PRAGUE

44 NIGHTLIFE
Clubs
Abaton Praha 8, Na Košince 8 / Povltavská 2175, MPalmovka,
tel. (+420) 602 32 44 34, www.prostorabaton.
cz. Very cool club a tad out of town but with one of the best
programs in the city, be it drum n bass DJs or live music to the
tune of Chumbawamba, Natacha Atlas, The Dresden Dolls or
Free Monday local heroes such as Dirty Airlines. Beer hall downstairs
with video feed from the stage upstairs. Open for gigs
only and closing time depends on the band/after party. Tram
10, 24, 25 to stanice Stejskalova QOpen 19:00 - 03:00. E
Akropolis K-4, Praha 3, Kubelíkova 27, MJiřího z
Poděbrad, tel. (+420) 296 33 09 11, www.palacakropolis.cz.
Akropolis goes a long way to saving the world on those
humdrum nights in the winter. A sprawling den of scruffy delights
with great and often unusual live music and DJs. There
are two bars, an adjoining café, plus the excellent gig space
offering some of the most intriguing music in Prague on offer.
Gigs have to finish at 22:00 so start times here are punctual.
QOpen 16:00 - 04:00. Admission 30 - 400Kč. EKW
Cross Club Praha 7, Plynární 23, tel. (+420) 736 53
50 53, www.crossclub.cz. One of Prague's underground
legends has emerged into legal luminescence as the cool kid
on the block. The labyrinthine den has, despite its slightly out
of the way location, become a firm favourite. Jungle, drum
‘n base, house and chill out have their own rooms and the
music, whether DJ or live, has to compete with some of the
funkiest, most inventive and ever-changing décor around.
QOpen 14:00 - 03:00, Sat, Sun 16:00 - 05:00. 6EBK
Duplex I-4, Praha 1, Václavské nám. 21, MMůstek, tel.
(+420) 732 22 11 11, info@duplex.cz, www.duplex.cz. A
massive designer space fed by a couple of lifts from street level,
this is where Mick Jagger decided to spend his birthday, which
has probably made the place even more full of itself. Theme
nights range from Dirty Dancing parties on Fridays to local and
international DJ's on Saturdays. QOpen, Wed, Thu, Fri 22:00
- 05:00, Sat 23:00 - 05:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. ABK
Futurum G-6, Praha 5, Zborovská 7, MAnděl, tel.
(+420) 257 32 85 71, www.musicbar.cz. Smíchov is on its
way to glory, and the way is paved by Futurum's, er, futuristic
rooms. Its ultra modern conversions with eccentric lighting
and exposed metal and brick is inventive. The place hosts
launch parties for Czech bands, the odd cultural festival and
half-decent DJs. Fridays host their popular 80s & 90s night.
QOpen 20:00 - 03:00. Admission 100Kč. E
Újezd A-4, Praha 1, Újezd 18, MNárodní třída, tel.
(+420) 257 31 65 37, www.klubujezd.cz. Yes, the ambience
is young, shabby and hedonistic, but Újezd's three floors
and especially the bizarre wrought iron sculptures are a tonic
to eyes and ears. Friendly staff and hot (most of them smoking)
people throng here any night for live music and/or DJs.
The cellar is punk, and upstairs is a more eclectic chill zone.
Don't bring your posh frock, do bring some energy. QOpen
11:00 - 04:00. E
Karlovy Lázně C-3, Praha 1, Smetanovo nábreží 198,
MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 222 22 05 02, www.
karlovylazne.cz. Set up as Prague's superclub, this place
has been rebuilt with panache, e.g. the transparent floor thus
enabling you to comfortably look up girls' skirts. Live bands,
chillout rooms and free internet access in the basement,
standard tunes one floor up, eclectica up one again, and
more hard core dance tracks in the loft. Q MCM Internet
Café open 10:00 - 05:00. Club open 21:00 - 05:00. Admission
21:00-22:00 50Kč, after 22:00 120Kč.
Klub Lávka C-3, Praha 1, Novotného lávka 1,
MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 222 22 21 56, www.
lavka.cz. Lávka occupies a beautiful corner right next to
Charles Bridge, with terraces looking across the water to the
castle. This is about as apt and tasteful as say... putting Elton
John in charge of your funeral arrangements and expecting
an occassion of grace and dignity. QOpen 21:30 - 05:00.
PAUEK
Lucerna Music Bar I-4, Praha 1, Vodičkova 36,
MMůstek, tel. (+420) 224 21 71 08, www.musicbar.cz.
The more popular local bands and the smaller international
groups ply their trade here fairly regularly. Every Saturday you
can find an un-hip, unpretentious crowd cavorting at their
disarmingly popular 1980s night, which has led to the doors
being closed because of sheer numbers. QOpen 19:00 -
06:00. Admission 50 - 150Kč. PE
Mecca Praha 7, U Průhonu 3, MNádraží Holešovice,
tel. (+420) 602 71 12 25, mecca@mecca.cz, www.
mecca.cz. Mecca has taken the proceeds from its status
as the recent clubbing star of Prague and done something
very odd. It has spent it on making the club even better.
Now one can hardly shuffle from one foot to other without
falling into the lap of some super-model clubbing lass lying
back on one of the huge white sofas. The DJ's they
showcase are some of the best town. QOpen, Wed, Fri,
Sat 22:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun. Admission
150 - 200Kč. PAUE
Nebe H-5, Praha 1, Křemencova 10, MNárodní
třída, tel. (+420) 777 80 04 11. This slice of heaven
produces what its punters want every night and hence
conjures up a good vibe, happy drinkers and DJs who do
have a clue about creating and keeping the atmosphere.
Bar keeps add to the atmosphere which goes on late.
QOpen 19:00 - 05:00.
Popocafepetl Music Club Praha 1, Újezd 19, www.
popocafepetl.cz. The space is small but well utilised and
already drawing the crowds. Located by trendy Downtown
Café, this block is a new hotspot. Their bookings are an international
bunch from homegrown talent to bands/members
from SCO/FRA/SK/HU. Sundays have proved a good night
for Gitans (CZ) and their gypsy nights. Gigs begin at 20.30.
Admission up to 150Kč. QOpen 16.00 - 02.00. E
Retro Music Hall J-6, Praha 2, Franzouzská 4, MNám.
Míru, tel. (+420) 603 47 67 47, www.retropraha.cz. A
new and rising star of a club of the same name as the adjacent
restaurant and music bar. The club has a good and varied
roster of local and international bands and DJs rocking the
decent floor, balcony and stage space. Open for gigs only
and closing time depends on the band/after party. Admission
30 - 500Kč depending on the band. Q Open Thu - Sat
17:00 - 05:00. PE
Rock Café D-4, Praha 1, Národní 20, MNárodní třída,
tel. (+420) 224 93 39 47, www.rockcafe.cz. Three bars
and a funky, boxy lounge with cool mural graffiti and screen
makes Rock Café continously one of the most suave places
in town. QOpen 10:00 - 03:00, Sat 17:00 - 03:00, Sun
17:00 - 01:00. Admission 50 - 100Kč. EW
Roxy E-2, Praha 1, Dlouhá 33, MNám. Republiky, tel.
(+420) 224 82 62 96, www.roxy.cz. Probably the best
club in Prague, years of kudos keep the place hopping despite
some sound issues. Live acts and DJs plus the divinely
eclectic Free Mondays. Q Box office open 16:00. Club open
for concerts 19:00, for club nights 22:00. PE
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