on the Charles Bridge and the old City Hall at Old Town Square What I note and love about the steeples here is that they are usually one big steeple surrounded by mini-steeples and often they create a niche on a balcony where you can have an even greater view with a larger radius of the city below The one here is on a church not far from my apartment In my first few weeks here, this unusual swoopy steeple caught my eye repeatedly. It appeared to be two intersecting parabolas. Was there some medieval modernist? I eventually found out the steeple was part of the Emmaus Monastery I could see the swooping steeple was made of concrete not hand-crafted as I had originally thought What happened was that an errant American bomber in World War II destroyed much of the church the church was rebuilt with this daring and original steeple I had some personal experience with these buildings because I wasn’t having any luck reaching IPR by email or phone so I finally walked over to its headquarters so I could buttonhole someone but these rectangular buildings seem more like classic Modernism to me although they would be much more so if they were cleaned up I suspect there is a somewhat tortured history to their development They were built under the Communist government which apparently had seized the monastery’s land Then the monastery and its land were returned in the 1990s under the restitution acts to the Benedictine order but with these glass boxes on part of the property In the distance you can see the train sheds of the city’s central station Countless American cities suffered the indignities of highways being cut through their bellies But it turns out bad ideas travel as easily as good ones Prague city leaders created a big highway across the city It slashes right across and in front of three great 19th century buildings: the mammoth central train station Also in its path is the addition to the National Museum The highway was built in congruence with the city’s metro system Particularly egregious is the section in front of the grand National Museum The museum sits at the top of Wenceslas Square the city’s largest and most important public space The roadway continues through town and becomes a high-speed suburban-style boulevard in the middle of the city then shoots out of town and joins up with the D1 freeway The road and its companion road going the opposite direction create a barrier to a walkable Prague is exploring how to undo this damage the IPR hired famed urbanist Jan Gehl and his team to study the situation and work out a fix The highway and its companion roadways are melded into the fabric of the city But its rails and the trams themselves make bicycling more difficult The system’s rails can easily catch a wheel and the long heavy trams must be scary to bike beside or in front of Maybe the Scandinavians have figured out a way I would choose the trams over a more bike-friendly city I mistook the enormous cathedral in the middle of it for the castle itself boxy buildings around the Cathedral just looked like bland these off-white buildings have more personality It’s said to be the largest castle complex in the world several times larger than Buckingham Palace in England which is similarly horizontal and boxy rather than upward in its form The palace buildings of Prague got a renaissance makeover a few centuries back which accounts in part for their (to me) boring exterior The castle or palace gets a huge number of tourists but it’s still the seat of government and home of the president It’s hard to overstate its importance politically and culturally The city began when the first castle was built here in the 9th century the government of the Austrian-Hungarian emperor has been here; the new state of Czechoslovakia; the Nazis during World War II; the Communists; and the new state of Czechia which had the “velvet divorce” with its neighbor Slovakia Its presence is a reassuring sign of stability in this old Alex Marshall is the author most recently of The Surprising Design of Market Economies and Beneath the Metropolis: The Secret Lives of Cities. 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As a tourist, you’ll want to spend most of your time in the vicinity of Stare Mesto (or Old Town) neighborhood as this is where you’ll find the majority of the museums The center of Bratislava’s Old Town is a pedestrian-only area which makes it convenient to walk through the compact sightseeing area from St Michael’s Gate to the Slovak National Theatre to the Bratislava Riverfront You’ll want to linger in Bratislava’s quaint Main Square especially during the annual Christmas market in December Stop in at Kaffee Mayer for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake in a traditional coffee house atmosphere; the café was originally opened in 1913 by Julius Mayer Then make sure to walk about ten minutes from the Main Square to see the Blue Church a gorgeous Art Nouveau building that is often missed by tourists as it lies just outside of the central ring of the city sample some of the best Slovak wines with the friendly staff at Grand Cru Wine Gallery If you want to sample Bratislava’s nightlife check out The Club Bratislava for the best DJs and dance floor in the city center Book Bratislava Old Town tours here Palisady Venture a bit further to Palisady to explore the the Slavín War Memorial and the gorgeous neighborhood that the ambassadors call home The Palisady neighborhood sits just behind the Bratislava Castle and is mostly residential This is where Bratislava’s wealthiest have lived for many years Many people find spots on the Palisady hill to watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve View from Bratislava castle on Slavin and Palisady part of Bratislava city Devín offers a small-town feel just minutes outside of Bratislava Some visitors like it so much that they choose to spend the night there and explore some of the hiking and cycling paths in the area Book Bratislava tours here. Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Ružinov If you are flying into Bratislava you will arrive at the international airport in the Ružinov neighborhood Just around the corner from the airport is Bratislava’s largest shopping center which is home to Slovakia’s only IKEA and 170 other stores Ružinov is also home to the Mileticova Open-air Market freshly made cheese and other dairy products Bring your appetite if you plan on eating lángoš as it is made using fried dough topped with sour cream but typically offers a bigger selection on the weekends There is really only one main reason to visit Petržalka: if you are interested in Communist-style architecture Row after row of block-style housing known as “panelak” extends for several kilometers in this neighborhood “Panelak” refers to buildings constructed of pre-fabricated and pre-stressed concrete and Petržalka is known for having the largest concentration of these and the highest population density in Central Europe; about 130,000 people still live in the apartment blocks in this neighborhood Construction on the rows of apartments began in 1977 and was designed to provide affordable housing that reinforced the collective nature of the Communist regime Another reason to venture across the Danube to Petržalka is to visit the Dunajsky Pivovar and boutique hotel on a boat docked on the Danube River Riverside rooms at the “botel” provide stunning views of Bratislava and dining on the stylish rooftop deck of the boat is also a memorable experience Book Bratislava walking tours here. Taylor Geiger currently works as an English teacher in Detva she enjoys traveling with her dog to every region of Slovakia She enjoys writing freelance articles for The Culture Trip and 008 Magazine See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd One in the heart of Bratislava could be yours—if you happen to have a spare million or two Csáky Palace is a stunning example of Baroque and Classical architecture It evokes Bratislava’s historic prominence as Pressburg (Pozsony) a key city during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Martin’s Cathedral and straddling Panská Street and Hviezdoslav Square There is additionally a basement and attic The building was renovated extensively in the last decade now having completely modern wiring as well as an updated sewerage system It covers approximately 1,400 square metres and includes an internal courtyard with 10 parking spaces The building is occupied by several businesses Among them are the San Marten cafe bar and Iasai The urban chateau sits in a very prominent location just next to the iconic Salvator Apotheke building a striking Neo-Renaissance pharmacy that recently reopened its doors to the public is so named because of the many noble families that built homes on it and Balaš families all had stately manors along Panská’s 360-metre thoroughfare The property listing notes that “the building is located in the immediate vicinity of the Danube embankment and the historic part of Bratislava with a selection of the best restaurants Full civic amenities are within walking distance There is excellent public transport accessibility and good traffic connections to the ring road.” The seller has asked the price not to be disclosed but representatives from the Svoboda & Williams reality firm were able to confirm that the buyer should have “at least” €2,000,000 on hand You might want to set aside an extra hundred thousand as the five-storey building lacks an elevator The palace is believed to have been commissioned by Juraj Csáky in 1775 a member of a Hungarian Noble family whose roots go back to Transylvania in the 1300s The Csáky family had a great amount of influence in what is today Slovakia particularly as the last owners of Spiš Castle Their expansion into Slovakia occurred towards the end of the 16th century when Štefan Csáky acquired the estates of Šariš as well as the Šariš castle manor in 1604 He became one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Slovakia the Csáky family later constructed two palaces in Bratislava and one in Košice (the Čáki-Dezőfi Palace).  There are several other buildings that belonged to the Csáky family in Bratislava There is a second Csáky Palace on Štúr Street and a large detached manor house in the Prievoz neighbourhood of Bratislava The original historical building of what is now the Slovak National Theatre was also commissioned by them following a design by Matthias Walch.  the architect who designed Csáky Palace also designed several other prominent buildings in Bratislava including the Great Evangelical Church on Panenská Street If you happen upon another Csáky building It features the severed head of an Ottoman soldier whose armies were at one time occupying much of the kingdom of Hungary The crest atop the building on it’s Panská Street side is not the crest of the Csáky family It is that of Baron Josef von Dietrichberg he made his fortune supplying the Austrian army during the Napoleonic wars Sometime in the early 19th century he came into ownership of Csáky Palace That the palace did not remain in the hands of the Csákys perhaps points to it as an example of an early modern investment property.  Dietrich amassed a large fortune in his lifetime with many properties all over the Austro-Hungarian empire He further expanded his wealth by purchasing ironworks and other business ventures Due to his successes in business and services rendered during the Napoleonic wars King of Hungary and final Holy Roman Emperor it is hard to work out the chain of custody of the building It appears that his estate was inherited by his grandson If Sułkowski ever held the deed for Csáky Palace is unknown he had sold almost all of his grandfathers holdings to pursue a lavish lifestyle of travel with his personal theatre troupe and group of retainers Things went for bad to worse from him when his wife had him committed to an insane asylum for almost a decade He managed to escape to Switzerland and have himself declared sane and what remained of his wealth returned to him.  He died in 1920 Csáky Palace is a window into the regal and noble past of this country Though it has been held variously by Hungarians it is very much a piece of Bratislava's history Any future buyer would become the steward of a piece of not just Slovak history but of wider Central European history itself Public Safety When faced with the challenge of testing everyone used a live map-based dashboard to give everyone an up-to-the-moment awareness In response to a recent pandemic surge across Europe underwent COVID-19 testing during the last two weekends of October In the Staré Mesto (Old Town) district of the capital city of Bratislava the mayor’s office provided residents with a dashboard and live map to show testing sites and wait times—a move that saved a lot of frustration and increased safety “We expected more than 40,000 people in two days at 30 testing points,” said Matej Števove head of the mayor’s office in Bratislava-Staré Mesto District “We had to carefully manage the people because it could become overcrowded we were communicating where to go and at what time or where not to go because there was a long line.” Because residents could see current wait times they spread themselves across testing sites keeping the district testing program safe and efficient “We got good feedback from people the whole time,” Števove said “They were thankful for the information because it helped them they waited from 15 minutes to two hours.” all the people know the coronavirus is very serious,” Števove said “As we were organizing this national effort it was nice to see how many people offered help We had many volunteers and companies that provided facilities or food for volunteers.” Old Town is home to many of the Slovakia’s cultural centers It is also one of the more densely populated places in the country “Other districts in our city aren’t as crowded “It was difficult for us to pick the right testing points taking care so they wouldn’t overlap or force people too close.” Central tenets of the country’s testing strategy included maintaining social distance and limiting the number of people indoors With so few places to spread its population in dense urban areas officials saw the mapping app as essential to reducing crowding Števove and a colleague administered the back end of the dashboard application pulling details they found on Facebook and from text messages about wait times to keep the mapped information up-to-date They also had colleagues on the ground visiting testing sites to check progress and send updates “It was good to have us there to verify the information,” Števove said “Residents know that the information comes right from us and it’s the correct information and not a hoax.” As is the case in many cities and countries around the world the people of Staré Mesto have received mixed messages about the virus “Most of the people wear masks and protect themselves although there’s some disinformation,” Števove said “Some say the virus is fake and that we don’t need to wear masks.” The district combats conflicting views by sharing news and details directly with the public through an official communications app The live dashboard was shared through the app including alerts sent several times a day to remind subscribers to check wait times Advertisements promoting the district app as an official information source led to a gain of thousands of new subscribers in advance of the national testing Residents who had the district communication app could see the testing site and wait times dashboard on a desktop or mobile device and share those links with others via social media and they share it within their area,” Števove said everyone from the prime minister to local officials to residents seemed to acknowledge the difficulties of testing everyone and yet we managed to do it without many problems,” Števove said “We found that Bratislava is doing quite well I hope it will help other governments contain the coronavirus.” Many people in Slovakia’s Bratislava-Staré Mesto District have gained a new appreciation for mapping apps “The application helped us significantly in managing the flow of people,” said Mayor Zuzana Aufrichtová “I believe that we will use this system on other occasions in the future to make full use of its possibilities.” it was a short time later that city administrators thought of a solution to another vexing problem Many people abandon their nonoperational cars on local roadways because it’s expensive to dispose of them “We’re developing a system where people can report an abandoned car,” said Matej Števove “They can take a photo and share the GPS coordinates so that one of my colleagues can investigate and research the car’s owner As apps offer ease of use and encourage community participation they bring the local government closer to residents with practical solutions for ongoing problems leads strategy and messaging for the health and human services sector she leads business and solution development and has helped organizations around the world use location intelligence to meet a range of health challenges including enhancing strategic planning and optimizing health-care access during the COVID-19 pandemic She is a former deputy director of the Center for Health Statistics and Informatics with the California Department of Public Health and an associate professor of clinical internal medicine at the University of California at Davis Geraghty holds advanced degrees in medicine and public health and is also a board-certified public health (CPH) professional and a geographic information systems professional (GISP) Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best 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at a time with this guide to the neighborhoods of Czechia's capital © 2015 Pauline Lewis / Getty Images There’s much more to Prague than its medieval cobblestone center (yes From the best areas for family travelers to those with the greatest nightlife plan your trip with this guide to Prague's best neighborhoods present striking art exhibitions in gilt-edged surroundings The high ratio of attractions to cobblestone square footage might suggest staying in Staré Město is top dollar – and sure enough there are luxury