Praha 1 – Local tips (music venues)

My favourite club to go out with friends. It happens quite often that some of my friends has a birthday party there or I visit some of the concerts as a photographer.

It’s not only the dance club which is on the minus first floor, there is a lively bar on the ground floor and a “Live underground” concert room or the minus second floor.

I like the design of the place, each floor has its own specific features. For photos, feel free to look here. Sometimes the bar gets quite crowded and it’s not easy to find a place to sit. A lot of foreigners come there but I think they mostly aren’t tourists, probably students or people who moved to Prague.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Chapeau Rouge | Bars, Music | Mojito CZK 110.00
Jakubská 2 | Praha 1 | +420222316128
No fixed opening times (I’ve never seen the place closed though)

As the history of this one is very different from that of The National Theatre (check the National theatre article), the atmosphere of the Estates Theatre is also different. All furnished in white, pale blue and gold, I feel like I am in a cultural paradise of the high-class Prague bourgeoisie from the end of 18th century. All cherubic bottoms are perfectly rounded

Once I was taken behind the scenes, where the singers and orchestra were preparing for Die Zauberflote  (The Magic Flute). Seeing the Queen of Night sipping her drink, Sarastros chatting with Tamino and the First Violin smoking her last cigarette before the show, that was something I will never forget.

And then there was the show – their production of The Magic Flute is truly breathtaking. Maybe what counts here is the enormous success that W. A. Mozart experienced with his opera buffa Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). Afterwards which he wrote Don Giovanni especially for this theatre, and for those he named as “my Praguers who understand me.”

Have a look at their programme and choose your evening tale! This season I reccomend Idomeneo (another Mozart’s piece) and Rinaldo from G. F. Händel, which is produced as closest to the original as possible, including Collegium 1704 playing contemporary instruments. Be prepared for stage lit by candles and deus ex machina…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
The Estates Theatre | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Tickets from CZK 50.00
Ovocný trh | Praha 1 | +420224228503
Box office 10:00 – 18:00 & 45 min. before the beginning of a performance

I love going to the opera. I love all the rituals. It starts when buying the tickets. Then I dress up, do my make-up, hair style. And then, armed with my little Christian Dior purse, I slip into the shoes that I had on me in La Scala while visiting Milano. And I am ready to enjoy the glass of champagne during intermission, all those stand-ups and sit-backs while letting people pass to their seats, and leaving a tip for the person selling the programme. Of course you can get in in jeans and a sweater – but I think you definitely miss half of the fun.

The National Theatre, has an impressive exterior while inside it is all cloaked in king crimson velvet, gold and rich stucco ornaments. National Theatre is is one of the symbols of national pride, mirroring itself in the Vltava river. And it does have an interesting history. The support for building the theatre that came from the whole nation was more like a political proclamation. And when it got burned down in 1881, in 47 days (!) there were all the money and resources collected again, to be reopened 1883.

Tickets for today’s programme can be bought 45 minutes before the beginning of each performance at the evening box office.

Spotted by Locals tip: If you love ballet, choose one with choreography by Petr Zuska (this season it is Extreme or Solo for Three). You won’t regret it – last two chances at the beggining of July!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
National Theatre | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Ticket from CZK 50.00
Ostrovní 1 | Praha 1 | +420224901448
Box office 10:00 – 18:00 & 45 min. before the beginning of a performance

Once upon a time, Roxy was one of the very few options in Prague for a decent evening, when I felt like some dancing. But these times are over and Roxy still lives its standards.

Opened in 1992 under the name of Roxy, after a thorough reconstruction led by architect Jan Mayer, this place become alive again. In 20`s and 30`s it was a shining pearl at the Old Town, full of people in its restaurant, cinema and a ballroom.

Today, after another rebirth in 2002  after being damaged by the enormous floods, the Experimental Area Roxy/NoD now offers a full variety of concerts, dance music, gallery presentations, internet café with wi-fi connection, theatre, films, performances and workshops. For some of their best gigs have a look yourself.

If you are into clubbing and are in Prague for couple days, Roxy is definitely the place to go – next to Radost FX (see the Radost FX article). Have a look at the programme to see if anything interests you. They have regular Free Mondays and Midweek Lounge, where entry is free.

Oh, and do not forget about NoD (check the NoD article) upstairs!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Roxy | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters
Dlouhá 33 | Praha 1 | +420224826296
Depends on given programme

Two storey underground venue and a centre for diverse contemporary stage art. And if it is specialized, then it’s towards the alternative end, and truly an Ark.

Archa is one of my favourite places to find some interesting and clever pieces of performance art and they are able to communicate this diversity to the public. Tickets are not the cheapest, but – do I look for quality or quantity?

The Programme of Archa Theatre is rich – from dance to drama, from live concerts to workshops. To show their broad scope just a few names include: Min Tanaka (who opened it in 1994), Butthole Surfers, The Residents, Václav Havel, Zappa plays Zappa, Amon Tobin, Anoushka Shankar, …

Archa is not only a theatre, it is a production house too – they have many international projects. Also I should not forget the Archa.lab, a loose alliance of artists collected around the Archa Theatre who stress the importance of practical theatre activities, focusing on exploration, research and experiment.

The Guardian newspaper mentioned Archa as the country’s “alternative National Theatre”, and that fits – Archa is exceptionally well-equipped venue for all kinds of stage art: from drama to dance, for concerts as well as performances. All that including a café that serves hot and cold drinks and snacks. Archa feeds the soul and body at the same time.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Archa Theatre | Art & culture, Music, Theaters
Na Poříčí 26 | Praha 1 | +420221716333
According the programme