Table of Contents
- Why Prague Is One of Europe’s Best Bar Cities
- Top 10 Bars in Prague
- Hemingway Bar
- U Zlatého Tygra (The Golden Tiger)
- Black Angel’s Bar
- AnonymouS Bar
- Dva Kohouti
- Absintherie
- Bar No. 7
- Cross Club
- U Sudu
- Letná Beer Garden
- Practical Tips for Exploring Prague’s Nightlife
- FAQ: Bars in Prague
Why Prague Is One of Europe’s Best Bar Cities {#why-prague}
Few cities in Europe can rival the sheer variety and quality of bars in Prague. The Czech capital — often called the “City of a Hundred Spires” — has earned a reputation as one of the continent’s premier nightlife destinations, and for very good reason. Czechs invented pilsner-style beer, they consume more pivo (beer) per capita than any other nation on earth, and they’ve been perfecting the art of the perfectly poured lager for over a thousand years. But the bars in Prague are far more than just beer halls.
In the last decade, Prague’s bar scene has evolved dramatically. Craft breweries, world-class cocktail bars, hidden underground speakeasies, absinthe museums, and rooftop wine terraces have joined the ranks of the city’s legendary old-school pubs. Whether you’re a hardcore beer enthusiast, a cocktail connoisseur, or someone who simply wants to soak up the atmosphere of a candlelit medieval cellar, the variety of bars in Prague is genuinely extraordinary.
This guide covers the 10 best bars in Prague — a curated selection spanning different neighbourhoods, styles, and budgets, so there’s something here for every kind of traveller.
Top 10 Bars in Prague {#top-10}
1. Hemingway Bar — Best Cocktail Bar in Prague {#hemingway}
Address: Opatovická 1737/3, Nové Město, Prague 1
Opening Hours: Sun–Thu 5pm–1am | Fri–Sat 5pm–2am
Best For: Craft cocktails, absinthe, rum
If there is one bar in Prague that cocktail lovers absolutely cannot miss, it is Hemingway Bar. Named after the great American writer — a man who understood a good drink — this intimate, impeccably styled venue in the New Town district has built a reputation as arguably the finest cocktail bar in Central Europe.
The interior feels like a 1920s gentleman’s club: dark wood panelling, leather seating, dim lighting, and a palpable sense of occasion. The drinks menu is nothing short of staggering, featuring more than 200 rums, an exceptional selection of premium absinthes, vintage champagnes, and a rotating list of signature cocktails that showcase the bartenders’ remarkable skill and creativity. Signature pours like the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Oak Park Fountain have developed cult followings among regular visitors.
Hemingway Bar maintains a set of house rules — smart-casual dress, phone discretion at the bar — which only adds to the sense that you’re somewhere genuinely special. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends. This is consistently ranked among Europe’s top cocktail bars, and one visit will tell you exactly why.
Price range: 250–450 CZK per cocktail
2. U Zlatého Tygra — The Most Iconic Czech Pub in Prague {#golden-tiger}
Address: Husova 228/17, Staré Město, Prague 1
Opening Hours: Daily 3pm–11pm
Best For: Traditional Czech beer culture, atmosphere, history
For many visitors, no list of the best bars in Prague is complete without U Zlatého Tygra — “At the Golden Tiger.” This is the most legendary pub in the city, and its walls have witnessed conversations between Czech presidents, Nobel Prize-winning writers, and generations of Prague locals who have been coming here for decades.
The bar is famous for its perfectly poured, unfiltered Pilsner Urquell served straight from the tank — arguably the freshest and finest glass of Czech lager you will ever taste. The interior is exactly what you’d hope for: wooden benches, arched ceilings, no-frills decor, and an atmosphere that feels entirely authentic. U Zlatého Tygra is the antithesis of tourist-trap, and therein lies its appeal. You will share a long table with Prague locals, and the beer will arrive swiftly and in excellent condition.
Note that tables fill up extremely quickly and the pub does not formally take bookings. Arrive early, particularly on weekday evenings, if you want a seat. Cash only.
