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Nightlife Venues shift in and out of popularity with great rapidity in Prague. With soaring rents in the centre of town, almost all of the clubs around Wenceslas Square have either closed or spread out throughout the city. Establishments tend to be divided to meet the demands of three groups – expensive (for the newly wealthy Czechs and tourists), cheap and trashy (for the young tourists, backpackers and ex-pats) and cheap and innovative (for young Czechs and visitors in the know). Many bars are open late (until 0200 or 0400) and clubs even later (until 0500, 0600 or even later). In the Czech Republic, from low to high class, ‘nightclubs’ are strip shows, table dancing clubs, often with saunas and jacuzzis. If there is a proper show it will be on the order of an erotic show in London’s Soho. Clubs that feature live music are generally known as ‘music clubs’ or ‘jazz clubs’ while establishments that offer dancing are known as ‘discos’ or ‘dance clubs’. Dress codes and admission prices do not feature strongly in Prague’s nightlife. The minimum drinking age in the Czech Republic is 18 and drinks are inexpensive at Kc30 for half a litre of beer or Kc70-100 for imported beers and Kc15-60 for liquors (depending on the drink – vodka is cheaper than whisky, for instance). Weekly listing (in English) of music events can be found in the Prague Post and racier, fortnightly Prague Pill. Do mesta gives monthly nightlife listings in Czech. Bars: Currently popular are Kozicka, Kozi 4, Prague 1, and Belle Epoque, Krízovnická 8, Prague 1. Bugsy’s, Parízská 10, Prague 1 (website: www.bugsysbar.cz), with over 200 cocktails, attracts the business account set. Currently popular with younger Czechs are Studio A. Rubin, Malostranské námestí 9, Prague 1, which has a dancefloor, Marquis de Sade, Templova 18, Prague 1, and Akropolis, Palac Akropolis, Kubelíkova 27, Prague 3 (website: www.palacakropolis.cz), with three bars (no cover charge) and the trendy Kaaba Café. Casinos: Gambling plays an important part in the lives of many Czechs and is big business in Prague, with new casinos opening all the time. Most casinos present a sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere, with bets ranging from a minimum Kc20-25 to a maximum of Kc5000 (in a few cases like the Jalta, Kc10,000). The minimum age for gaming is 18 years and a passport or ID is required. Entrance fees are as high as Kc500 in some establishments. Casinos can be found in many of the luxury hotels, where evening dress is essential for admission. Most of the best casinos are found on Na prikope and Václavské namesti. Recommended venues include Casino Admiral Praha, Palace of Culture, 5 kvetna 65, Prague 4, the 24-hour Casino Jalta Happy Days, Václavské nánestí 35, Prague 1, the VIP Club Casino, Hotel Ambassador, Václavské nánestí 7, Prague 1, and Casino Palais Savarin, Na Príkope 10, with a kosher Moroccan restaurant, Casablanca. Clubs: World music continues to attract great attention in both clubs and live venues in the city. Prague has more than its fair share of trashy discos, to which the clubs provide a welcome alternative. Best for world music is Akropolis, Kubelíkova 27, Prague 3 (website: www.palacakropolis.cz), a complex of concert spaces, bars and café. Latino clubs, include La Habana, Mísenská 12, Prague 1, and Mánes, Masarykovo nábrezi 250, Prague 1, a 1930s functionalist gallery, which is only open on Friday and Saturday. Roxy, Dlouhá 33, Prague 1, caters to the dance crowd and features a hidden tea house. Radost/FX, Belehradská 120, Prague 2 (website: www.radostfx.cz), is one of the few clubs to survive the early post-Revolution period and offers up a glamorous mix of house and techno music. It also includes a vegetarian restaurant and art gallery. Industry 55, Vinohradská 40, Prague 2, stays open very late for a youngish crowd, playing techno, house, trance and other cutting-edge dance genres. Klub Lávka, Novotného Lávka (by the Charles Bridge), is a popular top-40 club with good food and a wonderful riverside terrace. Karlove Lázné, also located at Novotného Lávka, claims to be the largest club in central Europe. The four floors all feature different music styles, with synth techno on the fourth floor, retro on the third, radio pop occupying the second and hip hop and funk blasting out on the first floor, complete with MCM café. Live music: Malostranské beseda, Malostranské námestí, Prague 1, features everything from 1920s jazz to rock. The Lucerna Music Bar, Vodickova 36, Prague 1 (website: www.musicbar.cz), serves up a rich blend of excellent jazz, rock and 80s nights, with plenty of space to dance. Jazz has been popular in Prague since the 1920s and even though the scene has contracted with the growth of rock music, there are still excellent venues for an evening of jazz and blues. AghaRTA, Krakovská 5, Prague 1, is undoubtedly the city’s best venue (website: www.agharta.net). The Jazz & Blues Café, Na príkope 23, Prague 1, has good programming and sound reproduction that more than make up for the terrible décor. The best local musicians often meet up for late-night jam sessions at U staré paní, Michalská 9, Prague 1. U Malého Glen, Karmelitská 23, Prague 1, is one of the oldest jazz bars in Malá strana, with good food and a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. Reduta, Národní trída 20, Prague 1, remains infamous as the club where President Clinton attempted to establish a cool image by playing the sax for President Havel – it is best left to the tourists. The image of the cowboy has been inexplicably popular in the Czech Republic since the 1920s. První Prag Country Saloon Amerika, Korunní 101, Prague 3, is only open until 2300 but can provide a wild night of country and western music – dress the part and mosey on down. For Czech folk music see the Music section in Culture. |
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