PRAGUE

46 NIGHTLIFE
SaSaZu K-1, Praha 7, Bubenské nábřeží 306, MVltavská,
tel. 284 09 74 44, info@sasazu.com, www.
sasazu.com. Pretty cool spot, and definitely the best thing
to open here in recent memory. SaSaZu sports a split-level
dance floor with enough space for up to 2,000 of your nearest
and dearest. Styling décor; flashing lights and lots of events
make this a good spot to know and go. Mix of DJs and live
acts. Other part of this former warehouse is a Thai restaurant.
QOpen 20:00 - 03:00.
Solidní nejistota H-5, Praha 1, Pštrossova 21,
MNárodní třída, tel. (+420) 224 93 30 86, www.solidninejistota.cz.
This long red hall divided by an oval-shaped
bar is a meat market in more ways than one. Older women
arrive early to collect bar stools, younger women come later
for the dancing while the most beautiful show up any time
knowing they'll always be offered a seat. Juicy steaks cooked
to order until 03:00. QOpen 19:00 - 06:00. PAK
Studio 54 J-3, Praha 1, Hybernská 38, www.studio54.
cz. Where the crowds go for the after party, things often
don't kick off here till well into the morning, so be cool and
arrive fashionably late. Don't forget your sunglasses. QOpen
05:00 - 15:00. Admission 100Kč.
Top Secret Club E-2, Praha 1, Masná 9,
MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 222 31 69 03, www.
info@topsecretclub.cz, www.topsecretclub.cz. The
secret's out - Top Secret is one cool joint. The club is happening;
and the cafe is open long hours. Brunch is offered on
the weekends. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
22:00 - 05:00. Cafe is open everyday (8:00-22:00); club only
Tuesdays-Saturdays (22:00-5:00.)
Vagon D-4, Praha 1, Národní 25, MNárodní třída, tel.
(+420) 221 08 55 99, www.vagon.cz. Vagon was a dancing
hall during communist times so if your parents are too old
to boogie here come yourself and check out the dedication to
the artwork, if not exactly the spirit, of the decadent 1960s.
An excellent live venue renowned for quality cover bands,
local and international acts plus an open mic night on select
Mondays. QOpen 18:00 - 05:00, Sun 18:00 - 01:00. E
Zlaté časy H-5, Praha 1, Vladislavova 1, MNárodní
třída, tel. (+420) 224 94 81 70, www.zlatecasy.cz. A
perfectly situated music club just off Lazarská, Zlaté časy is an
excellent destination as well as a place to while away the time
till your tram home. Steep stairs lead into the single roomed,
high-ceiled club, perfect for scoping out the talent at the bar
or on the dance floor. Music varies, but later, everyone bops
to Czech pop. Not bad prices either, 40Kč for a Pilsner Urquell.
Q Open 11:00 - 24:00, Thu 11:00 - 24:00, Fri 11:00 - 04:00,
Sat 16:00 - 04:00. Closed Sun.
Jazz
AghaRTA Jazz Centrum E-3, Praha 1, Železná 16,
MMůstek, tel. (+420) 222 21 12 75, info@agharta.cz,
www.agharta.cz. This beautiful arched medieval cellar is the
perfect place to appreciate some of the very fine bands on
the Prague jazz circuit, cut with the odd night of heavy blues.
Arrive early to claim a seat at a table. There's a jazz shop,
where they sell CDs including their own compilations of visiting
talent. QOpen 18:00 - 00:30. Concerts daily at 21:00. Admission
200Kč. Reservations via email only before 15:00. E
Akord I-3, Praha 1, V Celnici 4, MNám. Republiky,
tel. (+420) 774 10 10 91. New family-run jazz club in the
requisite basement, although this tubular cellar has been
renovated into a clean cut modern space. The lights dim when
the local and international line-up of jazz and blues names
take the stage. Cool website for this cool spot. CDs on sale
plus art on the walls. Music from 21:00. Admission 200Kč.
QOpen 19:00 - 01:00.
Jazz Boat D-1, Praha 1, Čechův most, Kotva boat,
MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 731 18 31 80, www.
jazzboat.cz. Take a musical journey on the low seas of the
Vltava. The Jazz Boat sets sail each evening from Čechův
most and for only 590Kč you're afforded a two and a half hour
cruise around Prague to the accompaniment of excellent jazz
performed by some of the city's finest musicians. A bar and
restaurant are also at your disposal, but their services are
not included in the bill. It's best to arrive early to get good
seats. QOpen 20:30 - 23:00. AEGBK
Jazz Dock Praha 5, Janáčkovo nábřeží 2, tel. 774 05 88
38, info@jazzdock.cz, www.jazzdock.cz. Soul, funk, blues…
if it jams it's at Jazz Dock. This newly opened riverside club
offers a diverse selection of blues & jazz genres, with a variety
of bands taking the stage every night. Open till the wee hours,
but stop by during the day for a light snack at their rooftop café.