hotels here offering high-end sanctuary you’ll also find some affordable home-grown hotels and hostels Local tip: Staying in Staré Město puts you bang in the hubbub but it also affords early risers a contemplative stroll around the sights before the throngs arrive Baroque domes and spires rise from a sea of terracotta rooftops in Malá Strana (Little Quarter), creating an ideal setting for couples seeking a fairy-tale escape. Watched over by the Gothic grandeur of Prague Castle the neighborhood brims with pretty boutique hotels; its winding lanes lead to ancient walled gardens and courtyard cafes Malá Strana is connected to Staré Město by Charles Bridge. During the busy summer months, the main route down to the river can rather lose its romantic mini-break charm. Although, by ducking onto the grassy island of Kampa couples can reclaim a sense of carefree ease and pause for dreamy views across the Vltava With its busy shopping streets full of international brands, at first glance, Nové Město (New Town) hardly screams culture. However, by exploring the passageways around the main Wenceslas Square you’ll soon discover a secret world of arcades which hints at the neighborhood’s more interesting From opulent art deco hotels to ultra-modern holiday lets there’s a crowd-pleasing choice of accommodations in Nové Město rise for the Náplavka Farmers’ Market and sample generous plates of Czech street food Best neighborhood for cafes and restaurants floods swept through this once sketchy neighborhood and its grid of dusky-colored mansion blocks and slick office buildings is now a key food destination Arguably leading the pack of inventive restaurants in Karlín is Eska although many of the eateries clustered around Karlínské Square would have grounds to quibble Coffee connoisseurs will find themselves in slow-roast heaven with the likes of Můj šálek kávy serving flat whites to a young crowd Make time to visit cultural hub Kasárna Karlín in a reimagined army barracks Local tip: Well connected to the center by tram and metro Karlín’s independent hotels and modern serviced apartments make a convenient Prague base affordable options close to some relaxed bars serving craft beer The leafy streets of Vinohrady begin to get more bohemian and graffiti-daubed as they bleed into the district of Žižkov For those keen to party in Prague away from the tourist-dominated city center flitting between these two districts makes for a fun night out Vinohrady was once covered with vineyards. Nowadays, its collection of gastropubs, microbreweries, and wine bars still make it a go-to for a tipple. On a blithe summer’s evening, head to local park Riegrovy sady (Rieger Gardens) Not only will you find Prague’s biggest beer garden you can watch the sun drop behind the city spires Then northwards, to hilly Žižkov: where low rental prices attract a mishmash of young commuters, students and artists. The lights on the futuristic TV Tower will help you get your bearings when hunting down the next dive cocktail bar Palác Akropolis is the place to catch live acts among a local crowd along with its beer garden with views down over Staré Město is conducive to happy children and parents Only a 10-minute tram ride away from central Prague, staying close to Letná Gardens is a smart choice if you’re traveling with children. The neighborhood’s mix of art nouveau and functionalist blocks contain some well-equipped holiday apartments. There’s also a glut of cool yet family-friendly cafes and restaurants, with Mr Hot Dog proving to be a sure-fire winner. The Old Jewish Cemetery is Europe’s oldest surviving Jewish graveyard it has a palpable atmosphere of mourning even after more than two centuries of disuse (it was closed in 1787) Around 12,000 crumbling stones (some brought from other but beneath them are perhaps as many as 100,000 graves piled in layers because of the lack of space remember that this is one of Prague’s most popular sights so if you’re hoping to have a moment of quiet contemplation you’ll probably be disappointed ContactAddressPinkas Synagogue, Široká 3 https://​www​.jewishmuseum​.cz​/ Prague Jewish Museum St Vitus Cathedral Built over a time span of almost 600 years St Vitus is one of the most richly endowed cathedrals in central Europe Charles Bridge Strolling across Charles Bridge is everybody’s favourite Prague activity Strahov Library Strahov Library is the largest monastic library in the country with two magnificent baroque halls dating from the 17th and 18th centuries National Monument While this monument's massive functionalist structure has all the elegance of a nuclear power station the interior is a spectacular extravaganza of… Wenceslas Square More a broad boulevard than a typical European city square Wenceslas Square has witnessed a great deal of Czech history – a giant Mass was held here… Prague Castle towers and palaces dominate the city centre like a… View more attractionsNearby Staré Město attractions1. Klaus Synagogue The Klaus Synagogue houses a good exhibit on Jewish ceremonies of birth and death 2. Ceremonial Hall the Ceremonial Hall was formerly the mortuary for the Old Jewish Cemetery and is now the site of an interesting exhibition on Jewish… 3. Pinkas Synagogue The handsome Pinkas Synagogue was built in 1535 and used for worship until 1941 After WWII it was converted into a memorial 4. Museum of Decorative Arts This museum opened in 1900 as part of a European movement to encourage a return to the aesthetic values sacrificed to the Industrial Revolution 5. Prague Jewish Museum 6. Jewish Town Hall The town hall was built by Jewish ghetto mayor Mordechai Maisel in 1586 It's worth noting for its clock tower which has one Hebrew face where the hands… 7. High Synagogue The elegant 16th-century High Synagogue is so called because its prayer hall (closed to the public) is upstairs 8. Old-New Synagogue Completed around 1270, this is Europe’s oldest working synagogue and one of Prague’s earliest Gothic buildings. You step down into it because it pre-dates… DestinationsPlanningInspirationShopSearch SavesOpen main menuGetty Images Every hour, on the hour, crowds gather beneath the Old Town Hall Tower to watch the Astronomical Clock in action Despite a slightly underwhelming performance that takes only 45 seconds the clock is one of Europe's best-known tourist attractions photogenic and – if you take time to study it – rich in intriguing symbolism Four figures beside the clock represent the deepest civic anxieties of 15th-century Praguers: Vanity (with a mirror) Greed (with his money bag; originally a Jewish moneylender Death (the skeleton) and Pagan Invasion (represented by a Turk) The four figures below these are the Chronicler Death rings a bell and inverts his hourglass and the 12 Apostles parade past the windows above the clock On the left side are Paul (with a sword and a book) Bartholomew (book) and Barnabas (parchment); on the right side are Peter (with a key) ContactAddressStaroměstské náměstí View more attractionsNearby Staré Město attractions1. Old Town Hall Tower The Old Town Hall’s best feature is the view across the Old Town Square from its 60m-tall clock tower It's well worth the climb up the modern,… 2. Old Town Hall 3. Old Town Square 4. Jan Hus Statue Ladislav Šaloun’s brooding art nouveau statue of Jan Hus was unveiled on 6 July 1915 the 500th anniversary of Hus’ death at the stake 5. House at the Stone Bell During restoration in the 1980s a baroque stucco facade was stripped away from this elegant medieval building to reveal the original 14th-century Gothic… 6. Kinský Palace The late-baroque Kinský Palace sports Prague’s finest rococo facade completed in 1765 by the redoubtable Kilian Dientzenhofer 7. Church of St Nicholas The baroque wedding cake in the northwestern corner of Old Town Square is the Church of St Nicholas built in the 1730s by Kilian Dientzenhofer (not to be… 8. VJ Rott Building The most colourful facade on Little Sq (Malé náměstí) is the 1890 VJ Rott Building, decorated with wall paintings by Mikuláš Aleš. It now houses the… DestinationsPlanningInspirationShopSearch SavesOpen main menuGetty Images/Moment Open One of Europe’s most beautiful and busiest urban spaces or Staromák for short) has been Prague’s principal public square since the 10th century and was its main marketplace until the beginning of the 20th century There are busking jazz bands and al fresco concerts, political meetings and fashion shows, plus Christmas and Easter markets, all watched over by Ladislav Šaloun’s brooding art-nouveau statue of Jan Hus The brass strip on the ground to the south of the Hus statue is the so-called Prague Meridian Until 1915 the square’s main feature was a 17th-century plague column the shadow of which used to cross the meridian at high noon View more attractionsNearby Staré Město attractions1. Jan Hus Statue 2. House at the Stone Bell 3. Old Town Hall Tower 4. Kinský Palace 5. Astronomical Clock 6. Old Town Hall 7. Church of Our Lady Before Týn 8. Church of St Nicholas The baroque wedding cake in the northwestern corner of Old Town Square is the Church of St Nicholas, built in the 1730s by Kilian Dientzenhofer (not to be… DestinationsPlanningInspirationShopSearch SavesOpen main menuShutterstock / alessandro0770 which is still used for religious services and requires a separate ticket or additional fee In one of the most grotesquely ironic acts of WWII the Nazis took over the management of the Prague Jewish Museum – first established in 1906 to preserve artefacts from synagogues that were demolished during the slum clearances in Josefov around the turn of the 20th century – with the intention of creating a ‘museum of an extinct race’ They shipped in materials and objects from destroyed Jewish communities throughout Bohemia and Moravia helping to amass what is probably the world’s biggest collection of sacred Jewish artefacts and a moving memorial to seven centuries of oppression An ordinary ticket gives admission to all six main monuments You can buy tickets at the Reservation Centre the Spanish Synagogue and the shop opposite the entrance to the Old-New Synagogue Queues tend to be shortest at the Spanish Synagogue the highlights are the Old-New Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery the Old-New Synagogue is Europe’s oldest working synagogue and one of Prague’s earliest Gothic buildings You step down into it because it predates the raising of Staré Město’s street level in medieval times to guard against floods Men must cover their heads (a hat or bandanna will do; paper yarmulkes are handed out at the entrance) Around the central chamber are an entry hall a winter prayer hall and the room from which women watch the men-only services with a pulpit surrounded by a 15th-century wrought-iron grill The 17th-century scriptures on the walls were recovered from beneath a later ‘restoration’ On the eastern wall is the Holy Ark that holds the Torah scrolls little light bulbs beside the names of the prominent deceased are lit on their death days and at least one version of the Golem legend ends here the creature runs amok; Rabbi Loew rushes out in the middle of a service removes its magic talisman and carries the lifeless body into the synagogue’s attic Across the narrow street is the elegant 16th-century High Synagogue (Vysoká synagóga) so called because its prayer hall (closed to the public) is upstairs Around the corner is the Jewish Town Hall (Židovská radnice) built by Mordechai Maisel in 1586 and given its rococo facade in the 18th century It has a clock tower with one Hebrew face where the hands with wall after wall inscribed with the names and dates of disappearance of the 77,297 Czech victims of the Nazis It also has a collection of paintings and drawings by children held in the Terezín concentration camp during WWII The Pinkas Synagogue contains the entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery Europe’s oldest surviving Jewish graveyard that this is one of Prague’s most popular sights so if you’re hoping to have a moment of quiet contemplation but beneath them are perhaps 100,000 graves marked by pairs of marble tablets with a ‘roof’ between them are near the main gate; among them are the graves of Mordechai Maisel and Rabbi Loew The oldest stone (now replaced by a replica) is that of Avigdor Karo a chief rabbi and court poet to Wenceslas IV Most stones bear the name of the deceased and his or her father the date of death (and sometimes of burial) and poetic texts Elaborate markers from the 17th and 18th centuries are carved with bas-reliefs some of them indicating the deceased’s occupation – look out for a pair of hands marking the grave of a pianist Jewish burials have taken place at the Jewish Cemetery in Žižkov There are remnants of another old Jewish burial ground at the foot of the TV Tower in Žižkov You exit the cemetery through a gate between the Klaus Synagogue (Klausová Synagóga) and the Ceremonial Hall (Obřadní síň) both of which house exhibitions on Jewish forms of worship family ceremonies and traditions such as birth A block to the southeast lies the neo-Gothic Maisel Synagogue which replaced a Renaissance original built by Mordechai Maisel It houses an exhibit on the history of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia from the 10th to the 18th centuries about two blocks east of the Maisel is the Spanish Synagogue Named after its striking Moorish interior and dating from 1868 its exhibit continues the story of the Jews in the Czech Republic from emancipation to the present day ContactAddressReservation Centre, Maiselova 15 222 317 191 View more attractionsNearby Staré Město attractions1. Jewish Town Hall 2. High Synagogue 3. Old-New Synagogue this is Europe’s oldest working synagogue and one of Prague’s earliest Gothic buildings You step down into it because it pre-dates… 4. Old Jewish Cemetery The Old Jewish Cemetery is Europe’s oldest surviving Jewish graveyard it has a palpable atmosphere of mourning even… 5. Klaus Synagogue 6. Maisel Synagogue The neo-Gothic Maisel Synagogue replaced a Renaissance original built by Mordechai Maisel 7. Ceremonial Hall 8. Pařížská When the Josefov ghetto was cleared at the turn of the 20th century, the broad boulevard of Pařížská třída (Paris Ave) was driven in a straight line… Prague’s most exuberantly art-nouveau building is a labour of love, with every detail of its design and decoration carefully considered, and every painting and sculpture loaded with symbolism. The restaurant and cafe here are like walk-in museums of art-nouveau design while upstairs there are half a dozen sumptuously decorated halls that you can visit by guided tour You can look around the lobby and the downstairs bar for free or book a guided tour in the information centre The Municipal House stands on the site of the Royal Court seat of Bohemia’s kings from 1383 to 1483 (when Vladislav II moved to Prague Castle) which was demolished at the end of the 19th century Between 1906 and 1912 this magnificent art-nouveau edifice was built in its place – a lavish joint effort by around 30 leading artists of the day creating a cultural centre that was the architectural climax of the Czech National Revival is set between sculptures representing the oppression and rebirth of the Czech people Other sculptures ranged along the top of the facade represent history You pass beneath a wrought-iron and stained-glass canopy into an interior that is art nouveau down to the doorknobs with a procession from Vyšehrad to the Municipal House followed by a gala performance of his symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Country) in the Smetana Hall Several impressive official apartments follow but the highlight of the tour is the octagonal Lord Mayor’s Hall (Primatorský sál) the windows of which overlook the main entrance Every aspect of its decoration was designed by Alfons Mucha who also painted the superbly moody murals that adorn the walls and ceiling Above you is an allegory of Slavic Concord with intertwined figures representing the various Slavic peoples watched over by the Czech eagle occupy the spaces between the eight arches including Jan Hus as Spravedlnost (justice) Jan Žižka as Bojovnost (military prowess) and the Chodové (medieval Bohemian border guards) as beady-eyed Ostražitost (vigilance) ContactAddressnáměstí Republiky 5 222 002 101 https://​www​.obecnidum​.cz​/ View more attractionsNearby Staré Město attractions1. Powder Gate Construction of the 65m-tall Powder Gate began in 1475 on the site of one of Staré Město’s 13 original city gates 2. Museum of Communism Put together by an American expat and his Czech partner Prague's priciest private museum tells the story of Czechoslovakia’s years behind the Iron… 3. Museum of Czech Cubism Josef Gočár’s House of the Black Madonna (Dům U černé Matky Boží) – Prague’s first and finest example of cubist architecture –… 4. Church of St James 5. House at the Black Bear The baroque facade of this building is adorned with a statue of St John of Nepomuk above the door and a bear in chains on the corner 6. Týn Courtyard This pretty courtyard tucked behind the Church of Our Lady Before Týn was originally a sort of medieval caravanserai – a fortified hotel 7. Jindřišská Tower dating from the 15th century but rebuilt in Gothic style in the 1870s 8. Granovsky Palace In the northwestern corner of the Týn Courtyard is the 16th-century Granovsky Palace, with an elegant Renaissance loggia and sgraffito and painted… At the end of the first world war, the country of Austria-Hungary disintegrated into countless smaller countries. Among the chaos, one country briefly appeared in the eastern region of Slovakia It was called both the Slovak People’s Republic and the East Slovak Republic It claimed that Eastern Slovaks’ dialect and culture was far too detached for them to be considered Slovaks and that they had more in common with the Hungarians than with the new Czechoslovakia 1918 before being occupied by the Czechoslovak army The only memory of this brief era in history is a restaurant with the same name It pays homage to this time by having its menu completely in the East Slovak dialect as well as having the republic’s constitution displayed for everyone to see in their bathrooms as well as allowing you to sign up for "citizenship" on