Snacks

I often hear from my friends and family that this cake and that tart were much larger and cheaper a certain time ago! What the cause is for these thoughts is a deep question – maybe we grow and the cakes do not. Well, in this sweetshop you can be sure the sizes are like in those childhood days, but, honestly, I cannot bet on the prices as well.

Erhartova Cukrarna is not only interesting simly because of the perfect desserts they prepare, but also because of the location. In this very spot the sweetshop has been located since 1937 when the building was built. The pure functionalist interior was very gently renovated just few years ago and, truly, it is a miracle the interior was not destroyed during the last era.

The new unobtrusive design is balanced by a rich variety of the desserts. From little soft cookies to large heavy cakes for cream lovers, I believe each of you can choose the right one. Of course you can sit inside and accompany the cake with a coffee. Here is another important message for quality lovers – all desserts are prepared right in the sweetshop and the bakers are using high-quality and natural products like real cream. And that is rare to see these days.

Continue to Stromovka (check the Stromovka article) to walk after all the sweets you could not resist to eat or to Bio Oko (check the Bio Oko article) to see a nice movie!

There are average beers, huge amount of highly valued micro-brewery beers, but there is only one Pilsner Urquell. And the Pilsner Urquell served in the pub ‘U Veverky’ is in the best shape it can be. Non-pasteurized, kept in tanks, draught by skilled barmen, is a real pleasure for any beer lover. Usually, you can just nod and the next beer will land on your table with no asking. Try using the phrase ‘Dobry den, Plzen’ meaning ‘Hi, I want a Pilsner’, and you might survive the whole evening with this sentence!

The food offered is generally expressed as treats your stomach will like before the beer lands. The chef composes with his hands and heart the very best symphony of Czech cuisine. I recommend ‘Svickova’ with 6 dumplings, which is the cult Czech meal. Inside is smoking and non-smoking area and in the summer an outside garden and a ‘yard’ for few stand-up beers under a shelter. Beer drinkers look a bit funny being held in a sort of pen, but they are standing there definitely with their consent.

‘U Veverky’ means ‘By a squirrel’ and the bartenders are really so quick with the beer like they have a squirrel gene. Pure Czech pub, I love every single piece of it!

Every railway station has it – a pub, where the strangers gather, where you kill some time between the trains. And based on my research such pubs also attract locals and are usually of a lower quality. On the other hand, ‘nadrazka’, which is an expression to any pub located within a railway station, is somehow away from everyone’s attention, because it’s usually despised. Under these conditions it can evolve into an interesting appearance. Like this one!

Railway station Dejvice also has its ‘nadrazka’. Dejvicka nadrazka offers low price, though from a limited choice, drinks (beer, vine, basic spirits and non-alcoholic drinks) and has even a grill for some snacks. During the day you will find it quiet and occupied with local barflies. When you choose a night with a concert, Nadrazka Dejvice can be very crowded and busy. But the local bartender is the fastest beer tender I have ever seen and if you are lucky you will meet him as well.

The concerts are usually for the rough types, starting with punk and rock up to cross-over. But who does not like being rough sometimes. In case you are interested you can actually arrange your own concert as well.

Ladronka might have been a calm and empty park a few years ago. But since city hall renewed the paths and added free open air fitness stops, the park is crowded with bikers, in-line skaters and runners. Luckily there are still few places to rest, so do not feel pressed to come and sweat only.

In the middle of the park is an ancient manor, which gave the park its name and the history of the place sounds according to modern hurried times like this: vineyards of Charles IV. (14th century), manor of Filip Ferdinand de la Crone (17th century), destroyed (19th century), housing for few families (first half of 20th century), store house (second half of 20th century), housing for squatters and center of alternative culture (1993 – 2000).

In Ladronka park you can go running, in-line skating, play Frisbee, beach volleyball (CZK 300.00 per hour), and do hundreds of other activities you think of when you see an opened green plane. If you love in-line skating, rent a pair of skates in the manor. The rental is opened from Mon – Fri 14:00 – 21:00 and from 10:00 – 21:00 on weekends. One pair for 1 hour costs 90 CZK and gets cheaper with every person. You can also rent a ball, frisbee, pétanque or badminton set, which must be really interesting in play on this windy hill.

Get sporty! Or just go for a walk for one beer .

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.