Price range: 60–80 CZK per pint
3. Black Angel’s Bar — The Best Underground Speakeasy {#black-angels}
Address: Staroměstské nám. 29, Staré Město, Prague 1 (Hotel U Prince)
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm–2am
Best For: Prohibition-era cocktails, elegance, ambience
Hidden beneath the Old Town Square in a series of stunning vaulted brick cellars, Black Angel’s Bar is one of the most atmospheric and celebrated bars in Prague. The concept draws on the notebooks and recipes of Alois Krcha, a celebrated 20th-century Bohemian bartender, whose handwritten cocktail formulas were discovered and brought to life when the bar was founded in 2009.
The result is a cocktail menu that feels genuinely historical — drinks like the Alois Becher Cobbler (featuring Becherovka, the beloved Czech herbal digestif from Karlovy Vary) sit alongside oak-aged Negronis and classic Vieux Carrés, all served in handcrafted Moser glassware. A pianist plays nightly in an arched cellar strung with candelabras and old wooden-framed paintings. The bar operates with a set of elegant Prohibition-era rules: smart-casual dress is required, photography at the bar is discouraged, and every guest is seated before ordering.
Black Angel’s is regularly ranked among the World’s Top 10 Hotel Bars at Tales of the Cocktail, one of the most prestigious awards in global mixology. It’s an experience that transcends the ordinary.
Price range: 220–400 CZK per cocktail
4. AnonymouS Bar — The Quirkiest Bar in Prague’s Old Town {#anonymous}
Address: Michalská 432, Staré Město, Prague 1
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm–2am
Best For: Themed cocktails, unique atmosphere, groups
Among the most creative and talked-about bars in Prague is AnonymouS Bar, inspired by the Anonymous hacker collective. The concept sounds gimmicky, but the execution is genuinely impressive. The interior is bathed in dim, moody lighting with a stylish aesthetic that manages to feel edgy without being overwhelming. The real centrepiece is the drinks menu, which is presented as an encrypted puzzle — guests must decode their drink selections before ordering, adding an interactive layer to the whole experience.
The cocktails themselves are inventive, beautifully constructed, and as much a visual spectacle as they are a pleasure to drink. Staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, walking guests through the menu with patience. AnonymouS Bar has earned its place as one of the top bars in Prague’s Old Town, drawing both curious tourists and design-conscious locals in equal measure. A spin-off venue — AnonymouS Shrink’s Office — takes a similarly theatrical approach with a speakeasy therapist’s office theme, where bartenders craft drinks based on your mood.
Price range: 180–320 CZK per cocktail
5. Dva Kohouti — Prague’s Best Craft Beer Taproom {#dva-kohouti}
Address: Štefánikova 39, Smíchov, Prague 5
Opening Hours: Mon–Sat 3pm–midnight | Sun 3pm–10pm
Best For: Craft beer, taproom atmosphere, local brews
For the serious beer drinker who has moved beyond commercial lagers, Dva Kohouti (meaning “Two Roosters”) is an essential stop. A 10-minute tram ride from Prague’s centre in the Smíchov neighbourhood, this bar combines an on-site microbrewery with an excellent taproom, offering a constantly rotating selection of craft beers that run from sessionable lagers to hoppy IPAs, dark stouts, and seasonal specialities.
The interior is warm and inviting — exposed brick, wooden furniture, and the satisfying hum of a working brewery in the background. On weekend evenings, Dva Kohouti frequently hosts live DJ sets, making it as much a social venue as a place to explore Czech craft beer culture. The food menu is simple but well-executed, designed specifically to complement the beer. This is one of the bars in Prague that has helped define the city’s thriving craft beer movement.
Price range: 70–120 CZK per beer
6. Absintherie — A Living Museum of the Green Fairy {#absintherie}
Address: Jilská 7, Staré Město, Prague 1
Opening Hours: Daily 1pm–1am
Best For: Absinthe tasting, historical ambience, unique experience
Prague has a long and storied relationship with absinthe, and Absintherie is the city’s most dedicated temple to the green spirit. Located on a winding alley in the Old Town, the bar combines a museum, a specialist shop, and a fully stocked tasting bar under one atmospheric roof. The dim, green-tinged interior is lined with over 250 rare absinthe bottles, historical serving tools — fountains, speciality glasses, filters — and artefacts that trace the drink’s complex cultural history.
