PRAGUE - Fringe

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RESTAURANTS IN THE OLD TOWN
Prague In Your Pocket
Food with a view
Koliba Praha Praha 11, Gregorova 8, MRoztyly,
tel. 272 94 13 40, www.kolibapraha.cz. Koliba Praha
sits high on a hill, providing panoramic views of the city
while they serve up some delicous and well priced dishes.
Steak, chicken and fish join classic Czech specialties.
QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. (150 - 300Kč). ABEPU
La Perle de Prague G-5, Praha 2, Rašínovo nábř. 80,
MKarlovo nám., tel. 221 98 41 60, www.laperle.cz.
Here you are nestled in the ginger curls atop Tančící Dům
with a superb view across the Vltava. As you would expect
from the exterior of the building, the design cuts a dash with
clean and modern lines, with a kitchen to match. Prices are
steep, they do have a three-course business lunch at 490Kč.
Q Open Tue - Sat 12:00 - 14:00, 19:00 - 22:30; Mon 19:00
- 22:30. Closed Sun. (750 - 1,000Kč). ABPU
Petřínské Terasy A-4, Praha 1, Seminářská zahrada
13, tel. 257 32 06 88, www.petrinsketerasy.cz.
The restaurant with one of the best views of Prague sits
halfway up Petřín Hill and is furnished in a Slovak country
cottage kind of way. Cuisine is the somewhat traditional
international and Czech variety, and live dulcimer music
accompanies dinner. Take the funicular to the Nebozizek
stop. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 23:00.
(160 - 280Kč). AIEB
Rio’s Vyšehrad H-7, Praha 2, Štulcova 2, MVyšehrad,
tel. 224 92 21 56/602 75 10 35, www.riorestaurant.
cz. High on Vyšehrad sits Rio’s, home to an old fashioned
dining area, more relaxed café space and large terrace. The
Mediterranean menu has nine carpaccio varieties, eight
variations of steak tartare (including, bizarrely, a vegetarian
one), spaghetti al dente and fresh fish from France and Scandinavia.
A prime spot for lunch, dinner or coffee on the tourist
trail. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. (140 - 490Kč). AB
TV Tower K-4, Praha 3, Mahlerovy sady, MJiřího
z Poděbrad, tel. 242 41 87 78, www.tower.cz. This
landmark seems equally loved and hated. Whichever
your decision, the view is tremendous and you can eat
at the restaurant or café while contemplating the reality
of vertigo. Prices are higher than at other, more down-toearth
spots. You have to pay the 150/75Kč admission
fee regardless, but you will get a 5% discount on your bill.
QOpen 11:00 - 23:30. (180 - 350Kč). ALPT
Zlatá Praha E-1, Praha 1, nám. Curieových 43/5
(InterContinental Hotel), MStaroměstská, tel. 296
63 99 14, www.prague.interconti.com. One the
city’s most renowned restaurants, Golden Prague offers
a changing menu of international and Czech nouvelle
cuisine, business lunches for the more budget conscious
gourmet, and a Sunday brunch accompanied by live jazz.
Q Open 12:00 - 15:00; 18:00 - 23:30. (500 - 800Kč).
ABEGP
Zvonice I-4, Praha 1, Jindřišská věž, MNám. Republiky,
tel. 224 22 00 09, www.restaurantzvonice.
cz. Head to the top three floors of this Gothic bell tower,
complete with 15th century bell. Zvonice is decorated
with giant oak beams and serves everything from snails,
carpaccio, steak and fish to classic Czech dishes. Don’t
miss the view from the gallery up top. Gorgeous and
exceedingly posh. Lunch menu for 290Kč. QOpen 11:30
- 24:00. (400 - 750Kč). A
RESTAURANTS IN THE OLD TOWN
La Degustation F-2, Praha 1, Haštalská 18, MNám.
Republiky, tel. 222 31 12 34, www.ladegustation.cz.
This self-styled Bohemian Bourgeoisie restaurant from the
Ambiente Group is a luxurious corner restaurant with an
open kitchen and a private dining room feel to it. Set menus
intrigue the senses with a heady list of amuse-bouche, there
is a pre- and post-theatre menu, and the sommelier has created
a superb wine list. QOpen 17:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun.
(945 - 2,450Kč). A
La Veranda E-2, Praha 1, Elišky Krásnohorské 2,
MStaroměstská, tel. 224 81 47 33, www.laveranda.
cz. ‘Brave, original, creative, and innovative.’ La Veranda lives
up to its credo, and surpasses it in a style unlike any other
in Prague. The fusion cuisine satisfies the eye as well as the
palate, offering choices that are low on fat. In the ultra modern
Zen-like atmosphere, La Veranda touts chef-of-the-year
(2002) Radek David’s creativity. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sun
16:00 - 23:00. (350 - 500Kč). APT
Noodles F-4, Praha 1, Politických vězňů 12/913,
MMůstek, tel. 234 10 01 10, www.noodles.cz. Now with
a superb summer garden and shortcut through to Wenceslas
Square, the world of noodles is right on our doorstep. Excellent
lunch deals bring people flocking but dinner still needs some
tweaking to attract diners. Italian, Japanese, Thai, Mongolian,
etc. variations available from 99Kč. The gorgeously tactile
interior design of the host (Yasmin) hotel doesn’t distract.
