Jana Kneschke (1979)

A relatively new Thai restaurant opened in the very heart of Prague – Perlová street. Very minimalistic in design, but very ‘maximalistic’ on portions, so ask about the size first before you place your final order. Their soups can be hard to finish – a large portion is 1 litre of soup, noodles, veggies and meat, and that is a lot. Even a very skilled gobbler would have to be very hungry to eat it all.

My favourite dish is Udon soup (I have to confess my growing preference for slim Udon noodles), and their Pad Thai is still not be missed. But do not search for overly spicy food here – here they conform to the more Western type of Thai, which is convenient for most people here, not used to hot Thai meals.

It’s a good place for early lunch, afternoon snack or late dining, and a great place for a business lunch as wi-fi is now a matter of course in Prague’s cafés and restaurants.

The question, whether you like Chinese or not, is pretty rhetorical in my opinion. The amount of artificial flavoring, overfried food and creepy smells is something I always want to avoid.

But there are exceptions to “Asian take-away” – like this small bistro, Thanh Tam: Asia fast food, just off Albertov tram stop, where they cook an excellent take-away, from Thai to Vietnamese. And no artificial additives.

As I am very sensitive to any glutamate additives and other taste-enhancers, eating in fast food places is a real pain. This jewel was discovered by friends – and ever since then I keep bringing people around, who bring their friends and then friends of friends come…

It is important to keep such a great little bistro busy, so it is to Thanh Tam I go, when I get hungry and feel too lazy to cook .

Hard de Core is an ideal place for interesting “souvenirs” from Prague, and heaven for those like me – who enjoy a salt shaker in the shape of a zeppelin or earrings that look more like light bulbs.

You can find here original Czech design in the form of fashion, accessories, ceramics, interior decorations, notebooks and jewelry. You find pieces by well-known names like Maxim Velčovský and there is also plenty of stuff from newly established designers and artists.

What they share is an unusual idea, originality, and cleverness in the final design. No matter what is it made of – porcelain, glass, metal, plastic or textile – you choose and your taste is the arbiter. Have a look at their gallery. But better is to go in yourselves.This shop is small in size but has some great things on offer. It is an art workshop, design studio and a boutique. Hard-de-Core also offers weekend art classes for adults and classes for kids from the age of 2.

Café Imperial, that really stands for its name, is famous for many reasons. Firstly, its tiles. Walls and pylons covered with ceramic, handmade tiles almost a century old, have been recently restored – and with them the whole interior including furnishing.

Here you can experience the golden time of European grand cafés, while enjoying one of the many delicious dishes made by Zdeněk Pohlreich, one of the best Czech chefs. A second good reason to have a lunch here. But – this trendy chef has got his own prices…

The third reason? Let’s take a little detour first. Before reconstruction, there was an odd thing on the menu: a plate of donuts for CZK 2000 (approx. EUR 70.00). That gave you the right to …

Well, a famous Czech novel, Saturnin (which was translated to English too) gives some idea of what might be in store:

„Let’s take a man without fantasy – in a half-full café who looks on a plate of donuts untill lunch – without the slightest idea of what to do with them. Then there are people, who after seeing this plate of donuts will imagine how delightful it would be to start throwing them at others … and, then there is the third kind, who are carried away by such fantasy, that they get up and do it!”

A laid back atmosphere, exquisite Mexican cuisine and welcoming staff are the main reasons why I can be found in this restaurant just off Anděl metro stop several times a month. As their kitchen is open well until midnight, it’s a nice place for a late dinner.

The chef in Hombre del Mundo masters, without a drop in a quality, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, grilled meat, vegetables, salads a of course deserts too. If I should pick one plate to recommend you it would be “Sartén filetés de carne”. In other words fine slices of sirloin put on hot oil with rosemary and green pepper – and brought directly to your table. So beware – it is incredibly hot and incredibly good. Perfect with warm vegetables or french fries, as you wish.

The have good choices for vegetarians too, and if you wish, they make a meal according to your individual order.