PRAGUE - Fringe

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NIGHTLIFE IN THE OLD TOWN
Prague In Your Pocket
La Casa Blů E-1, Praha 1, Kozí 15, MStaroměstská, tel.
224 81 82 70, www.lacasablu.cz. A pleasing and soothing
spirit pervades the darkened corners, which are perfect,
when a little recuperation is needed, for sprawling in but at
the same time you can perch at the bar and find yourself in the
midst of a mini Mardi Gras. Ay caramba the food is great too.
QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Sun 14:00 - 24:00. EK6W
Ocean Drive E-2, Praha 1, V Kolkovně 7, MStaroměstská,
tel. 224 81 90 89, www.tretters.cz. Basically created for
the overspill from sister establishment Tretters, with the same
calibre of clientele and maestro barkeeps. Join porn stars,
pop stars, suited Czechs and foreigners plus their cohorts for
some superlative cocktails at appropriately high prices. You
might have to wait at the door if they don’t know your face.
QOpen 16:00 - 02:00. AP
Rincón C-3, Praha 1, Na Zábradlí 1, MStaroměstská,
tel. 222 22 21 73. Splendidly located along the Vltava with
large windows to catch the evening sun. The menu reflects
the Charles Bridge location with bacon sandwiches and fish
and chips enticing the tourists. Split levels inside give some
privacy, and evenings see a crowd descend, especially when
drink specials are on. Strangely, the logo is a peeing dog.
QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. (60 - 220Kč). ABPS
Tretters E-2, Praha 1, V Kolkovně 3, MStaroměstská,
tel. 224 81 11 65, www.tretters.cz. The bar certainly
seems sure of its leading role here, swallowing up so much of
the space that it leaves little room for customers. And rightly
so. Committed barmen can rattle up some seriously decent
cocktails and they serve the best Bloody Marys in town.
Wear a suit or the staff will probably sneer at you. QOpen
19:00 - 03:00. AP
Pubs
Caffrey’s E-3, Praha 1, Staroměstské nám. 10,
MStaroměstská, tel. 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. Old Town prices are justified by their excellent
food menu (try the authentic Irish breakfast), first rate
Guinness, Bulmer’s cider, 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. ABKP
George & Dragon E-2, Praha 1, Staroměstské nám. 11,
MStaroměstská, tel. 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. 224 22 23
83, www.jamapub.cz. 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. ABGKTW
Molly Malone’s E-2, Praha 1, U Obecního dvora 4,
MNám. Republiky, tel. 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. AKPU
O’Che’s D-3, Praha 1, Liliová 14, MStaroměstská, tel.
222 22 11 78, www.oches.com. Just what you’d expect
an Irish Cuban bar to be. Likenesses of everybody’s favourite
failed revolutionary stare off into space amid a dartboard, TVs,
Guinness ads and football paraphernalia. Yuca con mojo may
be hard to find, but good food, excellent barstaff and all round
fun is readily available. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00. KP
Rocky O’Reilly’s I-5, Praha 1, Štěpánská 32,
MMůstek, tel. 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. AKP
The Beer Factory I-5, Praha 1, Václavské nám. 58,
MMůstek, tel. 736 63 08 68. Down see-through steps
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). KP
Tlustá koala F-3, Praha 1, Senovážná 1394/8, MNám.
Republiky, tel. 222 24 54 01. The Fat Koala boasts (if
that’s the word) Foster’s lager, but everything else is more
international than Aussie. With 11 beers on tap and more
in bottles, this place is a dream and prices (Staropramen
31Kč) are not that high considering its location. Two floors
of pub ambience and private rooms keep people lingering
long after the hearty meals have been sufficiently washed
down. QOpen 10:00 - 04:00, Sun 15:00 - 04:00. (100
- 800Kč). AKP
U Zlatého tygra D-3, Praha 1, Husova 17,
MStaroměstská, tel. 222 22 11 11. 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
Sport bars
Jágr’s Sport Bar F-4, Praha 1, Václavské nám. 56,
MMuzeum, tel. 224 03 24 81, www.jagrsportbar.cz. The
renowned owner, Jaromír Jágr, number 68 himself, is a great
ambassador for Czech ice-hockey in the United States. Back
in Prague meanwhile, he entrusts a variety of countrymen to
pour beer and turn on dozens of TVs for loud and raucous
cheering. Reservations for big game nights are a must. Excellent
screens and fairly priced beer. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00.
(100 - 350Kč). AKP
Legends F-2, Praha 1, Týn 1, MStaroměstská, tel. 224
89 54 04, www.legends.cz. Twenty, count ‘em, twenty TVs
plus two plasma screens and a private room for your viewing
pleasure in this bastion of expat sport bars. An excellent menu
features great burgers and the ever-popular hangover-busting
breakfast. Descend into this sleek cellar for a maul to rival that
on the screens on any given Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday...
Popular with visiting celebs too. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. (100
- 400Kč). AEK
NIGHTLIFE IN THE OLD TOWN
April - May 2007
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