Venues shift in and
out of popularity with great rapidity in Prague. Many bars
are open late (until 0200 or 0400) and clubs even later (until 0500,
0600 or even later). For the most up to date listings check
with your hotel concierge.
In the Czech Republic, however classy, ‘nightclubs’
here means a table dancing club, usually with a strip show and often
even with a sauna or Jacuzzi. Clubs with live music are generally
known as ‘music clubs’ or ‘jazz clubs’,
while those that offer dancing are known as ‘discos’
or ‘dance clubs’.
The minimum drinking
age in the Czech Republic is 18 years and drinks are inexpensive
at about Kè30 for half a litre of beer or Kè70–100
for imported beers.
Weekly listings in English of music events can be found in the Prague
Post and the Prague Pill. Bars
Kozièka, Kozí 4, Prague 1, and
the grill bar Belle Epoque, Køižovnická
8, Prague 1. Bugsy’s,
Paøížská 10, Prague 1 with over 200
cocktails, attracts the business set. Other popular spots with
younger Czechs are Scandals, Dlouhá 7/992,
Prague 1, Studio A. Rubin, Malostranské
námìstí 9, Prague 1, which has a dancefloor,
Marquis de Sade, Templová 18, Prague 1, and Akropolis,
Palác Akropolis, Kubelíkova 27, Prague 3, with three
bars (no cover charge), a concert space and the Kaaba
Café.
Casinos
Gambling is big business in Prague, with new casinos opening all
the time. Most casinos have a sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere,
with bets ranging from a minimum Kè20–25 to a maximum
of Kè5000 (in a few cases like the Jalta, Kè10,000).
The minimum age for gaming is 18 years and a
passport or ID is required.
Clubs
Best for world music is Akropolis,
Kubelíkova 27, Prague 3, a complex of concert spaces, bars
and a café.
Latino clubs include La Habana, Míšeòská
12, Prague 1, and Mánes, Masarykovo nábøeži
250, Prague 1, only open on Friday and Saturday. Roxy,
Dlouhá 33, Prague 1, caters to the dance crowd. Radost/FX,
Bìlehradská 120, Prague 2, is a mix of house and
techno music. It also includes a vegetarian restaurant and art
gallery.
Industry 55, Vinohradská 40, Prague 2,
stays open late for a youngish crowd, playing techno, house, trance
and other dance music. Klub Lávka, Novotného
Lávka is a popular top-40 club with good food and a wonderful
riverside terrace. Karlove Lázné,
also located at Novotného Lávka, claims to be the
largest club in central Europe. The four floors all feature different
music styles.
Live music
Malostranské beseda, Malostranské
námìstí, Prague 1, has everything from 1920s
jazz to contemporary rock. The Lucerna
Music Bar, Vodièkova 36, Prague 1, serves up a blend
of excellent jazz, rock and 80s nights, with plenty of space to
dance. Jazz has been popular in Prague since the 1920s. Agharta,
Krakovská 5, Prague 1, is undoubtedly the city’s
best venue. The Jazz & Blues Café,
Na pøikopì 23, Prague 1, has good programming and
sound. The best local musicians often meet up for late-night jam
sessions at U staré paní, Michalská
9, Prague 1. U Malého Glen, Karmelitská
23, Prague 1, is one of the oldest jazz bars in Malá Strana,
with good food and a friendly atmosphere. Reduta,
Národní tøída 20, Prague 1, remains
infamous as the club where President Clinton
played the sax for President Havel. It is very
touristy.
The image of the cowboy has been popular in the Czech Republic
since the 1920s. První Prag Country Saloon Amerika,
Korunní 101, Prague 3, is only open until 23:00 but provides
a wild evening of country and western music – dress the
part and mosey on down |
