5 BEST Hidden Cafés in Prague

Summary

In this episode of the Honest Guide, the hosts explore the most beautiful and favorite coffee places in Prague, Czech Republic. They visit Jessica Barna in a villa designed by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, a renowned architect known for churches. Other stops include Nonna, attached to the National Theater, and a cubist architecture café with a terrace. The tour ends at Café Dámu, a place that transforms from a coffee shop to a bar in the evenings. The hosts encourage viewers to explore these hidden gems, offering a map for easy navigation.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The first coffee place featured is Jessica Barna, located in a villa called Pordheimka, designed by famous architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer.
• 🌳 Jessica Barna is situated in a beautiful park, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy, especially during summer days.
• 📍 The coffee places are located in the Angel area in Prague 5, an area that the hosts are familiar with as they live nearby.
• 🏛 The next coffee place, Nonna, is attached to the National Theater and is known for its great views and lively atmosphere, especially in the evenings.
• 🎨 The script mentions a coffee place with a Cubist architecture terrace, which is a unique feature and a great spot to enjoy the view.
• ☕️ Alfredo Cafe and Staropreska Galere are mentioned as other favorite coffee places of the hosts.
• 🎼 The hosts emphasize the beauty and historical significance of one of the coffee places, which is adorned with Cubist architecture and offers a 1930s experience.
• 🍰 The coffee places often serve traditional Czech desserts with a twist, like a square version of a normally round dessert to match the Cubist theme.
• 🌆 Cafe Damu is highlighted as a place that transitions from a coffee shop to a bar in the evenings, reflecting the typical Czech coffee place operation.
• 📖 The hosts mention their book, 'The Honest Guide', which features more recommendations and can be found in some of the coffee places discussed.

Q & A

What is the first coffee place featured in the video?

The first coffee place featured is Jessica Barna, located in a beautiful villa called Pordheimka.

Who was the architect that built the villa where Jessica Barna is located?

The villa was built by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, a famous Baroque architect.

What is special about the location of Jessica Barna?

Jessica Barna is special because it is located in a villa with a beautiful park, offering a chance to sit outside and admire its beauty during summer days.

Why was Jessica Barna initially kept a secret by the hosts?

Jessica Barna was initially kept a secret because the hosts wanted to treasure it as their personal favorite spot, but they eventually decided to share it with their audience.

In which area of Prague is Jessica Barna located?

Jessica Barna is located in the area called Anděl in Prague 5.

What is the name of the coffee place attached to the National Theater?

The coffee place attached to the National Theater is called Nonna.

How does Nonna transform during the evening?

Nonna transforms from a coffee place into a bar with a lively atmosphere during the evenings.

What is unique about the architecture of the building where Nonna is located?

The building where Nonna is located features unique Cubist architecture, designed by a famous Czech architect.

What is the name of the coffee place with a large terrace that is recommended for summer visits?

The coffee place with a large terrace recommended for summer visits is located at the end of the street called Narodní.

What is the significance of the building that houses the coffee place with a large terrace?

The building housing the coffee place with a large terrace is significant because it is a Rondo Cubist architecture, designed by a famous Czech architect known for creating the only one-of-a-kind Cubist kiosk.

Which coffee place is mentioned as a favorite by the hosts and is located near the end of the video?

Alfredo Cafe, also known as 'Coffee by Linda,' is mentioned as a favorite coffee place by the hosts.

What is special about the coffee place that is located inside one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague?

The coffee place inside one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague is special because of its Cubist architecture and the unique atmosphere it offers, especially in the evenings with live piano music.

What is the name of the coffee place that turns into a bar in the evenings and is located near the Old Town Square?

The coffee place that turns into a bar in the evenings and is located near the Old Town Square is Cafe Damu.

What is the term used to describe a person who spends a lot of time in coffee places?

The term used to describe a person who spends a lot of time in coffee places is 'Cavarenski,' which translates to 'coffee lounger.'

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Exploring Prague's Hidden Coffee Gems

The video script introduces viewers to some of the most beautiful and cherished coffee places in Prague, Czech Republic. The first location, Jessica Barna, is highlighted for its unique setting within a villa called Pordheimka, designed by the renowned architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, who is more famous for his church designs like the Nicholas Church on Mala Strana. The presenter expresses a desire to share this secret spot, located in the Angel area of Prague 5, despite previously only mentioning it in their book, 'The Honest Guide.' The video then transitions towards the city center, promising to showcase more interesting buildings that house coffee places, hinting at a blend of architectural beauty and caffeinated delights.

