Snacks – All our local tips

It seems that the places with good coffee tend to be in the same neighbourhood. Besides Bio zahrada (check the  Bio zahrada article), there is Al Cafetero, situated in the Blanicka street (the ending vertical to Vinohradska street).

This non-smoking café bar was actually awarded “The best café bar” in the annual competition Czech Bar Awards and I think that it´s well deserved. Not only they have a nice selection of coffee, but they also know perfectly, how to prepare it. Besides the classics like espresso or cappuccino you can also try their speciality – single origin coffee from vacuum pot.

If you are not a coffee person, you can have a glass of wine together with some small stuff to eat – some tapas, salads and small meals (try for example the tuscanny grilled vegetable). Al Cafetero can be also a nice place where to start your day – they prepare breakfasts as well (eggs in different style etc.)

The overall ambiance of the place is very nice and the staff (the owners) are always very friendly (but professional). And if you can not live without internet, you can relax – they have wifi

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Al Cafetero | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Espresso CZK 38
Blanická 24 | Praha 2 | +420777061161
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 21:30

There is couple of hubs in Prague and Anděl (means Angel) belongs to the most interesting ones. It is relatively off the main tourist track (even though near are hotels – like Mövenpick and big office houses, as well as some sites), but day and night busy and crowded.

Here lot of tram lines meet, it is also underground line B station and very close there is a bus station serving passengers heading south and south-west of Prague. There are also two multiplex cinemas, many pubs, restaurants (featured on Spotted: check the Hombre del Mundo article), clubs or cafés. A huge shopping mall Nový Smíchov is also here – with large Tesco opened till midnight, Marks & Spencer or many other shops.

The area looked very different yet in early 90’s, and if you want to find our more on the very special genius loci it once hosted, you can read an excerpt from the book Anděl by Jáchym Topol – published in Post Road Magazine. It used to be a dirty, gray factory area. Now the only big “industrial” company remained is the Smíchov brewery (as of now part of Anheuser Busch-Inbev, the biggest world beer producer). Instead of machinery factories (which were the reason of boom of Smíchov by the end of 19th century), Anděl is a place where media houses, pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies resides, as well as Seznam, Czech rival of Google.

But the best part is watching the crowds of all kinds of Prague residents how they hasten somewhere. Also check out the Plzeňský restaurant Anděl – one part is 24/7 with best Pilsner all around, so the last beer that night might be the best one.

(The photo shows tough winter 2010 – and the grey building in the middle is … a synagogue!)

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Anděl | Bars, Cinemas, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (intern.)
Anděl | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Atmosféra is a favourite student place. It is spacious, consisting of three separate parts, two rooms and a garden with tables in between them. The rugged space even provides two entrances from various streets. And also makes this café somewhat more interesting.

On the walls you’ll find oldschool-like satiric posters usually with some smiling face and text saying for instance „Tequila – have you hugged your toilet today?” on them. In Atmosféra, there is also a table-football, a very popular pub-game in Prague.

It is not just the interior and equipment that makes it visit-worthy. It is very much thanks to the food. It is cheap, rich and tasty. You can for example buy half a kilo of there-made fried potato slices which they serve with three different dressings. It is a fair snack for four (or food for two ) and costs only 70 Crowns. They also have great Mexican specialities. And five types of cold cheap draft beer… Not to forget, they have a free Wi-Fi access.

Atmosféra is located right in the center, five minutes from Charles Bridge or National Theatre (check the National Theatre article). If you are ever around, hungry and thirsty, you must care for a visit!

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Atmosféra | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (International) | Pilsner, 0,5 l CZK 35
Smetanovo nábřeží 14/ Karolíny Světlé 33 | Praha 1 | +420222222114
Café 11:30 – 01:00 daily | Pub 12:00 – … | Garden 11:30 – 22:00 daily

One my favourite places on my daily path is a pleasant place named Bio Zahrada (Bio garden) which is situated in Belgicka street, just outside Namesti Miru.

