Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

The name tells it all. Café in Seventh Heaven is a very favourite student café in Prague known for its practical location, great atmosphere, nice interior, wonderful coffee and wine. It is very cozy especially in the winter. What makes it most of all visit-worthy: it is a place to chill, work, eat and party. Us, locals, go there even alone, since it is quite certain, that some of our friends will be already sitting there…

If you visit this place, I would recommend going up the stairs. There’s even a comfy couch in the top floor as well as a nice sight out from the windows and, most of all, a stylish model of a human-sized „god” sitting on a swing.

The Café provides a free wi-fi service, which makes it a great place to go to with a laptop and work a bit. You can meet some well-known journalists, economists or politicians there doing precisely that. If you are a non-smoker, they have a special room just for you.

The waiters are usually very compliant, although often a bit stoned – it is a forgivable thing, though, I guess. The prices are not lowest but still reasonable – as I said, the usual visitors are students. Just be ware – you can get easily addicted to Café in Seventh Heaven and start spending days and weeks there!

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Kavárna v Sedmém nebi | Coffee & tea | Café Latté CZK 45
Zborovská 68 | Praha 5 | +420257318110
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 14:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

The lime stone cliffs in the south-west of Prague, just above Prokopské údolí, are particularly unique. The whole area of Barrandov is actually called after a French paleontologist Joachim Barrande who made some significant discoveries in this area in the 19th century. The lime stone preserved a lot of prehistoric sea fossils and you can still find them if you know where to seek.

Later, lime stone appeared to be a very attractive mining item. So until some mid-20th century, the whole massive was being mined out. That is also where the largest cliffs come from. Time to time, some of the massive would collapse, leaving the big rocks grow like teeth from the terrain.

By the cliffs there is also one of the best-guarded military areas in the Czech republic. No-one really knows what is its purpose. It is only known that the hills are drilled through with a number of corridors. Allegedly there used to be a secret nazi bomb-research center while later the communists used the space for storage of explosives.

To get to the cliffs, find your own way up either from Hlubočepská or Zlíchov bus/tram stop. If you make it up to the edge, you will definitely agree that it’s one of the best imaginable places for a Sunday trip (which can be either 3 or 15 km long, depends on you) or a picnic. The massive offers a great view of Prague while you can hear the muted sounds of the city…

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Barrandov cliffs | Relaxing | Free
Hlubočepská | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Prague is full of “green” spots. Those are not only parks – if you manage to get a little bit further from the center, you can get to “real” nature, as well. One of the locals’ favourite places to spend nice mornings, afternoons or evenings is Prokopské údolí.

Located in the south-west of Prague, it is just about twenty minutes from the centre. It’s useful to take a bus (104 or 120) from the stop Na Knížecí (Metro stop Anděl) – and get out at Hlubočepská. A bike path begins there which will easily lead your steps. If you actually have a bike, don’t hesitate and ride it – walking is also fine, though.

The place is lovely in fall or winter. In fall, you will particularly enjoy the cool mist that covers this deep valley as well as the colorful leaves of all kinds. In winter, especially when there is snow, the place is very silent and feels a little bit like another, distant, world – and yet it is still close to the city.

I would recommend taking some snacks and wine too, as there are number of places for a small picnic… For instance by a pond, laying some fifty meters up north from the main road. It used to be really messy, but things seem to be getting better…

If you feel a bit like some action, I would also recommend going up the hill and seeing Prague from Barrandov rocks. It is quite high, but definitely worth it!

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Prokopské údolí | Relaxing
Hlubočepská | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

Prague is a very green city, which I find particularly important. In the center there are quite a lot of parks while the outskirts are full of woods. One of the nicest is the hardwood forest at the foothill of Chuchle, at the southwest of Prague. By legend, it is even a magical forest and under one of the trees near the cemetery there is supposed to be a treasure chest…

It is a great place for a family walk or a picnic. You can also find a so-called “mini zoo” there, which was originally a first-aid station for wounded or ill forest animals. But then came the idea of making it a place you where you can actually show the animals. So they built the surrounding-fitting runs and cages and these days you can find there all sorts of deer, boars, owls, wild cats or even a bobcat.

My very favourite place is the somewhat hidden church with a surprisingly large cemetery. If you manage to look through all the leaves (or in winter ) that spot offers a nice view of the river and a part of Prague. It is very silent and often feels even somehow deserted.

Chuchle forest is very comforting in the summer. In the fall you will find all kinds of colourful leaves but you may have most fun there in the winter. If you manage to rent a bobsleigh or something like that, the hill will make for a perfect place to use it…

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Chuchle forest | Relaxing | Free
Velka Chuchle | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Tomáš Jungwirth

One of the places to visit at Újezd is definitely Popocafépetl. There are actually five Cafés of this name in Prague (Na Struze, Italská, Melantrichova, Michalská) – this is the only one which works as a music club, though.

When you find the a bit hollow entrance and walk down the stairs to what used to be a mid-age cellar, you will immediately smell the unmistakable odour. Then you walk into the small and only mildly-lit club with an original and sort of old-school decoration and the party can begin. You can order a coffee, beer, wine or basically any cocktail you name for a very reasonable price.

