PRAGUE - KISADO

46 NIGHTLIFE
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
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.
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.)
U Buldoka Praha 5, Preslova 1, MAnděl, tel. (+420)
257 32 91 54, www.ubuldoka.cz. Straddling the fence
between a munched out smokey dive of a bar and a club
because it’s open late and has DJs, The Bulldog, in the same
vein that it was started in a few years ago, is the receptacle
for the flotsam and jetsam from Chateau across the river.
QOpen 20:00 - 04:00. Closed Sun. Admission 50 - 100Kč.
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.
Gay Prague
Drake’s G-6, Praha 5, Zborovská 50, MAnděl, tel.
(+420) 257 32 68 28, www.drakes.cz. THE place for
tourists to discover Prague’s gay scene. Non stop fun and
games in the dark rooms, bar or dungeon. Q Open 24hrs.
Admission 500Kč.
The Saints K-5, Praha 2, Polská 32, MJiřího z Poděbrad,
tel. (+420) 222 25 03 26, www.saintsbar.cz. Young and
good looking, like their bar staff, the Saints bar adds a sinful
option to Prague’s gay scene. Small but perfectly formed,
Saints has adopted the early evening and late night position
on the gay day, as it were. To spice up life for everyone, these
wicked people have introduced Thursday lesbian nights to
their weekly line-up. Excellent chill out bar. Walkers Crisps and
Smirnoff Ice have coaxed the Brits in. Gambrinus 35Kč. Four
apartments available too. QOpen 19:00 - 04:00.
Valentino J-5, Praha 2, Vinohradská 40, MNám. Míru,
tel. (+420) 222 51 34 91, www.club-valentino.cz. A new
star on the Prague gay scene, Valentino has linked its street
level bar, cafe and cellar dance floor via a tunnel of love to the
dance floor and dark room of old Gej...zeer to provide three
floors of good atmosphere, lovely staff and kicking nights,
with weekends attracting a huge, pumping crowd. QOpen
14:00 - 05:00. Admission free. BEKP
www.inyourpocket.com
Prague In Your Pocket prague.inyourpocket.com
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
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.
Pubs
Dubliner Irish Bar F-2, Praha 1, Týn 1, MStaroměstská,
tel. (+420) 224 89 54 04, www.aulddubliner.cz. 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, Sun 11:00 - 01:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 03:00.
(100 - 400Kč). PJAEK
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
prague.inyourpocket.com
NIGHTLIFE
Martin’s Irish Pub I-6, Praha 2, Lublaňská 57, MI.P.
Pavlova, tel. (+420) 222 51 81 17. This is an Irish bar for
locals who crave the beer and atmosphere of the Emerald
Isle without the English-speakers. The menu lists Czech-style
international dishes and some of the cheapest Guinness in
town at 59Kč. It’s probably also the only pub of its genre to
offer Kung Pao pork and only one TV. Odd, yet refreshing.
QOpen 11:30 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. PBK
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 classic 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
Shamrock Irish Pub F-4, Praha 1, Václavské nám.
56, MMuzeum, tel. (+420) 224 03 24 81. The two-floor
cellar space is accessible via a deceptively small entrance
at street level. Upon entering, any subtlety is wiped out by 4
massive projection screens, numerous smaller TVs around
the circular-ish room and hordes of chanting fans. Good food,
the famous Irish breakfast and all European channels attract
sport fans and staggers alike. QOpen 10:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat
10:00 - 04:00. (100 - 350Kč). PAK
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
The Pack I-5, Praha 1, Ve Smečkách 21, MMuzeum,
tel. (+420) 222 21 02 80, www.thepack.cz. Tailor made
for its fans with scantily clad waitresses, flat screen TVs in
every room, Guinness and Strongbow (90/85Kč) on tap, a
full English breakfast with Heinz beans, and opening hours to
cater for sports from all continents. A higher class of pub food
is also available from wings (150Kč) and burgers (250Kč) to
the massive double filet mignon (950Kč). Gambrinus 55Kč.
Q Open Mon & Fri 09:00 - 02:00; Tue - Thu 12:00 - 02:00;
Sat, Sun 06:30 - 02:00. JAK
February - March 2010
47