As the name is suggesting, Bio zahrada is as a shop with organic food including fresh vegetables (sometimes meat) and now functions also as a point of supply for veggie boxes (which becomes a growing popular trend among certain people, myself included ).

Bio zahrada is also a nice non-smoking coffee house, where you can have a cup of really good coffee (try for example the Brazilian single origin coffee prepared in french press) and a delicious dessert - various types of cakes (apricot, rapsberry, cheesecake etc) . When it is warm outside (I wish the spring comes soon!), you can sit in the garden and relax for a while.

Sometimes I go to Bio Zahrada for a light lunch – I usually have a soup (each day except Saturdays they have another soup on the menu) and a sandwich (well..and a cake too . If you are in a rush, you can take the sandwiches or salads away. For those, who are Internet addicts or just want to check their emails it might be a useful information that they have wi-fi connection there.

Bio Zahrada is not only a friendly place for getting together over a cup of coffee but also a place for occasional events, eg. coffee tastings managed by the coffee roasting company which supplies Bio Zahrada or some organic wine testing.

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Bio zahrada | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Espresso CZK 38.00
Belgická 33 | Praha 2 | +420603752468
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 20:00, Sat 14:00 – 20:00

There are two types of cafés I enjoy. First and more common one in Prague is a Viennese stylish café often with long history and Austro-Hungarian origin, lots of marble and brass, located in old palaces (like Café Lucerna). The second type is the Parisian type with small round tables reaching out into the sidewalks, where customers can closely watch what happens in the streets – very rare in Prague.

Café 35 is a part of the French Institute of Prague (Institut Français de Prague, IFP) and is located in its yard so unfortunately is has no direct acces to the street. But besides this fact it’s a true French style café, with fresh French pastry in the morning, French music playing, French specialities for lunch and even up-to-date French newspapers.

Free Wi-fi connection is available. Also cultural events like concerts, lectures or readings organized by the IFP take place there. To get into the café you first have to enter the IFP. It’s a great place for meeting  French speaking people because many expats come here as well as teachers and students from the IFP.

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Café 35 | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (French) | Café au lait CZK 35
Štěpánská 35 | Praha 1
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 14:00, Sun closed

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. A second good reason to have a lunch here.

This very experienced chef of the Prague culinary scene is the genius of truly Czech cuisine – in the original 20-30’s style that was as light and fun as italian cuisine today. Forget heavy sauces with stony dumplings – and experience taste in Czech style like never before.

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 2000 CZK (approx. 70 EUR). 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!

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Café Imperial | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Czech) | Main meal CZK 150.00
Na Poříčí 15 | Praha 1 | +420246011440
07:00 – 23:00 daily

“Sentimental, maudlin, melodramatic, corny”, that’s what Urban dictionary says about the word “cheesy”.

The truth is that after having some cheese from this place I do feel maudlin and sentimental. Sentimental when there is not a single crystal left from the super-old Gouda I love. Maudlin is that phase when there is only one last bite left. Melodramatic fits when I offer a mature goat cheese around my office. Corny are the comments of those who refuse.

Cheesy is a franchise, with shops open all over the Czech Republic, and with couple in Prague. You can find all shops in map on their website.

List of those in Prague:
Prague 1 Old Town – V Kolkovně 4
Prague 2 Vinohrady – Jugoslávská 23 (where picture is taken)
Prague 2 Žižkov – Slavíkova 3
Prague 4 Podolí – Podolská 3
Prague 5 Smíchov – Štefánikova 18/25
Prague 6 Břevnov – Bělohorská 117
Prague 7 Letná – Letenské náměstí 6
Prague 8 Karlín – Sokolovská 49

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Cheesy | Shopping, Snacks
Jugoslávská 23 | Praha 2
Depends on location, see website

It was a coincidence that I found a hidden vegetarian restaurant so close to the Charles Bridge. I was expecting an average looking place with decent food and prices. When I first walked in, I realized I found a very special place. Every time I go out for lunch or dinner, Lehka Hlava (Clear Head) is the first option in my mind.

