Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

You will not only find bars and cafés at Újezd. On the corner, there is also a shop you might not have seen before. In Czech, this kind of shop is called „vetešnictví” (literally „junk-shop”) and they were quite popular some hundred year ago. There are not many left these days and that makes this one even more special (I bet it has been there for at least a century)

In this shop you can get just about anything. Old postcards, sewing machines, musical instruments, books, maps, dishes, coffee pots, beer bottles – to start with. Everyone will probably find their sort of thing and won’t leave bare-handed. The prices are naturally very low, although perhaps if you start speaking some other language than Czech, you might get a mark-up.

When you come in, it feels like another world. Most of all in winter, when it is freezing outside, it is a great place to wait for a tram to come… The room is very dark and crowded with all kinds of stuff. I would recommend visiting on a cold winter day, it is particularly nice to go and see this warm and dark place, then. Oh, and if you are really broke, you can sell some stuff too…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vetešnictví na Újezdě | Shopping
Vítězná 16 | Praha 1 | +420257310611
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Jana Kneschke

Even though you often look down at post offices to collect your ticket or to stamp your letter, here you should look up. The ceiling in the Main post office in Jindřišská street deserves admiration, and not only the ceiling. The whole building is the most beautiful post office interior I have ever seen. If you add its’ opening hours (02:00 till midnight, it is closed for only two hours), it is really awesome.

There is also one curiosity – a tubular post system, more than 100 years old, still functioning (e. g. to Czech News Agency). Originally it delivered mail at a speed of 40 km/h across the river to many destinations and also to Prague Castle (there it was in 8 minutes, beats the metro, too!).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Main post office | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Jindřišská 14 | Praha 1
02:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Jana Kneschke

Once upon a time, there was a theatre in Prague. A theatre, that played contemporary German and Austrian drama. Comedy here was not without bitterness. In tragedy there was always a moment of humor. There was a lot of irony and sarcasm too. There were also a good number of awards and gems of production that were notable in the theatre world. There was also a theatre bar Komedie. One of the best in Prague.

If you come in now, up to the end of the summer season, you still can be part of this fairy tale of intelligent theatre right in the centre of Prague. From autumn on there will be some nameless comedy stuff and the years of work of the theatre director Dušan Pařízek, and his family of actors will leave… Nobody knows what will happen then. So hurry up and visit, and have some coffee or a glass of wine. This offer will expire soon.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Komedie | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Theaters | Espresso CZK 30
Jungmannova 1 | Praha 1
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 01:00, Sun 17:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Just by the river, near Klárov, there is a place many tourist guides will lead you to. It is a nice small square where there is the famous Franz Kafka museum. I haven’t visited it once, although I am a fan of Kafka’s work. Maybe it actually is worth visiting but I want to draw your attention elsewhere.

What I am talking about is the strange-looking sculpture in the middle of the square. You will find there two copper persons peeing into a strange bowl. Their waists move so that it looks even more life-like. The funniest part which a lot of people don’t realize, though, lays on the ground. Those guys pee into a bowl shaped like the Czech Republic. Once again, this proves David Černý‘s (artist of Entropa i.e.) skills and vision.

We Czechs aren’t a particularly proud nation. We are actually willing to make fun of ourselves quite often, which I find quite appealing. Artist like Černý who would elsewhere be considered very controversial thus have many fans here, me among them. But some others may surely find his work insulting. What is your opinion?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Miska Republika | Art & culture | Free
Cihelná 2 | Praha 1
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Half way between the Charles bridge and Národní třída, you will find a café I very much recommend visiting. It is called Krásný ztráty and it has become quite popular here – so famous in fact, that a regular TV talkshow is being recorded there. Krásný ztráty is a place where a lot of interesting people gather. It is one of the few places where you can find students, intellectuals and celebrities all at once.

Although it is called a café, once again it has the character of a regular restaurant. They cook all day and the food is great while prices remain moderate. I can particularly recommend visiting for a breakfast or a brunch as Krásný ztráty is a calm place with a very nice interior design.

Apart from being a café, a bar and a restaurant, Krásný ztráty is also a wine shop, a book shop, a gallery and an occasional music club or theatre stage. There are many events taking place there so you might want to check that out at their website.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Krásný ztráty | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Intern.) | Espresso CZK 29
Náprstkova 10 | Praha 1 | +420775755143
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Kampa is a very beautiful area in the downtown of Prague – just near Újezd. It mainly consists of a large park from where there is a nice view of the river and the other part of the city.

People go to hang out there, smoke a water-pipe, throw a frisbee… It is also a place of culture, though. There is a very nice museum there and most importantly a lot of outdoor exhibitions take place at Kampa (you can find there the ‘babies‘ for instance).