05:02

🎥 A Journey Through Prague's Architectural Coffee Houses

The script continues with a tour of coffee places situated in notable buildings around Prague. One such place is 'Nonna,' attached to the National Theater, which offers a lovely view and transforms into a bar with a lively atmosphere in the evenings. The presenter also points out the unique architectural features of the buildings, including a Cubist structure with a terrace that serves as a coffee place during the day and a bustling restaurant during lunchtime. The video emphasizes the importance of experiencing these places, not just for their coffee but also for their historical and cultural significance. The script concludes with a visit to a coffee place that embodies the 1930s atmosphere of the First Czechoslovak Republic, complete with live piano music and a recommendation to sit on the balcony for the best experience. The presenter also shares personal anecdotes, such as being a regular at one of the coffee places and the staff's playful interaction with their book, 'The Honest Guide.' The video ends with a list of all the coffee places mentioned, along with a promise to provide a map for viewers to easily locate them.

Keywords

💡Prague

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. In the context of the video, it serves as the primary location for the exploration of coffee places. The city's rich history and architecture provide a backdrop for the featured coffee spots, enhancing the viewer's experience.

💡Coffee places

Coffee places refer to establishments where coffee is served, often with a focus on creating a unique atmosphere and experience for patrons. The video showcases various coffee places in Prague, highlighting their distinctive characteristics and the appeal they hold for both locals and tourists.

💡Honza

Honza is a person mentioned in the script, likely a local or a friend of the presenter, who is associated with the area called Angel in Prague 5. His presence in the script adds a personal touch, suggesting that the coffee places featured have been personally vetted and recommended.

💡Cubist architecture

Cubist architecture is a style of architecture that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by geometric shapes and a departure from traditional forms. The video mentions a coffee place located in a building with cubist architecture, emphasizing the historical and aesthetic significance of the location.

💡Nicholas Church

Nicholas Church is a famous church in Prague, designed by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. In the script, it is mentioned to establish the credentials of the architect whose work is also featured in a coffee place's building, adding a layer of cultural and historical context to the video.

💡National Theater

The National Theater is a significant cultural institution in Prague, and the video mentions a coffee place attached to it, called 'Nonna.' This association with the theater suggests that the coffee place is not just about coffee but also about the cultural and artistic experiences it offers.

💡Cafe Damu

Cafe Damu is one of the coffee places featured in the video. It is described as a place that transitions from a coffee shop to a bar in the evenings, illustrating the versatility and social aspect of coffee places in Prague.

💡Cabarenski

Cabarenski is a Czech term mentioned in the video, translating to 'coffee lounger.' It refers to a person who spends a lot of time in coffee places, reflecting the social and leisurely aspects of these establishments.

💡The Honest Guide

The Honest Guide is the name of the show or channel producing the video. It implies that the content is meant to be a trustworthy and genuine guide to the best coffee places in Prague, offering viewers an authentic experience.

💡Staropreska Galere

Staropreska Galere is another coffee place mentioned in the video, described as a favorite by the presenters. This mention adds to the list of recommended places, showcasing the diversity of coffee culture in Prague.

Highlights

Introduction to the most beautiful and favorite coffee places in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jessica Barna, a coffee place in a beautiful villa called Pordheimka, designed by famous architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer.

Pordheimka villa is one of the few houses designed by Dientzenhofer, who is more known for his churches, including St. Nicholas Church.

Opportunity to sit outside in the beautiful park at Jessica Barna during summer days.

Jessica Barna was featured in the book 'The Honest Guide' but kept a secret in video format until now.

Location of Jessica Barna in the Angel area of Prague 5, close to where the hosts live.

Transition to coffee places closer to the city center, all in interesting buildings.

Nonna, a coffee place attached to the National Theater, offering a lovely view and lively atmosphere in the evening.

Great views from Nonna due to its location on the first floor with massive windows and the street's turn.

Next coffee place is in a Cubist architecture building, designed by a famous Czech architect.

The terrace of the Cubist building is a great spot in the summer, offering a view of the city.

Mention of other favorite coffee places: Alfredo Cafe and Staropreska Galere.

A visit to one of the most beautiful coffee places in Prague, inside a stunning building often overlooked by tourists.

Cubist architecture is evident throughout the building, including in the food presentation.

The coffee place offers an experience of what the 1930s were like in the First Czechoslovak Republic.

Live piano performances in the evenings create a beautiful atmosphere.

The balcony is the best spot to sit during the summer.

Cafe Damu, the last place shown, is an example of a coffee place that turns into a bar in the evenings.

Cafe Damu is located between the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, attached to an art school.

All the tips mentioned will be available in a map below the video for viewers to find the coffee places.

The video concludes with a Czech saying 'cavarenski povalge', meaning a person who lounges in coffee places.