There are two main rooms in Clear Head and both are incredibly well designed. I especially enjoy eating in the “blue room” under the stars by the fireplace. And there is no better feeling than drinking my favorite drink called Sahlep and letting myself warm up by the fire. If you need a little more privacy, there is also a private and nicely decorated room for about six people with a central glass table illuminated by colored lights.

Clear Head is a sister restaurant of Maitrea (check the Maitrea article) so, if you are unlucky and there is not a table for you in one, you can try the other (and the experience will be just as good). I recommend making a reservation in advance for both Clear Head and Maitrea.

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Clear Head | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan) | Main meal CZK 140
Boršov 2/280 | Praha 1 | +420222220665
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 23:30, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:30

Dobra Tearoom on Wenceslas Square was the first tearoom I visited in Prague. Although the very first time I noticed the existence of the Dobra Tea chain was in Burlington, Vermont in the United States. The memory of it is quite funny as you don’t expect seeing a Czech company in the US, especially a tearoom. So it was obvious that after coming back to Prague I had to see the “mother” of all Dobra Teas.

There are two Dobra tearooms in Prague and I would personally prefer the one in Ostrovni street before the one on Wenceslas Square. It is still a nice option if you’re in the very center of the city and want to have some real tea.

If you’re walking down the Square trying to squeeze your way through the crowds of people it can get a little overwhelming. And here she is, right on the busy street. What a relief when you sit down to sip one of her finest teas. In winter, the tearoom provides a cozy place to relax and warm up when your feet are cold and tired from sightseeing. In summer, the shadow of the terrace will cool down both your glowing cheeks and your mind.

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Dobrá Čajovna | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Pot of Tea CZK 100
Václavské náměstí 14 | Praha 1 | +420224231480
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 21:30, Sat – Sun 14:00 – 21:30

It hasn’t been that long since they opened a new Dobra Tearoom. Another of Dobra Teas was born at Ostrovní Street. It is smaller and I find it cozier than the one on Wenceslas Square (check the Dobrá Čajovna article). So if I have a chance to choose I always go to this one.

Another reason why I prefer the „daughter tearoom” is the smell of hookah that adds to a relaxed atmosphere, which you can’t experience in the other Prague’s Dobra. Otherwise the menu is really similar if not the same in both.

Dobrá čajovna at Ostrovní offers more space where you can sit right on the carpeted floor bolstered with cushions. Except for that there’s also a nice private space I call „the nest”. You climb a wooden ladder to get there and then you can sip your tea or smoke your hookah undisturbed.

If you fall in love with the tea you got, you can also buy it right in the tearoom altogether with a tea pot and cups. And if you can read Czech, I recommend buying and reading a book written by one of the owners of Dobra tearooms called Milec Čaje. It is a fascinating story about tea travels that makes you want to grab your backpack and go to explore the tea plantations in Asia yourself.

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Dobrá Čajovna at Ostrovní | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Pot of Tea from CZK 70
Ostrovní 26 | Praha 1 | +420776097949
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 14:00 – 23:00

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 hot and incredibly good. Perfect with warm vegetables or french fries, as you wish.

But the barman does not lag far behind the chef. What about a Daiquiri as a starter and Mojito as a desert?

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Hombre del Mundo | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants | Main meal from CZK 90.00
Nádražní 21 | Praha 5 | +420257326902
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 00:00

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

Since my studies, I have a thing for hot dog. It has always been cheap plus I had a feeling that I’m not 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 hot dog, a wafer and a cold drink.

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

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Hot dog at Mírák | Snacks | Hot dog CZK 19.00
Náměstí Míru | Praha 2
Practically daily, the opening hours might vary

Proudly standing on the corner of Celetná and Ovocný trh, the House at the Black Madonna is a true home of Czech Cubism. It is worth seeing as this art period was, in Czech, strong and fruitful. “Sharp points, slicing planes, crystalline shapes. These are the trademarks of the Czech Cubists – a unique, avant-garde group, feverishly active in Prague between 1910 and 1914.”, says Modernista. There is a stable exhibition of the artwork of e. g. Otto Guttfreund,  Emil Filla, Josef Čapek (brother of Karel Čapek, the writer) and Josef Gočár, of course, the author of this amazing bulding.

