PRAGUE - Fringe

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NIGHTLIFE IN THE OLD TOWN
Ungelt Jazz & Blues Club E-2, Praha 1, Týnská ulička
2, MNám. Republiky, tel. 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.
U Staré paní H-4, Praha 1, Michalská 9, MMůstek,
tel. 603 55 16 80, www.jazzlounge.cz. An elevated
stage, a fancy Petrov grand piano and a regular schedule
of quality, contemporary jazz make U Staré paní a favourite
venue for Prague’s serious jazz aficionado, local, expatriate
and tourist alike. QOpen 18:00 - 02:00. AEGP
Clubs
Batalion E-4, Praha 1, 28. října 3, MMůstek, tel. 220 10
81 47, www.batalion.cz. The live music venue which goes
on all night providing music, rock videos, drinking, internet,
dancing, foosball, and copious amounts of drunken debauchery.
This is the place to go when all others close. Downstairs
offers a more intimate milieu. Q Open 24hrs. E
Lucerna Music Bar I-4, Praha 1, Vodičkova 36,
MMůstek, tel. 224 21 71 08, www.musicbar.cz. The
more popular local bands and the smaller international groups
ply their trade here fairly regularly. Every Saturday you can find
an un-hip, unpretentious crowd cavorting at their disarmingly
popular 1980s night, which has led to the doors being closed
because of sheer numbers. QOpen 19:00 - 06:00. Admission
50 - 150Kč. EP
M1 E-2, Praha 1, Masná 1, MStaroměstská, tel. 221 87
42 56. Grey and industrial looking, this railroad car of a bar
is an ideal place to lounge around. Swamped barmen deftly
pour drinks in front of the glow of illuminated spirits on the wall.
New owners have shifted the scene some at Prague’s M1,
with nightly themes from the increasingly popular Sunday chill
out sessions to ladies’ night and DJ Big J’s Smokin’ Fridays.
QOpen 18:00 - 04:00. A
Rock Café D-4, Praha 1, Národní 20, MNárodní
třída, tel. 224 93 39 47, www.rockcafe.cz. The front
bar remains the same, but inside, all has changed. The
main stage has been moved down a level, meaning that
this always great venue has effectively removed the 22:00
live curfew so many clubs here are curtailed by. Three bars
and a funky, boxy lounge with cool mural graffiti and screen
to watch the band well away from the mosh pit make Rock
Café the suave new place for live music. 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.
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. EP
Sixth Sense E-2, Praha 1, Dušní 3, MStaroměstská,
tel. 777 57 72 99, www.sixsense.cz. White leather seats,
long bar, dark corners for assignations and space enough
for large groups make Sixth Sense a classy addition to Old
Town choices, especially with the well laid out music club
downstairs and cool bar staff. However, on the downside are
the cheesy Europop tunes and somewhat syrupy cocktails.
QOpen 20:00 - 05:00. P
Prague In Your Pocket
Casinos, part II
Casino President E-1, Praha 1, Nám. Curieových
100 (President Hotel), MStaromětská, tel. 234 61
41 13, www.casinopresident.cz. Roulette, black jack,
poker, pontoon and slots available at this luxurious new
casino. Minimum bets are 100Kč for black jack, et al.
and 25Kč on roulette. Free soft drinks while you gamble.
QOpen 18:00 - 04:00. A
Century Casino Millennium I-3, Praha 1, V Celnici
10, MNám. Republiky, tel. 221 03 34 01, www.millenniumcasino.cz.
Catering to the likes of the Marriott
Hotel, the Century Casino in the Millennium Plaza boasts
excellent croupiers who will help out beginners and take
anyone’s money. The usual roulette, poker and blackjack
are available. QOpen 12:00 - 04:00. AL
Spearmint Casino D-1, Praha 1, U Plovárny 8, tel.
257 535 755, www.spearmintcasino.cz. Come to
the only English-style casino in Prague. Spearmint has
the highest limits available in the city. Try your luck at
roulette, pontoon, blackjack and poker or play in the
private gaming room. If mechanics are more your thing,
head for the new slot machines upstairs. Free transport
to the casino is also available. Admission is free. QOpen
16:00 - 05:00, Mon, Tue 17:00 - 05:00. A
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.
Vagon D-4, Praha 1, Národní 25, MNárodní třída, tel.
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
Vertigo E-4, Praha 1, Havelská 4, MMůstek, tel. 774
74 42 56, www.vertigo-club.cz. Whether by design or by
accident, this club does indeed spin the mind… split levels
and balconies loiter under low ceilings while some of the
weirdest video footage ever accompanies the tracks to create
a space that lures your mind and your feet. Excellent DJs
and unusual theme nights attract a disparate group of folk.
