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| Posted: 16 Apr 2013 11:01 PM PDT Perhaps the most important advice to give someone visiting Prague? Get lost. The Prague of today is a shinier, more grownup version of the Prague of the 1990s, a thriving and evolving cultural scene with top-notch dance, jazz and gastronomy. No longer is this just a destination for those on the hunt for cheap beer -- although there's still plenty of that. It's still a historic, byzantine city forged in the Middle Ages. The best way to discover this city of 1.2 million is to wander its maze of cobbled backstreets, stumbling upon a church, a café or an art gallery to which you'd be hard-pressed to find your way back. Beyond the requisites of the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and Old Town Square -- worthy destinations in their own rights -- there's a wealth of spectacular sights, quirky attractions and vibrant neighborhoods to discover in the Golden City. Print and go -- Our traveler-friendly one-page guide here: Best of Prague HotelsLuxury
The retro-futuristic Žižkov Television Tower -- nicknamed "The Rocket" -- has been a point of contention since its completion in 1992. While often ranked among the world's ugliest buildings -- helped by the addition in 2000 of a series of sculptured babies crawling up its sides courtesy of artist David Cerny -- a recent renovation saw the addition of Prague's most exclusive hotel: one room, at a height of 66 meters, providing unmatched views of the city. Advertised as a six-star accommodation, the One Room Hotel features an entire wall of east-facing windows, meaning views are accessible from any point in the room -- even the bathtub. A stay here also includes a limousine and driver, and the tower features a bar, French-Asian restaurant and observation deck. Mahlerovy sady 2699/1, Prague 3-Žižkov; +420 210 320 081; €1,000 ($1,300) per night; www.towerpark.cz
Located on the banks of the Vltava River, steps from Charles Bridge, the Four Seasons combines five-star luxury with historical significance in the city's Old Town. The Premier River Rooms in the hotel's neo-classical building, which dates to 1827, were unveiled in 2012 and conceived by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Offering picture views of Charles Bridge, the Lesser Town and Prague Castle across the river, the rooms are decked out in beige and gold and feature marble bathrooms. Attached to the hotel, the restaurant and lounge CottoCrudo provides a place to unwind over cocktails and fresh Italian fare. Veleslavinova 2a/1098, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 427 000; premier river rooms €660 per night (US$865); www.fourseasons.com
The Golden Well Hotel, as it's also called, offers views over Prague Castle's Royal Gardens and is home to the fine-dining restaurant Terasa U Zlaté Studne, in the Lesser Town. The Tycho Brahe Suite, named after the famed astronomer, has an original frescoed wooden ceiling dating to the 16th century, Renaissance furnishings and a private Jacuzzi. The suite comes with an iPad and iPod, the best views in the house and a la carte breakfast. U Zlaté Studne 166/4, Prague 1-Mala Strana; +420 257 011 213; suite €510 ($670) per night; www.goldenwell.cz
Mid-Range
In the maze of streets behind Tyn Church in Old Town, Buddha-Bar is a colorful retreat of modern, Asian-inspired decor and full amenities that includes the Buddha-Bar restaurant and nightclub. Premier Rooms are available with either a king or twin beds and feature rain showers, standing baths with dragon mosaics and an in-house music library. For an extra €40, you can book your pet a stay for the night. Jakubská 649/8, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 221 776 300; premier rooms from €222 ($290) per night; www.buddhabarhotelprague.com
Budget
Prague's first boutique design hotel, the four-star Hotel Josef was conceived by noted local architect Eva Jiricna, recipient of the 2013 Jane Drew Prize. Located close to the Powder Tower on the border of Old and New Town, at Josef, the design is in the details, and contemporary artistry is everywhere. Among the Superior Rooms, No. 803 has a balcony with views over to Prague Castle, a king-size bed and a designer limestone bathroom. Rybná 20, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 221 700 111; superior rooms from €139 ($182) per night; www.hoteljosef.com
At this apartment-style hotel, guests can enjoy their own self-catering facilities while still having access to hotel amenities like breakfast (without a time limit), cleaning and concierge services. Upon arrival, visitors receive a 20-minute orientation of nearby Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Rooms are modern and simply decorated, within easy reach of any of the city's main sights. Kožná 6, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 724 027 525; studios €80-140 ($104-183) per night; www.arcadiaresidence.com