QOpen 11:00 - 04:00. 150 Kč standard admission.
Reduta D-4, Praha 1, Národní 20, MNárodní třída, tel.
(+420) 224 93 34 87, www.redutajazzclub.cz. Founded
in 1958, Reduta was the first real venue for Czech rock and
roll, playing smuggled Elvis records. Reduta has not changed
much since then; don't come for the brown 1980s interior or
the uncomfortable bench seating; Reduta still brings in quality
performers and even attracts a president or two. Václav Havel
has brought Bill Clinton here twice now, and yes, he did play
his sax. QOpen 21:00 - 24:00. PE
U Malého Glena B-3, Praha 1, Karmelitská 23,
MMalostranská, tel. (+420) 257 53 17 17, www.malyglen.cz.
Little Glen's is, appropriately, a tiny venue downstairs
from a scrubbed wooden Irish-type bar, and hosts a wide
spectrum of local bands, with a particularly strong roster of
jazz and blues acts turning up regularly. You can book one of
the 20 or so spots crammed in around the tables. QOpen
10:00 - 02:00. Admission Mon, Tue & Thu 120Kč; Wed, Fri &
Sat 150Kč; Sun 70Kč. PAE
Prague In Your Pocket prague.inyourpocket.com
Ungelt Jazz & Blues Club E-2, Praha 1, Týnská ulička 2,
MNám. Republiky, tel. (+420) 224 89 57 48, www.jazzblues.
cz. Wander to the pub upstairs, and you'll be pleasantly surprised
by the cheerful atmosphere and cheap drinks. Go down the stairs
and you descend into the more expected territory of clinging onto
your cash for dear life, though it does host some good bluesy jazz.
Q Open 12:00 - 24:00; club open 20:00 - 02:00. Admission free.
Pubs
Caffrey's E-3, Praha 1, Staroměstské nám. 10,
MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 224 82 80 31, www.caffreys.cz.
Good service and a great location on Staromětské
nám. make this a popular Irish pub for many, including large parties
of stag nighters. Prices are more favourable here than other
Old Town spots; plus they offer an excellent food menu (try the
authentic Irish breakfast), first rate Guinness (65 Kč), Magners
Irish cider (85 Kč), Walker's crisps and more to make you feel right
at home. A good venue to watch all the major (GAA too) sporting
events. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00, Sat 09:00 - 02:00. PABK
George & Dragon E-2, Praha 1, Staroměstské nám.
11, MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 222 32 61 37. A British
pub landed slap bang in the middle of Old Town Square. TV
screens, a big screen and footy shirts line the walls so it won't
remind you of the country outside. Good food, including an all
day breakfast with the atmosphere you want to see your team
play and win, with any luck. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. ABK
Jáma D-4, Praha 1, V jámě 7, MMůstek, tel. (+420) 224
22 23 83, www.jamapub.cz. The memorabilia may be a bit
over the top, but it's preferable to the obligatory stop signs
and imitation Coke/Pepsi prints elsewhere. The Hollow's
worn wooden seats are home to expats and locals alike, who
frequent this bar for its burgers, BLTs and Tex-Mex as well as
the cheap local specials and beer. Bring your laptop for free
wi-fi. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. TAGBKW
J.J.Murphy's A-2, Praha 1, Tržiště 4, MMalostranská,
tel. (+420) 257 53 55 75, www.jjmurphys.cz. Don't worry,
they also have Guinness. If you pine for the days when you
could enjoy a pint, a good meal and your favourite sporting
event without screaming Englishmen in dresses working on
their 20th beer, then belly up to this Irish bar. Watch live sport
from one of the sofas in the attic lounge or have a proper
breakfast with pudding or a real American burger on the
ground floor. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00. AK
Merlin J-6, Praha 2, Bělehradská 68a, MI.P. Pavlova,
tel. (+420) 222 52 20 54, http://merlin-pub.hyperlink.
cz. Merlin the magician shares brick wall space with Guinness
posters and other emblems of Irishness, intermingled with
antique agricultural contraptions. The long bar resembles
that of an authentic pub and the sofas add to the laid-back
feel. The lower level houses the restaurant, which serves
the usual options with more than a dash of a varied Mexican
menu. QOpen 11:30 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 15:00 - 24:00. K
Molly Malone's E-2, Praha 1, U Obecního dvora 4,
MNám. Republiky, tel. (+420) 224 81 88 51, www.mollymalones.cz.