Transcripts

hello and welcome to prague czech

republic on today's episode of the

honest guide we're going to show you the

most beautiful and our favorite coffee

places that we treasure as jewels so

let's do it

the first place we're going to show you

today is this jessica barna it's a

coffee place in a beautiful villa called

pordheimka and it's very important that

you should know that it was built by a

guy called kilian ignaz diesenhofer it's

a famous barrack building and i'm pretty

sure you know his other building that he

built it's the same nicholas church on

malastrana

so this is one of the only houses he

built he was usually famous for building

churches

so if you get a chance to sit outside in

the beautiful park

on the summer days i'm sure you can

admire its beauty

we actually did feature this place

already but only in our book the honest

guide and we never really wanted to show

it to everyone in the video because we

sort of want to keep keep it a secret

for us

but you know after coming here for so

many years i felt like we should share

it with you

we should also mention where we are

we're in the area called angel in prague

5 and we like this place also because we

live nearby with honza but let's move

closer to the city center

all the coffee places we'll be showing

you today are in interesting buildings

and if you don't find this one

interesting how about this one that's

where the next coffee place is

[Music]

this coffee place is attached to the

national theater uh more likely to the

new scene that's why it's called nonna

which is nova st

and it's a lovely place that hanza likes

i love it for the view and in the

evening as most of the coffees we're

showing you today it turns more into a

bar

with lively atmosphere

thanks to the fact that this coffee

place is on the first floor and thanks

to these massive windows and thanks to

the fact that the street is somehow in a

turn you have a great view here so you

can sit down and just watch the street

buzz you can actually see as far as the

next coffee place we want to show you

[Music]

we have reached the end of the street

called narugi and here this building you

cannot miss it's actually a rondo cubist

architecture built by a famous czech

architect that also built the only

one-of-a-kind cubist kiosk and can you

see that's terrace up there well that's

a coffee place

[Music]

all the coffee places we showed you so

far are usually to hide out from the bad

weather which sort of is today but this

one with this huge terrace is great in

the summer i come here in the mornings

and it's always empty uh it gets full

with more people during lunch time

because not only a coffee place but also

a restaurant and i just love the view

here

and since we're doing a coffee episode

and we're literally walking past our

favorite coffee places we also want to

mention them this is alfredo cafe or as

we call it the coffee by linda and right

there

is another favorite coffee of ours which

is called staropresca galere

so pay a visit

[Music]

and we are back where we started and one

of the most beautiful coffee places

there is in prague inside one of the

most beautiful buildings all of the

tourists that i always observe from the

balcony stand here with their guide and

they just look at it and they never go

inside and that's a huge huge mistake so

let me take you right in

[Music]

the beauty of this place starts the

minute you walk into the building right

here on the staircase you will

understand what i'm talking about once

you put your head up

if you are a subscriber and a long time

viewer of the honest guide show you know

this place we have mentioned it multiple

times and we mentioned it in our book

but as of right now there's not a single

video that would mention it online so we

felt like doing it again first of all

the cubist architecture can be seen here

everywhere um on the windows on the

shapes on the hooks that you put your

coat on when you walk in and even on the

food they have a special czech dessert

that normally is round but here because

of cubism it's square if you want to

experience what the 30s were like in the

first czechoslovak republic you want to

come to this place in the evenings

sometimes there's a live piano guy

playing here and it gives the place such

a beautiful atmosphere that is hard to

describe in the summer you obviously

want to sit out on the balcony because

that's the best spot and as you can see

i can talk about this place for hours

and hours and if you come here you will

find me sitting in the back corner over

there that's my favorite spot

i'm an absolute regular here and the

guys working here are the best

if you come here with our book they will

secretly sneak it from your table and

they will put a stamp of the coffee

place in the page where they are

mentioned as a joke and as a thank you

that you came

so please definitely if your tour guide

will show you the building walk in and

have a coffee

[Applause]

[Music]

and now the last place we want to show

you is also an explanation to what czech

coffee places usually look and work like

because during the day they're usually

for coffee but as the later hours

approach and in the evenings they turn

more into a bar which is exactly what

this place is cafe damu and you can have

a great beer

we are actually right between the old

town square and the charles bridge and

this is attached to an art school so

quite often if you walk past it in the

evening you will see a lot of students

outside with a beer or with a wine but

once again during the day not only

coffee but you can also get lunch during

the lunch time so yet another tip where

to go for a coffee or a beer and don't

forget all the tips we mentioned will be

mentioned in a map below the video so

you will be able to find them

[Music]

oh and by the way not only coffee or a

beer but you can buy this book here i

heard it's pretty good

[Music]

so those were our favorite places in

terms of coffee

that being said while holding a beer

while it's late in the afternoon thank

you very much for watching the honest

guide i hope it will help you on your

travels we have many more videos that

will help you guide around our city and

not fall into traps and enjoy places

that we me and honza absolutely love we

create content like this every week so

if you subscribe you will be notified if

you click a little bell on every sunday

with our new video so i will see you

then

[Music]

and let me teach you not a check word

but a check saying that it's attached to

coffee places and that is cavarenski

povalge it's a person that hangs around

at coffee places and just sits around it

would probably translate to coffee

lounger cabarenski

that will be you if you sit in these

coffee places and never leave