their website Dine in a former general store from the Roaring Twenties Two of Manchester’s oldest buildings were moved twice a restaurant that became a crucial hub for Black activism in London but the Martin still makes out-of-towners feel at home—just like it has for the past century The French leader's hat sits in a glass case at the oldest restaurant in Paris This restaurant sits within the walls of an 18th-century fortification that once defended the city’s old quarter Belgrade’s oldest restaurant has a rather unusual name Travel back in time at a Moroccan-inspired restaurant that was the height of glamor in the 1970s Here's what you should know about before heading to Prague © Michal Kalasek / Shutterstock Prague is a city that knows how to surprise Wander its beautiful medieval core, and you’ll soon be bumping into both fairy-tale vistas and provocative street art. At night dimly lit doorways can lead to vast convivial beer halls whereas riotous music clubs hide behind grand art deco facades Whatever brings you to the eclectic Czech capital it’s best not to be thrown completely off guard Come prepared with these insider tips and make the most of a trip to Prague and its glut of strip joints can attract roaming stag parties For those keen to see where locals kick back or those traveling with children Both cosmopolitan Vinohrady and hip Holešovice have good-value stays fun nightlife and top-notch transport links Central Prague’s timeworn streets and alleyways are best explored on foot Pack comfortable shoes that are cobblestone ready; high heels can lead to unfortunate pratfalls Besides dressing for upscale restaurants or a night at the theater, Czechs are a casual lot. Comfy layers – which can be peeled back in a subterranean pub and then restored during a blustery walk home – will help you blend in. Whatever the season never discount the chance of a rain shower Public transport tickets lasting from 30 minutes to three days can be bought at most newspaper stands, corner shops, and in all metro stations. Trams also have orange contactless debit/credit ticket machines onboard. Alternatively, you can use the PID Lítačka app Just make sure to validate your ticket when starting your journey This involves popping it into the yellow machine inside buses and trams or at the top of the metro escalators (or clicking the button on the app); forgetting can leave you with a hefty fine Although prices have increased in recent years, Prague is still a good destination for budget-conscious travelers compared to many European capitals The currency you’ll be spending is known as both Czech koruna and Czech crown and a 500ml tanker will only set you back about 55Kč and a decent traditional Czech meal costs around 200Kč It’s usual to tip around 10% for table service Buying the Prague City Pass or Prague CoolPass means free and discounted admission to some key attractions and sightseeing tours, although you’ll need to work hard to make either worth the investment. If you’re on a budget, paying for a few key attractions and making the most of Prague’s free diversions makes more sense If you come from a culture where having a chat about the weather is the obligatory warm-up to every interaction Czechs (like everyone) can be very warm and funny but being reserved with strangers is common but it’s fine to get straight to the point It’s common for people who live or work in Prague’s tourist hot spots to speak English Menus and museum information boards will usually be translated into English For the odd occasion where you’re struggling to be understood it’s worth having the Google Translate app ready on your phone Despite the ubiquity of English in central Prague "Dobrý den" (good day) or "Dobrý večer" (good evening) The more informal "Ahoj!" (hi/bye!) is best saved for close friends and relatives Chimney-shaped cakes called trdelník are hawked at stalls by most tourist attractions but rather Slovakian or possibly Hungarian devour one of these sugar-encrusted towers (they’re delicious) but it’s also worth scouring local bakeries for some more traditional Czech treats Keep a hungry eye out for kolaches – palm-sized sweet-bread disks filled with poppy seeds or fruit jam Some unscrupulous currency exchanges promise brilliant deals and then charge hidden fees ask for the final amount in writing before handing over your cash If you believe you’ve been given a bad deal and have changed less than €1000 you have three hours to cancel the transaction A more scam-proof alternative is to have a bank account that offers reasonable rates and low fees for international withdrawals and use an ATM (cashpoint) Prague is generally a safe city: violent crime rates are low Take the same precautions you would in your home country and be especially vigilant about your belongings: pickpockets have been known to target crowded tourist areas calling 112 guarantees an English-speaking operator The Czech Republic has high-quality health care. If you need a Schengen visa for entry, having medical insurance is mandatory. Visitors from the EU can get free emergency treatment in Prague by showing their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or, for travelers from the UK, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It’s still advisable to take out travel insurance, as the cards do not cover all costs, such as medical repatriation. The 2008 Stare Mesto FIDE Open Tournament took place on August 8-16, 2008 in Stare Mesto, Czech Republic. The tournament was held at the Stare Mesto Sports and Cultural Center and was organized by the Stare Mesto Chess Club. FM Marian Jurcik of Slovakia won the event with a score of 8.5/10 a clear half point in front of the three way tie for second place. Throughout the event FM Marian Jurcik played in dominant fashion winning 7 games and drawing the other 3 games, not losing one single game. Here is one of the important victories which led Marian Jurcik to win the event: presided over by a tall Gothic tower with a splendid Astronomical Clock As well as housing the Old Town’s main tourist information office the town hall has several historic attractions and hosts art exhibitions on the ground floor and the 2nd floor The main entrance is to the left of the clock; beyond that is the House at the Minute (dům U minuty) an arcaded building covered with Renaissance sgraffito – Franz Kafka lived here (1889–96) as a child just before the building was bought by the town council Visitors take a guided tour that proceeds through the council chamber and assembly room with beautiful mosaics dating from the 1930s before visiting the Gothic chapel and taking a look at the inner workings of the 12 apostles who parade above the Astronomical Clock every hour The tour includes the tower and is rounded off with a trip through the Romanesque and Gothic cellars beneath the building The area outside the town hall is one of the most crowded corners of the Old Town Square, especially during the hourly show put on by the Astronomical Clock a plaque on the building’s eastern face lists the 27 Protestant nobles who were beheaded here in 1621 after the Battle of Bílá Hora; white crosses on the ground mark where the deed was done Another plaque commemorates a critical WWII victory by Red Army and Czechoslovak units at Dukla Pass in Slovakia the Czech partisans who died during the Prague Rising on 8 May 1945 If you look at the neo-Gothic eastern gable you can see that its right-hand edge is ragged – the wing that once extended north from here was blown up by the Nazis the day before the Soviet army marched into the city in 1945 ContactAddressStaroměstské náměstí 1 236 002 629 https://​www​.staromestskaradnicepraha​.cz​/ 2. Astronomical Clock 5. VJ Rott Building The most colourful facade on Little Sq (Malé náměstí) is the 1890 VJ Rott Building decorated with wall paintings by Mikuláš Aleš 6. Church of St Nicholas 7. House at the Stone Bell 8. Art Gallery for Children The clue is in the name: at the Art Gallery for Children the kids not only get to look at art, but make it, add to it and alter it. There are paints and… The 38 Best Restaurants in Rome, Italy The 18 Best Louisville Restaurants The 38 Best Restaurants in Mexico City Hefty Czech dishes and mugs of beer at a 500-year-old pub extravagant pastries from one of Czechia’s most famous pastry chefs aromatic pho from the historic Vietnamese community centuries-old buildings lining the streets and a grand castle overlooking the city center Prague feels like a fairy tale come to life The stunning architecture and storied history has long brought tourists to the capital of Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) and especially to Staré Město (Old Town) and root vegetables — and walk away thinking there’s not much more to the city than traditional (often overpriced) dishes It’s certainly worth going deep on classic Czech foods like braised pork hock and you should get yourself a mug of Pilsner Urquell while you’re at it But there is so much to see beyond Old Town and so much more to Czech cuisine Beyond the confines of the historic center diners can dig into a food and drink scene more dynamic and varied than the city’s tourist traps might imply A beautiful multicourse brunch that celebrates Czech ingredients aromatic pho that hints at the country’s historic connection with Vietnam Detroit-style pizza that’s guaranteed to cure even the worst of hangovers and more dishes are what make Prague a real-life fantasy for hungry diners Note: The Prague restaurant scene places a huge focus on reservations and restaurants often fully book out their entire dining rooms during peak hours Dan Clapson is The Globe and Mail’s food columnist for the Prairie region, a judge for various restaurant award systems, and a regular culinary guest expert on Canadian morning television programs and radio. He spends several months every year in Prague and has fallen in love with the city and its vibrant food scene. Clapson’s first cookbook, Prairie is available for pre-order now and will be officially released on Aug American barbecue is not a common sight in Central Europe but co-owners Silva Jackson and Tomáš Oujezdský come to it naturally Chef Jackson spent years cooking barbecue in Florida and Texas while Oujezdský has a knack for making sausage all of which has helped make this Texas-style barbecue spot a hot ticket in town The casual eatery is always bustling during lunch Grab a tray and stack it with meaty options like smoked sausage along with creamy potato salad and spicy dill pickles which offer the perfect crunch and great spicy-to-sour balance The restaurant sources many cuts from Amaso the butchery business operated by the Ambiente hospitality group The honeycomb-like images of freshly baked rolls on Instagram draw diners to Šodó where they’re welcomed with a warm wood counter and airy space The space and the pastry case are easy on the eyes which shouldn’t come as a surprise since the business was brought to life by the folks behind food tour company (and popular Instagram account) Taste of Prague the daytime spot has proven popular since day one thanks to its penchant for local ingredients and quality espresso A post shared by Šodó (@sodo_bistro) Arrive at this microbrewery when the weather is favorable and you’ll find a courtyard packed with locals enjoying refreshing brews in the sunshine along with casual eats from next-door neighbor Bufet The brewery’s indoor seating is busy year-round and it is especially hard to find a seat come 5 p.m Dva Kohouti (“Two Roosters”) has three mainstay brews staying true to traditional Czech expectations but it also branches out beyond the lager and pilsner spectrum with IPAs so budget some extra money for a new T-shirt along with drinks A post shared by DVA KOHOUTI (@dva_kohouti) Canada’s iconic poutine can pop up in the most unexpected places Co-owned and operated by Canadian expat Michal Kubenk Garage has been serving up poutine since 2015 becoming one of the top fast-casual lunch and dinner options in the area The restaurant works with a farmer outside of Prague to create a fresh cheese product that approximates the squeak of Canadian cheese curds The Montreal Poutine — topped with chunks of braised beef and fresh cheese — is far from traditional A post shared by Luděk Polívka (@ludek1982) There is never a bad time of day (or night) to visit Eska a coffee roaster meets bakery meets restaurant hybrid Swing by in the morning to be welcomed by the smell of freshly baked sourdough a sandwich and coffee to-go fits the bill just fine but the second-level dining room is a perfect excuse for a glass of natural wine the kitchen flexes its culinary strength with a tasting menu complemented by wine pairings if you so choose dive headfirst into a smattering of Georgian dishes like khinkali (dumplings filled with spiced ground beef or potatoes with cheese) a traditional leavened bread filled with cheese You’d be remiss to not try a varietal or two of Georgian wine during your meal The freshest news from the food world every day Naše Maso is a great example of how the combination restaurant-butcher should be done this luxe butcher shop sells cuts of meats and other items you might expect of a gourmet grocer but it’s best known for its Czech-style tartare but Czech-style tartare includes paprika and diced white onion allowing diners to mix everything together at the table (unless otherwise requested) Local hospitality group Ambiente (Café Savoy Eska) was early to elevating the concept of a traditional Czech beer hall with Lokál There are many Lokáls around the city now (of varying shapes and sizes) but they all boast the same bustling vibe and ornate-yet-abstract backlit wood carvings Locals come almost exclusively for post-work drinks but it’s a great first stop for visitors to try iconic Czech eats (go for the pickled Camembert and some goulash) while sipping on a crisp pilsner so if you didn’t make a reservation ahead of time during peak hours expect to be standing along the wall or tucked under a windowsill outside The absolutely huge multilevel dining room at Červený Jelen (Red Stag) might just have the highest ceiling in the city but the large open kitchen steals the show you can order everything from brisket to tenderloin as well as a long list of sides (whipped potatoes et al.) so it’s nearly impossible to leave anything less than stuffed A post shared by Červený Jelen (@cerveny_jelen) This bakeshop and cafe is undeniably gorgeous though the location ever-so-close to the city’s iconic Charles Bridge doesn’t hurt the operation doesn’t feel overly touristy never rests on her laurels when it comes to her confections Expect a huge range of vibrant edible works of art like tangerine- and lemon-shaped single-serving cakes Once you’re done gazing at the robust bakery case and spending too many crowns on sweets A post shared by Iveta Fabešová (@fabesovaiveta) Prague has a plethora of shawarma and kebab eateries But distinguishing the especially delicious from the run of the mill can be difficult if you’re well versed Domácí (“homemade”) is tucked away in a corner of Žižkov where tourists may not stumble on it organically and it’s well worth seeking out during the day too The spiced and sauteed peppers and onions added to the wraps help this teeny spot stand out from the pack You’ll find Golden Egg and its satisfying breakfast sandwiches a few blocks away from the city’s main train station which makes it a perfect spot for a pre-travel meal if you’re on the move — though it’s worth visiting regardless of your travel plans but customers need little more than the buttery soft-scrambled egg and bacon brioche sandwich made happily complete with caramelized onions Eating one is one of the best things you can do in Prague before 11 a.m There still isn’t much intermingling between plant-based and omnivore dishes on the average restaurant menu in Prague but the city does have a surprising amount of vegetarian and vegan restaurants Clear Head is undeniably at the top of the heap The long-standing (mostly) vegan restaurant offers up a quirky starlit sky aesthetic along with a robust menu Patrons can choose from a something-for-everyone menu that includes meat-free burgers “tartare,” and even a version of Czechia’s national dish svíčková (traditionally made with roast beef Despite Hemingway Bar’s location in Old Town most cocktail aficionados will agree that this ornately designed two-level watering hole delivers when it comes to both classic drinks and inventive signature creations With a seemingly boundless liquor collection on the back bar and expertly trained it should come as no surprise that Hemingway Bar is rarely without a waitlist Most bars in this part of town rely on high-volume sales so it’s refreshing to sit down somewhere that takes its time shaking or stirring a thoughtful drink Fans of all things bubbly should flock to Champagneria which offers more than 100 bottles of wine narrow space looks like little more than a neighborhood haunt but that stripped-down vibe is part of the charm given its proximity to the buzzing Couple this with friendly service and an infectious fun vibe and you might find yourself ordering another bottle faster than anticipated A post shared by Champagneria (@champagneria.cz) the city got its first Detroit-style shop courtesy of American expats Richard Hawes The name is a callback to the Great Lakes region where the co-owners hail from The Honolulu Blue (think Hawaiian with blue cheese) and the extra-meaty Blood Starved Beast may demand higher prices than locals are used to paying for pizza but it’s hard to argue with the impressive abundance of toppings and cheese once the pan drops on the table Porke is a fun bar in Žižkov that turns out tapas and small plates the restaurant offers surprisingly delicious flatbreads One of the tastiest is topped with roasted beets or a shot of Becherovka if it’s the start of a long night Café Savoy has stood the test of time since 1893 for a reason Service rarely falters and the Viennese-inspired atmosphere makes brunching (or lunching) feel like an elegant affair without any pretension Between dishes like Viennese eggs (baked over a water bath like eggs en cocotte) and croissants stuffed with soft-scrambled eggs and