Q Club: Thu - Sat 21:00 - 04:00; café: 08:00 - 21:00 except
club nights open to 04:00. Admission free. P
Zero E-2, Praha 1, Dušní 8, MStaroměstská, tel. 224 81 84
97, www.myspace.com/zeroprague. Classy joint in town with
long bar, private room at the rear and limited booth seating in order
to keep those feet tapping. The music scene in Zero has settled into
some of the deadliest beats in the city, with local names attracting
loyal hipsters to their nights – check out the new Minimal Sunday
sessions as well as any other day. QOpen 19:00 - 04:00. P
Zlatý strom D-3, Praha 1, Karlova 6, MStaroměstská,
tel. 222 22 04 41, www.zlatystrom.cz. Famous throughout
the city for, well, being a disco and having a dance floor
straight out of Saturday Night Fever. Down in an historical
basement, the large dancefloor is usually full - except when
the strip shows start. The restaurant serves 24 hours a day.
QOpen 20:00 - 06:00. Admission 100Kč. AKP
Late eats
It’s nearing the witching hour, and the liquid dinner is just
not cutting it anymore. You need some food in your stomach,
but (apart from the 24hr kiosks on Václavské nám.)
where can you go to eat at this time of night? Right here...
Bandol F-2, Praha 1, Týnská 1, MStaroměstská, tel.
222 32 15 21, www.hotelcernyslon.cz. Bandol offers
a good selection of local and European wines as well as a
full menu of international dishes from the restaurant on the
ground floor which serves until 01:30. QOpen 18:00 - 02:00.
(100 - 400Kc). AP
Kozička E-2, Praha 1, Kozí 1, MStaroměstská, tel. 224
81 83 08, www.kozicka.cz. A labyrinthine set of rooms,
where 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,
until 01:45 in fact. QOpen 12:00 - 04:00, Sat 18:00 - 04:00,
Sun 18:00 - 03:00. (90 - 400Kč). AKP
Picante Fresh-Mex F-2, Praha 1, Revoluční 4, MNám.
Republiky, tel. 222 32 20 22, www.picante.cz. What
was the freshest Mexican in town has raised prices and now
charges for the salsa, jalapeno and other extras waiting to be
ladled onto your flautus, burrito or taco. But it does remain
fast and 24hr - but on weekends only now. Q Open 10:00
- 23:00, Thu - Sat 24hrs. (30 - 200Kč). S
Solidní nejistota H-5, Praha 1, Pštrossova 21,
MNárodní třída, tel. 224 93 30 86, www.solidninejistota.cz.
A meat market in more ways than one. The girls
and guys do their thing round the large bar and small dance
floor while the kitchen does its thing until 05:00. QOpen
19:00 - 06:00. (110 - 350Kč). AKP
LATE EATS
Trilobit H-4, Praha 1, Palackého 715/15, MMůstek, tel.
224 94 60 65. Cellar bar with Czech and international dishes
as well as a few vegetarian options. It’s a good place to sneak
in a drink in relative anonymity, or grab a late meal. Kitchen
closes at 01:30, except Sun 23:30. QOpen 11:00 - 02:00,
Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (80 - 250Kč). AKP
U Malého Glena B-3, Praha 1, Karmelitská 23,
MMalostranská, tel. 257 53 17 17, www.malyglen.
cz. Good Czech-Mex standards jostle for space with salads,
sandwiches and hot pitas. Kitchen closes at 24:00 and 01:00
at weekends. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. (50 - 300Kc). E
U Sadu K-5, Praha 3, Škroupovo nám., MJiřího z
Poděbrad, tel. 222 72 70 72. U Sadu is a local legend
for many things, including the fact they serve beer till dawn
and food till 04:00. Love it. QOpen 10:00 - 06:00. (60
- 300Kč). K
Vysmátý zajíc E-3, Praha 1, Michalská 13,
MStaroměstská, tel. 224 21 69 99, www.vysmaty-zajic.cz.
Part Czech pub, music club, restaurant
and internet café, where you can work up a hunger and
enjoy their menu until 05:00. A decent deal for its Old
Town location. QOpen 11:00 - 05:00. (100 - 250Kč).
AKPU
Zlatý strom D-3, Praha 1, Karlova 6, MStaroměstská,
tel. 222 22 04 41, www.zlatystrom.cz. Home to a hotel
and a music club (itself home to a dancefloor straight
out of Saturday Night Fever). The restaurant’s kitchen is
nonstop, serving up salads, pizza, pasta and the usual
international and Czech standards. Q Open 24 hrs. (100
- 350Kč). AKP
April - May 2007
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