Dining
Long before he planned out the menu of New York City's Hospoda restaurant, Oldřich Sahajdák based this Prague Michelin-starred restaurant, which serves only tasting menus, on recipes by the 19th-century Czech cook Marie B. Svobodová. Fittingly, the two set menus (one six-course, one 11-course) explore the culinary heritage of the Czech lands, and change seasonally, with a selection of wines paired accordingingly. Appetites should match wallets here: big. Haštalská 18, Prague 1-Old Town. +420 222 311 234; open daily 6 p.m.-midnight; expensive; www.ladegustation.cz
Pioneering what chef Miroslav Kalina has dubbed the "new Prague cuisine," the eponymous Kalina is a new addition to the fine-dining scene, with an impressive range of wines and Cognacs to go with well-executed game and meat specialties with a French twist. The menu changes by season, but the cote de boeuf for two, served with a variety of winning sides, is a must for any meat lover. Dlouhá 12, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 222 317 715; Monday-Saturday noon-11:30 p.m.; expensive; www.kalinarestaurant.cz
A butcher's paradise, this sleek restaurant adorned in tile and copper in the former RFE/RL building off Wenceslas Square is a cut above most cuts of steak, procuring beloved and lesser-known steaks served on wooden slabs with a variety of sauces like black truffle. Fish and vegetables get the same quality treatment, all with a nod to traditional Czech butchery and farm stylings. The only downside is that portions are quite small. Legerova 75, Prague 1-New Town; +420 222 727 851; Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday noon-11 p.m., Sunday noon-10 p.m.; moderate; cestr.ambi.cz
Having created quite a stir since it opened in 2011, Sansho presents an Asian-fusion tasting menu of six courses, to be shared among the table. The benched tables are shared -- so be prepared to rub elbows with your neighbor as you reach for softshell crab slides, 12-hour beef rendang and sticky-toffee pudding. British chef Paul Day varies the menu daily based on inspiration. Beverages include a selection of beers from local independent breweries. Petrská 25, Prague 1; +420 222 317 425; Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 6-11 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 6-11:30 p.m., Saturday 6-11:30 p.m.; moderate; www.sansho.cz
The Czech Republic's Moravian wines may not be known the world over, but RED Pif has a selection of the sunny southern wine region's best. It also offers a considerable list of French varieties, all in a hidden corner spot that serves a daily menu of thoughtful Continental dishes like duck confit and coq au vin, as well as some excellent desserts. With just a few tables inside, it's best to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Shady outdoor tables across the cobbled street make for a good place to linger on a summer evening. Betlémská 9, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 222 232 086; Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; budget; www.redpif.cz
Following the Prague locavore trend, Nota Bene, located a few blocks from the National Museum, gets all of its products from local farms. Its changing menu might include homey Czech classics like baked rabbit, roast duck or svickova na smetane (beef tenderloin in cream sauce with dumplings). In connection with the BeerPoint pub downstairs, the restaurant offers rotating taps of beers from local microbreweries. The bright, airy space fills out most nights, so reserve in advance. Mikovcova 4, Prague 2-New Town; +420 608 577 568 (pub), +420 721 299 131 (restaurant); Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday noon-11 p.m.; budget; www.notabene-restaurant.cz
Most days, there's a farmers market on somewhere in Prague, selling fresh cheeses, pastries, bread, organic produces and fresh juices. The one on Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad, affectionately called Jiřák, sets up camp Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in front of the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, a unique design by Slovenian architecht Josip Plečnik. Several restaurants host stands at the market, with ready-made Slovenian, Thai and Balkan specialties perfect for packing as a picnic to enjoy in the nearby Riegrovy sady park. At Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad square, in Prague 3-Žižkov. Open Wednesdays and Fridays 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; budget; www.farmarsketrziste.cz/jirak
Nightlife