shaved truffles it’s easy to forget that this restaurant does right by dinner too Come back in the evening to order the confit duck with house-made bread dumplings and braised cabbage U Fleků might be eternally crowded with tourists but much like the city’s Cinderella-esque castle it’s worth a visit for a mug of beer or two The space boasts multiple dining hall areas so visitors can always expect to find a seat somewhere throughout the vast space Among the hefty portions of famous Czech dishes which consists of a braised cut of beef served in a rich A post shared by Pivovar U Fleků (@pivovar_u_fleku) many brewpubs to visit in the heart of Prague Head south on Vodičkova Street from Old Town to Nové Město (New Town) and straight into this casual restaurant owned by brewery Pivovar Cvikov The main brewery is located in a small rural town in the north of the country but the brand’s Prague restaurant offers up the entire beer list including a dynamic semi-dark lager made with three different types of malt The food menu leans classic Czech through and through with dishes like braised pork shoulder with bread dumplings Equally famous for set-menu brunch as it is for tasting menus in the evenings Bockem is a true gem in the city’s food scene Part of its charm lies in its unassuming location in Smíchov and its cozy brick-walled dining room that seats about 20 Chef and co-owner Ondřej Kynčl works wonders with locally grown While the five-course dinner menu changes often brunch always includes some signature dishes especially the sky-high souffle eggs Benedict that never fails to impress There’s much to love about Kro’s perfect rotisserie chickens especially since the kitchen team finds a multitude of ways to utilize the flavorful a spin on chicken paprikash with grilled pepper sauce and roasted potatoes (an absolute must-order) This is the kind of spot you want to visit more than once to try all that it has to offer and both locations offer a nice mix of beer This brewpub strikes the balance between old and new but they do hit the spot — garlic soup (a Czech classic) chilled pork jowl with horseradish cream — and the beer offerings are expansive The lower-level seating area is more rowdy than the main floor so if you’re visiting on a weekend evening who make up the country’s largest minority apart from Ukrainians and Slovaks and bun cha are readily available in the city Don’t let the restaurant’s location beside a large shopping mall fool you Stroll in to see a large dining room adorned with vintage Vietnamese street signs and a three-wheeled rickshaw in the entranceway The highlight is the supremely clear pho broth topped with especially aromatic herbs and served with sliced garlic and chile on the side Approximately translated to “the cafe with no name,” this is one of the city’s best-kept secrets with daily soups and entrees written out on chalkboard; everything is always made from scratch The walls feature rotating art exhibitions while the bathroom sink trades a mirror for a sign proclaiming “You look fine,” another hint at the cafe’s laid-back vibe Manifesto was the city’s first contemporary food hall (beating major players like Time Out Market to the scene) On the cusp of the business district of Andel office workers and local residents gather at the partially covered Look out for vendors like Korean concept Bab Rýže an Argentine spot with craveworthy empanadas and churros People seeking a better understanding of Czech terroir should head straight to Vallmo seasonally focused restaurant is quickly becoming one of the top places to dine in the city Chef Martin Makovička has a deft hand in the kitchen applying French and Italian techniques to Czech cuisine The ever-changing predinner small bites are always worth getting excited about artful poppy seed pudding dessert with mead-macerated apples and microflowers is what will linger in your mind for days to come Na Kopci is a culinary destination well off the tourist path The a la carte menu is robust and changes often though you’ll always find a classically prepared Czech tartare with fries on the side The best value here though — likely why the restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand — is the four-course tasting menu which always feels like a real steal for under 1,000 crowns (under $50 USD) While UK road races have been running into administrative issues this season and has just celebrated another weekend of competition The Slovak Circuit is located in Staré Město a town in the Uherské Hradiště District in the southeast of the country and consists of a 2.6-mile road course with eight right turns and seven left with a maximum elevation of 35m Aside from two years due to Covid restrictions the race has ran over a May weekend for 70 years but interestingly has never had a British entry race there This year saw 280 entrants, spread over classes ranging from classics up to 350cc, sidecars, ex 125cc MotoGP and Moto3 bikes, Supermotos but race day Sunday was dampened by afternoon rain this never deterred the riders or cancelled any races A full list of the runners and riders can be found on the www.slovackyokruh.cz website By Stuart Prestidge Former Staff Writer with a penchant for long hours in the saddle. so we decided to google it for you and give you advice on where to find the best ice cream in the Slovak capital The list was created based on the best ratings and the highest number of reviews on Google Where to find it: 173/16 Hviezdoslavovo Námestie square Staré Mesto borough; the Račianske Mýto locality Price for a scoop of ice-cream: €2.50 jovial ice-cream makers and exotic flavours: this is what the popular Luculus Ice Saloon gelateria in the Staré Mesto borough is known for The gelato is made from high-quality ingredients there are also vegan sorbets and ice cream sweetened with stevia Luculus opened a new spot outside Staré Mesto at the busy traffic junction in the Račianske Mýto locality Where to find it: 1 Paulínyho Street The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.skSubscribe now for full access Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail) PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk The TimesSome cities are so perfect around Christmas that you start wondering if they’ve been designed solely with the season in mind where glorious medieval and baroque structures become accessorised with fairy lights Nor is this a city where Christmas seems only to be celebrated by tourists: the locals are as nuts about Christmas as the British and embrace its local traditions with genuine joy For the most liberal doses of festive spirit and tick off as many as possible of the best things to do in Prague at Christmas Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners GETTY IMAGESFirst of all, an overview. For a proper sense of central Prague head straight to Mala Strana — the “Little District” of cobbled streets and baroque palaces that huddle below Prague Castle The inner city’s jumble of historic rooftops and attic windows slowly reveals itself as you ascend and by the time you reach the top almost all of central Prague is visible prickly gothic spires: you can see the lot edged by high-rise apartments and the almost-rural hinterland of Petrin Hill it’s changed a bit from when that Good King Wenceslas looked out in the 10th century but it still seems like half of Prague’s history is contained in that view three-hour guided tour for a taste of their many stories including the infamous defenestration that sparked the Thirty Years’ War GETTY IMAGESOnce you’ve got your bearings it’s time to get stuck into Prague’s essential Christmas experience: the markets The largest is held each year at the Staromestske Namesti (aka the Old Town Square) and even though it’s the most touristy and generally the most expensive In part that’s because of its sheer size: with over a hundred stalls sipping and shopping for hours — but it’s mostly down to the backdrop Several of the city’s loveliest landmarks overlook the square including the medieval astronomical clock and the superbly spiky towers of the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn; wedding-cake-style baroque apartments fill the gaps Prague’s tallest Christmas tree completes an enchanting scene Book a guided tour if you’re pressed for time or simply want tips on what to eat and drink before striking out on your own ALAMYEven if it didn’t link Prague’s most atmospheric districts — Stare Mesto and Mala Strana — the Charles Bridge would still be a wonder of the modern world it’s nearly double the length of London Bridge and bookended by a pair of shapely medieval towers It would take a whole book to describe the significance of the view northwest During the last 700 years of rollercoaster history it’s been you can’t see any of this on account of the solid mass of people inching along it; from 9.30am until long after dusk it’s packed with tourists you’ll have just a handful of local people for company and nothing to listen to but the rush of the weir on the Vltava just upstream Join a dawn photography tour and you’ll also discover how best to frame it as an image the Christmas market in Prague’s Old Town Square has the busiest programme of festive entertainment rock and folk music all feature and draw enthusiastic crowds Visit trhypraha.cz for updates on the musical programmes which aren’t finalised until shortly before the Christmas season the most charming musical moments come from visiting choral groups especially during Prague’s annual Advent Choral Meetings which are usually spread over three weekends from the end of November and have previously attracted over 70 choirs from 22 countries Many sing amid the market’s stalls as well as in the church of St Nicholas that overlooks the square svarak is Prague’s favourite cup of good cheer stiffened with a plum brandy called slivovice or rum — and it’s a tad more citrusy (and less sweet) than we’re used to its smell swirls through every Christmas market while the mood slowly swings from festive bazaar to giant outdoor drinks party these days the Czechs are experimenting with festive tipples At the smaller Christmas market on Tylovo Namesti in the New Town you can even find hot mojitos The non-alcoholic alternative is hot apple juice with cinnamon GETTY IMAGESThe Old Town Square market is open on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day but it isn’t the only market worth visiting There are two other big markets on Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti) and Republic Square (Namesti Republiky) and a host of smaller ones open daily or at the weekend If you’re looking for lower prices and local flavour it’s these smaller markets you should target The one at Namesti Miru (Peace Square) in Vinohrady is good for delicate little Christmas biscuits (vanocni cukrovi) the city council runs a market of interesting charity stalls with a highly-regarded programme of live music which — from lunchtime to midnight — is the most Christmassy moment for the Czechs You’ll find the city at its quietest as everyone goes home to eat Christmas dinner and to find out what presents Jezisek has left them under the tree ALAMYThe Czechs love their Christmas trees The moment the lights go on to reveal Jezisek’s presents on December 24 is the most sacred moment for any Czech child (and many of their parents too) — so it’s no wonder they go the extra mile to decorate them Their hand-blown and hand-painted glass baubles are things of beauty and are locked away like jewels when they’re not dangling amid the tinsel There are all kinds of Christmas crafts to buy in Prague’s festive market: candles But nothing quite evokes the season’s evanescent sense of magic like those fragile glass spheres ALAMYAlways go to a Christmas market hungry That way you can succumb to all the tempting smells from the food stands Freshly cooked kloubasa is a favourite treat — a meaty Czech sausage that’s always served with a slice of sourdough and a dollop of mild mustard try a sandwich made with spit-roasted pork or Prague ham Roasted hazelnuts and chestnuts are widely available too You can then take your snacking to another level by visiting one of the farmers’ markets that turn festive at this time of year — notably at Tylovo Namesti and Naplavka Amongst the must-try Czech foods is topinky; the combination of fried bread topped with garlic ketchup and raw onion will cut through even the coldest night Here’s another way to warm up as darkness cloaks the streets — in a bubbling beer spa Prague’s newest wellness trend comes in an oak tub filled with hot water then the beer on tap next to the tub may come in handy providing either one or two tubs and a hay bed (some have saunas too) The Original Beer Spa’s treatment room on Rybna is just five minutes’ walk from the Old Town Square • Best affordable hotels in Prague• Best things to do in Prague There’s a lot more to Prague shopping than Christmas crafts For designer lighting and decorative objects check out Deelive at 4 you’ll also find a showroom of clothes by up-and-coming designers At Artiseme on Velkoprevorske Namesti in Mala Strana you can shop for artwork and ceramics and furniture while Antipearle on Rytirska in the Stare Mesto specialises in photographer Marketa Marova’s edgy jewellery Anyone seeking to mine Prague’s rich and kooky vein of Communist-era retro Small-group guided shopping tours of this hipster district run throughout the year ALAMYCareful now: ice skating in the Czech Republic is not like bumbling about on a British rink This is a country where ice hockey is more popular than football and you’ll notice the difference as soon as you venture onto indoor skating rinks such as the state-of-the-art Skoda Icerink in Prague 10 to potter about on the little outdoor rink on Strelecky Island (which offers skates for hire) and is an oasis of calm amidst the city’s bustle Smetana and Janacek has strong classical music traditions But you won’t get a proper sense of them at one of the many tourist-only performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons The Czech Philharmonic is where you go for excellence And if you can’t get tickets for any of its pre-Christmas concerts try for a performance by its little brother — the Czech Chamber Music Society which shares the same magnificent Rudolfinum concert venue so if you haven’t booked ahead it’s always worth popping into the ticket office to see if there are any returns on the day of the concert The warm glow of both lights and music is sure to light up the darkest midwinter night ALAMYForget all the Vienna-style cafés in central Prague They’re not where you’ll get a proper sense of Czech baking’s brilliance Head instead to an artisan bakery aimed at the locals and try stuffed or topped pastries such as kolace None is what a Czech family would know as “cake” and none is as sweet as a western bake they’re sheer heaven — as light and fragrant as the air from a baker’s oven and just as comforting each one stands or falls on the freshness and quality of its dough or pastry So you absolutely have to eat them as soon as they’ve cooled The Vinohrady branch of Antoninovo pekarstvi (Antonin’s bakery) is a great place to start because everything’s made on site and there are tables and chairs at which you can scoff them instantly that you may have to cancel dinner afterwards JAKUB DOHNALEKChurches aren’t the only places where candles flicker in Prague See that dark and mysterious archway at 37 Dlouha in the Stare Mesto Wander through it and you’ll find the vaulted Bokovka wine bar tucked into one side of a Renaissance courtyard so it’s no wonder the owners have doubled down on its conspiratorial mood with a constellation of candlelight Toast the season with a glass of sparkling Sekt Punkista Pinot Chardonnay — and remember that the cheese menu is almost as alluring as the wine list GETTY IMAGESIt’s by no means a given these days in a Prague December But if snow does fall then grab your phone and go for a walk baroque domes and gothic spires that glow white against the purple clouds: you’ll see things that by rights only belong in a fairy tale while Mala Strana is the most atmospheric place to wander If the sun comes out and you’re got robust footwear a park that thinks it’s a forest and is based around a star-shaped 16th-century summer palace • Best hotels in Prague• Best Christmas markets in Europe Sign up to the Times Travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here you can check into somewhere neat and well-designed in (or close to) the city centre for a song If your previous experience of cheap hotels here was some far-flung B&B last decorated in the early 1990s Here is our pick of the best affordable hotels in Prague Our travel journalism is written and edited by independent experts to inform inspire and advise our readers about the best choices for your holidays We also feature properties and itineraries from a specially selected list of trusted operators These buttons and adverts are clearly signposted and provide direct links through to external sites Innside Prague Old Town by Melia (Expedia)1 Nove MestoBest for night owls and fashionistasLong live the modern habit of building affordable city centre hotels with small bedrooms and big in a place like Prague you won’t be spending much time in your digs: and when you are hanging out in a bright and airy communal space will be a lot more fun than sitting on your bed the restaurant and bar turns into a big daytime lounge once the generous breakfast buffet is cleared Many of its most interesting bars and restaurants are only a five-minute walk away while the hotel’s own narrow Nove Mesto street is developing into a local hub for fashion boutiques Spa NPool N Restaurant YAccessible rooms YPrice room-only doubles from £68 a night it’s one step away from the centre of Prague But the number six tram will whisk you into the Namesti Republiky in just ten minutes there’s so much to see in this up-and-coming district it may be a while before you want to make that journey Next door to the hotel is the national collection of 20th-century art at the Trade Fair Palace and in between you’ll find all kinds of interesting cafés and restaurants — from SaSaZu to Home Kitchen Mama Shelter Prague has its trademark