Prague recommendations

hot fuss

Hi,

Does anyone have any recommendations of bars, restaurants, places to see, things to do for a long weekend in Prague?

Any recommendations welcome!!

Thanks

hot fuss

I'm bumping this because surely someone has some pub or restaurant to recommend... Ah go on...

Timmy_d

"the gentlemans club":)

kcb

Molly Malones is a good Irish pub

Padraig Mor

Check out MadSL's posts in this thread - highly informative:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=176812

Restaurants - most of those directly on Wenceslas Sq are rip off joints - avoid. Try Dynamo or Universal, both behind the National Theatre. Cafe Louvre on Narodni, very close to Tesco and above the Rock Cafe (or something similar) is an institution and a great place for a lazy lunch. Their salted bread is delicious! Plenty of pubs around; avoid the Irish bars - rip off ****holes. The Lucerna music bar has live music (covers etc) most nights - it's about 50 metres on the left up Vodickova going from Wenceslas Sq. Follow the tram lines!

hot fuss

That's great Padraig. Thanks for that. I will be steering clear of Irish pubs - can't stand Irish pubs abroad. I'm going to Prague for Czech pubs funnily enough!

Just wanted to ask, is English widely spoken there. Czech looks like a damn tough language to learn, even just the basic phrases!!

Padraig Mor

Most people in service jobs in Prague should speak at least some English and are generally friendly. Except the grocery staff in Tesco who seem to spend their days practicing withering stares and irate grumbling!

PS If you're bringing back ciggies, they're just as cheap in town as in the airport.

Padraig Mor

Not doing much at work so I've thrown together some more detailed info...

Restaurants.
Dynamo restaurant. Pštrossova 220/29. Down Narodni to National Theatre. Turn left along river. Take the second left and Dynamo is around the corner from the pub on the left.
http://www.dynamorestaurace.cz/

Universal restaurant. V Jircharich 6. Diagonally across from Dynamo.
http://www.universalrestaurant.cz/index_flash.html

La Provence. Stupartska 9. Bit more upmarket and pricey but why not spalsh out? From the old town square, go down the alley to the right of Tyn Church (under the arch) and it's along there somewhere on a corner. The Chateau pub that MadSL referred to in his thread is along here too.
http://www.kampagroup.com/en/

Cafe Louvre. Narodni 22. Just down from Tesco.
http://www.cafelouvre.cz/en/

Pubs
U Pinkasu. Jungmannova Square. Kind of left at the bottom (New Yorker end) of Wenceslas Sq, near the metro entrance.
http://www.upinkasu.cz/rest_en.html

U Bubenicku. Myslikova 8, near the river. Real old time place, great beer.
http://www.ububenicku.cz/index_en.html

U Medvidku. Na Perštýně 7. Take the road directly across from the front of Tesco. Can't miss it.
http://www.umedvidku.cz/

Lucerna Music Bar. Vodickova 36. Events listing:
http://musicbar.iquest.cz/wwwroot/index.php?page=program
Also the associated Lucerna Pub (Hospoda v Lucerne) is downstairs, without live music. Directions in previous post.
http://www.hospodalucerna.cz/

If you're looking for a map to go with the directions, try www.mapy.cz

dobsdave

Get on a train/metro and go about 1/2 kms from the city centre.
Its like going into a different world.(apart from the fact the people are still really friendly:D)
The castle is really worth seeing.Apart from that wasn't very impressed at all.
Parts were very touristy and other parts just dirty/seedy.

hot fuss

Thanks for all your recommendations.. much appreciated

shelly6

Hey
I actually lived in Prague for a while. Most of the English that is tourist related is very good. Outside of this it can be very dogy. The very best thing to do is to go to Charles Bridge first. There are lads (Usually coloured) dressed in sailor/navy suits, who offer boat trips - I was very suspicious as it really looks like a scam, but for bout a tenner they will give you a really good trip, with excellent commentary - much better than the larger boats with the dinner and all included.

As recommended The Louvre Cafe is briliant - the menu is fascinating. The Bar below is a great late night bar. Another restaurant that I loved, I can't remember the name of - it is on the route between the bridge and the castle, quite near the top of the hill. They have a tourist menu advertised and the food is great. 3 course meal for about 7 euro. The restaurant in the castle grounds (back entrance) is really good - they will serve you a whole piglet. Bit pricier, but worth it. The bars around old town square are pricey and not great. Molly's is fantastic craic, but if you don't want the Irish bar.... I would say don't knock it till you try it. The staff are fantastic.