After the art-seeing, to revive your stamina, have a coffee or snack on the first floor, in the Grand Café Orient. You can choose from deserts and sandwiches, fresh juices and hot chocolate – and all will be served in design porcelain. Even the ashtrays and sugar bowl are cubist designs. And if you get trapped by the elegance of straight lines and edges, you can buy your own piece in the downstairs shop, Kubista.

If you want to know more about Czech cubism, there’s an article about Czech cubism on the Spotted by Locals main website.

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House at the Black Madonna | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks | CZK 100
Ovocný trh 19 | Praha 1
Gallery Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00 | Café Mon – Fri 09:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 22:00 &source

Another of my favourite places with a very convenient location – only about 10 minute walk from both Václavské námestí (Wenceslas Square) and Karlovo námestí (Charles Square). This one is great for occasions when you’re not feeling like going to a restaurant or pub but you want to eat and drink something anyway, especially something sweet

Italská cukrárna (Italian candy store) offers a wide range of ice-cream sundaes (about 20 kinds) – all with excellent Italian ice-cream (which can be sold separately) – almost 30 different flavors of milk shake, various cakes and other hot and cold beverages. The prices are, with regard to the location, more than pocket friendly.

Candy stores like this one used to be very frequent in Prague and people would go there with children. Now everyone just goes to fast-foods and candy stores are dying out. I think it’s a great pity – that’s why I try to support them by going there.

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Italská cukrárna | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Milk shake CZK 25.00
Vodickova 4 | Praha 1
10:00 – 19:00 daily

Dejvice is not located in center of Prague, but if you happen to arrive in the area of A metro line final station Dejvická, there is a hidden little gem to find. Café Kabinet – as the name suggests – is specially decorated in the style of school cabinets – or to be precise, covering the whole history of schooling since late 19th century and high schools of the Austrian empire.

The place creates an atmosphere of days which had been gone, old furniture is combined with lot of crazy items, the place is divided with an upper floor as a hideout for debaters and downstairs resides the bar.

You can chat long hours with a stable supply of good wine (no beer on tap!), if you don’t mind the fact the place is full of cigarette smoke. You know, European intellectuals don’t really care that much about their health. One of the good points are cakes and toast sandwiches – worth a try!

They also have a strange DIY magazine covering underground cultural events on Prague 6 (some of them happen directly in Kabinet), so if you’re lucky, there might be something going on!

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Kabinet | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Chocolate cake (Sachertorte) CZK 40
Terronská 25 | Praha 6
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 16:00 – 23:00

Status of Lemon Leaf as “the best thai in the city” will make it – only in case there would not be the Noodles restaurant just couple blocks down the road.

The truth is that their Thai cuisine is indeed good and does not go up and down in quality according to the tourist season as do many other places in the city. So if you are in the mood for something spicy, in good portions and relatively well priced, choose Lemon Leaf. And what always counts is their friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere and nice music.

Worth mentioning is also the self-service weekend buffet menu – all you can eat for just for 239 CZK. While browsing the morning news thanks to free wi-fi spot.

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Lemon Leaf | Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Main meal CZK 120
Myslíkova 14 | Praha 2 | +420224919056
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 22:00, Fri 11:00 – 00:30, Sat 12:30 – 00:30, Sun 12:30 – 22:00

According to the restaurant’s website, Maitrea Buddha is translated as loving kindness. This is obvious when you take a look at the menu of vegetarian, vegan foods, various beverages and the design of the whole place which keeps the principles of feng shui. The Buddha’s fountain which you can find downstairs adds to a calm yet vibrant atmosphere. For me and my friends, coming to Maitrea doesn’t only mean getting something delicious and healthy to eat but simply being able to enjoy the ambience of the space.

