ILLUSTRATIONS BY FRANCESCO ZORZI
Home to the Academy of Fine Arts and the Trade Fair Palace art museum, these neighboring districts across the Vltava River from touristy Old Town have long been a haven for Czech artists and designers. Now a handful of new cafés, galleries, and hotels is enticing visitors to come explore. Here, a few locals show us around.
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art membership manager Anežka Horácˇková recommends…
“I haven’t stayed in the rooms at Mama Shelter, but I love the artsy design of the bar, which has foosball tables and a big screen that plays cartoons. In the summer, I like to order a glass of Champagne and sit out on the terrace.”
Mama Shelter executive sales manager Eva Kovárnová recommends…
“Bar Cobra is a daytime café that transforms into a really lively, funky bar in the evening. They use local, sustainable ingredients, the coffee is high-quality, and they always add some vegan options to the menu.
Bar Cobra owner Mateˇj Kocˇí recommends…
“Vnitroblock is a place where you can meet your friends or have business meetings—they will not look at you badly if you sit there a long time. They also sell clothes and host tattoo contests, workshops, and food festivals.”
Vnitroblock social media manager Vojtech Tesárek recommends…
“Bio Oko is the best cinema. It’s not at all like your typical multiplex, but very cozy, with a bar in the foyer. They support smaller directors and films and do lots of events—once, the whole place turned into a ramen bistro!”
Bio Oko managing director David Beránek recommends…
“In 2018, Petr Hájek Architekti completed reconstruction of the five-floor, Neo-Renaissance Letná Water Tower. They installed a periscope that can be used to observe not only the horizon and cityscape but also objects in the night sky.”
Letná Water Tower head architect Petr Hájek recommends…
“The DOX gallery is an exclusive place for contemporary arts, design, and architecture. They converted an old factory into an amazing exhibition space. It’s a perfect place for young people [to go].”