The knowledgeable staff are excellent guides, walking guests through traditional serving rituals, explaining the myths and realities of the spirit, and recommending expressions from across the spectrum. On many evenings, the whole experience is enhanced by live piano, which gives the venue an appropriately bohemian and slightly otherworldly quality. An adjoining shop allows visitors to take home bottles, glassware, and souvenirs. Whether you’re an absinthe devotee or simply curious, this is one of the most distinctive bars in Prague.
Price range: 100–200 CZK per glass
7. Bar No. 7 — Prague’s Best Hidden Local Gem {#bar-no-7}
Address: Na Struze 1740/7, Nové Město, Prague 1
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 5pm–2am | Sat–Sun 6pm–2am
Best For: Local atmosphere, quality Czech beer, summer garden
Tucked away behind the National Theatre in a quiet street most tourists never find, Bar No. 7 is the kind of local bar that every city has but very few visitors ever discover. This is precisely what makes it special. The welcome here is genuine and warm, the prices are fair, and the beer — specifically the wonderful Únětické pivo served on tap — is some of the finest you’ll find anywhere in the city.
Bar No. 7 has a small courtyard beer garden that opens during the summer months, making it one of the most pleasant spots for an outdoor evening drink in the Nové Město neighbourhood. The clientele is a natural mix of locals, theatre workers, and the kind of travellers who prefer discovering the real city over the polished tourist circuit. If you want to feel like a true Prague local for an evening, this is your bar.
Price range: 55–90 CZK per pint
8. Cross Club — Best Alternative Bar and Club in Prague {#cross-club}
Address: Plynární 1096/23, Holešovice, Prague 7
Opening Hours: Daily from 2pm (club from 6pm)
Best For: Techno and electronic music, industrial atmosphere, late nights
For those who want their evening to evolve into something more adventurous, Cross Club in the Holešovice district is an essential Prague experience. An industrial warehouse space transformed into a multi-level venue of extraordinary ambition, Cross Club is adorned with elaborate steampunk installations, custom metalwork, large-scale light sculptures, and the kind of design creativity that sets it apart from nightlife venues across Europe.
The venue operates as both a bar and a club, with multiple stages hosting live music, DJs, and drum and bass, electronic, and techno events on weekends that continue well into the early hours of the morning. The bar team serve an eclectic crowd with draught beer, wine, and an extensive spirits selection at prices that remain refreshingly reasonable. Cross Club has become one of the defining spots of Prague’s alternative culture scene, and it represents a side of the city that goes well beyond the cobblestoned Old Town.
Price range: 70–150 CZK per drink | Entry fee on club nights
9. U Sudu — The Cavernous Wine Bar You’ll Never Forget {#u-sudu}
Address: Vodičkova 677/10, Nové Město, Prague 1
Opening Hours: Mon–Thu 9am–4am | Fri 9am–5am | Sat 10am–5am | Sun 11am–4am
Best For: Wine, late nights, labyrinthine atmosphere
U Sudu is one of Prague’s most pleasantly disorientating secrets. From the street, it looks like a small, unremarkable wine bar. Step inside and descend, however, and the space opens into a vast medieval cellar — a labyrinth of arched rooms, each branching off into another, capable of hosting up to 300 people without ever feeling crowded. With a retro piano, a table football room, and a winding underground layout that seems to grow the deeper you explore, U Sudu is one of those bars in Prague that simply has to be experienced to be understood.
The wine is the focus, though beer and spirits are also available. Prices are very fair, the hours are genuinely late-night friendly, and the atmosphere blends local regulars with those who have sought the place out after a recommendation. U Sudu sits just off Wenceslas Square and deserves far more attention than its modest exterior suggests.
Price range: 60–120 CZK per glass of wine
10. Letná Beer Garden — Best Outdoor Bar in Prague {#letna}
Address: Letenské sady, Prague 7 (Letná Park)
Opening Hours: Weather dependent; typically Apr–Oct, daily from noon
Best For: Views, outdoor drinking, sunsets, local atmosphere
No list of the best bars in Prague is complete without a seasonal entry, and in the summer months, nowhere in the city beats the Letná Beer Garden. Perched on the edge of Letná Park, high above the Vltava River, this enormous outdoor bar offers some of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the entire city — with the Charles Bridge, Old Town rooftops, and Prague Castle stretching out across the horizon as you sip your beer.