It can be hard to try a traditional Czech meal if you are vegetarian. However Maitrea’s menu offers traditional Czech cuisine that you can try even if you are not a meat lover. My favorite drinks to get are home-made lemonade when is hot and a fresh mint tea for colder days. If you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine, the selection of burritos and quesadillas and the great flavor of their guacamole will delight your taste buds.

Maitrea is located really close to Old Town Square so if you are looking for a place to go, want to experience something different and don’t want to spend too much money, Maitrea would be a great choice. I would recommend making a reservation as the place is really popular. And don’t forget, if you happen to be an ordained clergy, a monk or an enlightened person you will eat for free here!

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Maitrea | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan) | Main meal CZK 140
Tynská ulicka 6/1064 | Praha 1 | +420221711631
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 23:30, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:30

Little Buddha, as its name suggests, is a restaurant run by a Buddhist, who spent a couple years in the Shaolin monastery. But shhh, do not talk too much .-)

It’s located just across from the restaraunt is the Questenberg hotel, which has a facade reminiscent of a church, though in fact it used to be a hospital. Also the house in which the restaurant Malý Buddha is placed has an interesting history: the walls date from Romanesque, gothic, renaissance, and baroque times. Touch them – and maybe you will be able to hear the voice of the centuries.

But before the sound of your empty stomach outvoices the more subtle whisper of time, let`s have a look at the menu: if vegetarian, you will be pleased. If meat lover, you will adore it. The deserts do not linger for long.  All perfectly rounded up with reasonable prices, Malý Buddha is a perfect place to stop, when sightseeing around Prague Castle and its neighbourhood.

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Malý Buddha | Snacks, Restaurants (Oriental) | Main course CZK 120.00
Úvoz 46 | Praha 1 | +420220513894
Tue – Sun 12:00 – 22:30

I like to think that I’m supporting honest ideas and clear intentions. I think the owners of Mamacoffe had such intentions and connected their passion for coffee with supporting fair trade.

I’m not a coffee fan so coffee wouldn’t be the reason to come to Mama Café even though they have so many kinds – all fair trade. But I rank with the tea lovers so there is a wide variety for me to choose from. Mama also offers different fresh juices, milk shakes and exotic cocktails. If you’re lacking energy after a long day of sightseeing, you can cheer yourself up with a fair-trade energy drink. You can also get some of the delicious pastries they offer from their own bakery.

Mama Café reminds me of teashops and cafés that I’ve been to in the US. It is bright and nonsmoking and it’s almost always full. So if you want to be sure you have a place to sit, you can make a reservation. There are also different exhibitions and events happening there, so you can check out their website.

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Mamacoffee Café | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Milk Shake CZK 49
Vodičkova 6 | Praha 1
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 22:00

Have a drink or two and maybe meet some friends. That’s one of the reasons why I pop into the NoD bar time to time. The  other important reasons are the concerts, exhibition openings, and performances.

Experimental space NoD is connected with Roxy (see this article), a famous Prague club, and one of the oldest. Roxy downstairs, NoD upstairs. A perfect combination for those who feel frisky day`n`night.  NoD defines three subdivisions: theatre NoD, gallery NoD, and multimedia NoLab. They are connected by their openness to any good quality projects, efforts to uncover strange juxtapositions and dialogs.

When you arrive, get a drink first. The huge bar cannot be overlooked. Do not worry where to sit, there will always be a space, by the bar itself or on the platform next to the bar, or by the alcoves with jungle plants. And let me know, if you manage to work out any sensible connection between the neo-classical stuccos on the ceiling and the crazy paintings on the walls!

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NoD | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Snacks, Theaters | Show from CZK 100
Dlouhá 33 | Praha 1
14:00 – 22:00 daily

Why most bizarre? Because of 3 reasons:

1. – location
Nested at the corner of the park at the bottom of Karlovo náměstí, on the corner of a very busy crossing – 3 lanes of cars coming down the hill, 2 trams lines running up and 2 car lanes running across. Maybe like 50 cars and 3 trams a minute? Not to mention the all-day long traffic jam and time-to-time ambulances, fire engines and police cars…

2. – the “building”
The bar itself is located where a former public toilet was. So it is really quite small. And redone with a great affection for street art. They have the tiniest DJ table I ever saw in my life. Is there a toilet? Yes, the tiniest. But drinks here are graciously large.

