The most challenging part of visiting Prague is pronouncing the street names. Seriously, you try saying Dvořákovo Nábřež or U Starého Hřbitova or Náprstkova with a straight face. Fortunately, Prague is not a big city and it’s quite easy to find your way. So no need to embarrass yourself in front of locals when asking for directions.
After we did the food tour on our first day, we had three more days to explore the city. So did we have a plan? Not really… This may have been one of my least organized trips in a long time. But it turned out to be the perfect way to spend a weekend in Prague. Walk around, drink coffee, eat, enjoy the beautiful autumn colors and laugh when one of us tries to pronounce the address we’re looking for.
It happened to be the last weekend of the Prague Design Week. All around the city they had turned these old, but beautiful and interesting buildings into exhibition venues for modern design. As much as I love design furniture, I think I enjoyed walking around these old houses and hotels even more. Such as the Grand Hotel Europa on Wenceslas Square. A gorgeous art nouveau building where for the duration of the event different designers were occupying the authentic hotel rooms. You can imagine what it must have been like to stay here at the beginning of the 20th century.
I usually don’t focus that much on the architecture, but it was one of the things that surprised me the most. In a good way. For some reason I was expecting to see these concrete and gray communist-era buildings. You’ll find these in Prague as well, but in general it all looks very pretty and ‘elegant’. Many of them are in clear need of renovation, but for now they make a perfect design week venue.
If you are interested to learn more about communism in the Czech Republic, then the Museum of Communism is really worth a visit. So despite the fact that I hadn’t planned much in advance, do I have any tips for your next trip to Prague? Of course I do!
Where to stay in Prague
We stayed at MOODs, a boutique design hotel in Prague Old Town.
Where to drink coffee in Prague
We didn’t find that many coffee places, but one I really liked in the city centre is EMA Espresso Bar. And if you’re visiting Holešovice (Prague 7), the hip upcoming neighborhood, then go to NaCafé or Bistro 8.
Where to eat in Prague
For the real Czech food experience you need to of course visit one of the places I mentioned in my previous post. But if you’re looking for something more ‘international’ then book a table at Nostress in the Jewish Quarter.
A great lunch spot in Malá Strana (across the Charles Bridge) is Cukr Kava Limonada (meaning sugar, coffee, lemonade), which is located on a lovely square, away from all the tourist craziness.
And for something sweet, go to Bakeshop. Their cakes are so good that I went back the next day to have some more.
