Katerina Kaftanova (1982)

Like (almost) every woman I like to go shopping for clothes. I try to combine the visits in classical fashion chains with the ones at young Czech fashion designers shops – with clothes from them, you have quite a chance that you won’t meet half of Prague in the same outfit. I took in affection the brand Leeda. Every time I go there, I buy something new (and that is also the reason why I should not go there too often).

Leeda is an original Czech brand, created by a duo of designers Lucie Kutalková and Lucie Trnková. Their collections are thematically tuned and you can always find some extravagant models as well as normally wearable to the office and for leisure time. I find it interesting that Leeda is also cooperating with people from other creative areas (art, architecture, graphical design etc) – eg. the world-known architect Jan Kaplický was concerned in one of the collections named Leeda Kaplicky.

From time to time Leeda throws fashion parties to sell out old collections. It’s always a small event with a nice atmosphere – the small shop and its surrounding is full of people, chatting over a glass of wine and some chips.

P.S. Leeda is now known among movie stars – Tilda Swinton and also Kim Cattrall went shopping there while filming in Prague

For sweet lovers with refined taste, patisserie St. Tropez is a very dangerous place, where your passion for chocolate can fully break out.

Under the name Passion Chocolat the French married couple Musso ran their company at Vinohrady neighborhood, in 2009 they relocated further into the city centre to the passage at Dům U Nováků (just a couple footsteps from Wenceslas square).

The interior of the patisserie feels airy and holds our interest with the prep place where you can observe the production…fortunately all the goodies are separated by a glass wall. The place is strictly non-smoking.

Croissants for breakfast, cakes and tarts of various flavors to afternoon coffee or a cup of tea, delicious chocolate pralines, popular macarons or gateaux to order – everybody will find his or her favorite in St. Tropez.

If you have a dilemma, which one among the many sweets you should choose, try a couple of mini-sweets out (I also recommend the macarons, e.g. the lavender one) and then let the smiley madame Nadine pack the one which you like the most for you in its classic size.

Na Kopci restaurant, which is situated in the quiet villadom part of Smíchov is owned by two friends who have known each other since childhood. The outside of the restaurant might surprise you – it’s a typical building from the communist eighties. The inside of the restaurant is nice and modern, various family photos decorate the walls.

A couple of important things : 1) I strongly recommend you make a reservation, 2) the restaurant is non-smoking, 3) if you’re on foot, keep in mind that it might be quite a long walk uphill!

The cuisine can be considered as international – it consists of various selected dishes of different types. The menu changes during the year and reflects the seasons.

For starters, try the chef’s selection of six starters, from the main courses I can recommend one of my favorite dishes –  the beef tartare with fries, which has become quite legendary for Na Kopci. Because the menu changes a couple of times during the year, you can always find something new.

The fact that the restaurant is uphill might be positive at the end – if you do not want to take a bus or taxi on your way back, you can simply roll down with a big tummy

The owners also have another restaurant called Na Konci and also a bistro in Prague 6. You can check the website for more info.

I’m not a big fan of fast food. Nevertheless, when I’m in a hurry looking for a quick bite, it’s a suitable option.

Since my studies, I have had a thing for hot dogs. It has always been cheap plus I had the feeling that I wasn’t supporting international corporations :-).

In Czech republic we actually have our version of hot dog called “párek v rohlíku” – the sausage is not placed in a lengthwise cut bun, but in a hole made in this bun. You can find quite a lot of hot dog stalls all around Prague. I like the one which is at Náměstí Míru (called Mírák), situated strategically near the subway entrance. You can have your hot dog with different types of mustards and ketchup. There’s also an economic value meal, with a hot dog, a wafer and a cold drink.

I recommend you take your hot dog and then eat it on the steps of the nearby church – eating fast food does not mean, that we can not slow down a little bit at the same time, right?

There are many places in Prague where I would like to live. One of my dream locations is the district Vinohrady (something like NYC´s Upper East – check this great comparative article :-). There is one place that I really like – the park called Riegrovy sady alias “Riegráče”. I have to make a confession – I really envy the park not only to all inhabitants of the neighbourhood but also to the employees of an unnamed advertising agency which is located there :-).

When I was studying at the university, I often went to Riegráče to prepare myself for the exams. I brought lecture notes and within learning (or at least an attempt at learning) observed people walking their dogs.

I like the park not only for its location but also for the variety of pubs. On warm days, there is a quite large open-air self-service beer garden (where you can watch a sports game or play a table soccer) and a couple of other pubs including one which is situated in the local sport centre.

But there is one thing, that I like the most about Riegrovy sady – the amazing view of the city. I could sit on the bench for hours contemplating my beloved city. Try it yourself, but be careful: it can be addictive :-)!