3 – terrace
Take into account the location and its’ former use. And then walk upstairs onto the terrace and enjoy the perfect sofa/seats, and look down onto the daily buzz of stressed people, each of them in their own very small enclosures of carefully polished metal boxes on wheels.

You can watch the jolly public inside on their o2bar website.

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o2bar | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Mojito CZK 100.00
Karlovo náměstí | Praha 2
Afternoon till late daily

If I want a small treat or a snack break downtown, I often go to Ovocný Světozor (ovocný = fruity), which is strategically situated in the passage Světozor just nearby a cinema. Ovocný Světozor has been here till the seventies (under a slightly different name) and its popularity continued till nowadays.

You can find several branch stores across the city, but the central located one in Světozor is the most popular one. I like their „watery” ice cream (it´s rather a sorbet than a proper ice cream) which is one of the most popular items there and people are often waiting in queue for it. If it is a sunny day, I recommend you to take your ice cream away and sit in Františkánská zahrada.

Ovocný Světozor has a big assortment of cakes (especially the fruity ones) and ice cream cups. As far as the cups are concerned, you can choose between the ones on the menu or compose your own one choosing from fruits, ice creams and topping components.

If you are not in the mood for something sweet, try the Czech „tapas” – chlebíčky. What is a „chlebíček”? Something typically Czech (Czechoslovak), not really healthy (often with mayonnaise), but incredibly tasty :-) Technically speaking, it´s usually a piece of white bread roll, covered with different stuff -

butter, ham, salami, cheese, eggs, cucumber, potato salad etc. – there is many types of chlebíčky. Don´t be afraid to try them!

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Ovocný Světozor | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Chlebíček CZK 18.00
Vodičkova 39 | Praha 1 | +420224946826
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 20:00, Sun 11:00 – 20:00

There are not many places to go around our house or in Kobylisy. Romantinka is one of the few and it actually is a really nice spot worth checking out. Imagine if you built a tearoom in your living room. Does it sound cozy to you? I can tell you it feels cozy too because that is exactly what Romantinka is.

You take your shoes off before you walk in and make yourself comfortable either in one of their wicker armchairs or on a cushion. It is nicely warm inside which adds to the homey atmosphere.

Except for a large menu of teas, which also includes a big pot of Masala tea for a very good price and delicious warm mead, Romantinka also has a wide variety of different things you can buy. They sell pottery, jewelry, books (unfortunately just in Czech), Cd’s and there is also a small bio shop where you can buy things like maple syrup or organic chocolate.

If you stay in Prague 8 and are looking for a calm place to go hang out with your friends, this tearoom would be a good choice.

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Romantinka | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Pot of Tea CZK 50
Bořanovická 527/1 | Praha 8
Mon-Sat 15:00-22:00

I would love to go to Vietnam. But before I would go there and strike off another destination from my travel to-do list, I can always go to a closer place – the so-called little Hanoi aka Sapa, in Prague.

TTTM Sapa, located in the south surround of Prague called Písnice, is a wholesale market where you can buy a lot of stuff (the majority of the items sold comes from Asia of course). Actually it’s like a town in a town with different amenities for the Vietnamese community: restaurants, beauty salons, a school, a temple etc.

I´m a big fan of Sapa especially because of the food. I like the Vietnamese groceries, where you can buy different ingredients for Asian cuisine that you can not buy anywhere else (or they are way to expensive) – various vegetables and fruits, herbs, sauces, frozen prawns, alive crabs, strange looking meat, tea, rice, tofu and much more…

Besides checking the shops you should definitely eat there. The criteria of a good place to eat is simple: eat where local people eat. Places which are oriented in one type of food are usually the strike home. My favourite place is a tiny place named Hai Há – the have the best bún chả- it is rich and savoury.

