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Dining in Europe > Prague The growing number of visitors to Prague and the widespread availability of accomodation since 1989 has led to an increase in the number of restaurants, together with a great improvement in hygiene standards. The influx of people of other nationalities coming to live in Prague has had an impact on the nature of the cuisine which has become much more cosmopolitan. While restaurants up to the early 1990s were predominantly Czech - both in terms of food and decor - new restaurants have been refurbished and the standard of service has improved. There are restaurants in the city centre which only a limited number of Czechs can afford to visit, so the cuisine tends to be mainly either French or international, catering predominantly to European or American tourists and business people. There are however, innumerable restaurants which would suit a rather more modest budget and these tend to attract the Czech business and professional classes. These offer both Czech and international food of the highest quality. Some restaurants offer wonderful views of Prague and its main attractions e.g. TV Tower. Beside the river there are several restaurants with views of the castle and cathedral which are floodlit during the evenings. These include Bellevue and Le Perle de Prague. To dine in one of these, it is essential to make an advance booking and to state your preference for a window or terrace table. Most of the 3-star hotels have restaurants such as Triton and U Modre Ruze which are open to non-residents and, in an effort to outdo each other, most of the interiors here are done out in attractive and unusual designs. The majority of these hotels serve international cuisine: Teppanyaki Jalta within the Jalta Hotel for example, has a Teppan table. Now that Prague has become such a tourist and business haven, people of different nationalities have arrived here and set up a number of establishments offering non-Czech cuisine. As a result, Prague can offer the visitor a variety of cuisines including Chinese (Peking, Canton Chinese), Lebanese (Fakhreldine), Indian (Taj Mahal), Italian and Russian (Russian Samovar). Perhaps the area most closely associated with such variety is the Old Town/Jewish quarter which, in addition to its plethora of restaurants offers a unique atmosphere with its small courtyards, high buildings, cobbled streets and subdued street lighting. The majority of these restaurants have their own particular place in history - the buildings alone date back several centuries. No visit to Prague however, would be complete without a visit to a restaurant in one of the suburbs. What these may lack in variety and plush surroundings, they more than make up for in busy and smoky atmospheres. There is always somewhere to eat within a short walk of a metro station. Just catch a metro train, pick a station and within a few minutes of leaving the city centre, you should be enjoying typical Czech food in a typical Czech beerhall (pivnice). It should be noted that while credit card payment is acceptable in the city centre, it is likely that in suburban restaurants and cafés you will be expected to pay in cash. Also, restaurants outside the centre tend to close a little earlier (between 10.00pm and 11.00pm). The basic Czech staple is meat (maso) usually beef or pork, served with dumplings (knedliky) and vegetables. As a result of the Western influence, french fries have replaced dumplings in a number of establishments - unless otherwise requested. Fish (ryby) is also fairly popular. Over the last ten years, Prague has become a magnet for the likes of McDonalds, (there are four in the immediate vicinity of Wenceslas Square) and other Western fast food chains. Normally full of Italian, Dutch and German children on school trips, they are still a little expensive for the average Czech youngster. The Czech will obtain his fast food from one of the many street cabins (bufet). These offer food such as frankfurters (parek). There are plenty of grocers dotted around Prague where one can buy freshly baked bread and rolls which together with some pastries (pecivo) will see one through the day until the evening meal. Hotel breakfasts tend to be of the continental variety (except in larger hotels). The Czech Republic has been producing some of the best beers in the world for centuries - in fact it has the highest rate of beer consumption (per capita) in the world. It was in Plzen that the first bottom-fermented beer was introduced in 1842, (hence 'pils') and production still continues there with Pilsner Urquell - the most famous brand - (brewery tours: tel +420 1970 62888) and Gambrinus lager. The other main production centre is Ceske Budejovice in South Bohemia where Budvar is produced. Until recently, most pubs brewed their own beers but now the larger breweries have taken over - Western companies such as Bass have moved into the Czech Republic in a big way. Wines from South Moravia and Melnik are the best of many produced in the Republic, but are still generally considered inferior to the best of the French and German wines. Spirits are readily available, but be careful as some of these are lethal. Should you have stomach