Virtually every day there is a concert on. Pick yours: Fridays and Saturdays there will be a DJ playing 80′s, 90′s and dance music, live gypsy bands play Sundays, Latino Mondays and other live concerts follow the other days. Just check out the program on their website. The entry is usually free or symbolic. I would just recommend making a reservation since the small club is often very crowded.

Last but not least, Popocafepetl doesn’t basically know anything like a rigid closing-time. They just close when there are not many people left – which can be either at 02:00 or 05:00. Therefore, it’s also a great place to hang out after you’ve been kicked out from somewhere else and still feel like partying…

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Popocafépetl @ Újezd | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music | Staropramen, 0.5L CZK 29
Újezd 19 | Praha 5 | +420739110021
Mon – Fri 13:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 16:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Jana Kneschke

A cocktail bar, that offers not only plenty of well-made cocktails, but also large doses of music from local DJ`s and a rich selection of dishes. So if you feel like spending time in a vibrant atmosphere, meeting somebody without checking your watch, this is the place.

Back Doors is a pretty large place, an underground cellar, cleverly furnished and with a very well supplied bar equipped with skilled barmen. Inspired by similar clubs in the Netherlands and New York, the founders’ idea was to create a space offering everything you need for pleasant evening entertainment. And that works. As the hours go by and the glasses empty you can experience a total lack of a sense of time. But who cares? Nobody goes to Back Doors to work, except the staff.

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Back Doors | Bars, Music | Daiquiri CZK 80.00
Na Bělidle 30 | Praha 5 | +420257315824
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 02:00, Fri 11:00 – 04:00, Sat 18:00 – 04:00, Sun 18:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Gift from friend

Are you one of those, whose souvenirs are collected in the skin? Or you just fancy Prague so much that you must engrave it into your derm? Then choose carefully where you go.

There are plenty of tattoo studios but few are really good. There is place called Hell, Poupětova 7, in Prague 7 with its branch Fallen Angel in Prague 5, Kováků 4. Both do tattoos, the first one does piercing and heavy bodymods too. But don’t expect any catalog – they do only originals.

Another one pretty famous and hipster trendy is Tribo (doing both tattoo and piercing) located in Lidická 8 (P5) and also in the very centre – Klimentská 2. The Prague 5 location hosts Musa with a very characteristic style and there are also many guest tattoo artists. I have also heard some good experiences with Alien tattoo studio in Jilská street 22 (Prague 1). Very significant style has Peter Bobek, who opened his studio in summer 2011.

In all those you shall be safe: everything is clean, disinfected, tattoo artists speak at least English (if not Spanish, Italian or German on top of it) and will discuss with you all your questions and remarks and of course will give you proper aftercare treatments and advices.

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A tattoo souvenir | Relaxing, Shopping | Small bw tattoo CZK 500
Kováků 4 | Praha 5
Check the website for opening times

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Filip Grimm

This is my favourite place for the last drink before I take the night bus home from Andel when the metro doesn’t operate anymore (after midnight). The fact is Shadow Café is no Café at all, it is a bar which is right next to the tram stop Újezd and so very easily accessible

What I like about the bar the most is the atmosphere which is mostly created by the stunning interior design (see this link for pictures). It consists of three small and cosy rooms and there are two high-quality foosball tables. Some pieces of the furniture are quite alternative – for example most of the benches are actually massive timbers, but very cool to sit on

I think the only disadvantage of this place is that it closes too early. Usually it is open slightly longer than 01:00 but still, once you’re there you somehow don’t want to leave.

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Shadow Café | Bars | Mojito CZK 90.00
Újezd 16 | Praha 5 | +420774742369
Mon – Fri 14:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 16:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Katerina Vankova

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. Compared to the outside, the inside of the restaurant is nice and modern, various family photos are decorating the walls.

At the end of 2010, the owners opened another room in the restaurant, hence there is more space for the hungry visitors. A couple of important things : 1) I strongly recommend to make a reservation, 2) the restaurant is no-smoking, 3) if you’re by foot, keep in mind that it might be a quite 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 – that is something what I appreciate about restaurants. 

For starters, try the chef´s selection of six starters, from the main courses I can recommend one of the favourite dishes –  the beef tartare with fries. There’s a couple of new things on the menu, I recently had the stuffed quail with sweet potatoes puree and it is really delicious. 

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

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Na Kopci | Restaurants (International) | Beef tartare with fries CZK 250
K Závěrce 2774/20 | Praha 5 | +420251553102
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 14:30 & 17:30 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 11:30 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague

Image by Jana Kneschke

Or Kinsky garden, as named after Rudolf Kinský, who in 1827-1831 built the park in english style after Růžena Kinská bought the property in 1798 (more about the Kinsky family). Apart from a Musaion and many interesting and unusual trees there is a fountain, a lake and an arbor. Also there is a wooden church from the Ukraine, carefully moved and assembled there in 1927.

In medieval times there used to be gardens too, and vineyards. Also friars, the Kartouzští had their vineyards here. Later there were farmhouses. But even today it a very pleasant park and a perfect way to walk from Smíchov to Malá Strana amongst trees and meadows.

Kinského garden is on the south slopes of Petřín, divided and connected with other gardens through openings or passages in the Hungry Wall. Petřín and Kinského zahrada are one of the few park gardens, that are open also in winter.

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Kinského garden | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Kinského zahrada 98 | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Prague