Glittering with gleeful hens and stags, Prague is the capital of pre-wedding parties. But there is so much more to the Czech Republic capital which makes it an ideal weekend destination.
To stay
Four Seasons – Offering unsurpassed views across the Vltava, The Four Seasons Prague has recently received a glorious makeover by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. This is a temple of luxury in the Old Town, complete with the lovely casual Italian eatery CottoCrudo and wonderful spa options – it is a wonderful place to rest in between sightseeing.
Mandarin Oriental Prague is a luxury hotel and a beautifully preserved piece of history. This breathtaking hotel features 5 star accommodation and a spa which is second to none. When you are too weary to sightsee anymore, book a massage at this spa and your worries and stress will instantly evaporate.
To eat
Sansho – We were delighted to find this wonderful little restaurant, where the kitchen is headed up by the ex sous-chef of Nobu, Paul Day. We tried an exquisite range of dishes: pork belly with watermelon, beef tartar with egg yolk, celery and asparagus with fried egg. Even the water was delicious, infused delicately with refreshing cucumber and mint.
Café – Don’t be fooled by the uncreative name. Wander past Municipal House, Estates Theatre to Café. It is a super camp hang-out with friendly waiters, and although the service is slow, the toasted sandwiches and milkshakes make a delicious and reasonably priced light lunch. I enjoyed flicking through the Louis Vuitton travel guide books from their quirky library.
Golden Well – The Golden Well boutique hotel enjoys one of the best locations in the city and the views from the Terrace restaurant cannot be beaten. The fine cuisine is simple but divine and it is the ideal spot for a celebration.
To drink
Lokal – this local beer hall serves juicy frankfurters and large tabards of Czech Pilsner beer. It is a huge and raucous Bohemian venue which brings the beer hall concept up to date.
Mama Coffee was my favourite caffeine stop in Prague. The source of the coffee is taken very seriously here and Mama coffee use only the finest fair-trade beans. This non smoking, Wi-Fi enabled café serves wonderful espresso and lets you pour your own milk to perfection… so you only have yourself to blame if it is isn’t quite right.
To see
DOX, contemporary art gallery is a bit of a nightmare to get to (or back from, in our case), located just north of the river from the old town. This modern exposed concrete structure is uber-cool showcasing unusual but intriguing exhibitions. We found the ‘Disabled by Normality’ and ‘Women’s Yard’ shows both beautiful and thought-provoking. Make sure you stop by the fabulous shop on the way out.
Leica Art gallery is a cute gallery space illuminated by large arched windows. This gallery is on the slope of Skolska and presents small exhibitions of work by modern Czech photographers. After you’ve wandered round you can enjoy the café and bookshop, it feels like you are at a trendy art-school, the perfect activity for a lazy afternoon.
John Lennon Wall was once a normal wall, since the 1980s it has been filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and samples of lyrics from Beatles songs. In 1988, the wall was a source of irritation for the communist regime of Gustáv Husák. Young Czechs would write grievances on the wall in a movement described ironically as “Lennonism”. The wall continuously undergoes change and the original portrait of Lennon is long lost under layers of new paint. Even when the wall was repainted by some authorities, on the second day it was again full of poems and flowers. Today, the wall represents a symbol of youth and ideals such as love and peace.
To do
The Prague Castle – this empire will take at least a day to explore. The Prague Castle was most likely founded in around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty (Přemyslovci). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical structures of various architectural styles, from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century.
New town hall tower – Climb up the 221 steps to the top of the new town hall (there is no lift option), and view the city from this advantageous position.
Old town square is always crowded with tourists waiting impatiently for the on-the-hour show: twelve disciples appear on the astronomical clock. When you’ve seen this event wander through the markets and food stalls and admire the magnificent surroundings.
To shop
Simple concept store – Modelled on the original Parisian concept boutique, Colette (which I love), Simple Concept Store stocks a wide range of thoughtfully curated, designed products. If you look carefully you can spot a few rare Czech contributions at this fashion emporium. The main labels are French fashion houses such as Celine, Chloe and Yves Saint Laurent, but I particularly loved the Acne additions and Lanvin ballet shoes. There is even a champagne bar for weary shoppers.
Papelote – Founded by Czech graphic designer and illustrator Katerina Sachova, her photographer husband Filip Sach and their friend Denisa Havrdova. Papelote sell a quirky and colourful range of recycled paper, notebooks and pencil cases to brighten up any office desk. The walls have been stripped back to expose layers of plaster, and the vaulted ceilings have been coloured with Papelote wrapping paper. The most attractive gifts are the store’s own range of stationery and roll up pencil cases… this shop is a must for stationery lovers.
Many thanks to Prague Tourist Board for their help with the trip.