Stroll down the cobbled steps of the Vltava's lamplit embankment to Jazz Dock, an ideal venue for both intimate concerts to swinging big gigs by a lineup of renowned international stars. It's also a chance to sample some of the Czech Republic's homegrown talent. Open till 4 a.m. in spring and summer, there's a comprehensive variety of cocktails to soak yourself in, and the terrace opens right onto the water for an extra cool vibe. Janáčkovo nábř. 2, Prague 5-Smíchov; +420 774 058 838; April–September, Monday-Thursday 3 p.m.-4 a.m., Friday-Saturday 1 p.m.-4 a.m., Sunday 1 p.m-2 a.m.; October–March: Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-4 a.m., Friday-Saturday 3 p.m.-4 a.m., Sunday 3 p.m-2 a.m.; budget; www.jazzdock.cz
Easy to miss among the winding lanes of Lesser Town just below Charles Bridge, Vinograf is nigh impossible to leave once found. It has only a handful of tables in a narrow, vaulted room, lined with wine bottle after wine bottle and chalk menus of open specials. This is the best place to try Czech and Moravian wines from small vintners. There are also regular wine-tasting events. Míšeňská 8, Prague 1- Malá Strana; +420 604 705 730; Monday-Saturday 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Sunday 2-10 p.m.; moderate; www.vinograf.cz
When you just don't want the night to end -- and in Prague, that's usually the case -- Repete is a red-lined cocktail bar and cafe that's open till 5 a.m., close to Old Town Square. Its prices are low for the tourist zone, and the clientele is a happy mix of students, locals and visitors. The vaulted rooms include a private lounge, and the bar will even order pizzas or burgers for you from a nearby restaurant. Rybná 17, Prague 1- Old Town; +420 224 814 062; Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m., Friday 4 p.m.-3:30 a.m., Saturday 5 p.m.-3:30 a.m., Sunday 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m.; budget; www.repete.cz
Valuing the art of classic mixology, Hemingway's has more than 200 types of rum on deck -- it even founded the country's first rum club. It also has first-rate, expertly handled traditional cocktails, a wide variety of champagnes, and it is the place to sample that oft-misunderstood Green Fairy: absinthe. Plush leather banquettes, a dark-wood bar and lots of intimate corners to lose yourself for a bit. Karoliny Světlé 26, Prague 1- Old Town; +420 773 974 764; Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m., Friday 4 p.m.-3:30 a.m., Saturday 5 p.m.-3:30 a.m., Sunday 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m.; expensive; www.hemingwaybar.cz
If a day of pavement pounding has wound you up for some dancing, there's SaSaZu, one of the hottest -- and largest -- spots in Prague to take in a regular lineup of international DJs and music gods and goddesses. Past headliners have included Paul Van Dyk, Morcheeba and Lily Allen, and there are 5,000 square meters of dance floor on multiple lounge levels overlooking the stage. Oh, and the adjacent restaurant by the same name has earned Bib Gourmand status for its creative takes on pan-Asian cuisine. Bubenské nábř. 306, Prague 7- Holešovice; +420 284 097 455; Sunday-Thursday noon-midnight, Friday-Saturday noon-1 a.m.; moderate; www.sasazu.com
Shopping
The preeminent name in Czech glass and crystal, the Moser brand has been manufacturing custom wares since 1893. Past fans include Emperor Franz Josef I and King Edward VII, and, while based in the spa town of Karlovy Vary, Moser has a showroom and shop on Prague's Na Prikope shopping street. Available in a wide selection of styles and colors, Moser's crystal and glass drinking sets, vases and accessories are all hand-cut and use only ecologically friendy, lead-free crystal. Na Příkopě 12, Prague 1 New Town; +420 221 890 891; +420 224 211 293; Monday-Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; expensive; www.moser-glass.com
With several shops dotting the capital, Manufaktura sells handcrafted wooden toys, marionettes and games, as well as handmade, organic soaps and cosmetic products, country-style earthenware furnishings and printed textiles, like folk-art table linens, as well as woolen blankets and decorations. Karlova 26, Prague-Old Town (with many other locations); open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; moderate; www.manufaktura.cz