But I would really strongly reccomend the boat trip - its a great intro and really helps you decide what to do next!

masterK

I find this restaurant really nice and not overly pricey. The decor was really modern and cool.
http://www.cowboysrestaurant.cz/

ChippingSodbury

That MadSL post was really informative. He mentioned:
"If you have time walk across to the monastery at Strahov. Great views of the city on the walk."
The view from there is fantastic. We were there when it was snowing (v. cold but spectacular). The trams have heated seats so if you get on you might not get off for a while!!

The original Child of Prague is also on display there in one of the churches: can't remember the name but it's fairly close to Charles bridge, same side of river as Monastery. The 'oul wans' will be fierce proud of you if you bring them back a mini-replica!!

Also, go and hear some opera or classical music: you don't have to be mad into it but the standard is phenomenal in even smll recitals/ performances. You definitely won't regret it.

Woden

I recall this place

http://www.artgraphica.net/art-shop/prague-kutna-hora-bone-church.htm

being an interesting day trip outside prague if it has not been mentioned already. It was a few years back so I'm afraid i'm a bit fuzzy on details other then it was in Kutna Hora maybe 45mins-1hr on the train. If I recall also is also a mine that you can visit in the town but unfortunately time did not permit for us.

shane86

hot fuss wrote: »

That's great Padraig. Thanks for that. I will be steering clear of Irish pubs - can't stand Irish pubs abroad. I'm going to Prague for Czech pubs funnily enough!

Just wanted to ask, is English widely spoken there. Czech looks like a damn tough language to learn, even just the basic phrases!!

Was over for Stans Last (foreign) Stand, went for the match on Sept 12th.
Most pubs, stip clubs and restaurents only sell a beer called Pilsner Urquell. Its drinkable, but being the only beer available it becomes tiresome after 5 days and 60 pints of it. Some places sell bottled Budvar but generally its only PU, which was a bit disappointing giving their apparent proud brewing industry.

Most staff in bars and restaurents speak English. Which is good, I looked through a lonely planet phrases/word section in the Prague book, its ****ing tongue twisting

Strip clubs are mad. On the street you will have these black lads who work as promoters, they will offer you something like "Come on in this one lads, beautiful girls and free admission". Always bargain the dude- there is so much competition you will always get a freebie. If you bargain or act disinterested, you will get a free pint or two just for going in, the promoter just clears it with the bouncer and you are set. Of course, if you are rubbered you will lose the run of yourself inside, throwing 500 krona notes around the place like you are Tony Soprano On the first night you will just be staring open mouthed at the live shows and the general set up, those places are insane. Everything from girl on girl, some lad dressed as a wolf lamping some young one out of it while downing a pint, and, apprently (i thankfully didnt see it) a midget couple :eek: The second you walk in you will be surrounded by birds offering additional services upstairs. Even if you have no intention of paying you get an oul grope for at least 5 mins if you can keep the conversation going

Oh and yeah- NEVER buy a stripper a drink, one of the lads said they charged him the equivalent of 20 euro (he was locked, obviously)

Alot of conmen around and all, you cant walk 20 feet down Wencleas Square (the huge main street, which bizarrely isnt really a square at all) without being offered coke (or, more likely, sugar) or knockdown exchange rates for your euros by street sellers (probably monopoly money you get in return). Its a nice city with a general good vibe, but it is extremely dodgy if you dont have your wits about you, and its surpring that in such a tourist city the police dont clamp down on it.

Can anyone tell me what the regular nightclubs are like, in terms of tunes, birds, pulling etc. Unfortunately we didnt make it to one due to money issues (see paragraph above ). Would deffo go back, though id do it in the height of the summer.

shelly6

ChippingSodbury wrote: »

That MadSL post was really informative. He mentioned:
"If you have time walk across to the monastery at Strahov. Great views of the city on the walk."
The view from there is fantastic. We were there when it was snowing (v. cold but spectacular). The trams have heated seats so if you get on you might not get off for a while!!

The original Child of Prague is also on display there in one of the churches: can't remember the name but it's fairly close to Charles bridge, same side of river as Monastery. The 'oul wans' will be fierce proud of you if you bring them back a mini-replica!!

Also, go and hear some opera or classical music: you don't have to be mad into it but the standard is phenomenal in even smll recitals/ performances. You definitely won't regret it.