Not to be forgotten, Kampa offers also a great refreshing place. It is situated inside what used to be a water-mill and the interior has remained pretty much the same, I imagine. The atmosphere of Mlýnská kavárna is truly charming. Plus there is a pleasant backyard. When the weather is nice, I prefer to have a beer draught in a plastic cup and go outside to chat on the benches or sit on the grass.

Many interesting or famous people are spending their evenings in Mlýnská kavárna. For instance, David Černý, the author of Entropa, Miska republika and other original pieces of art. You can find him there virtually every day, usually he will have at least two women around himself…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mlýnská kavárna | Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Espresso CZK 29.00
Všehrdova 449/14 | Praha 1 | +420608444490
12:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Some thirteen years ago, the perhaps most famous Czech cartoonist died. His name was Jaroslav Foglar and he was famous for his comic books „Rychlé šípy”, about a group of honest and genuine boys. Their adventures took place in a city quarter which has never really existed. However, it is said that the so called „Stínadla” (“shadow-city”) were above all inspired by the narrow and dark lanes in the area between Národní třída and Národní divadlo.

Along with Újezd this is also an area where most of my favourite bars, pubs and Cafés are. One can imagine that some hundred years ago, there have been lots of passages through the backyards of the houses and such. Almost all of these (which used to be really popular all around Prague) have been closed until these days, though. Luckily, there is one really cool passage still open, at least most of the time.

It is a true shortcut, if you want to get to the tram stop „Lazarská” from inside this area. However, I walk there just about any time I have the chance. It leads from the lane „Opatovická”, to „Spálená” street. You will be walking through a backyard which will feel like as if time has stopped running there seventy years ago. Of course, it is a bit filthy and smelly place, but that helps building its character. If you have the chance, see for yourself! Just don’t get locked up inside.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vilímkův průchod | Relaxing
Opatovická – Spálená | Praha 1
Mon – Fri approx. 09:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Atmosféra is a favourite student place. It is spacious, consisting of three separate parts, two rooms and a summer garden 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 made on the spot 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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Atmosféra | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.) | Kozel, 0,5L CZK 28
Smetanovo nábřeží 14 / Karolíny Světlé 33 | Praha 1 | +420222222114
Café 11:30 – 01:00 daily | pub 12:00 – … | summer garden 11:30 – 22:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

In a small street near the tram-stop Národní divadlo there is an exceptional place. It is somewhat hidden – it is very easy to just walk by and not even realize there is a bar. I consider myself as a sort of an expert concerning the Prague pubs and clubs but if it hadn’t been for a friend of mine who showed it to me recently, I might have just died without even knowing this place. And that would be a shame.

First of all – Al Capone’s bar is not just small – it is tiny. I guess if twenty people fit in, it feels already crowded. However, most of the time, there are just about two or three, so you should easily find a spot. Second: this place has a very exceptional atmosphere. I don’t even know why – but if you walk through the narrow hall into a small room – you feel like entering another world. Or more precisely: this place feels as if you were stoned even if you are not – the weird haze, the grave light, the silent music, the pictures of gangsters on the walls…

And third: it is just so cheap! Honestly, it might be the cheapest bar in Prague I know, when it comes to drinks and cocktails. Cuba Libre for sixty and Long Island Ice Tea for ninety crowns – that is what a call a reasonable price!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Al Capone’s | Bars | Gin Fizz CZK 65
Bartolomějská 3 | Praha 1 | +420224241040
Mon – Thu 17:00 – 02:00, Fri 18:00 – 03:00, Sat – Sun 18:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Újezd is an area where many of the Prague locals spend their time. There aren’t many tourists, it’s in the centre, there’s a number of nice bars and cafés, the Petřín hill is just across the road…

One of the best-known bars is (surprisingly) called Klub Újezd. Open since 1990, it is a night-life classic. It started as a music club but live music performance were forbidden some ten years ago. It’s no big deal, though – it is a great place to visit anyway.

Currently, Klub Újezd is a three-floor bar. In the basement there is a small bar, a few tables, a DJ’s stage and a table-football. The first floor is more spacious with a large bar. But, if you plan a party, you should definitely make a reservation to the second floor which feels somehow most comfortable of all. It, among others, offers a very nice sight of the street and Petřín hill.

What makes Klub Újezd unique, are the decorations and paintings. For instance, on the walls there are paintings of strange people with disfigured faces – as well as many other, sometimes even more pleasant scenes. Plus, the whole club works also as a free gallery – of photography, usually.

Thanks to its very late closing-hours, Klub Újezd is a very common place for late-evening or early-morning chill-outs. Add very reasonable prices and you’ve got a place you have to visit!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Klub Újezd | Art & culture, Bars | Pilsner 0,5L CZK 35.00
Újezd 18 | Praha 1 | +420251510873
First floor bar 14:00 – 04:00, the rest 18:00 – 04:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague