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Prague Nightlife!
Pubs, Clubs and
Czech Bars Provide the Party in Prague
Clubs and pubs are all over Prague – being at the best ones is
the key.
Beers are a buck, the culture invites
consumption and there's a plethora of places to enjoy the libation pleasures
of Prague.
Pivos are so cheap, people go out with the equivalent of 20
Euros, drink like a fish and return home with enough cash for a hangover
breakfast the next morning. There's a certain joy in ordering another
when it costs about the same as a pack of gum back home.
In this compact city with a casual conscience there's no worrying about
driving or even cab rides, only the biggest clubs have lines and cover
charges (and even at that it's just a couple hundred KC) and places
stay open until 4, 5, even 6 in the morning. There's no real closing
time and it's not uncommon for some people to be getting home when others
are headed to work.
This is nightlife in Prague.
Beers are from 25-35 krown (or KC), depending on where they are consumed.
That's about one Euro for those keeping count. And while the Czech Republic
is world famous for its excellent pivo, there is also a quite potent
Czech vodka as well as a drink called Absinth, "the king of spirits."
Dress is largely casual; jeans are the most common attire.
There's a party in Prague and PubClub.com is about to put the life
in Prague's nightlife.
Prague's Best Bar And Other Cool Spots
Locals and Tourists Alike Head to the Red Bar
Prague's best bar
is a true pub club – pub on top, dance club below.
The search for debauchery beings –
and can very well end – at a lively place off Old Town Square called
Chateau Rouge.
A bar with red walls awaits, a chalkboard with a variety of alcoholic
options beckons and a crowd of locals, service industry people and tourists
– in other words, just about everyone – makes it into
the Chateau at least once during the week. Some prefer to pull up to
a table by the front bar, others head straight for the back bar while
still others make tracks for the funky downstairs dance club (no cover).
At the same time local neighborhood hangout and rocking party spot,
the Chateaux is, quite simply, Prague's Best Bar. On the main
level, the cool bartenders and a carefree attitude make it as comfortable
as a well-worn pair of jeans. Down the narrow set of spiral stairs than
can be quite tricky to navigate after several 27KC pivos, is like entering
an entirely different spot – a jumping dance club with party and
hip-hop music in a setting that's part Jetsons and part psychedelic
'60s.
In the daytime, free WiFi makes it easy to brush up on Prague's nightlife
by reading this article.
Location: Off Old Town Square. Head to the archway past the
John Hus statue and go straight through the other arch. Chateau Rouge
is the corner building on Jakubská Street. On weekends from midnight
forward there will be people mingling outside and a Barbie doll spins
in one of the windows.
Clearly, the Chateau is not the only show in town. In fact, it may
be best to first pull up at the majestic Municipal House for
some prime Prague people watching. Poised perfectly at a busy courtyard
by Prague's main shopping street and a roadway arch from old Town Square,
it's ideal for sipping a slow cocktail and enjoying the passing scenery.
The setting is spectacular, as well – the outdoor patio is
at one of Prague's most magnificent structures, one which hosts classical
concerts in a building designed by a collection of the country's top
artists
Location: At the Municipal House courtyard adjacent to Powder
Gate.
And speaking of lounging, the atmosphere is more nouveau at Bar
Rock. With cozy red couches and chairs for excellent lounging, it's
a modern martini bar and restaurant that's a nice mid-evening
option.
Location On Parizska Street, two blocks from the Cechuv bridge.
More rocking than Bar Rock is KU Bar Lounge. Nicely appointed
with house DJs, it's just what it name says – a bar/lounge. Don't
expect to blow the roof of the place, it's not that kind of bar. But
it does provide that nice combination of classy bar with divine dancing.
Location: On Rytyrika, one of Prague's main streets just up
from Mozart's house.
Authentic Czech Bars
Rustic Places to Down Some of the Best Beers in Prague
Cheap, good and
potent beer can be enjoyed at authentic Czech pubs.
Authentic Czech pubs are vintage places
with basic old wooden picnic tables, ancient wood floors and are as
smoky as a barbecue pit. They appear as if they've been around as long
as the Charles Bridge. As do some of the patrons.
Most Czech bars can be identified from the street by a "Bud Var"
sign out front; this means it serves Budveiser, the original Czech beer.
These are the most common bars in Prague and are on practically every
corner.
Some of these bars are very small and local. So try and act as if you've
been there before. That means take a quick survey of any open table
or seats, confidently stroll over there and make eye contact with the
waiter to order a beer. If a spot is reserved, as may be the case if
people are seated at a table, keep moving. Sometimes even out of the
bar.
Thankfully, this potential game of musical picnic tables doesn't come
into play at the biggest and best of these Czech bars, U Vejuodu,
though the waiters certainly seem as if they prefer Czechs to tourists.
As much of a restaurant as a bar, its has creaky wood floors, an arched
ceiling and a kettle pot over the bar. With a sizable main bar, large
space in the back and even a room to the side, it's really too large
and lively to be considered a true locals' Czech pub, but it's got the
right look and feel. The plasma TVs showing music videos give it a modern
touch.
For a touch of history, U Medvidku is where Mozart drank. Heavily.
That's because it is located steps behind his residence (his sculpture
is on the building).
Locations: Both are in what we call "the Mozart area"
meaning they are around the corner from Mozart's place. U Medvka is
on Narodni, which connects to the Mosi-Legi bridge (the one with the
island). U Vejudodu is on a small side street, Jilska.
Across the Vltava River, not far from the Prague Castle, is as authentic
a Czech pub as can be found in Prague. The Black Bull – or
U Cernacho Vola – has just a half-dozen tables and what
PubClub.com believes to be the best beer in the city. Certainly it's
among the most potent. Finding it is a trick and it serves to really
build up one's thirst; it's down from the castle across from a pair
of "No Pezi Zone" signs. This is is a favorite spot of the
Czech national hockey team coach.
Location: Lorentánské Street, near the Prague Castle.
U Zlateho Tygra, or the Golden Tiger, is the most recognized
authentic Czech bar in Prague. Yet we don't recommend it and it's only
mentioned here to counter encouragement from others. Right off Old Town
Square this is one of the stay-away bars; walk in and get the cold stare
of locals and staff who don't like non-Czech people invading their turf.
It's like that scene in Animal House when the Faber College folks walk
into the bar with Otis Day and the Nights. At the Golden Tiger, the
same thought comes to mind: "Leaving, what a good idea!"
The Dance Clubs
Cutting it Loose Until the Morning's Early Hours
There's a party
in Prague and PubClub has found it.
Prague's nightlife cranks into high gear
in its crazy dance clubs.
The coolest hot place is Karlovy Lazne Dance Club at the Charles
Bridge. It has four levels, all with different music and a different
feel. Party like it's 1999. Or 1899. Or even 1399, because Karlovy Lazne
is almost like being in an old castle with the staircases as spires
and the river outside the big windows as the moat.
There is disco, modern and hip-hop, and a first-floor cafe. The craziest
spot is mid-level, which plays 60s-70s-80s fun party music. As a result,
the dance floor explodes with enthusiasm. Lounge areas on each level
make getting a 30KC beer a snap (120KC cover, open 'til 6 on weekends).
This is an extremely casual club; people even show up in shorts.
Next door is a plush, more upscale bar and club called Lavka. Exotic
lounge decor with a view of the Charles Bridge make this a total hot
spot with a good-looking crowd. A sexy lounge greets guests while a
room with the dance floor glows over the Vltava and a well-stocked tequila
bar can aid the party mood.
Location: At the south side of the Charles Bridge.
On the outside, La Fabric looks like a nice restaurant with
a bit of party potential. On the inside, that potential is realized.
Go down the staircase keep spiraling downward – the night is about
to do the same. On the bottom floor sits a sweaty, packed dance floor.
It has a jumping DJ in the coolest of settings. With its brick walls
and ceiling, it's like dancing in a wine cellar. La Fabric is one of
Prague's best bars of any kind. It has a festive party attitude, great
music and a carefree drink-and-dance atmosphere.
