bars · Prague
The best nights in Prague start at these addresses — award-winning cocktail rooms, beloved locals' haunts and views worth ordering a second round for. All rated 4.5 stars or higher.
Staré Město (Karolíny Světlé) · $$
A candlelit, leather-armchair temple to absinthe and rum that has appeared repeatedly on the World's 50 Best Bars list. Service is old-school formal and the spirits list runs to the hundreds.
Insider tip: Reserve through their website days ahead — walk-ins rarely get a seat after 7pm.
Staré Město (Old Town Square) · $$
A 1920s-style speakeasy in the Gothic cellars beneath Hotel U Prince, three storeys under Old Town Square. White-jacketed bartenders mix pre-Prohibition classics.
Insider tip: Book a vault table and dress smart-ish — it is the ideal escape when the square above is heaving.
Staré Město (Husova) · $
Writer Bohumil Hrabal's pub, where Václav Havel famously brought Bill Clinton for a Pilsner in 1994. Expect shared tables, fast tank pours and zero tourist coddling.
Insider tip: Doors open at 3pm and regulars' tables are sacred — take any free seat and pay the pencil tally at the end.
Nové Město (V Jirchářích) · $$
A V for Vendetta-themed cocktail den where some drinks arrive behind Guy Fawkes masks or need UV light to decode. Theatrics aside, the mixing is genuinely top-tier.
Insider tip: Book ahead on weekends and sit at the bar for the full performance.
Staré Město (Náměstí Republiky) · $
A sprawling terrace hidden on the roof of the communist-era Kotva department store, pouring ten-plus Czech craft taps against a skyline of spires and the castle. Few tourists ever find it.
Insider tip: Take the department store lift to the top floor; golden hour is the time to come.
Letná (Letenské sady, Prague 7) · $
Cold lager in plastic cups under the chestnut trees of Letná park, with the definitive panorama of Prague's bridges curving down the Vltava. It is where the city decompresses on summer evenings.
Insider tip: Arrive before 5pm in summer to claim an edge table overlooking the bridges.
April–June & September–October (December for Christmas markets)
Czech koruna (CZK)
Czech (English common in the centre)
How this list is made: we only feature places rated 4.5 stars or higher with 1,000+ reviews from real travelers. Ratings and review counts are approximate and move over time — always check current numbers before booking. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (credits in each gallery).
Same city, more lists
Good to know
Two full days covers the castle, Old Town and Malá Strana; three lets you add Vyšehrad, Letná and proper pub time. Add a fourth for a Kutná Hora day trip.