I agree with the opera or ballet - they are fntiastic in Prague and amazingly cheap. That church s called the Church of the Immaculate Conception - its one of wo that do mass in English

Jestershire

If you fancy a quiet drink to start out after a rough one the night before, try Bar And Books. It's this little place in a quite part of Tynska, near the Hotel Josef. It's a really professional place, they'll heat and prepare your cigars, mix your cucumber martinis right in front of you, etc. There's a huge bookcase in the back where you can pull down whatever takes your fancy for a gander, lots of first editions, etc. A few martinis in you and you'll be swinging from the rafters, they mix them strong as to blow your nads off.

The low cost of living there means you could have 4-5 drinks, a cigar or 2, a lift home in a rolls and you'd still be paying less than an average hour out in dublin.

shane86 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what the regular nightclubs are like, in terms of tunes, birds, pulling etc. Unfortunately we didnt make it to one due to money issues (see paragraph above ). Would deffo go back, though id do it in the height of the summer.

If you do go back, check out Karlovy Lazne in Old Town. You pay about the equivalent of 5 euro in, and there's 5 levels with a different type of club on each one. You get a shedload of dancers going there on their nights off. Don't even try talking to them, they won't understand a word and you'll go down like a lead balloon. It's all about the dance floor if you wanna get anywhere

It's a bit dodge though a times, I was just dancing with a bird for 5 minutes before she lead me downstairs to get her coat. Hadn't a word of english in her, she went outside to talk to "someone", it was either her roommate, pimp, or bodyguard. Could well have been all 3. I pressed the eject button soon after.

quickstitch.ie

I like this pub... http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=396
great steak there... Mollys is decent, loads of little taverns to visit, good an cheap, the irish and english places are more expensive, the cafe lourve place good too, plenty of pool tables there to while away the time... A friend lives there, always insists on getting the till receipt for beer and food rather than the written receipt which would be in czech and a very special price for mister foreigner..

ted1

lafkia is a good club.. full of locals and toursits... right besides chales bridge. be suire to taste the absenthie.. its a small city, you can walk around it in a day and places are easy to find, just watch your belongings and never trust a gypsy girl called lucky!!!!!

being there twice once on a stag and once with the gfirlfriend. it 's like two differnt places. on the stag every second door was a strip club, with the girlfriend we didn't notice any. the only thing we did find was the sex museun whgich is quiet good if thats your thing

hot fuss

shane86 wrote: »

Strip clubs are mad. On the street you will have these black lads who work as promoters, they will offer you something like "Come on in this one lads, beautiful girls and free admission". Always bargain the dude- there is so much competition you will always get a freebie. If you bargain or act disinterested, you will get a free pint or two just for going in, the promoter just clears it with the bouncer and you are set. Of course, if you are rubbered you will lose the run of yourself inside, throwing 500 krona notes around the place like you are Tony Soprano On the first night you will just be staring open mouthed at the live shows and the general set up, those places are insane. Everything from girl on girl, some lad dressed as a wolf lamping some young one out of it while downing a pint, and, apprently (i thankfully didnt see it) a midget couple :eek: The second you walk in you will be surrounded by birds offering additional services upstairs. Even if you have no intention of paying you get an oul grope for at least 5 mins if you can keep the conversation going

Oh and yeah- NEVER buy a stripper a drink, one of the lads said they charged him the equivalent of 20 euro (he was locked, obviously)QUOTE]

Thanks for all that info, but as I'm a woman going there with my husband I don't think I'll need it

Jestershire

Prague is a strange place like that. As you're going with your other half, you'll rarely see the seedier part of the city, save for the odd drug dealer offering you discount smack.

As soon as the promoters see a group of blokes within screaming distance they let their fishing hooks fly.

I'd recommend renting out a wee rowboat down the banks of one of the bridges if you get a fine afternoon, makes for a relaxing hour or two.



Shot I got on one of my last nights there.

jrar

shane86 wrote: »

Was over for Stans Last (foreign) Stand, went for the match on Sept 12th.
Most pubs, stip clubs and restaurents only sell a beer called Pilsner Urquell. Its drinkable, but being the only beer available it becomes tiresome after 5 days and 60 pints of it. Some places sell bottled Budvar but generally its only PU, which was a bit disappointing giving their apparent proud brewing industry.

Shane86, was over there that week too with 3 days in Bratislava first - after the feed of Zlaty Bazant beer there, it was a welcome relief to have the like of PU to drink. Not sure what places you frequented bu I had no problem getting PU, Staropramen, Budvar all on draught in various places ! If it's pilsener lager you're after, you can't beat the Czechs (just ask Stan !)