mix of small functional rooms with plenty of buzz in its public spaces Expect inexpensive pizzas in its restaurant and a new view of the city from its rooftop terrace it’s one of the best cheap hotels in Prague Spa NPool N Restaurant YAccessible rooms YPrice room-only doubles from £54 a night Mala StranaBest for anyone with a sense of historyNot all of Prague’s best budget hotels are modern and the owners have burnished the sense of history with eye-catching furniture and paintings art deco armchairs and glistening parquet floors thanks to the little terrace at the back that looks up to Prague Castle But in truth all the doubles and suites are lovely in some way — provided you don’t mind the lack of TVs or the steady uphill walk to reach it Spa NPool N Restaurant NAccessible rooms NPrice B&B doubles from £64.50 a night Nove MestoBest for all-day loungingMosaic’s prize asset is the Café Mosaic coffee shop and lounge is lit by three church-like floor-to-ceiling windows and is a lovely place to hang out checking your emails or polishing off the latest novel (the mezzanine library next door offers more privacy if you need it) The superior doubles on the sixth floor open onto a leafy balcony modern bathrooms and good tea and coffee-making facilities give the snug standard rooms a bright it’s a step back from the city most tourists know and is all the better for it Spa YPool N Restaurant YAccessible rooms NPrice room-only doubles from £67 a night Stare MestoBest for doorstep access to St Agnes ConventIt’s extraordinary how you can transition from bustling street to tranquil backwater in the blink of an eye That’s how it is when you leave Dlouha in the Stare Mesto(Old Town) and wander 100 yards north to explore the warren of alleys behind the Church of St Castulus you’ll find not just the national museum of medieval art at St Agnes Convent: but also the quiet rooms and leafy courtyard of the Monastery Garden Prague with friendly staff on hand to help with your bags (there’s no lift) and décor is a little old-fashioned in places But these are minor quibbles given the location less than ten minutes’ walk from the famous astronomical clock Spa NPool N Restaurant YAccessible rooms NPrice B&B doubles from £66 a night Nove MestoBest for groups of four or sixThe apartments at MOOo Downtown are just the job if you’re bringing a family group or friends to Prague thanks to big windows and parquet floors — which are nicely offset by contemporary furniture and prints Both the one and two-bedroom apartments have sofabeds so you can add an extra two guests though you will be short of seating around the table at mealtimes if you do Especially if you’re popping into the MOOo’s partner property Spa NPool NRestaurant N Accessible rooms NPrice self-catering apartments for four from £101 a night KarlinBest for foodiesTempted by the restaurant scene in fashionable Karlin Then the Pentahotel Prague will give you almost instant access Czech specialties are served over the road at the Krystal Bistro veggie heaven awaits at Avocado Gang on nearby Krizikova and Eska — two blocks south — has one of Michelin’s Bib Gourmand awards which recognises both quality and value for money There’s also a metro stop round the corner for forays into the city centre you’ll find the functional and uncluttered rooms upstairs a good place to rest your weary stomach Spa NPool NRestaurant YAccessible rooms NPrice room-only doubles from £85 a night Nove MestoBest for city-centre buzzOne block from Wenceslas Square city-break hotel formula and adds bold images and a bucketful of colour Its Little Star and Down to Earth room categories are just as small as those of its competitiors local artists have decorated the lobby and Clash bar with wall-sized paintings But that’s no problem when you’re just a minute’s walk from the New Town’s buzziest dining room – Kantyna Spa NPool N Restaurant NAccessible rooms YPrice room-only doubles from £53 a night Stare MestoBest for boutique charmFor budget-minded travellers the Maximilian is the pick of the Stare Mesto’s boutique hotels Not only is it set on a quiet and pretty church square within easy walking distance of many of the city’s best bars and restaurants its chic Mini Rooms are eminently affordable too — and include an ingenious inbuilt chaise longue as well as the double bed you can stretch out in the garden courtyard or on a massage bed in the soothing Planet Zen spa Spa YPool NRestaurant YAccessible rooms YPrice B&B doubles from £111 a night Stare MestoBest for locationJust around a couple of corners from Hotel Maximilian lies its sister property and was so far ahead of the game it still feels contemporary Two differences you’ll notice from more recent openings are that the bedrooms are larger and the bar more constrained One of the city’s best pubs — Lokal Dlouhaaa — is just north of here Several of its best restaurants and snack bars are not much further on Onesip Coffee is ready on nearby Hastalska with an essential 10am espresso as you set out for a day of sightseeing Spa NPool N Restaurant NAccessible rooms NPrice room-only doubles from £91 a night Mala StranaBest for lovers of flared trousers and lava lampsAnd now for something completely different in the same historic district of baroque palaces and winding streets the Hotel Sax has a magical mystery tour of interior design and décor from the 1950s they’re as startling — and refreshing — as a blast of Zed Zeppelin in a Mozart concerto Spa NPool N Restaurant NAccessible rooms NPrice B&B doubles from £57 a night Nove MestoBest for a sauna after sightseeingThere’s a pretty almost French sensibility to this New Town hotel not far from the exquisite Antonin Dvorak museum As you’d expect from a 19th-century building the big windows and high ceilings add to the sense of space while downstairs in the basement there’s a small private spa which you can book with a 50 per cent discount when you reserve your bedroom Spa YPool NRestaurant NAccessible rooms NPrice B&B doubles from £56 a night Mala StranaBest for quick access to Prague castleThe Golden Star provides a quirky mix of crisp modern interiors and grand baroque architecture wooden floors work with clever lighting beneath the beds to provide a chic and welcoming glow the façade is encrusted with playful stucco mouldings beside a grand stone staircase up to the castle square The Schwarzenberg Palace is immediately above you the views towards the dome of St Nicholas stretch out below and if you want to make the castle the main focus of your visit you’ve got the legs for some stiff uphill work Spa NPool N Restaurant YAccessible rooms NPrice B&B doubles from £85 a night Mala StranaBest for self-catering satisfactionFirst thinges first: this warren of self-catering apartments (with an added breakfast service) is not by the Charles Bridge So bring earplugs to cut out the noise of early-morning trams and expect a river of tourists to flow past the front door in the high season The city’s finest piece of baroque architecture — St Nicholas Church — is your immediate neighbour Streetscapes that seem to lead straight into a fairytale beckon at every turn underneath the eaves of a historic building well-appointed bolt hole that becomes exceptional value if you’re travelling as a group of four Spa NPool N Restaurant NAccessible rooms NPrice B&B doubles from £80 a night See the best things to do in Prague See more of the best hotels in Prague Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here The conference is in hybrid format which allows in-person and on-line participation.  The Single Market as cornerstone of European sovereignty - Keynote speech by Benoît Coeuré President of the Autorité de la concurrence Chair: Josefina Monteagudo (European Commission) The “completeness” of the EU single market in comparative perspective Craig Parsons* (University of Oregon and University of Oslo) The “Brussels Effect”: Are Consumer Health and Safety Regulations across the World Shaped by the European Union? Cristina Herghelegiu* (European Commission) Chair: Pierre Regibeau (European Commission) Beyond the Great Reversal: Superstars, Unions, and the Euro European Firm Concentration and Aggregate Productivity with Tommaso Bighelli (Halle Institute for Economic Research) 30 Years of the Single Market: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead A general equilibrium analysis of the economic impact of the post-2006 EU regulation in the services sector Global value chains and unemployment in the EU: new insights on the role of the workforce composition and financial frictions and Cecilio Tamarit* (University of Valencia) with Antonia Lopez-Villavicencio (CNRS and University Paris Nanterre) Cross-country price and inflation dispersion: Retail network or national border? with Teresa Messner (Oesterreichische Nationalbank) Fabio Rumler (Oesterreichische Nationalbank) Chair: Edouard Bourcieu (European Commission) UK Trade in the Wake of Brexit Unravelling Deep Integration: Local Labour Market Effects of the Brexit Vote Conclusions from the Academic conference on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the single market - Román Arjona (European Commission) The European Commission’s Directorate General for Internal Market Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Czech Presidency of the EU are organising an academic conference on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the single market The conference takes place on 7 December 2022 in Prague in hybrid format The conference brings together top researchers from academia and policy makers from EU and national institutions to present research findings and policy insights related to the single market The event will start with a keynote speech followed by sessions in which a total of 10 academic papers will be presented Participants (in-person and on-line) will be able to interact by asking questions a policy conference on the 30th anniversary of the single market organised by the Czech Presidency of the EU will take place at the same venue New restrictions will also affect other vehicles Prešporáčik tourist cars will no longer travel through the pedestrian zone as the Staré Mesto borough has banned them from there The sightseeing vehicle resembling a vintage car on Bratislava's streets a century ago has driven through the historic centre for 23 years with approximately 30,000 tourists using it annually (The name is derived from Prešporok The regulation will come into effect from May "Staré Mesto fully supports and cheers for all tourist attractions that bring visitors to the city centre," says spokeswoman of the Staré Mesto Mayor there is only one and a small historic city centre so we have to give preference to pedestrian movement." garnering almost 1,000 signatures so far; the family business Tour4U operating the sightseeing tours in the city has been inundated with letters of support Germany and the United Kingdom have stood up for the preservation of the Prešporáčik's original route "We have designed the routes to avoid places frequented by tourists such as Michalská Street or Hviezdoslavovo Námestie square," says company manager Katarína Nošková "We cooperated with Staré Mesto on the project from the beginning." With this regulation the borough wants to stop excessive traffic in the pedestrian zone destroys the paving and burdens its budget the introduction of a so-called digital gate is in the pipeline which will help Staré Mesto to mitigate driving to the centre Staré Mesto Town Hall has been receiving complaints about the traffic in the pedestrian zone for a long time official vehicles with diplomatic license plates The situation should become clearer in summer once the digital gateway has been launched "These surfaces were not built with the current traffic and weight of vehicles in mind This has cost the borough high expenses associated with repairs," explains Gubková the family business pays Staré Mesto a rate ten times higher to enter the centre for this reason Romantic Rooftop Dinner setup with Staff member Even if it weren’t arguably the grandest hotel in all of Prague you’re simply not going to find a more centrally located address than the five-star Four Seasons At the foot of the Charles Bridge in medieval Old Town—with views across the Vltava to Prague Castle in one direction and over the Jewish Quarter and Rudolfinum Concert Hall in the other—the 157-room property is three distinct historic buildings—one Baroque circa 1568 and the last an 1883 Neo-Renaissance edifice—tied together by a contemporary main building built in 2001 Given a sumptuous makeover by renowned French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon in 2012 the rooms and public spaces feel at once stylishly modern and timelessly refined Though the neighborhood’s attractions beckon the riverside Mediterranean restaurant and bar that is considered one of the city’s best Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC monil shah has posted 10 comments on Timesofindia.com to earn the Wordsmith Level 1 badge You have been successfully added to the mailing list of TimesTravel kindly open your inbox and click on the confirmation link which has been emailed to you Thank You for sharing!Your friend will receive the point of interest link on email mentioned The smell of caramel and chocolate wafted through the air the moment I pushed the tall And as I stepped into this inviting establishment The TimesPrague — city of spires and capital of the Czech Republic — is one of Europe’s most breathtakingly beautiful cities rococo and Renaissance to baroque and art nouveau its historic Old Town is one of the most visited But there’s more to Prague than pretty buildings and ornate churches it has become a vibrant and cosmopolitan city proudly showcasing its traditions while embracing international trends in terms of cuisine Hence you’ll find down-to-earth pubs serving unfiltered Czech beers and goulash and dumplings as well as dapper cocktail and wine bars and global cuisines of all kinds and price ranges Museums and galleries — and the streets — brim with Czech art and history but international artists are also highly visible and for every cutesy trad hotel there are a dozen luxury options and chic boutiques so here are the best hotels in Prague for your next city break Hidden away on an unassuming cobbled lane just below Prague Castle this hotel provides a blend of intimacy and refinement not easily found elsewhere in the city It was once owned by none other than Rudolf II and court astronomer Tycho Brahe is also said to have lived here romantic interior boasts wood panelling and art deco furnishings with royal busts and Czech landscape paintings dotted through the labyrinthine corridors and rooms Each room has a different shape and layout but all have French windows high-quality fabrics and antiques matched to mod-cons such as iPads coffee machines and rain showers; some suites even have whirlpool baths Service here is above and beyond: staff will run you an aromatic oil bath and can arrange an in-room massage or private tour at the drop of a top-hat which comes with sweeping city vistas and a sophisticated menu of seafood and game dishes There’s also a small bar and the hotel has private access to the surrounding Ledeburg Gardens The library sets the tone at BoHo. Stocked with giant art books, it’s the kind of hushed, high-end sanctuary that could easily distract you for a whole afternoon — if only you weren’t so close to the delights of Prague’s Old Town classical concerts in Smetana Hall — they’re all just a few minutes’ walk away and chances are you’ll be popping out continuously your pootles will be all the more pleasurable knowing such an elegant Scandi-style furniture and the kind of endless breakfast buffet that will sustain you until supper Read our full review of BoHo Ever since it snaffled Prague’s plum spot in 2001 the Four Seasons has sat at the top of the city’s hotel tree And no wonder: mixing stellar Vltava river views with charming service and quick access to just about everything this is Prague’s most spoiling place to stay not everyone will warm to the conservative décor: some of the rooms upstairs feel a bit granny and grandpa (if your granny and grandpa are millionaires But there’s no doubting the quality of the beds and the linen the magnificence of the flower arrangements or the ego-boosting effect of the ever-smiling staff Book at least one lunch on the restaurant terrace while you’re in town — to gaze in wonder at Prague’s castle — and finish each day with a swim in the spa It’s the perfect antidote to sore sightseeing feet Read our full review of Four Seasons Hotel Prague Booking a small bedroom is no hardship if a hotel’s public spaces are big well-equipped and welcoming — and the Innside has executed this modern space-saving trick with considerable flair flock headboards and well-positioned lights give your sleeping quarters a luxe feel while the Home restaurant below is a relaxing all-day space where you can flip open a laptop and spin out your coffee for a couple of hours given that some of Prague’s best enticing boutiques are your neighbours and the delights of both Dlouha and up-and-coming Karlin within easy walking distance functional and contemporary are the watchwords at the Cube which is handy for Wenceslas Square and the thriving bar scene south of the National Theatre The standard rooms are smallish but well-equipped and good value for the city centre — especially when you factor in the breakfast buffet it runs from Greek yoghurt and chia seeds all the way to sausages Unusually for a hotel in the heart of Prague the Cube also has its own underground parking The 19th-century streets of southern Nove Mesto can seem a bit dark and heavy at times: but not if you’re staying at the Mosaic House on leafy Odboru The main draw is the all-day Café Mosaic — a delightful double-height room with a mezzanine library — and there’s a similar sense of visual drama on the grand staircase next door Several of the bedrooms open onto garden balconies while even the standard doubles have a bright It’s not quite as central as many of the hotels featured here: but that’s reflected in the price you can always rest your feet en route to the Old Town with a coffee at the city’s