Prague’s Most Well Known Cafés
The café culture in Prague was at its’ height between the late nineteenth century and the nineteen-thirties when the coffee bars in the city allowed a place where writers, activists, political dissidents, journalists and artists could meet. Lots of these cafés were not structurally maintained after World War Two, but six or so are still standing or have been resurrected to the glory of their heydays.
Cafés are something of a growing phenomenon in Prague. Traditionally, most eating houses offered filling Czech food, but as the City has become progressively cosmopolitan, the number of trendy cafes is rising. These are great for taking the load off and having a break after walking around all the tourist sights. Very often you will find great coffee and amazing cakes.
Café Imperial
This café opened up in 1914 and was completely restored in 2007. It showcases the perfect example of Art Nouveau tiling; ceiling and walls are decorated in unique mosaics, ceramic tiles, bas-reliefs and sculptured panels, with period bronzes and light fittings scattered around. The coffee served is great, there are evening cocktails, and the menu offers an all-day American and English breakfast, along with a fantastic eggs Benedict. Address: Na Pořičí 15, New Town; Open from 7:00 to 23:00. website
Café Louvre
This historic French-style café is a great coffee with an even greater feel for the real Czech atmosphere. There is an upstairs restaurant with views of Art Nouveau architecture. Address: Národní třída 20, Old Town. Website
Café Savoy
Built in 1893 and then renovated in 2004, this café glistens with belle époque style charm. It has a bright, ornately embellished ceiling adorned with glamorous chandeliers and the waiting staff all attired in matching red ties and waistcoats. It serves lovely coffee and hot chocolate and a fine selection of wines. Open from 08:00 to 22:30 Monday to Friday and from 09:00 to 22.30 on Saturdays and Sundays; Address: Vítězná 5, Lesser Town. Website
Grand Café Orient
This is the sole cubist café in Prague and was conceived by Josef Gočár. It is decorated in the cubist style right to the tiniest detail, including the coat hooks and lampshades. It was renovated and opened again in 2005, having been shut since 1920. It serves good coffee and affordable cocktail drinks. Open from 09:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday, and from 10:00 to 22:00 Saturday and Sunday. Address: Ovocný trh 19, Old Town. Website
Kavárna Lucerna
Palác Lucerna, Štěpánská 61, Open from 10:00 to 01:00 Monday to Saturday and 23:00 on Sunday. This café is the one least visited by tourists out of the cafés named here. It is connected to an Art Nouveau arcade of shops conceived by the ex-president, Václav Havel’s, Grandfather. Decorated with faux marble, glistening crystal lanterns, and ornamental metal-work, this gem of the 1920s has archway windows overlooking David Cerný’s renowned Horse sculpture suspended underneath the glass-topped atrium. Palác Lucerna, Štěpánská 61, New Town; Open from 10:00 to 01:00 Monday to Saturday and 23:00 on Sunday.
Kavárna Obecní dům
This splendid café in Prague’s lavish Municipal House provides the chance to sample your cappuccino amongst a cavalcade of art nouveau elegance. Also worthy of note is the nice, small American Bar down in the building’s basement, with polished wood, gleaming copper and stained glass. Náměstí Republiky 5, Old Town; Open from 07:30 to 23:00. Website
Kavárna Evropa
This café boasts the best atmosphere on Wenceslas Square and is a faded museum of exaggerated art nouveau. Unfortunately, it has been a tourist haven for a long time and only offers basic coffee and cakes at inflated prices, but it is still worth a brief visit to see the inside of it. Address: Václavské náměstí 25, New Town; Open from 09.30 to 23:00. Website
Kavárna Slavia
This café is the best known of Prague’s older cafés and consists of an onyx-and-cherrywood tribute to art deco splendour, shiny, limestone-coated tables and large windows looking out onto the river. It’s well known for its’ use as a communal area for the literary community ever since the earlier part of the twentieth century – Franz Kafka and Rainer Maria Rilke spent time there, and Václav Havel visited it along with other political dissidents during the nineteen seventies and eighties. Address: Národní třída 1, New Town; Open from 08:00 to 00:00 Monday to Friday and from 09:00 to 00:00 Saturday and Sunday. Website
Café Montmartre
Founded in 1911, the café Montmartre, more commonly known as “cabaret Montmartre”, still welcomes guests day and night at the beautiful historical House at the Three Savages. It was famous during the First Republic as a dance and cabaret venue, frequented by the greatest Czech and German writers like Hašek, Kafka and Max Brod. It is a classic, small, barrel-vaulted café and pub which has not changed much since it was founded in 1911. It’s a lot quieter today than it once was, attracting a good mix of students and the occasional tourist. Address: Řetězová 7, Old Town
How to Order Coffee in Czech: At most contemporary coffee shops, you will find a menu of classic coffee preparations properly named; older Czech cafés and restaurants tend to have their own lingo. “Piccolo” is the universal term for a short coffee or what is normally referred to as espresso. Czech espresso, sometimes called “presso” is actually café lungo (espresso with hot water). Locally popular “Turecká káva” (Turkish coffee) is made by pouring boiling water over ground coffee and drinking it with the dregs still at the bottom of the cup.
Other Cafés
Bakeshop Praha
Kozí 1, Prague 1; www.bakeshop.cz
Blatouch
Americká 17, Prague 2; www.blatouch.cz
Café Bistro
Pobřežní 1, Prague 8; www.hiltonprague.com
Café Café
Rytířská 10, Prague 1; www.cafe-cafe.cz
Café Montmartre
Řetězová 7, Prague 1
Café Orange
Puškinovo náměstí 13, Prague 6
Café Vesmírna
Ve Smečkách 5, Prague 1; www.vesmirna.cz
Dobrá Čajovna
Václavské Náměstí 14, Prague 1; www.tea.cz
Dobrá Trafika
Korunní 42, Prague 2; www.dobratrafika.cz
Dobrá Trafika
Újezd 37, Prague 1; www.dobratrafika.cz
Dynamo
Pštrossová 220, Prague 1; www.dynamorestaurace.cz
Ebel Coffee
Řetězová 9, Prague 1; www.facebook.com/cafeebel/
Ebel Coffee
Kaprová 11, Prague 1; www.facebook.com/cafeebel/
Friends Coffee House
Palackého 7, Prague 1; www.milujikavu.cz
Globe Bookstore & Café
Pštrossova 6, Prague 1; www.globebookstore.cz
Kaficko
Míšeňská 67, Prague 1
Káva Káva Káva
Lidická 42, Prague 5; www.kava-coffee.cz
Kavárna Obecní Dům
Náměstí Republiky 5, Prague 1; www.kavarnaod.cz
Mama Coffee
Vodičkova 6, Prague 1; www.mamacoffee.cz
Mama Coffee
náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad 12, Prague 3; www.mamacoffee.cz
Paneria
Dlouhá 50, Prague 1; www.paneria.cz
Rybanaruby
Mánesova 87, Prague 2; www.rybanaruby.net
Starbucks
Malostranské náměstí, Prague 1; www.starbuckscoffee.cz
Týnská literární kavárna
Týnská 6, Prague 1; www.knihytynska.cz
U Zavěšenýho kafe
Úvoz 6, Prague 1; www.uzavesenyhokafe.cz
Velryba
Opatovická 24, Prague 1; www.kavarnavelryba.cz
