Want to sample the world-famous nightlife in Prague? Get around with our guide to the city’s best bars, pubs and clubs
Prague’s nightlife has a reputation that now spreads far beyond the continent. Visitors flock here in search of those mythical bars where beer is cheaper than water, where the Czech desire for pivo knows no end. Sure, you can find those things, but a night out in Prague is about so much more than the stereotype. This is a Central European capital, after all, a city that has long been the centre of the world around it, a city with all the bars, pubs and clubs to prove it. A night out in Prague is one of Europe's great bucket list experiences.
The best places to go out in Prague are almost always outside the centre. Of course, it would be churlish to ignore the tourist-friendly bars of the centre, so this guide to the best nightlife in Prague doffs its cap both at the Old Town and the magic of Smichov, Holešovice and the rest. Vitejte v prazi, indeed.
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If you want plenty of history with your beer, head to The Golden Tiger. The Prague 1 location means a slightly more expensive beer but where else can you sip in such celebrated surroundings? Bohumil Hrabal (one of the greatest of all Czech writers) was a frequent visitor back in the day, which is a stamp of approval that most places would die for.
Hemingway Bar must be one of Prague’s top cocktail bars... if not its best. The bar is named after Ernest Hemingway himself – that guy loved a drink, after all, and these days the bar keeps that predilection of his alive, boasting as it does a menu of more than 200 rums (plus a dangerously wide absinthe selection). Hemingway is an essential stop for any self-respecting hedonist.
At various points during the summer the whole of Prague seems to become one big beer garden, but the gorgeous views and history of Letná keep it at the very top of the table. It happens to be at the very top of the city too, where a humongous statue of Stalin once stood but now sit carefree folks with a view of Prague that takes some beating.
The word ‘iconic’ gets overused in the modern age but the adjective is more than apt for this famous spot. Dark, dingy yet utterly delightful, Strahov 007 has been a rebellious venue in the city since 1969 with no end in sight, making it one of the longest tenured clubs in Prague. Simply get the tram to Strahov stadium and follow the crowds.
Once a city abattoir, MeetFactory is now a homage to all things creative. Part market, gallery and theatre, it also doubles up as a popular party and concert spot with an ever-eclectic schedule of events for all tastes. It also has a bike repair shop, although why you’re taking your bike to the nightclub is another thing entirely.
Late night parties, international rock and roll superstars, wacky themes and more fun than most can handle. That’s Futurum in a nutshell, a Prague 5 spot with curious architectural quirks to accentuate the relentless energy flowing from every pore. You can’t really miss this grand old building but you may well find yourself missing it in a different manner once you leave.
This Žižkov spot claims to serve ‘pseudo cocktails’, and that description will make perfect sense once you step through the door into a bar of contradictions and character. The living room aesthetic is strong here, a homely atmosphere accentuated by the low hum of conversation and the occasional cat. The prices are low, the chances of fun are high.
Who doesn’t love a grimy metal bar? Smichov’s finest has been serving up cold lager and fiery tunes for at least forever, and is there a better combination than beer and riffs? No, there isn’t. A location just 30 seconds from Anděl makes this basement bar a popular spot all through the week.
One of Prague’s nightlife staples, Roxy is a guaranteed exhilarating night out. The atmosphere here is vibrant, and the club’s interior – with its one-of-a-kind art and in-your-face colour scheme – only adds to the ambience. Roxy’s aim is to ‘revive the space of the music club through visual arts’, and that symbiotic relationship between its art and music makes for a brilliant assault on the senses.
Just off the bustling Wenceslas Square, the Music Bar in Palác Lucerna is one of Prague’s biggest clubs. Though it boasts one of the city’s more spacious dance floors, it also fills up faster than most. Don’t miss their 1980s nights, where you can dance unironically to ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ with people from all over the world. Lucerna also doubles as a concert venue, and hosts some surprisingly big names.
Sat just a short walk from the metro station in Florenc, Pivovarský klub is arguably the finest place in Prague for lovers of all things beer. More than 240 different brands line the walls here in a friendly bar with pivo as far as the eye can see, with plenty of snacks to help soak it up as you go. The cellar downstairs gets plenty rowdy from time to time, if that’s your bag.
All sorts of popular with Prague’s ever-thirsty crowd of artists, Cafe Jericho hums with conversation and pivo from open to close. A somewhat hidden side street location adds another layer of magic to the place, and most evenings see the place spill out onto the pavement outside. A variety of traditional snacks accentuate the beer, although you’ll see as much wine being enjoyed here as you will the amber nectar.
That this club has a biker theme tells you all you need to know about the vibe you can expect. For those looking for a different scene, the grungy, dimly-lit basement of Harley’s makes for a hazy environment for a hazy night out. The wide range of rock music that plays all night offers a pleasing contrast from most Prague clubs with their focus on chart pop, trance and EDM.
Prague does it all when it comes to nightlife, but there is something about the secret living room atmosphere that really showcases the city at its boozy best. Elbow Room is one of the best examples of this, a cocktail bar (of sorts) in Bubeneč that straddles the line between peaceful escapism and centre of the city excitement. The cocktails are as good as you’ll find in Prague, which is no small statement.
Déjàvu is far from the biggest or fanciest club in Prague, but that may be why it’s very much a local favourite. It also boasts arguably the best bang for your boozy buck when it comes to going out in this city. Considering its growing popularity and central location, the drinks are surprisingly cheap – especially during their daily happy hour, when you can get most cocktails for less than £2.
Whatever neighbourhood you’re in, for a truly traditional experience in Prague, pivo (beer) is the drink of choice. But if small-producer wines are more your thing, several more intimate venues will deliver the goods. The crux is, you’re in for an excellent time whatever’s your tipple. Na zdraví!