QOpen 06:30 - 23:00. (100 - 350Kč). ABLPTW
Nostress E-1, Praha 1, Dušní 10, MStaroměstská, tel.
222 31 70 07, www.nostress.cz. They’re not kidding. With
comfortable designer furniture and steady ambient music,
stress is the last thing on your mind. Fusion and Asian cuisine
dominate the menu, but you shouldn’t pass up a chance to try
one of the delicious Belgian desserts - the owner is Belgian.
Highlights include dim sum and wontons as well as celebrity
sightings (Joseph Fiennes, Maggie Smith and, er, Begbie).
Loud live music on Saturday evenings. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00,
Sat, Sun 10:00 - 23:00. (250 - 600Kč). AEIP
Oliva Praha 2, Plavecká 4, tel. 222 52 02 88, www.
olivarestaurant.cz. The superb Le Bistrot de Marlene is
a hard space to fill, but Oliva, while being a wholly different
restaurant, has managed to keep folks happy with its Mediterranean
flair and flavour. The chef from La Perle de Prague
provides a succulent, sense sensation with almost every
dish to counter the somewhat twee interior. Theme nights
with guest chefs, a good wine list and superb olive oils add
to the great service and menu. Tram N° 3, 7, 16, 17, 21 to
Výton. Q Open 11:30 - 15:00; 18:00 - 24:00. Closed Sun.
(150 - 550Kč). A
Parnas C-4, Praha 1, Smetanovo nábř. 2, MNárodní
třída, tel. 224 23 96 04. A lovely little restaurant on the
Vltava which is proving to be immensely popular with all kinds
of diners who come to enjoy the super international cuisine.
You will too. A non-tourist trap in the most tourist-trapped
of cities, and therefore a joy. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. (100
- 350Kč). AGP
Perfect I-3, Praha 1, Soukenická 4, MNáměstí Republiky,
tel. 222 31 16 00, www.perfectrestaurant.cz. A very
risky name for a new restaurant, but the cheeky guys running
this café/restaurant/club certainly have a point. With great
breakfast deals, the 195-295Kč eat-all-you-can lunch menus
and imaginative a-la-carte dining in the evening, it certainly
sounds perfect – there’s even a children’s menu. After dark,
the place transforms into a club with daily DJ music and a wide
range of cocktails. QOpen 08:00 - 23:30. AGPX
Pravda E-2, Praha 1, Pařížská 17, MStaroměstská, tel. 222
32 62 03. Not just the name of the old communist party mouthpiece
(and a terrific Tom Stoppard play), but also a successful dining
room, with huge windows for maximum pose street visibility, great
high white walls and a very enviable mezzanine floor shaped like a
box at the opera. The vichysoisse 165Kč and a delicious tagliatelle
with parma ham 245Kč, are very good. Another Tommy Sjöö restaurant.
QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. (250 - 600Kč). ABGP
SOHO+ Praha 4, Podolské nábř. 1, tel. 244 46 37 72,
www.sohorestaurant.cz. Exquisite interior design creates
chiffon-divided private spaces in this fine dining location with a
great terrace down the river at Dvorce. Mussels parmesan (or
any way) make a great starter, your steak is cooked exactly as
you ordered it and there’s a good range of Greek food. Service
was bumbling on our last visit (long waits and disappearing ashtrays)
but the food is still worth it. Wine from 300Kč upwards.
QOpen 11:30 - 23:30. (300 - 1,000Kč). PAB
Střelecký ostrov C-4, Praha 1, Střelecký ostrov 336,
tel. 224 93 40 28, www.streleckyostrov.cz. Perched on
the eponymous island halfway Most Legii bridge, this elegant
restaurant pleases weary walkers with affordable lunches while
plying hedonists with wine and food from the gourmet menu. It
has a bright and spacious inside seating area and cosy medieval
cellars, but the main draw is the terrace with great views of
rowers and the National Theatre. Mind the enterprising waiters
who will happily and illegally add their own tip to the bill if you’re
not Czech. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. ABGPU
Suterén G-5, Praha 1, Masarykovo nábř. 26, MNárodí
třída, tel. 224 93 36 57, www.suteren.com. Featuring
such alcohol-flavoured dishes as salmon mojito - marinaded
with Caribbean rum and mint, pheasant on slivovice and even
lemon sorbet with vodka, this place is too intriguing to miss.
The eclectic menu lists New Zealand mussels, Moscow caviar,
escargot, carpaccio and pasta, plus Thai dishes. In the cellar,
modern furnishings complement the bare brick walls. QOpen
11:30 - 24:00. Closed Sun. (150 - 320Kč). AP
Vltava H-2, Praha 1, nám. Curieových 100,
MStaroměstská, tel. 234 61 41 00, www.hotelpresident.cz.
The appropriately named restaurant has panoramic
views of the river, a suitably designed interior and creative
menu to match. Steak with roasted shallots served with
mashed potato, monkfish, Tandoori and delicious desserts to
match the good wine list. QOpen 18:30 - 23:30. PTA
Noodles from all
around the world
Restaurant Café Bar Noodles (in Hotel Yasmin)
Politických vězňů 12/913, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
T: +420 234 100 100, F: +420 234 100 125
www.hotel-yasmin.cz, info@hotel-yasmin.cz
April - May 2007
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