PRAGUE - Fringe

48 NIGHTLIFE IN THE OLD TOWN
Prague In Your Pocket
This chapter only reviews our selection of nightlife venues
in the Old and New Town, the well-touristed area between
the river and Wilsonova road. Prices are higher in the Old
Town as a rule but that doesn’t stop the party people.
For nightlife in Malá Strana, Vinohrady & Žižkov, Letná &
Holešovice and Smíchov turn to pages 58 - 70.
Bars
Atmosphere C-3, Praha 1, Smetanovo nábřeží 14,
MStaroměstská, tel. 222 22 21 14. Cool spot with
courtyard terrace, foosball table and excellently functional and
filling food. With posters extolling bongs, skateboarding and
the fact that beer has been helping ugly people have sex for
years, this is not a sophisticated night out. It is appropriately
atmospheric though and has an extensive and cheap food
menu. One of the best aspects is Hoegaarden for just 30Kč
oh, so close to the river. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. B
Bar and Books F-2, Praha 1, Týnská 19, MNám.
Republiky, tel. 224 80 82 50, www.barandbooks.net.
Deep red walls and ceilings, leather benches, dark wood
finishing, books filling one complete wall and impeccable
service typify Bar & Books. Cocktails vie with an astounding
array of whiskey, wine and cigars in this classy setting with
cool tunes and Bond on TV. Salmon and club sandwiches,
caviar and chocolate fondue are on the small but inspired
menu. QOpen 14:00 - 04:00, Sat 18:00 - 04:00, Sun
18:00 - 03:00. AP
Barock H-3, Praha 1, Pařížská 24, MStaroměstská,
tel. 222 32 92 21. Not a rock bar at all. Swing with the
smart set in this flash and polished bar/restaurant with
huge windows and chandeliers - all the better to see the
beautiful models sipping and sashaying. The aprons will
come buzzing around you to offer expertly crafted drinks,
succulent sushi, and a reassuringly expensive bill. QOpen
10:00 - 01:00. APU
Bombay Cocktail Bar E-2, Praha 1, Dlouhá 13,
MStaroměstská, tel. 721 882 557, www.rasoi.cz.
One of the city’s best late night hot spots, Bombay seldom
disappoints with a wide range of cocktails, DJs who actually
play what the crowd wants to hear and a diverse clientele in
the right frame of mind to have fun. Enough said. QOpen
12:00 - 04:00. ABP
Bugsy’s E-2, Praha 1, Pařížská 10, MStaroměstská,
tel. 224 81 02 87, www.bugsysbar.cz. Bugsy’s has been
around for a fair while now, but it has managed to keep the
‘it’ that means it is a place to go if you wanted everyone who
has ‘it’ to think that you have ‘it’ too. A trendy and hip crowd
guaranteed then, as is a menu featuring plenty of decent
cocktails. QOpen 19:00 - 02:00. AEP
Cabestro D-4, Praha 1, Spálená 47, MNárodní třída.
Although in its infancy, canny owners are already sounding
out excellent DJs and even some live music, the location will
attract the punters and the real party will begin. Follow the
bare corridor into Cabestro.QOpen 20:00 - 03:00. E
De Brug F-2, Praha 1, Masná 5, MNám. Republiky, tel.
224 81 92 83. Not quite an authentic Amsterdam bar – for
obvious reasons, but it is Dutch owned and operated and
they serve traditional finger food. English breakfast and the
usual bar staples of burgers and Mexican bites accompany
38Kč Staropramen, DJ at weekends and the varied set of
locals and tourist that wander into this dark, wooden nook.
Quiet early, but then it can and often does kick off. QOpen
12:00 - 02:00. KW
Bugsy’s E-2, Praha 1, Pařížská
10, MStaroměstská, tel. 224 81
02 87, www.bugsysbar.cz. Bugsy’s
has been around for a fair while now,
but it has managed to keep the ‘it’
that means it is a place to go if you wanted everyone who
has ‘it’ to think that you have ‘it’ too. A trendy and hip crowd
guaranteed then, as is a menu featuring plenty of decent
cocktails. QOpen 19:00 - 02:00. AEP
Duende C-3, Praha 1, Karolíny Světlé 30,
MStaroměstská, tel. 604 26 97 31, www.duende.cz.
