The Czech capital may be famed for its breweries and beer halls, but to get under the city’s skin, it’s also worth becoming acquainted with its eclectic choice of cafes.
Pause for a while in one of Prague’s grand coffeehouses, where you can sip on an expresso in a space once frequented by great poets, scientists and philosophers. Or get your caffeine fix alongside hip, young locals in one of Prague’s newer hangouts. Either way, you’re bound to find a sense of the city’s rich culture, as well as great coffee and cake.
Here’s our pick of the best cafes in Prague, where you can make a well-earned pitstop while exploring the city’s fairytale vistas and cobblestone streets.
Step inside this historic cafe on the banks of the Vltava River to be greeted by glamorous art nouveau interiors and scurrying, white-aproned staff. A popular spot for breakfast with both locals and tourists in the know, it’s worth booking in advance to sample the Vienna-style eggs in a glass or the decadent French toast loaded with fruit.
While there, spend some time inspecting the alluring patisserie counter; the větrník (choux pastry filled with caramel and vanilla cream) and the croissants are both understandably popular. On a warm day, take your spoils to nearby Kampa Island. Whereas, during the winter months, stay cocooned beneath the glow of a chandelier and order a Savoy hot chocolate laced with sour cherry, marzipan and whipped cream.
Known for its easy-going elegance and salmon-pink walls, Café Louvre has been serving coffee and cake since 1902 in its high-ceilinged building in Prague’s New Town. Its past patrons include the likes of Einstein, who would stop by to debate fellow academics and nibble on warm strudel.
Come for coffee, hot chocolate or a homemade lemonade while sightseeing (an 11-metre-high revolving sculpture of another Café Louvre regular, Franz Kafka, is just around the corner). If you’ve worked up an appetite, though, it's worth testing out the lunch and dinner menus. Try the well-presented Czech classics, such as pork shoulder with black beer gravy and parsley salad while seated amid the social hubbub. There are also pool tables should you be in the mood for a game.
Skilled baristas craft macchiatos, cappuccinos, and filtered and drip coffees in this former carpentry shop within a 600-year-old Franciscan Monastery. It would be impossible to guess while relaxing in the garden, but you’re moments here from the buzz of Wenceslas Square in the heart of Prague’s New Town.
The use of local, sustainable ingredients feels in tune with its tranquil, leafy location; the coffee comes from eco-conscious roasters Doubleshot, and the cafe serves traditional homemade Czech buns and fruit pies. Should you fancy a tipple, there’s a choice of local wine, craft beer and even Czech brandy.
Café Letka regularly sneaks onto Instagram feeds due to its pretty interior, which fuses art nouveau detailing and bold industrial design. But this isn’t the only reason to seek out this cafe on the northern edge of grassy Letna Park, a short tram ride from Prague’s city centre. It’s also a great place for a well-presented brunch, with eggs, sourdough bread and seasonal ingredients.
Plus, the coffee is top-notch, and you can request fresh mint tea, chai latte, or kombucha to take to a window-sill seat. Order a passionfruit sour or negroni tonic in the early evening. Just be aware that they don’t take reservations, so you may have to wait on weekends.
This light, bright cafe sits in the smart neighbourhood of Bubeneč, just north of Prague Castle. Owned by Czech roasters Doubleshot, it's understandably popular with coffee connoisseurs, who can order a tasting set trio of brews.
But non-coffee drinkers need not despair; there’s also the chance to quaff fragrant teas, fresh fruit lemonades and local craft beers.
The modern food menu plays to a diverse crowd of well-heeled locals, expats and the occasional well-informed tourist, with full English breakfasts, stuffed omelettes, healthy vegan bowls and Artichoke Carpaccio all on offer. Save room for a věneček (a Czech twist on a doughnut filled with vanilla cream).
As an 13th-century princess, Agnes of Bohemia was destined for a life of luxury. Yet she refused proposals from both the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of England, and instead, she founded a convent in Prague, dedicating her life to helping the city’s poor. Eight hundred years later, the Convent of St. Agnes is one of the oldest and most important Gothic buildings in the Old Town and is home to a branch of the National Gallery Prague, a pretty sculpture garden and an excellent cafe.
Many come to Anežká in the summer for an ice batch brew in the garden, although the rose-petal tea and hot chocolate with elderberry marshmallows are also worth savouring. And despite the ethereal setting, there’s no piety when it comes to serving local craft beer, cider and wine. The seasonal food menu includes noodle broths, hearty Czech breakfasts and sweet spelled pancakes with cottage cheese and candied walnuts.
Hidden in the historic building of Prague’s main train station, this cafe is a destination in its own right. Its curving art nouveau exterior is a relic from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, designed by Czech architect Josef Fanta as a final flourish before the First World War. Meanwhile, the interior has been newly renovated after years of neglect, with some pleasing nods to the past, as well as modern design touches, such as industrial lighting and velvet-clad chairs dangling from the 7-metre high ceiling.
Grab a spot on a racing-green banquette to munch on a classic ham and cheese sandwich. Or choose a table on the splendid concourse, where you can peer down on rushing commuters while enjoying a soup or maybe a cold glass of Pilsner Urquell.
It’s well worth spending a little time investigating Prague’s secret world of passageways and courtyards. For example, by hunting down the unassuming archway on Opatovická, you’ll discover this hip cafe and one of the best coffees in town.
An excellent option for a leisurely drink and snack among an artsy crowd; tuck into a crumbly pastry stuffed full of seasonal fruit while sat in the faded grandeur of the courtyard, which was once a large print house.