Location: In the "Mozart area" on Uhelny Street.
Prague's splashiest, flashiest club is Duplex Dance Club with
a rooftop terrace. It's built as a giant glass cube on the sixth and
seventh floor in the middle of Wenceslas Square. But it's not the decor
but the DJs that make the place rock. It has a terrace balcony with
views of the city, dancers suspended over the large dance floor, beaming
lights, etc. It's the "clubbiest" of the Prague clubs (300KC
cover, open 'till 6).
Across the Tracks
There's More Places Behind the Train Station in Praha 3
Outside of the the
city's center are some cool places like this martini bar.
Behind the train station, where many
of Prague's less expensive hotels are located, is an area full of different
places to explore.
It starts on Seifertova (the main street) at a popular bar/restaurant
on the corner. Hureuh Didkrch's dining area combines soft mood
lights with good, authentic Czech food. Downstairs is a cool, small
club with live music.
A half-block up the side street is Cafe Pavlac, a modern martini
bar that's definitely got the cool crowd. The patio in the back is really
hot – it has a fire show!
There are several other bars in the area; just walk down Seifertova
and pop into a happening place.
High on the list of many locals is Palac Acropolis club. It
invites crazy behavior, mostly among locals in the neighborhood. Its
specialty is live music and has two stages – one large, one small
– to showcase bands, as well as a theater bar and cafe.
Location: By "the needle" on Kubelikova Street.
More Places to Party in Prague
Other Cool Places to Have a Cold One
The shaded Letna Beer Garden is a popular place with locals.
Prague's beer is not just for nights.
In fact there are several places to enjoy the frosty beverage inside
and out.
We'll start with the Letna Beer Garden. On sunny afternoons,
locals head head up to the edge of Letna Park, perch on picnic tables
or benches under trees and down 25KC cold ones with a panoramic perspective
of the city. It is here the awesomeness of Prague literally comes into
full view. The park is a popular running and walking area, so the people
watching is prime. As is the location.
Cool and hip, The Globe features good food and WiFi in an inviting atmosphere.
Check up on the e-mail with a good meal and cold beer at a
Prague institution. The Globe has long been a haven for backpackers
but now it's expanded from a bookstore to an Internet cafe with WiFi,
an excellent lunch and dinner menu and hip music that makes it like
a laid-back lounge. It's owned by American from Chicago and run by an
American from Boston (ironically both named Mike) who continue to welcome
people from all over the world. Here's
its website.
Sports Bars
Not just Futbol, but American Football, Too
Expatriates who want to watch the local
team on the tube and tourists who are die-hard fans and just can't stand
to miss the alma mater even though they may be halfway around the world
can indeed reach their goal because Prague has sports bars. And they
show more than soccer and cricket, In fact, American football, baseball
and basketball are fed in via satellite.
Legends, under the two archways off Old Town Square, is the
city's Best Sports Bar. This is a very cool place to watch sports.
The main bar is down a set of stairs and it's almost like being in a
cave. Plasmas are everywhere and after the big game(s) a DJ plays cool
tunes. At 35KC, the beer is pricey by Prague standards, but it's also
some of the best beer in town.
On Ve Smeckach off Wenceslas Square are two sports bars, which
some locals prefer to patronize over Legend's
The Pack is an English sports bar that's the top spot of regulars.
And just up the street is the larger Sports Bar Zlata hvezda, or
Golden Star. It has a couple of rooms, including a large area with
huge-screen TV. For chllin' sans sports, the patio in back is the place.
O'che's Cuban Bar is actually a small Irish bar (Guinness and
sports) on Lilova, very near the Charles Bridge.
Pot in Prague
Yes it's Legal, But Not in Bars
Pot is big in Prague. So much so, it
can seem like a mini
Amsterdam.
Locals don't hesitate to roll one right in a bar. However, they must
go outside to smoke it. As far as hard drugs go, it's not really as
obvious and PubClub recommends taking the high road rather than going
down that road to get high.
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