A small split-level bar containing casually sophisticated folks
who sip and do not gulp their drinks. The odd snack occasionally
makes an appearance to liven things up. QOpen 11:00
- 01:00, Sun 17:00 - 01:00. G
Fat Boy’s F-3, Praha 1, Malá Štupartská 5/636,
MNám. Republiky, www.fatboys.cz. Not a full English
breakfast in sight, but they did stay open all night for the
Ashes... A small bar with good staff and quieter than most in
the area has just begun live music nights. With only darker
granát and Stella beers on offer, even the spill off from Chateau
don’t always linger, but it is usually riff-raff free. QOpen
11:00 - 02:00.
Gecko H-5, Praha 1, Mikulandská 2, MNárodní třída, tel.
776 11 72 93. Gecko could be mistaken for a chameleon as it
appears to be a fine place for a quiet drink then suddenly you’re
having a crazy time in what was the smallest bar in Prague. A
kitchen (good, cheap eats) and small music club downstairs
plus more tables have almost quadrupled the bar space. The
fun factor has not been diluted. QOpen 11:00 - 03:00.
Harley’s E-2, Praha 1, Dlouhá 18, tel. 227 19 51 95,
www.harleys.cz. Interesting mix of bikers, locals and tourists,
this long, long bar has emerged on the scene not just
because of their large US style food, well mixed drinks or Wild
Cats (shot shifting girls) but due to the presence of two of
Dusk till Dawn’s barmen. Check it out. Shots around 60Kč and
Jack 80Kč. QOpen 18:00 - 03:00. (120 - 350Kč). A
Chateau Rouge F-3, Praha 1, Jakubská 2, MNám.
Republiky, tel. 222 31 63 28, www.chateaurouge.cz. A
local legend. This large, dark red bar continues to be the place
to head for to indulge a multitude of vices. A deeper and darker
cellar room kicks in later in the evening as a DJ and dance
venue, thus giving dedicated nocturnalists another central
venue to frequent. Early on it provides a quiet alternative for
a bit of chilling. QOpen 12:00 - 05:00. AE
Kozička E-2, Praha 1, Kozí 1, MStaroměstská, tel.
224 81 83 08, www.kozicka.cz. Tagged out front by the
sculpture of an iron goat, Kozička is entered via heavy red
curtains, down the stairs and into the labyrinthine set of
rooms. Good food adds to the late night party vibe and this
is one of the kitchens that’ll feed us late into the Prague night
- till 01:45 in fact. QOpen 12:00 - 04:00, Sat 18:00 - 04:00,
Sun 18:00 - 03:00. AIP
K.U.Bar.Cafe E-4, Praha 1, Rytířská 13, MMůstek,
tel. 221 18 10 81. There’s a fine line between trendy and
pretentious and this bar from the Café-Café company and
the people in it tips to the side of plastic pretence. If you
are trendy, cool, beautiful, wear the right labels and want to
hang out with like-minded folk, head on down for higher than
average prices, DJ tunes and small bar menu. QOpen 17:00
- 03:00, Sat, Sun 17:00 - 04:00.
NIGHTLIFE IN THE OLD TOWN
PAŘÍŽSKÁ 10
PRAGUE 1
DAILY 7 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Recognized by Newsweek
International as one of the
World‘s Best Bars
„The most popular bar in the
Czech Republic“
Playboy Award 2003
Partner in the OK PLUS
AirRestaurant program
Phone: +420 - 224 810 827
Email: bar@bugsysbar.cz
www.bugsysbar.cz
For the twelfth year
now Bugsy‘s Bar has
been a living Czech
bartending legend.
It‘s wide selection of
perfectly created
Martinis served in
chilled cocktail
glasses and a wide
range of
Champagnes,
Whiskies, Rums &
Cigars prove it‘s
position in the world.
April - May 2007
49