Spread throughout a network mostly spanning off Old Town Square, these eight boutiques representing prominent Czech fashion designers offer a glimpse into the rapid rise of the latest catwalk looks to come out of the country. Nevarila Design Elišky Krásnohorské 11/4, Prague 1-Josefov; +420 271 742 091; open daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; www.nevarila.cz Timoure et group v Kolkovně 6, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 222 327 358; open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.; www.timoure.cz Boheme Dušní 8, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 224 813 840; open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; www.boheme.cz Studio Hany Havelkove Dušní 10, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 222 326 754; open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.; www.havelkova.com Klara Nademlynska Dlouhá 3, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 224 818 769; open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; www.klaranademlynska.cz Ivana Follova Mezibranská 9, Prague 1-New Town; +420 222 211 357; open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.; www.ivanafollova.cz Tatiana Boutique Dušní 1, Prague 1-Old Town; 224 813 723; open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; www.tatiana.cz Jozef Sloboda Rytířská 1023/11, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 223 004 688; www.jozefsloboda.cz
For prized antiques from across Europe and the world, the Dorotheum, based in Vienna, is the leading name in local auction houses, with more than 300 years under its belt. In addition to regular Prague auctions, in which visitors can participate, the central showroom also serves as a shop where priced items -- jewelry, paintings, statues, glassware, watches, tableware -- can be viewed and purchased. Ovocny trh 580/2, Prague 1-New Town; + 420 224 222 001; open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; www.dorotheum.cz
Attractions
It's worth the trek to Holešovice, a dynamic former industrial district, to the DOX Center for Contempoary Art, which at any given time has multiple exhibits of local and international artists. DOX, housed in an expansive revitalized factory, has pioneered the local art scene, challenging the status quo in acquiring big names and experimental projects. Poupětova 1, Prague 7- Holešovice; +420 295 568 123; Monday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; budget; www.dox.cz
If it was good enough for Mozart, who premiered his Don Giovanni here in 1787, it's good enough for a gander. It's worth a visit just to marvel at the grand Classicist facade, but stepping inside (connected to the National Theater, it's been home to a program of performing arts since 1785) reveals the tiered grandeur of an immaculately maintained historical theater. Ovocný trh 1, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 224 901 448; (hours and prices vary for individual performances and seating); www.narodni-divadlo.cz
Looking across to the Lesser Town, this expanse of green, topped by Prague's own mini-Eiffel Tower, is a swath of walking paths affording views over the cityscape. Take the funicular up from Ujezd to avoid the climb, and wander the Mirror Maze and Rose Gardens at the top, or walk across to Kinsky Gardens, past the infamous Hunger Wall. Accessible by foot or funicular from Újezd, in Prague 1–Malá Strana, or by footpath from the Strahov Monastery, close to Prague Castle. Entrance fees apply for the Lookout Tower and Hall of Mirrors
There's much left to explore in this historic district wedged in Old Town, despite its being mostly razed at the turn of the 20th century. The quarter, known as Josefov, houses the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Old-New Synagogue (dating to 1270), the Spanish Synagogue and other sights, incorporated through the Jewish Museum. The Pinkas Synagogue features a list of every local Jew -- 80,000 -- rounded up in the Holocaust. Between Old Town and the river; check www.jewishmuseum.cz for exhibitions, events and opening hours
This fortress, gardens and church are often overlooked. The fortress dates to the 1720s, and its sprawling, shady gardens are home to the oldest surviving building in Prague, the Rotunda of St. Martin, as well as the soaring Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, which sits next to the poetic Vyšehrad Cemetery, where many famous Czech personages -- such as Alphonse Mucha, Antonin Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Karel Čapek and Ema Destinnová -- rest to this day. For admission to and information about various sights, check out www.praha-vysehrad.cz
Over the past couple of years, this has become the place to be come a summer's day -- or eve. The embankment that runs along Rašínovo nábřeží in New Town is home to farmers and flea markets on weekends and a series of floating restaurants, pop-up bars and cafes come any afternoon. From the cobbled embankment, you might listen to Balkan brass or other live tunes as the sun sets over Prague Castle, or board the Forman Brothers' Mystery Boat Theater, a tugboat docked here that shows plays staged by the twin sons of director Miloš Forman. On Rašínovo nábřeží, in Prague 2. Accessible by ramp from Mánes, or by stairs along the embankment. Most venues open midday until late.
Historic PubsYou didn't think we'd forgotten the beer, did you?
