The 15 very best nightlife spots in Prague

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.

Once your night has started getting a bit blurry, Chapeau Rouge should be your go-to. It might not look like much from the outside, but that’s because you’re only seeing it from ground level. Down below lie several storeys of bars and dance floors. The deeper you go, the crazier it gets. For the wildest, sweatiest night out you could imagine, Chapeau Rouge is the place to be.

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.

A safe bet for any partier, Zlaty Strom is about as one-size-fits-all as it gets. Its location is one of the most convenient, right between Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge, in the basement of the Golden Tree hotel. With three underground dance floors, each with different DJs and themes, you’ll inevitably find something to vibe to. That’s if you can manage to navigate the puzzling layout that often feels like an underground maze.

Some locals will tell you to avoid this place at all costs but there’s a reason why Karlovy Lazne always has a massive line of eager partygoers outside. The five-storey club claims to be the biggest club in Central Europe. I mean, how many clubs have you been to that have elevators? It’s equipped with a dance floor for seemingly every genre of music. That makes it a good option for a big group that can be picky about what they want. There’s also an ice bar inside. It’s a bit of a tourist trap, with a cover fee within a cover fee but, objectively, it’s pretty damn cool.

With a name like James Dean, you probably won’t be surprised to discover that this joint is a 1950s-themed American diner. Everywhere in the restaurant you’ll find old-school touches, from the fully functional jukebox to the Pop Art toilets and full-sized 1955 Triumph motorcycle. Thankfully, where most themed diners turn out cheesy, James Dean’s feels authentic. Settle into one of the red vinyl booths for a healthily portioned US-inspired meal. Try the spicy Texas burger or Bubba Gump’s grilled shrimps. Alternatively, soak up a hangover the next morning with the filling American breakfast (served 8am-noon).

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.

It’s got the vibe of a sports bar or pub, but its setting is far removed from any drinking den you’ve been to. U Sudu is one of Prague’s cellar bars – aka a bar in a cellar. Like drinking in a dungeon, but cosier, it’s an ideal spot for casual hangouts and atmospheric dates. As long as you aren’t claustrophobic, that is.

Now, this is an innovative place – each table has its own tap to pour your own beer, keeping track of each table’s consumption with a live leaderboard. If you’ve got that competitive fire in you, you’ll find yourself pouring beer after beer just to get that top spot. Although admittedly more of a touristy spot, The Pub is a fun place to kick off any night out.

Hard to pronounce, but easy to love. Hospůdka Na Hradbách is where to head for cheap beer and priceless city views. It feels much more local than the other beer gardens within the city centre, and is all very no-frills: there’s just bar serving beer, a grill serving food, and a wide-open outdoor space on a hill overlooking Prague. On a summer evening, this is the one place in Prague that trumps all others when it comes to cracking open a cold one.

Every weekend Mecca becomes, well, a mecca for deep house, techno and electronic music fans. Though not very central, the three-storey club is one of the most popular among locals and travellers alike. The extravagant interior is one of the flashiest you’ll find, and Mecca typically attracts a more upscale, well-dressed crowd. A mix of world-class performers and excellent resident DJs keep the party going until at least 6am.

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.

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.

If you want to tipple like a local, grab a few beers and buddies and catch the sunset by the Vltava river. Ramble a couple of bridges down from the Charles Bridge and you’ll find a decent place to pitch up. There’ll no doubt be several groups of young locals already sitting on the riverside as the sun sets over their beloved city. Not a bad place to kick off the night.

You could do worse than ending a night watching the sun come up over Charles Bridge. It’s genuinely one of the most beautiful free things to see in the city and, during the wee hours, you’re likely to have the bridge totally to yourself. The metro doesn’t start running again until 5am anyway – so you may as well try to squeeze this exquisite sight into your night out.