best English bookshop nearby — the Globe uncluttered and thoroughly modern makeover has deepened the appeal of this Mala Strana bolt hole set in a little eddy of side streets that swirls off the western end of the Charles Bridge there’s a river of tourists flowing across the bridge from 8am till midnight cool wooden floorboards and the odd painted ceiling The hotel’s architecture is a palimpsest of historic alterations stretching from the 13th century to 2015 but there’s nothing outdated about the bright can-do attitude of the staff who’ll do their best to help with room changes and early check-ins • Best affordable hotels in Prague• Best things to do in Prague Platnerska may not be the prettiest street in the Stare Mesto but it is fabulously well-connected Charles Bridge and the Rudolfinum concert hall all within touching distance It’s home to several buzzing bars and restaurants too — to which you can now add the glittering steakhouse at the Emblem Hotel It’s one of several social spaces in this upmarket design hotel fumoir and games room all decorated with work by local artists you’ll find the art deco-flavoured bedrooms are on the small side but that hardly matters when there are so many public rooms in which to sprawl It may be backed by the elegant Vrtba Garden and furnished in plush but the Aria is not content to be just another luxury hotel in Prague whether downstairs in the snug and sound-proofed music library; or upstairs in the bedrooms where the hotel’s collection of 5,000 CDs and DVDs can be enjoyed via Apple TV its concierges are dab hands at guiding you to the most interesting classical concerts ringing ahead to book tickets while you cosy up by the hotel’s open fire Read our full review of the Aria Hotel the Sax offers a very different Mala Strana mood the cobbled baroque streets are the same but inside the vibe is straight out of the late 1960s and early 1970s: complete with orange vinyl sofas kooky wallpaper and a constellation of vintage lights hanging in the triple-height living room for sensational views across the heart of Prague watering hole and talking shop — and the bar is open 24 hours a day This is Karlin: one of Prague’s most up-and-coming districts and its grid of 19th-century streets is peppered with bars including Czech-flavoured Eska and the buzzing Veltlin wine bar practical bedrooms are enlivened by pops of purple and cerise as well as giant rainfall shower heads: the perfect place to revive yourself after a big night out Don’t just look at Prague’s historic buildings — stay in one of them too which rambles respectfully through the dormitories refectory and cellars of a 14th-century Augustinian monastery there’s a calm and understated sense of luxury which lets the period detail shine through — with just a touch of colour or more modern Czech design to quicken the pulse or bring earplugs to block out the rattling trams and make time for a guided tour with one of the monks Parts of the complex are still run as a religious foundation and its 700-year-old library is one of the city’s most atmospheric rooms No wonder it’s been a hit with savvy travellers since it opened in 2002 mid-sized Josef has an almost perfect location — just beyond busy Old Town Square but right next to one of the district’s most innovative areas with the glass-walled bathrooms and generous breakfasts the main talking points Nothing will have you chattering as excitedly as the discoveries you’ll make a couple of minutes’ walk from the front door — whether it’s the buzz of Lokal the medieval art at the Convent of St Agnes a wine bar tucked away in a forgotten Renaissance courtyard the Mandarin Oriental must also count as its most discrete: hidden away behind high gated walls near one of Mala Strana’s least-visited squares Within five minutes’ walk lie the baroque exuberance of St Nicholas Church and the enchanting galleries of the Czech Museum of Music Charles Bridge is not much further — and yet here The sense of calm is amplified by an intricate layout of courtyards and vaulted corridors as well as spacious bedrooms and a soothing blue and beige colour scheme but this is not a place that dwells on the past — except in the spa’s yoga studio where the glass floor reveals its 14th-century foundations Read our full review of the Mandarin Oriental, Prague Not everyone will enjoy the walk up Vlasska to Dum u Velke Boty But if you’ve got the legs for that final climb your reward is an historic house of immense charm the 21st century seems suddenly to recede from view: an impression that’s deepened by the hotel’s creaking parquet floors and well-chosen antiques thick walls and portable air conditioning soften the blow of Czechia’s summer heat and if you book the attic suite you also get ravishing and rarely seen views of Prague castle • Prague in winter: five things you shouldn’t miss• Best cities to visit in spring Additional reporting by Imogen Lepere and Paul Sullivan Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. serves some of the best traditional Czech cuisine in Prague — and you won’t be charged excessive tourist prices The underground setting creates a cosy tavern atmosphere making it the perfect location to grab a pint of pilsner and a plate of svíčková sirloin steak in a cream sauce – one of the most popular Czech dishes © Café Savoy (Ambi CZ) | © Café Savoy (Ambi CZ) Café Savoy serves classic Czech dishes and traditional French cuisine in a beautiful wood-panelled interior Breakfast is served daily with à la carte options and combination offers such as English or French breakfast Lunch and dinner menus include delicacies such as beef tartare and slow-roasted duck and there’s a five-course menu crafted by head chef Michal Mlejnek previously worked for Michelin-starred restaurants so save room for dessert Portfolio Restaurant | © Portfolio Restaurant Portfolio Restaurant offers a fine-dining experience that combines fresh ingredients with an excellent wine list; it takes inspiration from French and Italian cuisines to create something unique The contemporary interior was created using pieces from local craftsmen complementing the first-rate service and colourful dishes Just outside the entrance to Prague Castle, Kuchyň doesn’t have a menu so you have to select dishes by lifting the lids of pots on the stove and letting your senses guide you it’s a trade-off for the quality of the freshly prepared food and the novelty of being able to choose it this way Na slamníku one of the best spots in Prague to enjoy a beer and traditional Czech fare making it one of the oldest continuously operating pubs in the city so the prices are very reasonable and it offers an escape from the crowds with a relaxed pub atmosphere The menu at Bistro à Table includes traditional French favourites like filet mignon and frog’s legs with the option of escargots served with or without shells The chef-owner takes pride in creating colourful with an excellent French wine selection to boot Asian fusion restaurant Sansho combines fine dining with family-style service The à la carte menu is available at lunchtime while the six-course dinner menu is served at communal tables where you can select a meat The seating arrangement creates a sociable atmosphere The high-quality ingredients are sourced from Czech farms and Prague’s local Vietnamese markets and Sansho prides itself on using every part of the animal — the first restaurant in Prague to do so If you’re in the mood for pizza, Kmotra is the place to come This family-owned restaurant goes the extra mile to produce authentic Italian cuisine It holds the title of the oldest pizzeria in the city and still uses traditional wood-burning ovens with quality ingredients including fresh mozzarella and homemade pasta Just minutes from the National Theatre, Kabul Restaurant is the oldest Afghan restaurant in Prague and the best place to enjoy the amazing flavour combinations of Afghan food Its menu is translated into multiple languages so visitors will have no trouble figuring out what to try The dishes are reasonably priced so you can order a few different things to share with friends Bibimbap Korea serves authentic Korean cuisine with an emphasis on healthy dishes with quality ingredients soy sauce and soybean paste to create a spicy dish The Indonesian chefs at Garuda Indonesian prepare their spicy food using traditional family recipes Coffee lovers will be delighted to know they import coffee beans directly from Indonesia and roast them on-site If you’re looking for a place to get some work done or simply relax after filling up on delicious food check out the lounge area and chillout zone Las Adelitas a chain of Mexican restaurants across Prague is all about colourful food and an exuberant atmosphere – whether you’re stopping by for lunch The restaurant has a generous happy hour – opt for a margarita classic or frozen and fruity – and expect a storytelling barman to regale you with tales of mezcal and tequila Live bands also play on Mexican fiesta days Anticipate surprise at the Michelin-starred Field Restaurant revolves around whatever produce is fresh when you visit This culinary journey spans six to 10 courses Delicious wine is expertly paired with each dish and murals projected onto the ceiling add atmosphere Head to La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise for a fancy take on traditional Czech cuisine This Michelin-starred restaurant is known for its unusual pairings such as potato pancake with Blaťácké zlato cheese and vegetable cappuccino with smoked cream Quality ingredients are thoughtfully sourced and selected to complement flavours across dishes while the accompanying wines have been chosen from specific vineyards based on their growing processes Fancy a slice? Johnny Pizza Opt for a classic margherita or try the Praga Pair with a pilsner or margarita before spilling out to one of the nearby bars or pubs Burrito Loco | © Formafatal / Boysplaynice It’s always a good time for a burrito at this fast-food joint burrito bowls and the cheese taco crunch – a classic taco wrapped in a cheese-laden flour tortilla Vegan versions of the main dishes are also great you can build your own concoctions with an endless choice of topping combos Indulge at V Zátiší on Liliová where cuisines from across the world are served up as tasting portions Indian breads straight from the tandoori oven are served throughout while mains include beef tartare with mushroom ketchup and pickled veg Dessert comes in the form of mini chocolate mousse and apple-nut pies – the perfect way to cap off your global culinary experience Alcron | Courtesy of Alcron Hotel / Expedia.com Alcron on Štěpánská is famously exquisite having received a Michelin star six years running Choose from small plates like cauliflower with polenta wonton and corn to create your own multi-course dinner – complete with wine pairings with a ’30s fireplace and artist-designed wall images featuring couples dancing in New York This is an updated version of an article originally written by Jake Setterfield. Kim Gregory also contributed additional reporting We’re bringing our international (read: non-New York City) coverage back into the mix. Our off-the-beaten path guides have included Rome and San Diego you may be momentarily disconcerted by the flurry of above ground trams or the beer being the same price as water but there are amazing secret places just waiting to be found all throughout the city When you someone describes a bar as a “hole in the wall,” The White Whale is the standard the bar ought to be judged by The bar has a vague nautical theme to it with smoke stained sailing flags hanging on one wall of the bar and plays host to locals 90% of the time Open all day and located just off of Male Namesti go to the Whale if you’re looking a local bar thats friendly to patrons sitting for prolonged periods of time If you’re looking for a more authentic taste of Prague night life taking a tram over the hill is easy from downtown to Zizkov a neighborhood over the hill of Prague 1 that rarely has any native English speakers past 5 o’clock the city’s sprawling public transit system makes it easy to get from neighborhood to neighborhood with little hassle it’s a quick fifteen minute train ride out to the neighborhood of Kolbenova Prague 9 which on weekends is home to the largest flea market in Europe Sellers typically begin queuing for parking spaces around midnight Friday evening and everyday from 700hrs to 1400hrs the market is a free for all of whatever people decided to sell that weekend Great food can be found for cheap prices all across the city but for a more local experience formerly an industrial quarter across the river Vltava from downtown Prague is now home to many great coffee and breakfast spots that are fantastic places to spend a lazy weekend morning located just off of the Delnicka tram spot is fantastic for a more upscale brunch atmosphere with a menu ranging from Mexican to Vietnamese If you like your coffee with a side of innovation two blocks away from Twenty7 is Bitcoin Coffee a coffee house devoted to advancing the popularity of the crypto currency and actually accepts virtual Bitcoins as currency Those of us who aren’t quite as tech savvy can also pay with crowns however just across the Charles Bridge from downtown nestled back amongst a row of older settlement houses linking the river is the Shakespeare and Sons Bookstore With an extensive used section and titles in both English and Czech the two story book store and cafe offers a little something for fans of any genre The childhood home of Franz Kafka has also been made into a museum and throughout the city you can easily find statues honoring the author Prague is also very much a city filled with history around every corner Cemeteries in Prague are often centuries old and are the resting places of famous figures from all walks of history the oldest existing Jewish cemetery in all of Europe is nestled in between ancient synagogues Scholars aren’t even sure how many people are buried in the cemetery solely due to how many layers of bodies have been discovered during excavations the Vysehrad cemetery on the grounds of Vysehrad Castle is the final resting place of many Czech intellectuals including noted artist Alphonse Mucha and composer Antonin Dvorak DOX Centre for Contemporary Art is home to some of the timeliest ad most political art in Prague The exhibits are always well curated and are friendly to even the most jaded detractors of modern art The facilities are well maintained and in a less busy neighborhood it is rare that you will find a crowd here For those looking simply for a quiet place to pass a Sunday afternoon you can’t do better than DOX.The building can be identified by the giant street murals painted wrapping around the corner quotes from a variety of iconic people in English and around the corner translated to Czech it is one of the few places in Prague to find an American Diner type meal complete with pancakes Nestled two blocks off of Wenceslas Square is Friends Coffee Shop a secluded coffee shop perfect to sit with a book for a midday break All the coffee is roasted in house and even if you forget your own book the staff keeps a regularly updated library that is free for use of the patrons When the owner of Cross Club purchased the building he knew that he wanted to have a club but had little inspiration The story follows that he holed up in his apartment for a day covering notebooks in doodles and then hired a professional artist to make his doodles reality The inside is maze like and decorated with industrial themed decorations the top floor of the club is a cafe that is open all night serving coffee and food Regularly making lists for best concert venue in Prague make sure you check what events are playing when you find yourself in Prague they also have a cheap -even for Prague- bar down one floor from the stage You've successfully subscribed to Untapped New York Check your email for magic link to sign-in TERMS OF USE: Some of the information on this website may have changed since the time of writing. By continuing to read this article, you agree to be bound by our Terms of Use and Disclaimer and verify any information before taking action DISCLOSURE: Some of our articles may contain affiliate links or sponsorships (disclosed at the bottom) You’ll find it served at many of the traditional Czech restaurants in Prague I don’t have much experience with Czech food but one thing seems clear and root vegetables figure prominently in traditional Czech cuisine It’s the type of food you’d expect from countries that experience harsh winters Navigate to the “traditional Czech” section on a Prague restaurant’s menu and you’ll find plenty of roasted meat dishes drenched in a heavy sauce and served with a variety of dumplings and cabbage They’re hearty and filling meals that keep you warm and happy and go exceptionally well with Prague’s beverage of choice – pilsner beer If you’re visiting Prague and have an interest in Czech cuisine then I hope this food guide with nine of the best restaurants in Prague leads you to some memorable meals To help you plan your trip to the Czech capital we’ve put together links to popular hotels and other useful travel-related services here Recommended hotels in Stare Mesto (Old Town) one of the most convenient areas to stay in Prague If you’re planning a trip to Prague, then be sure to check out our detailed Prague travel guide It’ll have all the information you need – like which area to stay No time now to read this article on the best Prague restaurants Click on the save button and pin it for later Krcma was the very first restaurant in Prague I went to and coincidentally Located in the dungeon basement of a building in the Old Town I felt like I was having lunch in King’s Landing Krcma is one of the best restaurants in Prague Old Town to have meat dishes like grilled rib eye They offer a meat-centric menu consisting mostly of different cuts of roasted pork I had read about their roasted pork back knee but their smallest serving is 1.2 kg I didn’t want to be eating pork all afternoon so I asked my server for alternatives and he recommended this more manageable 150 g plate of pork roast with bread dumplings and red cabbage The roast