As time-worn as the cobblestones leading up to nearby Prague Castle, The Black Ox, as it's called, has been gruffly pouring pints of liquid gold since roughly the early 1800s -- save for a closure by the communists in the mid-20th century before being reopened in 1965. Former Czechoslovak President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk and dissident playwright-turned president Václav Havel are among its many past patrons, and little about the place has changed for what feels like centuries; smoke-stained walls and dimmed stained-glass windows color the room of long wooden tables crammed with stamgasti, or regulars, who eye new visitors as competition for their next pint of Kozel lager. Loretánské náměstí 1, Prague 1-Hradčany; +420 220 513 481; Monday-Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; budget; (no website)
Few places have such a palpable feel of history as the Golden Tiger, where conversations throughout the ages have gone on to change the world beyond the pub's stained-glass windows -- or have just gone on to another pub. The beloved Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal made this his home away from home. Václav Havel frequented here, accompanied on occasion by Bill Clinton. Getting here when it opens at 3 p.m. is your best bet at scoring a storied seat for a solid pint of tanked Pilsner Urquell; although, if history has its say, you probably won't hold onto it long. Husova 17, Prague 1-Old Town; +420 222 221 111; Monday-Sunday 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; budget; www.uzlatehotygra.cz
Dating to 1466, U Medvídků (or "At the Little Bears") is one of Prague's oldest microbreweries, and its maze of vaulted beer halls, unique brews -- including the incredibly strong X33 (with 12.6% alcohol content) -- and vast platters of Czech fare bear testament to its status as a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The main pub rooms are upstairs, while the brewery is in the cellar, located past the garden in a passage at the back. Na Perštýně 7, Prague 1- Old Town; +420 224 211 916; Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m..-11 p.m., Sunday 11:30 am.-10 p.m.; budget; www.umedvidku.cz
Despite being somewhat of a tourist trap catering to large, boisterious groups of stags, this microbrewery has enough space in its many cavernous rooms and gardens to allow you to sit back and enjoy the house's only brew: a delicious, malty dark lager available by the 0.4-liter glass. And there's something to be said for the live accordian music and 500-plus consecutive years of brewing that cuts past the kitsch right into timeless cool. Křemencova 11, Prague 1-Old Town;+420 602 660 290; Monday-Sunday 10 a.m..-11 p.m.; moderate; www.ufleku.cz      |
| Playboy Club refused entry in India Posted: 16 Apr 2013 10:10 PM PDT
Goa's chief minister Manohar Parrikar said the club had failed its application to open in the west coast state as a "beach shack," according to the Times of India. "The Playboy Club's application for setting up the facility in beach shack would be rejected as shack licences are usually given to individuals and not to the companies," Parrikar told the state Assembly, according to dnaindia.com. No word yet on whether thousands of imminent "business trips" to Goa have been canceled after the news. It's possible, however, that the club simply needs to reapply as a city club rather than a beach shack. The launch of the Playboy Club in Goa has been a roller coaster of anticipatory highs followed by disappointing lows. In November last year, PB Lifestyle, the Indian franchisee, announced plans for a December 2012 opening along Candolim Beach in Goa, followed by 120 other clubs, hotels and cafes around the country. Then the venture was accused of promoting vulgarity. One politican threatened to go on hunger strike if the plan was rubber stamped. In deference to the controversy, a customized design for the Indian bunny uniform was revealed. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner made the final decision on the design, reported the Times of India, created by U.S.-based designer Mohini Tadikonda with long drapes of chiffon to the bottom half, while the upper half -- the satin bustier -- remained tight and revealing. Then the initial opening was delayed. Now the same technicalities threaten to derail the project once again. India is a conservative society where kissing in public is considered taboo -- Playboy magazine and similar publications are banned throughout the country. "We are clear about one thing: There will absolutely be no nudity. The bunnies will be suited to Indian sensibilities and moral values," Sanjay Gupta, CEO of PB Lifestyle, said in an India Times article. Previously, local press reported that six hired bunnies -- all foreign women -- had arrived in India to undergo "a rigorous four-week service training program conducted by the U.S.-based parent company" to prepare for the leporine role. More on CNN: Bustless bunny falls flat: Tale of a wannabe Playboy bunny The club, said to be 2,043 square meters in area, will be the first beach location for the club globally if it finally does open. Further plans already announced for the brand in India have included a second Playboy Club in Hyderabad, as well as hotels and cafes. The California-based adult entertainment brand operates more than 40 Playboy Clubs worldwide. More on CNN: Macau Playboy bunnies will be hot and intelligent (but mainly hot)    |
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