If you would like to have an extraordinary experience and don’t mind traveling a bit from the town center, Sapa is definitely worth a visit.

P.S. Check out the Anthony Bourdain´s No Reservations episode from Czech republic, he´s been to Sapa as well

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Sapa | Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Vietnamese) | bún chả CZK 80.00
Libušská 319/126 | Praha 4
09:00 – 20:00 daily

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, where they closed in autumn last year. Luckily for all their fans (and others) they only changed address and after a couple of endless months they reopened 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 cup of tea, delicious chocolate pralines or gateaux to order – everybody will find his in St. Tropez.

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

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St.Tropez | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Mini cake CZK 25
Vodičkova ulice 30 | Praha 1 | +420222524333
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 09:30 – 19:00

I love Thai cuisine. Maybe that`s because I love spicy food, thick curry sauces and jasmine rice. I love the numbness in my mouth afterwards and the the feeling that can be described as “tipsiness”. And I feel good afterwards – spicy food is good for your body, keeps it healthy. So Thai sounds perfect for me

Noodle Bar, just around a corner from the Vltava river, is one of my favourite places when mindlessly strolling alongside the embankment below Vyšehrad and Podskalí. Seated outside on the calm street in summer or in design-sensitive interior in winter, I can watch the river, the life around, and dream about exotic trips over a plate of excellent Thai cuisine.

For each season the chef prepares a special offer. My reccommendation is Pomelo salad: a fresh pomelo mixed with sh

rimps, shallot, fresh coriander leaves, coconut and spicy sauce with Thai basil. I am glad that this great dish stayed on their offer from summer 09 – as it is one of the most delicate combination of tastes I ever had

Anyway, all their meals are freshly prepared, so count on some waiting time especially during lunch hours. Also be sure, that all dishes here are original – here it is real thai, not “in thai style”.

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The Noodle Bar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Main course from CZK 140
Plavecká 4 | Praha 2 | +420602370984
Tue – Sat 11:30 – 22:00

Many would swear Pilsner Urquell is the best beer in the world. And if nothing else, it is one of the few Czech brands recognized worldwide. Pllsner also often brings new standards – and this can be said about The Pub franchise. The main idea is self-serving of great unpasteurized Pilsner beer. Each table has its own tap and you can “log in”, so you see how many beers you have, how many you consume as a table and how many is the amount for the whole pub. All this you can watch on screens which shows combination of statistics of the pub and the whole The Pub chain

Turning drinking into a game is usually fun (if you know how to drink!), and here you have one of the best environment to do so. The upper part is strictly for non-smokers, the downstairs you can smoke as much as you want. Together it makes 20 tables. The machine by the tap allows you to order some of their meals too – not very cheap, but you sit in a special place in the center, so considering this, it is not overpriced.

In my opinion The Pub Prague 1 (there are also others) is the best because of a very convenient location, a relaxed lounge bar (situated before the Pub itself), wide range of meals and trendy feeling and atmosphere all around. A new approach towards legendary brand that works.

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The Pub | Bars, Snacks | Pub Burger CZK 189
Veleslavínova 3 | Praha 1 | +420222312296
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 02:00, Fri 11:00 – 03:00, Sat 12:00 – 03:00, Sun 12:00 – 00:00

Disclaimer: be warned, this is nothing for posh people, non-smokers, wine lovers. U Vystřelenýho oka (it means: at the Shoot Out Eye – as the quarter itself is Žižkov, named after famous one-eyed Hussite military leader Jan Žižka) has been a special place for all rock enthusiasts, drunkards, musicians, bohemians since 1993.

Inside the pub there are often concerts, even though it makes the place too crowded and totally full of cigarette smoke. The bartender is always in a good mood – and he copes with all kind of crazy regulars with a great ease – and also serves some of the best Pilsner around.

In the summer I recommend the beer garden, but you shall still take a look inside – because it it hosts lot of cool items designed by Martin Velíšek, surreal artist. From pictures on the walls, t-shirts to be bought, funny menu cards, ashtrays resembling Hussite wagons to head-rests above urinals on Men toilets.