pork was good but the most interesting part for me were the knedliky or Czech dumplings a staple food in Czech cuisine made with bread It’s one of the dishes that best represents Czech cuisine and something you’ll probably have often at many restaurants in Prague Bread dumplings are made with slightly stale bread that’s formed in a roll before being boiled or steamed It’s often served as a side dish soaked in gravy one of the things I was most excited to try in Prague was the beer A Russian friend of mine told me that Prague has the best beer in the world and much of it had to do with the city’s pipes I washed down my pork roast and knedliky with a mug of Pilsner Urquell light lager It was crisp and clean and definitely one of the best beers I had ever tasted in my life The Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world with pilsner light lagers being the most common type Krcma is located in basement of this building in the Old Town. You can jump to the location map at the bottom of this guide to see exactly where it is Krcma is a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awardee with an impressive 4-star rating and almost 2,200 reviews Krcma has to be one of the best restaurants in Prague U Parlamentu is one of the best restaurants in Prague to go to if you’re interested in traditional Czech food I had this fantastic grilled pork chop served with golden chanterelle sauce and a side of buttery spaetzle it was a good-sized 250 gram cut of meat that left me feeling full and happy This was one of my favorite meals in Prague Ren had the rabbit roast in garlic sauce with spinach Potato dumplings are prepared in much the same way as bread dumplings It was slide-off-the-bone tender and very tasty Located in the Old Town, U Parlamentu is known for being one of the best restaurants in Prague so be prepared for a wait They’re a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awardee with a near-perfect 4.5-star rating and almost 2,800 reviews Nase Maso was the only place we visited more than once in Prague It’s a shop that’s part-butcher and part-restaurant that serves some of the best meat in Prague A big reason I was so excited to eat at Nase Maso were these dry-aged burgers I kept reading about in their reviews Made from dry-aged Czech piebald cattle beef it was absolutely delicious and one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted It was so good that we had to go back to Nase Maso a second time to have it again Another dish that’s often recommended is this buttery and fatty roasted bone marrow with toasted bread and parsley salad It doesn’t seem to be printed on the menu but you can ask for it it was a bone-in ribeye recommended to us by one of the butchers Nase Maso is a butcher shop so I believe their offerings change on a daily basis Their printed menu lists just a few dishes so be sure to ask the butchers for suggestions Aside from their terrific selection of meat Nase Maso serves Albrecht Pale Lager 12° on tap We had lager at every restaurant in Prague and this craft beer was one of our favorites Bistro Sisters was closed for renovations when we were there Nase Maso is a small shop with just one sit down table which you have to reserve in advance Everyone else sits on benches by the walls of the shop and eats their food on small cocktail tables There’s also a counter outside where you can stand and eat Nase Maso isn’t the most elegant restaurant but it’s one of the best restaurants in Prague when it comes to steaks and other meat dishes It’s very popular and considering its limited seating it may be a good idea to go at a slightly off-hour They’re a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awardee with an exceptional 4.5-star rating and almost 3,000 reviews Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)What to Order: Dry-aged cheeseburger Bistro Sisters is known for being one of the best restaurants in Prague to try a traditional Czech dish called oblozene chlebicky Oblozene chlebicky (or chlebicky for short) is a type of open-faced sandwich popular in Czech cuisine Butter is spread over sliced bread then decoratively topped with any number of ingredients like ham Every chlebicky at Lahudky Zlaty Kriz was so artfully arranged I was enjoying my chlebicky when a group of Spanish tourists walked into the shop They didn’t seem to know what chlebicky was so when they saw them on display in the vitrine I guess you could say that the chlebicky is like a Czech version of Spanish pintxos You should definitely try chlebicky in Prague Lahudky Zlaty Kriz is located in the New Town Ren loves hot dogs so when I found more than one article describe this stall’s hot dogs as the very best in the city, I had to add it to our Prague itinerary Parek v rohliku – Ladislav Cerveny’s hot dogs are indeed delicious It has more snap than an American hot dog and is served in a crusty enclosed bun with a hollow middle Conveniently, Parek v rohliku – Ladislav Cerveny is located in Namesti Miru Square where you can catch the scenic Tram 22 to Prague Castle You can have a quick snack here while waiting for the tram it really is one of the best places to eat in Prague Mon-Fri (closed Sat-Sun)What to Order: Hot dog Do you know what’s better than beer in Prague We were set to have beer flights at the ultra-popular Prague Beer Museum when we found U Kunstatu a similar gastropub in the city center with well over a hundred craft beers on tap It’s partially hidden location and patio setting drew us in so we went here instead Beer flights are a popular way of enjoying beer in Prague At least four varieties of beer (typically 4-8) are served in small 3-5 oz glasses arranged in a wooden board called a beer flight paddle You can choose any six from the hundreds that U Kunstatu has on tap. They offer several different types of beer like light lager, wheat beer, Belgian ale You can basically think of it as a tasting menu of beer they’ll arrange them from light to dark as this is the order in which you’re encouraged to drink them Beer flights are a great way of sampling as many beers as you can without having to drink a full glass every time U Kunstatu offers a few dishes on their menu to enjoy with your beer like this fantastic juniper-spiced deer sausage served with bread U Kunstatu is located through this archway You can’t really see the seating area from the outside so it’s easy to miss Cafe Savoy is a beautiful neo-renaissance cafe that’s been open since the late 19th century It’s often cited as being one of the best restaurants in Prague to have breakfast A vetrnik is a type of caramel-glazed chou pastry that’s filled with a rich and luscious vanilla and caramel whipped cream Crunchy on top but light and airy in the middle you can think of it as the Czech version of a cream puff Many people think that the vetrnik is the best pastry you can have in Prague with Cafe Savoy’s version being one of the best if not the very best This article is five years old but Taste of Prague did a taste test of Prague’s 14 best vetrnik pastries and Cafe Savoy was the clear winner for them Cafe Savoy is located on the other side of Vltava River It’s a lovely cafe and one of the best restaurants in Prague to have coffee and pastries or a full breakfast Address: Vítězná 124/5 Gelato is one of the best things you can have while on holiday. There are many gelaterias in and around the Old Town square but read the reviews and you’ll find many people calling the gelato at Creme de la Creme to be the best in Prague I don’t remember what flavor we got (coffee maybe?) but I do remember it being delicious Creme de la Creme offers many interesting flavors including fruit sorbets and a few vegan options Ren loves cake so we tried a slice of this orechovy dort which I believe is a type of Czech honey walnut cake though the gelato is clearly the draw here Creme de la Creme is located in the Old Town It’s a popular place so be prepared for a line Creme de la Creme is a Certificate of Excellence awardee with a stellar 4.5-rating on TripAdvisor In the words of Prague’s official tourist webpage, EMA Espresso Bar is “the most popular and definitely one of the best espresso bars in Prague.” They’ve won a number of industry awards and are known not just for their coffee If you click through to Taste of Prague’s article on the best vetrnik in Prague you’ll see that they conducted their taste test here at EMA Espresso Bar Their pastries are laid out on the counter so I believe what’s available changes daily EMA Espresso Bar is located in the New Town It’s a bright space with big tables so if you need to get some work done To help you navigate, I’ve pinned all the Prague restaurants recommended in this guide on an interactive map It includes a few backup restaurants as well which is why we did plenty of research to find some of the best restaurants in Prague We didn’t want to wind up at any tourist traps We enjoyed a decently well-rounded and satisfying introduction to Prague food I’m happy with the food we experienced but we did miss out on a few dishes The chlebicky at Bistro Sisters eluded us the Czech national dish of spiced sirloin steak boiled with double cream We enjoyed bread and potato dumplings but we missed out on fruit dumplings which is the non-savory version of knedliky It would have been great to go to a fine dining or Michelin star restaurant as well If any of these dishes or experiences sound interesting to you then you may want to seek them out on your own We will for sure on our next visit to Prague thanks for reading and I hope this Prague restaurant guide leads you to some exceptional meals in Prague Some of the links in this Prague food guide are affiliate links meaning we’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you We only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in We really appreciate your support as this helps us make more of these free travel guides Categories CZECH REPUBLIC, DESTINATIONS, FOOD GUIDES The First-Timer’s Porto Travel Guide Where to Eat in Budapest: 13 Must-Try Budapest Restaurants Website#cf35be1bfd8cfb03dc983758{display:none} I was so excited when I saw we were staying right next to Naso Mase and Sisters Can't wait to hit more places you have recommended Happy to hear that you found the article useful Martina We're going to Prague at the end of October and I am most definitely adding these to our list of places to eat at while there but this really helped out with what food places there are to try out I didn't even know Prague was known for their beer I'll be doing a lot of walking and site seeing so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to work up an appetite and try most of these places Thank you for taking the time to put this out The beer is definitely something to look forward to Briliant written up to inspires me to go fee more places l didn't know and I'm from Prague local "This is the BEST representation of my country food that I have ever seen. I’m very protective of our things and this made me proud. Thank you."– Erica on our Argentina food guide "We had the Quesabirria at Tacos Don Juan today and WOW!! That was the best taco yet! Thank you for the awesome article."– Tiffany on our Mexico City taqueria guide COPYRIGHT POLICYUnless otherwise stated, all photos, text, graphics, and videos used on this website are the intellectual property of Will Fly for Food and its contributors and protected by copyright laws. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. You can refer to our Intellectual Property policy for more information AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSUREwillflyforfood.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com We may receive compensation if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you Discover 20 of the best restaurants in Prague including a few bars in case you get thirsty during your Prague restaurant exploration Prague is a popular destination for travelers of all ages one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals First time visitors typically arrive with a plan to stroll over the Charles Bridge explore the Prague Castle and watch the Astronomical Clock’s hourly ‘walk of the apostles’ at least once Some just want to drink beer since the Bohemian city has a beer tradition that spans at least 1,000 years Discover the Prague food favorites not to miss during your visit The city’s food scene has traversed eons in recent years While most Prague restaurants seemed to serve mediocre Germanic-inspired pub grub in the past Options now include a range of international cuisines in addition to traditional Czech food The key is to know which Prague restaurants are the good ones We’re impressed with the passionate commitment to food that we’ve observed in Prague at both simple cafes and upscale restaurants This is a food scene that’s reaching maturity and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon Prague is experiencing a restaurant renaissance It’s happening in the center of town as well as in less touristic neighborhoods like Karlin and Holešovice It excites us to check out different restaurants every time we visit the city though we also like to revisit our favorites spots These are our picks for the best restaurants in Prague: a gathering place and just about everything that epitomizes today’s Prague Most important – its butchery sells and serves some of the best cuts in the city Much like sister restaurant Naše Maso (see below) the skilled professionals at Kantýna will cook your cuts in the kitchen Kantýna’s original location provides a convivial space with ample seating and a vaulted central pub It’s a location to build a night or afternoon around Kantýna doesn’t take advance reservations You can’t miss Kantýna’s exquisite butcher counter when you walk into the Nove Mesto (New Town) restaurant inside the historic Ringhoffer Palace You can order from there and have your cuts cooked for you in the cafeteria’s expansive kitchen You can also order Kantýna’s fantastic burger this beef patty is a blend of textures that somehow doesn’t taste uncooked despite its rare appearance We’ve tasted great burgers in New York and Chicago Discover the world’s best burgers You can also enjoy dishes like beef stew and a tartare from the back kitchen you can enjoy it in the company of friends while drinking freshly tapped beer – a reminder that this modern city hasn’t forsaken its roots Kantýna is located at Politických vězňů 1511/5 You could say that Field is Prague’s ‘other’ Michelin-starred restaurant and you wouldn’t be wrong More established La Degustacion gets all the press and even starred in a long ago Bourdain episode This minimalist space in the heart of Prague 1 deliberately yet sparsely decorated with evocative plows and sickels (farm to table – we get the point) defines how far the city has come as a food destination Prague has come of age and Field is a restaurant the city should treasure On the first dig of a spoon into Field’s first course umami rich tomato topped by yogurt and basil powder vinegary flavors that were beautifully balanced by the dish’s top layer of creamy Chef Radek Kašpárek’s flavors evoke the Czech Republic and we approve Our descendants are from this part of the world so those dimensionally sweet flavors unleashed a flood of taste memories from our childhood We also loved our initial ‘amuse bouche’ course of asparagus cream served with a side ‘wafer’ of asparagus foie gras and veal tenderloin conveyed luxury despite the menu’s “short” designation the multiple presentations featuring dry ice clouds and tableside sauce pours provided by Field’s more than competent service staff made the experience feel special with its six courses plus two glasses each of Moravian wine provided more than enough to satisfy our lunch time goals money and stomach space for Field’s full 10-course tasting menu The same applies to the restaurant’s thoughtful wine pairings the restaurant offers an affordable lunch menu option While geared toward locals looking for a less leisurely workday meal the condensed lunch menu is a great option for travelers on a budget Field is located at U Milosrdných 12 Another Michelin Starred Restaurant in PragueLa Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise The dining room at Café Imperial is special This stunning Art Nouveau space, which opened in 1914, oozes with history Rectangular tiles with geometric relief line the space in a bath of creamy white Diners who look up can’t miss those tiles which go all the way up to the ceiling They can also imagine the room filled with artists and Czech notables like Franz Kafka who occasionally frequented rooms like this one more than a century ago Eating good food in historic buildings isn’t a given But that’s exactly what we did when we ate lunch at Café Imperial one of the world’s most stunning cafe spaces Operated by celebrity chef Zdeněk Pohlreich since 2007 Café Imperial serves Czech food that feels both familiar and special you can eat schnitzel almost everywhere in Prague but Pohlreich’s schnitzel is just a little bit better The same goes for the cafe’s kulajda a creamy mushroom soup with more than a hint of dill you can even eat roast goose at Cafe Imperial The restaurant serves the gamey fowl in conjunction with St It’s a must if you’re in Prague in November Cafe Imperial is located at Na Poříčí 1072/15 More Grand Cafes in PragueCafé Louvre, Café Savoy, Café Slavia and Kavárna Obecní Dům While we’ve experienced all day chef driven operations in other cities, like Middle Child Clubhouse in Philadelphia Stangl holds a unique place in the Prague food scene It’s one of the city’s most ambitious food ventures – a cutting edge operation with a daring chef-driven menu served upstairs and a morning and afternoon cafe spot downstairs Stangl currently offers three and six course tasting menus with a number of interesting dishes none more exquisite than its ultra-popular Potatoes in Ash a modern foamy (from a buttermilk espuma) yet comforting stew of whole ash-laden potatoes served with smoked fish You won’t find beef tartare with the standard French accouterments like capers and onions at Stangl the restaurant’s tartare was made with a funky The restaurant served the tartare on bread baked in the full-service bakery