I am starting to look at Prague (and maybe another city) for August. I like to stay in a central location where I can walk most places. I spend most of the time travelling solo so the neighbourhood should be safe and have restaurants and cafes to go to in the evenings.

I would recommend staying in Praha 1, the old town district. Great for walking to everything!

Old town (east side of the river) is nice - I stayed there once. But I think I prefer the Malá Strana neighborhood on the immediate west side of the river (before the steep hill up to the castle). It feels slightly more real and less touristy (expect mobs of tourists in Prague FYI - it can feel very crowded and almost like Disneyland, but it's also a wonderful, charming city. I loved it both times I visited.)

Prague is a compact walking city with excellent public transportation, so as long as you are somewhere relatively central, it's very easy to get from place to place. I traveled solo to Prague and - as a man, at least- felt very safe there. Cafes and restaurants are everywhere.

One time we stayed right around the corner from the Eastern end of the Karl's bridge and the Smetana museum, it was fine since you step out and you're right by these iconic views across the bridge and up onto the castle. But you're also in the middle of thousands of visitors and pickpockets (BE PREPARED!!!)...

Another time we stayed at the very sober and non-descript (but perfectly OK) hotel City-Inn right next to the Masarykovo nádraží train station. It had the sweetest-sounding ding-dog and announcements of any railway PA system ever - mellifluous and downright musical. Anyway, that location was OK also - right by a Metro stop, in easy walking distance from many attractions.

We didn't like the Václavské nám (Wenceslas Square) location very much (I forget the name of the hotel), it lacked character somehow (and it's not a square, really, but a long broad street).

Not sure how this all helps - pick the right price and look (use Google Maps on street view to see the environs), not too far out, and it will be fine.

I like to be close to republic square.
Lively and close to the center but not in the touristy center.

I don't know your budget, and I have only stayed at one hotel in Prague, but I was very happy with the Maximilian Hotel. It was very close to the Old Town square (about a five or ten minute walk) and on a quiet street. The breakfasts there were amazing.

I rented an apartment right near the Maximilian Hotel that KTravel mentions. Fantastic location in Josefov, very central but a block or two off the main touristic routes.

As a solo traveler I also stayed up by the castle, which many discourage, but I am fit and a good walker and enjoyed that area too. I was on a relatively quiet side street, at the Design Hotel Sax. I'm a runner and enjoyed running in the park in the mornings.

I am a regular visitor to Prague and am often solo in the city (though I do usually meet with friends when I am there)
August will be very busy and expensive for accommodation, the central locationa that have already been mentioned are fine and very safe ,in fact the whole of Prague is as safe a city as any and far better than most.
I stay in the Dejvice area of the city , much more bang for your buck in the hotels in the area plus loads of great bars , cafes and restaurants including many that have outdoor areas.This is the area where the main part of the University is situated and in August tends to be that bit quieter as the students are mainly away then but you still have all the student bars and cafes to use.
from this area the city centre can be reached by tram in about 15 minutes and by metro in about 7 minutes, the public transport is very cheap and extremely efficient so worth considering just being that little bit further from the centre. other areas such as Vinohrady and Zizkov are very pouplar area with lots of accommodation choices but are still within easy reach of the main tourist sites

Thanks so much for your replies. I forgot to mention budget. I would like to budget for under 200 US per night.

should be manageable though for Prague 1 area might be a limited choice.

<<Praha 1, the old town district>>

That is inaccurate. Prague 1 includes New Town and Mala Strana.

Go here: https://www.avehotels.cz/en/

The properties tend to be very good and most are located in Old Town or Mala Strana.

People don't know what Prague 1 or Old Town is, I've noticed.

I like the Josefov, also, and near the Maximilian. But I find being on that side of the river more convenient than mala Strana which I actually don't like that well. But I don't think it is as convenient, either.