Plus you shall not miss a large portion of craut soup with sausage (for just 25 CZK) or wiener schnitzel with potato salad. Not to forget – there is also a tea-room loosely connected called Čajírna nad Vokem, which resides just above the pub.

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U Vystřelenýho oka | Bars, Music, Snacks | Cheese & Fries CZK 80
U Božích bojovníků 3 | Praha 3 | +420222540465
Mon – Sat 16:30 – 01:00

Slightly on the more expensive side, but I used to go there, hungry after midnight, when I felt the need for some decent meal. Specially when temperature drop low below zero …

In a perfect location, just in the centre, Ultramarin gets pretty packed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Those who sit all day long in front of their computers now sit here all evening long, in front of their drinks with friends – untill they find what are they longing for.

Do not be surprised by clubby music from somewhere down below – this place has got a good size cellar which is divided into a small dance floor and restaurant area.

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Ultramarin | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (intern.) | Daily menu CZK 120
Ostrovní 32 | Praha 1 | +420224932249
Restaurant 07:00 – 04:00 daily | Club 18:00 – 04:00daily

I do not need to have meat for every lunch and when I ask for something vegetarian in a Czech restaurant I often have to choose from uninteresting salads or fried cheese. A couple years ago it was even more bizarre as chicken and fish were not counted as “meat”. Soup, in which there “is not very much meat” is often still considered “vegetarian”. So finding some place that’s solely vegetarian – and where the food tastes good -  that’s a miracle, about which it would be a sin not to write.

Veg Food opened in 2008, as a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Vietnamese style. The quality of their food is good and sometimes less good, the way it goes with all restaurants, but their noodles, risotto, steamed vegetables and big bowls keep their delicious standard.

This place is pretty packed around noon, as there are many local office people taking every possible seat. Their happy hour from 11:00 – 15:00 adds to the crowding but around 14:00 it gets pleasantly calm. If I am lucky with the weather I sit in the outside garden below street level, that ensures a pleasant touch of separation from the everyday buzz and fuss.

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Veg food | Snacks, Restaurants (Vietnamese) | Main meal from CZK 90.00
Londýnská 35 | Praha 2 | +420222515006
Mon – Fri 10:30 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 11:30 – 19:00

Vesmirna (the Universe) is a lovely café close to Wenceslas Square. It’s a perfect place to go when I need something small to eat or have a drink. The café also functions as a work-training project for mentally disabled people, who are always really nice and one of the reasons why I like this place so much.

There is a wide variety of pancakes on their menu, which is what I usually get. And of course Sahlep, my favorite winter drink. Vesmirna offers soups of the day, which have very favorable price. Similar to most tearooms, there’s a space where you can sit (or lie down) directly on the carpeted floor at a low table, which can feel especially comfortable after a long day sightseeing and walking around the city.

If you’re looking for gifts to bring back home, you can buy some right in the café as they sell jewelry, hand-made pottery and other things. If you need to connect with the rest of the world or even outer space, there’s free wi-fi provided.

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Vesmirna | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Pancake CZK 79
Ve Smeckach 5 | Praha 1 | +420222212363
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 21:00

Zvonařka is a nice restaurant famous for its terrace and spicy buffalo wings. Which says it all – a perfect summer evening spot, to watch the sun go down in the south part of the city (lower Vinohrady, Vršovice and Nusle).

Restaurant Zvonařka is nestled in area of historical vineyards – some of them still exist just couple streets away. Not surprisingly – Vinohrady in Czech means vineyards. Maybe that is the secret of the relaxed atmosphere?

I like to go there for a drink after work, to revive my energies by looking across the Nuselské údolí and have a chat with friends. I adore their pickled cheese (nakládaný hermelín) – and their cuisine is pretty good allround. Just watch the time as the terrace is only open untill 22:00. But there is plenty space inside, so why worry?

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Zvonařka | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Czech) | Main meal from CZK 120.00
Šafaříkova 1 | Praha 2 | +420224251990
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 00:00