The golden age of Prague café society was at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when making an appearance at one of the elegant cafés was simply a social necessity. Surrounded by the aroma of good coffee and clouds of cigarette smoke, you would meet the leading writers, journalists, architects, artists and intellectuals of the day, who eagerly discussed politics or art or just sat quietly waiting for their muse to appear. At that time, Prague café society could rival that of Vienna or Paris, and its allure has lasted to this day. Make your way to one of Prague’s hundreds of cafés. Whether you find yourself in a small family-run café, an elegant Art Nouveau café with sumptuous décor, or even one of the design cafés, you can seek inspiration in a cup of delicious coffee or one of the famous desserts.
Visit Einstein’s favourite coffeehouse!
In Prague it would be hard to find a café more famous than Slavia, opposite the National Theatre. One of the city’s oldest cafés, it affords magnificent views of Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge and was the traditional meeting place for such greats as Franz Kafka, Rainer Maria Rilke and Antonín Dvořák. In the rooms of the elegant Café Louvre you will find a perfect illusion of First Republic splendour. Just like its frequent guest Albert Einstein, you can enjoy delicious desserts, read the newspaper or use the Art Nouveau billiard room. The epitome of refinement is the café in the spectacular Municipal House. Surrounded by soaring windows, high ceilings and crystal chandeliers, you can relax comfortably here and your senses will be delighted by the fine selection of coffees from around the world.
The only one of its kind in the world…
Experience the pleasure of sipping coffee in a place like nowhere else! Grand Café Orient in the House of the Black Madonna is the only Cubist café in the world. The homemade apple strudel with warm caramel ice cream will make you never want to leave. If you are wandering around romantic Kampa Island, stop for a coffee at Café Savoy, whose interiors are truly a gem of the Renaissance Revival. You can breathe in the magic of the Orient at the Café Imperial with its beautiful décor.
Liven up your day at Prague’s trendy cafés
But Prague doesn’t just live through its history. As a modern and vibrant big city it also offers trendy cafés designed in excellent taste. Try, for example, Al Cafetero with its selection of freshly roasted organic coffee served in a vacuum pot. If you like modern design, don’t miss the famous Buddha Bar, which also takes excellent care of your taste buds. The Mama Coffee network of cafés offers Fair Trade coffee from its own roasting facilities. To go with it, you can indulge in some of the café’s handmade chocolates, also Fair Trade, of course.
Hidden Cafés in Prague