The setting is entirely unpretentious: plastic chairs, long tables, and a steady stream of locals who come here not as a tourist activity but as a genuine part of everyday Prague life. Draught beer is cheap, the atmosphere is relaxed and convivial, and on a warm summer evening the place hums with exactly the kind of social energy that makes Prague so magnetic. Arrive before sunset for the full effect.
Price range: 50–75 CZK per pint
Practical Tips for Exploring Bars in Prague {#tips}
Getting the most out of Prague’s bar scene comes down to a few essentials:
Explore beyond the Old Town. The bars in Prague’s Old Town are excellent, but some of the city’s most exciting venues are in the residential neighbourhoods of Karlín, Holešovice, Vinohrady, and Letná. A short tram or metro journey unlocks a completely different and more authentically local drinking culture.
Carry cash. Many traditional Czech pubs and some smaller bars operate on a cash-only basis. Having Czech Koruna (CZK) on hand avoids awkward moments at the bar. ATMs (bankomats) are widely available, but always withdraw from bank-affiliated machines inside or on bank premises to avoid the unfavourable exchange rates offered by standalone currency exchange machines on tourist streets.
Pace yourself on Czech beer. Czech lager is often stronger than it appears, typically ranging from 11° to 13° (around 4.5–5.5% ABV), and the pints come quickly. The city’s long-bar-night culture is designed to be enjoyed over an entire evening rather than rushed.
Go early or book ahead for cocktail bars. Venues like Hemingway Bar and Black Angel’s Bar fill up fast, particularly Thursday to Saturday. Call ahead or email to secure a table.
Respect the pace. Prague’s bar culture is convivial but not hurried. Your tab stays open until you ask for it, and locals take their time. Embrace the rhythm.
FAQ: Bars in Prague {#faq}
What are the best bars in Prague for cocktails?
The top cocktail bars in Prague are Hemingway Bar and Black Angel’s Bar. Both offer exceptional craft drinks, historic atmospheres, and a level of bartending skill that rivals any major European city. AnonymouS Bar is also a strong choice for something more theatrical and creative.
What is the most famous pub in Prague?
U Zlatého Tygra (The Golden Tiger) is widely considered the most iconic and historically significant pub in Prague. It is famous for its perfectly poured unfiltered Pilsner Urquell and its long list of notable former patrons including Václav Havel and Bohumil Hrabal.
Are bars in Prague expensive?
Prague remains excellent value for nightlife compared to most Western European cities. Traditional pubs typically charge 55–80 CZK (around €2.20–€3.20) for a pint of beer. Premium cocktail bars cost more — expect to pay 200–450 CZK (€8–€18) per cocktail at places like Hemingway Bar — but even these are priced competitively against London, Paris, or Amsterdam equivalents.
What time do bars in Prague close?
Closing times vary significantly. Traditional Czech pubs typically close between 11pm and midnight. Bars in Prague’s Old Town often stay open until 2am or later, particularly at weekends. Late-night venues like U Sudu (4–5am) and Cross Club can go well into the early hours.
Which neighbourhood has the best bars in Prague?
The Old Town (Staré Město) has the highest concentration of iconic bars and is the best starting point for first-time visitors. For a more local, less tourist-heavy experience, Vinohrady, Karlín, and Holešovice offer excellent bars in Prague with a genuinely authentic atmosphere and lower prices.
Is Prague safe for a night out?
Yes — Prague is one of Europe’s safest cities for nightlife. Standard precautions apply: keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas, use licensed taxis or trusted transfer services, and be cautious of currency exchange booths on tourist streets, which frequently offer poor rates. Stick to reputable areas and exercise the same common sense you would in any major European city.
Final Thoughts
The bars in Prague represent one of the city’s greatest and most underrated pleasures. Whether you’re raising a glass of perfectly poured Pilsner in a centuries-old pub, sipping a meticulously crafted cocktail in a vaulted cellar speakeasy, or watching the sun set over the Vltava from a Letná hilltop terrace, Prague’s bar scene delivers experiences that are genuinely world-class and available at prices that feel almost too good to be true.
Use this guide as your starting point, wander off the beaten path, and let the bars in Prague surprise you — because they absolutely will.
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