problems, try Becherovka, a herbal spirit from the Karlovy Vary area. Entertainment in PragueEntertainment in Prague is extremely varied and still comparatively cheap compared to other European capitals, after having exploded during the 1990s. From night clubs and discos to rock concerts, clubs catering for all tastes, classical and traditional Czech music venues, dance halls, theatres and cinemas galore - whatever the visitor requires, there is plenty of it in Prague. The Czech Republic has a massive cultural heritage and this is reflected in the number of halls, theatres and other venues which are used for concerts, recitals, opera, ballet, plays and other such events. Pragues main theatre is the National Theatre which was built in the late nineteenth century. Opera and ballet are performed here as well as at the Stavovske divadlo(Theatre of the Estates) and the Statni opera praha (State Opera House). There are regular classical concerts and recitals held in a variety of venues from the National Museum and the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House, to the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum and the halls of the Lichtenstein Palace. Churches also play a prominent role in bringing music to the people with frequent recitals at lunchtime and in the evenings. The Prague Spring Music Festival commences on 12th May (the anniversary of Smetanas death) each year and lasts for some three weeks, attracting top artistes from all over the world. For centuries the Czechs have been renowned for their ingenuity and originality, which again is reflected in the number of specialised theatre groups and theatrical displays which are around. Perhaps the most famous of these are the Black Light Theatre, the National Marionette Theatre and the Image Theatre as well as the magic lantern shows at the Nova Scena (the new extension to the National). It must be said that some of these productions are blatantly aimed at the tourist market but nevertheless they provide an insight into the traditions of Czech 'black' mime and puppet theatre. There are several theatres (some with productions in English) which put on plays by the most famous of playwrights from Shakespeare to Vaclav Havel - the current Czech President. Even if a play is on in Czech, several theatres now have translation facilities available - but it is wise to check prior to booking. The press provides regular and up-to-date listings of all concerts and theatre productions: the Prague Post (the main English language newspaper in Prague), has an excellent section each week devoted to entertainment listings. In addition, there are a number of weekly guides which also provide listings. There are several specialised ticket agencies which can obtain tickets for all shows and at most 3-star hotels and upwards tickets can be bought from reception. Tickets are generally cheaper here than in the West. The Czech film industry is now thriving, with many western films now being shot in the Czech Republic e.g. Mission Impossible which was shot in Prague. There is also a huge number of cinemas (kino) at which all types of film are shown. Most western films are shown in Czech with English subtitles. Films are advertised with large posters displayed on any available wall and outside the cinema itself will be a detailed listing of all films being shown in Prague cinemas. Prague has a vibrant nightlife with many clubs and dance halls both in its centre and the suburbs and it has now become a regular venue on the pop/rock concert circuit, with all major artists having performed in Prague at one time or another. The area around Wenceslas Square is the hub of club entertainment: these are usually found down one of the many arcades e.g. the extremely popular Lucerna on Vodickova. The Czechs have a reputation for a love of jazz, and there are several excellent jazz clubs. The most famous but perhaps not the best is the Reduta on Narodni where Presidents Havel and Clinton once performed. It is advisable to book ahead, particularly if a more famous musician is playing. During the summer months, a number of jazz bands can be found strolling the citys streets and squares, particularly around Charles Bridge and Old Town Square. Gays and lesbians are well catered for in Prague: since the fall of Communism and the rise in tourism, a number of clubs and venues have become established and the culture is now widely accepted. There are several newspapers which give listings of venues and the Prague Post runs a regular gay feature. There has been a corresponding increase in the number of 'gentlemens clubs' which provide escort services for both gay and straight people. Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of casinos in Prague although the visitor must be wary that casino can also mean arcades containing one-armed bandits, especially in the centre of Prague. For a casino in the true sense of the word, where one can play roulette and card games, there are listings in most newspapers and other guides. Several hotels have casinos including the Hilton Atrium, the Ambassador and the Jalta. The gaming currencies are either Czech Crowns or American Dollars. Dining in Europe > Prague
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