A quiet, nicely downbeat Irish pub. Odds and
ends of bashed about furniture clutter the scrubbed wooden
floors making it a perfect oasis for fairly well-heeled slumming.
Take your time contemplating the excellent menu over some
cider or a Guinness. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. PAUK
Rocky O'Reilly's I-5, Praha 1, Štěpánská 32,
MMůstek, tel. (+420) 222 23 10 60, www.rockyoreillys.cz.
Photos of prestigious poets and pubs, Guinness on
draught and an ‘O' in its name all meet the criteria for a clas-
prague.inyourpocket.com
NIGHTLIFE
sic Irish watering hole. Other perks include hearty portions
of international food including a huge Irish breakfast served
anytime, Sky Sports broadcast on several TVs and wait staff
that can easily draw your attention away from the football.
QOpen 10:00 - 01:00. PAK
Sherlock's Pub D-4, Praha 1, Bartolomějská 11,
MNárodní třída, tel. (+420) 226 21 19 39, www.sherlockspub.cz.
This split level pub with somewhat authentic
feel, paintings all over the walls and small courtyard is the
Prague location for the Ostrava original. Part sport bar, part
cocktail bar and part pub, Sherlock's has many stairs, plays
some terrible tunes but has a good kitchen which is open till
03:00. Staropramen costs, strangely, more that Stella and
drink specials at weekends will make those stairs more difficult…
QOpen 17:00 - 04:00. BK
U Zlatého tygra D-3, Praha 1, Husova 17,
MStaroměstská, tel. (+420) 222 22 11 11, www.
uzlatehotygra.cz. Havel took Bill Clinton here to demonstrate
Czech drinking culture (and let's face it, if there's one thing
Havel knows, it's his booze). Get there by opening time to have
any chance of getting in. The Pilsner brewery makes special
deliveries here - the beer is pumped directly into the large tanks
below the bar. A national institution. QOpen 15:00 - 23:00. K
Sports bars
Dubliner Irish Bar F-2, Praha 1, Týn 1, MStaroměstská,
tel. (+420) 224 89 54 04. Formerly Legends sports bar, the
Dubliner bills itself as an Irish sports pub. Whatever, you've still
got 12 TV's + 2 large screens now nestled in a homely Irish
pub atmosphere. If there's an international sport match you
gotta watch it's highly likely you'll see it here. Weekends visiting
DJ's rule the roost. QOpen, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun 11:00 -
01:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 02:00. (100 - 400Kč). PJAEK
The Beer Factory I-5, Praha 1, Václavské nám. 58,
MMůstek, tel. (+420) 736 63 08 68. Down see-through
steps (which could make things hallucinogenic later on…)
is this industrial-looking and functional, as the name suggests,
beer factory. Well located and easily locatable by the
square's landmark statue, this beer hall's cavernous space
should be packed daily - just look at those opening hours.
Taps at your table serve Pilsner Urquell (at 39Kč) while mix
drinks, coffee and hearty Czech dishes are served up by the
staff. TVs offer music and sport. QOpen 09:00 - 04:00.
(150 - 350Kč). PK
Venue 73 I-1, Praha 7, Veletržní 73, MVltavská, tel.
(+420) 728 13 99 03, www.venue73.cz. In addition to
two (real) dart boards, 7 TVs and one big screen, semi-private
booths in the VIP room with individual screens, English bacon,
sausages (full breakfast from 99Kč), Colman's mustard and
Branston pickle, they will reputedly have live online betting
and Sky High Definition. The fabled curries never materialised,
but the Sunday roast (195Kč) and other Brit goodies more
than satisfy. Gambrinus 25Kč, Pilsner Urquell 30Kč. QOpen
10:00 - 23:00. (30 - 200Kč). K
Zlatá hvězda I-5, Praha 1, Ve Smečkách 12, MMuzeum,
tel. (+420) 296 22 22 92, www.sportbar.cz. This dedicated
sports bar remains open until the final whistle blows.
Appropriately buxom servers deliver 21Kč Gambrinus, pizza
and wings etc. around the TV-filled room. A late-opening downstairs
bar (with TV) takes over when the sport bar closes.
Reservations are necessary for most big games although
there is no telling whether or not they they will keep yours.
QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Mon 11:00 - 24:00, Fri 11:00 - 04:30,
Sat 12:00 - 04:30, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. PAUIEB
December 2009 - January 2010
47