on the ground floor – a great repurposing of a top notch product DisclosureStangl was operating as Eska at the time of our 2023 dinner To those who disdain the modern techniques happening at the Noma‘s of the world we say check out the food at more accessible restaurants like Stangl it’s become de rigeur in better kitchens While Eska’s mini food factory serves a full brunch featuring items like crepes and sausages, we were more impressed by some of the kitchen’s baked goods like buchty and koláče that keep Eska proudly Czech. We were also impressed that Eska serves specialty coffee sourced from Northern Czech roaster Nordbeans Stangl is located at Pernerova 49 More Modern Restaurants in PragueBockem, Kro, Sansho, Taro and Vallmo is a tiny space with a small bifurcated butcher counter There’s a pilsner tap by the door with accoutrements for sale along the butchery’s walls Meats fill both sides of the counter – raw meats like steaks ribs and ground meat are on the left while cured meats like sausages Fun FactNaše Maso literally translates to Our Meat including special native Přeštice pigs and other local livestock is exclusively and locally sourced from Ambiente’s butchery operation The shop is literally a carnivore’s dream come true markets provide more of a museum-like ‘look but don’t eat’ experience Butchers at Naše Maso don’t just sell meat They’ll also cook lunch or dinner for you in their slender kitchen you can enjoy the butchery’s meats onsite at a table Confession: We arrived right when Naše Maso opened to score that table Naše Maso’s menu features a fantastic burger and some of the best sausages cooked on this side of the Czech Republic Our medium rare burger looked to be almost ‘blue’ but it ate well and didn’t taste raw super red burger at sister restaurant Kantýna (see above) We also loved Naše Maso’s grilled sausage Our links were cooked to a beautiful golden brown with a skin that snapped with every bite Naše Maso is located at Dlouhá 727/39 passing a plethora of magnet and figurine shops as well as just as many touristic restaurants However, once you leave of the castle gate, the better option is to wander to the left toward Prague’s National Gallery where you’ll find good food tasty beer and a great view at Kuchyň Kuchyň encouraged guests to approach the kitchen where they could choose what to eat Considering that kuchyň translates to kitchen it was a fun approach but perhaps too chaotic though the kitchen still occupies the same space at the front of the restaurant guests make their menu choices from the comfort of their table Kuchyň’s menu is mostly traditional We enjoyed a number of main courses including duck and schnitzel during our lunch Two whole stewed duck legs arrived a little well done for our taste – this may be the way that locals prefer the dish served along with traditional Czech dumplings was as good as others we’ve eaten in Prague That doesn’t mean that there aren’t chef driven touches here Two thick slices of grilled halloumi were attractively plated over tomatoes and seasonal spears of tender asparagus in hollandaise had just the right bite we often wonder how some of the worst restaurants end up in the best locations Kuchyň is located at Hradčanské nám Spending time at one or more traditional pub is a must in Prague for those who want to truly experience the city’s local food culture We accomplished this mission with a stop at the Prague Zoo Now you’re probably saying to yourself what does the Prague Zoo have to do with pubs To be clear, we’re not talking about the Zoo Praha which has actual animals We’re instead talking about nine (or more!) Prague pubs named after animals U Zlateho Tygra’s history as a pub may stretch as far back as 300 years and its building dates back even further Its space is filled with rows of long tables under an arched ceiling we got a good spot since we’d made a reservation for ourselves and two friends they’re best described as pleasantly surly (Don’t try to order drinks from the wrong server You’ll be castigated for it.) Drink choices are simple – pilsner beer All of the Prague food staples are here: a schnitzel plate that’s generous enough to serve two goulash and grilled sausage just to name a few U Zlateho Tygra’s menu has a couple surprises like pikantní masová směs (spicy mix of meats) seasoned with a blend of sweet and sour flavors that’s more reminiscent of a Chinese restaurant than a Prague pub And we appreciated the way the restaurant cuts their grilled sausage – in the shape of eagle wings Anyone with family roots in this part of the world will instantly connect with U Zlateho Tygra’s sliced rye bread which is reminiscent of New York deli rye The challenge is not to eat too many slices U Zlateho Tygra is located at Husova 228/17 Staré Město Praha 1 Praha 1 Lokál feels like it’s been in Prague for decades longer that’s as popular with both Prague residents as it is with tourists Some of the tourist popularity is due to Lokál’s perennial spot on food tours this traditional Czech restaurant is the real deal that starts with its sourcing of local ingredients to its simple presentation of a menu filled with local dishes Lokál serves a lot of pilsner all day every day If there’s a traditional Czech dish that you want to try in Prague Lokál probably has it on its daily menu We tried all these dishes plus a potato pancake topped with smoked meat and fried cheese served with tartare sauce and buttered potatoes That fried cheese (smažený sýr in Czech) isn’t just a traditional dish – it’s also a signature Ambiente dish Lokál is yet another restaurant in the massive restaurant group’s coffers Lokál has multiple locations The original Lokál is located at Dlouhá 33 If you’re living in Europe, as we do, the craving for good Vietnamese food often goes unsated you can satisfy that craving in Vietnam or the USA or even Paris if your travels take you there You can also satisfy it in the Czech Republic and Prague in particular Just walk through almost any neighborhood and you’ll encounter decent Vietnamese restaurants on at least one street block you can go the extra mile (literally) by visiting the Vietnamese enclave of SAPA located outside the city limits there’s nothing wrong with eating at one of the many Vietnamese restaurants Ordering pho at Pho Vietnam Tuan & Lan was a no-brainer for these two pho fans The fact that the restaurant serves quality Bun Cha made our meal extra special But the bowls of fragrant beef pho hit the spot while the bun cha featured nicely charred pork served in a bath of sweet fish sauce-tinged gnoc cham along with a melange of fresh greens like fragrant betel leaves Pho Vietnam Tuan & Lan has two Prague locations More Vietnamese Restaurants in PragueGao Den, Remember Vietnam and Trang An An open-faced sandwich is something we appreciate finding all over the world whether we’re in Copenhagen or Venice We found a fine version in Prague at Sisters Bistro a small cafe located next door to Naše Maso (see above) Prague’s traditional open-faced sandwich has been around since the early 20th century and is meant to be eaten in two to three bites Sisters serves a rainbow of them with toppings like smoked salmon red pickled mustard seeds and Hungarian salami Fun FactSisters Bistro is owned by… wait for it… two sisters You can eat fun chlebíčk combinations at Sisters like beet and goat cheese or avocado topped with prosciutto and pomegranate seeds including Sisters’ most popular sandwich topped with ham and potato salad the chlebíčk is the food to eat here it’s still healthier than eating schnitzel Sisters Bistro is located at 39 We always seek pizza wherever we travel and Prague is no exception some from locals who live there and others online Ambiente restaurant group’s pizza concept at the top of our list for a few reasons starting with toppings Since Pizza Nuova sources its meat from Amaso the same excellent butcher used by Naše Maso and Kantýna we knew that the toppings would be top notch But pepperoni and sausage were only part of our decision process crust matters too and they do a good job of that at Pizza Nuova We’re huge fans of Neapolitan pizza and that’s the pizza style that Pizza Nuova makes Daryl’s Salsiccia e Friarielli pizza with big chunks of sausage and bitter fresh greens Mind’s Diavola pizza satisfied her never-ending pepperoni pizza obsession Pizza Nuova is located at Revoluční 655/1 More Pizzerias in PragueAmunì, Le Pizze di Frankie, San Carlo and Third Coast Pizza We think that Prague should have its own hot dog style and it should be called a Prague Dog finding the ultimate Prague hot dog was an unofficial goal during our most recent Prague food trip though we didn’t find exactly what we were looking for HotDog in Letná – the Lumberjack Dog Discover more great hot dogs around the world extreme hot dog screams Prague and earns the city’s ‘best hot dog’ title in our book HotDog also serves sliders as well as fries with a choice of plain bacon cheddar or dumpster (which we guess is everything but the kitchen sink) toppings The menu has salad too but that’s not why people come here Mr. HotDog is located at Kamenická 24 Etapa first caught our eye when we were researching the best Prague coffee shops It’s more of a brunch cafe that also serves specialty coffee we had just three words in mind – Sign Us Up we promptly made a brunch reservation for later that week Etapa is a popular cafe that draws big crowds on the weekends it was still nice to walk straight to a table It was also nice to order dishes that were both healthy and of place Etapa was opened by food bloggers during the pandemic in 2000 and it remains independent to this day Not only does the cafe bake all of its sourdough breads and pastries being ‘vegetable forward’ is kind of a big deal in Prague considering the city’s obsession with pork products While we have no problem with this obsession we didn’t miss eating meat during our brunch at Etapa we enjoyed eating dishes that featured eggs since specialty coffee was our initial goal we’re pleased to report that our flat whites were good too Etapa is located at Urxova 479/6 We’ve been to food halls, including the original Time Out Market in Lisbon, before. We’ve also been to container complexes, well just the one in downtown Las Vegas But we’ve never experienced anything quite like Prague’s Manifesto Market Manifesto Market is roofless and has a pool (intended for soaking feet as opposed to swimming) it has more than two dozen vendors selling a range of international foods Although Manifesto Market attracts young professionals who appreciate its eclectic food selection and buzzy vibe we felt perfectly welcome during our visit we were there for an event related to our friends’ wedding Not only was it fun for us to hang with new and old friends but it also gave us a chance to check out this progressive Prague food hub since the market’s cuisines included Brazilian Italian and Korean at the time of our visit The original Manifesto Market is located at Ostrovského 34 We felt like we found a hidden treasure when we stumbled into Bokovka a wine bar tucked inside a courtyard on the same block as Naše Maso (see above) although we later realized that Bokovka is part of the Ambiente empire we’re still pleased that we peaked into that courtyard and walked into Bokovka’s intimate space that looks and feels straight out of a Hollywood movie But we didn’t just walk into the space We also sat down and ordered glasses of wine an ideal option for those celebrating a special event as well as for people who simply enjoy sipping Champagne Our fellow oenophiles included other couples as well as a relatively tame hen party that filled a large table we couldn’t resist ordering French wine after tasting a few options We’re nothing if not consistent with our love for all things French Bokovka serves a curated menu of bar snacks that include cured meat Bokovka is located at Dlouhá 729/37 It’s not difficult to find Dva Kohouti in Karlin even without Google Maps crowds fill its sprawling courtyard whenever the weather complies People come to Dva Kohouti to mingle and the resulting din is difficult to miss But the main draw is a beer selection that transcends pilsner The owners (or should we say roosters?) behind Dva Kohouti have built a better mouse trap Fun FactDva Kohouti translates to Two Roosters The success of Dva Kohouti shouldn’t be a surprise The micobrewery is the joint effort of two local powerhouses – Ambiente (a restaurant group) and Pivovar Matuška (a popular brewer) The joint was jumping during our mid-week visit We drank two – a signature Místní Pivo pale lager and a U Fleků dark lager They were so good that we drank the same beers again Dva Kohouti is located at Sokolovská 81/55 We didn’t know the history of Cukrarna Myšák when we first ate pastries at the historic pastry palace in 2017 What we did know was that the pastries were so good that we simply had to return with a friend the very next day she was impressed by Cukrarna Myšák beautiful space and equally beautiful pastries It would have intrigued us to learn that the pastry shop originally opened in 1911 that it later shuttered for decades and that its building was gutted in 2007 with only the facade and ground floor remaining intact we were too busy eating sweet treats to inquire about those details Those sweet treats included our first ever věneček, the Czech take on France’s Paris brest (or is the Paris brest’s a take on the věneček?). We also ate a decadent Torte Savoy (from the famous Czech cafe of the same name) – a chocolate cake with layers of chocolate mousse and cherry jam that made us question the superiority of Vienna‘s more famous cafes While Vienna’s pastry palaces serve commodity coffee Cukrarna Myšák employees craft coffee drinks with single origin beans that’s reason enough to return to Cukrarna Myšák every time we return to Prague Cukrarna Myšák is located at 710/31 Kolacherie is proof that everything old can be new again Kolacherie is a relatively recent addition to Prague’s Old Town was first baked in Moravia centuries ago but grew in popularity in Texas It’s important to understand that food evolution is never static Some foods can reach new countries and people grow in popularity and even return to the nations and cultures that they’re rooted in Pizza is a good example of this phenomenon Czech immigrants brought koláče to Texas at the turn of the 19th century and the pastry’s popularity has grown ever since The pastries have evolved over time in the Lone Star State with some koláče now featuring meat and hot peppers instead of fruit While the Prague bake shop bakes traditional koláče with all-natural local ingredients and a family recipe it also bakes koláče topped with sausage and jalapeño peppers its most popular pastries are topped with poppy seed Kolacherie is located at Celetná 589/27 Crème de la Crème claims to be the ‘best of the best’ and we don’t disagree The same goes for the crowds who choose to queue for quality gelato in the heart of the tourist zone as opposed to grabbing commodity ice cream from one of Old Town’s many trdelník vendors This quality is no accident. Honza Hochsteiger learned the art of making gelato at Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna and honed his skills in Trento before returning to Prague He opened Crème de la Crème in 2015 Made with South Bohemian milk, gelato options at Crème de la Crème run the gamut from traditional Italian flavors like pistachio and stracciatella to more creative combinations. We went the latter route by ordering salted peanut and dark chocolate with cherries, though we were sorely tempted by a flavor that paired orange with Campari vegan gelato and sugar-free gelato for those with special dietary requirements we were perfectly satisfied by the two flavors we chose we’re still curious about the pairing of orange with Campari Creme de la Creme has multiple locations We ate gelato at the original shop located at 12 More Ice Cream Shops in PragueAngelato, Puro Gelato and Zmrzlinar After visiting a lot of Prague coffee shops Super Tramp is the one that sticks in our mind It’s the one hidden in a courtyard and it’s the one that served us the most unique coffee drink It’s also the one where we’d likely go most often if we lived in Prague We mentioned that Super Tramp served us a unique drink and we weren’t exaggerating combines cold brew with grapefruit juice and simple syrup We’re now thinking about making a batch at home Super Tramp’s location near Old Town’s Prague Astronomical Clock makes it a prime spot for a touring break coffee geeks and hipsters won’t want to leave this happy place once they order a flat white or other coffee drink We recommend ordering a Pink Brew if your see it on the menu More Coffee Shops in PragueCafé Letka, EMA Espresso Bar and Onesip Coffee plus more in our Prague Coffee Guide Prague restaurants serve a variety of foods ranging from traditional Czech dishes to global foods like hamburgers and pho Prague restaurants are moderately priced compared to restaurants in other European capitals Bourdain visited the following spots while filming the sixth season of No Reservations: Cafe Savoy People typically eat dinner between 7pm and 9pm; however some restaurants and pubs stay open much later Reservations are necessary for most Prague restaurants Failing to make advance reservations will likely result in dining disappointment Prague currently has two one-starred Michelin-starred restaurants – Field and La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise While eating and drinking are our two favorites things to do in Prague they’re not the only things to do in Kafka’s city Consider the following activities between meals and bar sessions: Article UpdatesWe update our articles regularly Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.FundingWe purchased and ate the food featured in this guide Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers they've traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ad09a7a47acbb15c586ea9203067b49f" );document.getElementById("bafc9a4a92").setAttribute( "id" Buy us a coffee if you want to support our ongoing efforts you probably already noticed that we love coffee © 2012 - 2025 · 2FT Media LLC · 30 North Gould Street