Rex - Prague tips
 

Rex,
As a recent traveler to Prague, please give us some details on your favourite spots, including restaurants, museums, etc.
I will be staying five days in Prague (arrival on 13 June evening and leaving on the 16 June) at Hotel at 3 Drums.
Thanks.

Well, our time in Prague was not nearly long enough, and I can't claim that we uncovered any gems "off the beaten path". We all loved the Mucha Museum; I was surprised at how much the girls liked the natural history collections of the National Museum, and unexpectedly, we spent an entire day at Prague Castle (counting the walk back down through a little bit of Mala Strana, and across the Charles Bridge).

We spent Sunday morning in the Jewish Quarter; after the Jewish Cemetery, I would say that the girls liked the Spanish synagogue the best; we did not go in the Old-New Synagogue. We had the Prague Marathon to contend with that morning, causing Parizka street to be closed and blocked on both sides (barricades for runners); it resulted in a fairly festive atmosphere, but a bit of a hassle.

As for restaurants, I can report on three for dinner, and one for lunch.

Generally, everyone liked Kampa Park; our girls like getting dressed up and going out to nice places. I felt a little guilty - - I guess I have become way too jaded over the years, and never thought it rated all that high, compared to other restaurants I have visited, and I wonder if I dampened their enjoyment of the evening for them. The service was way too slow, and the lighting was so dim that it was hard to tell where the food was on the plate!

We took advantage of places within 50-100 yards of our apartment two other nights - - A "Zatec garden" literally 5 feet from our door - - traditional Czech food, and very good and good bargain too. Saturday night was a Greek place - - perhaps called simply "Taverna" - - very simple, but good and good bargain.

Regrettably, that night was number 5 for us, and the night that fatigue caught up with all of us - - so we didn't follow through with any of our evening entertainment plans.

The one lunch I recall was at a typically touristy place - - but still perfectly good - - called (I think) Cafe boulevard, on Wenceslas Square. We also had lunch at Prague Castle, which was quite UNmemorable, in a rather predictable way.

This isn't news that you couldn't read on any other post about Prague - - in particular, I recommend http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34391615 - - as very (much more) informative than what I have reported here. Still, I hope this helps you in some way.

For what it's worth, we also spent a separate day at Cesky Krumlov (not day tripping) and enjoyed it. I think with the amount of time you have, you should not allocate time away from Prague to spend 6 hours roundtrip to go there for one of your days.

Best wishes,

Rex

Rex,

You have been doing this long enough to know that statements like "good bargin" at a restaurant needs a little more detail. I have heard reports that Prague is cheap for dinning but then I see reports that prices have really gone up? What are your overall thoughts towards the cost of dinning in Prague?

the views from Letna Park - overlooking the Vltava and the historic center of a Prague are incredible. There is a restaurant, Hanavsky Pavilion, there that has an outdoor seating area - food okay, better just to order a bottle of Moravian white and enjoy the view

take a tour of the Municipal House

if you're a serious architecture buff take a tour of the Villa Muller -
http://www.mullerovavila.cz/default-cv.html

Here's the link to my trip report to Prague, Oct 2002 -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...mp;keyword=125

Rex:
Thank for your prompt reply and useful information.

Marktynernyc:
Thank you for your reply. I had already reaf your fantastic trip report to Prague, Oct. 2002.

Thank you all.

to pop - - your constructive criticism is valid.

I will report details when I get around to doing a proper trip report.

I think that the Zatec garden and the Taverna were both in the 1200-1500 Kc range for our family of five; probably included one or two beers (or one ouzo at the Greek place).

By contrast, the tab at Kampa Park was over 9000 Kc (again for five - - if I recall correctly), and a clear cut indication on the tab for a gratuity. Perhaps that why I was underwhelmed - - I have had better service at more special places at that kind of price. Admittedly not THAT expensive - - I just felt that the price was high for a meal that I didn't consider as "special" as I had hoped.

Rex: If the lighting was dim, you must not have eaten outside on the deck along the river bank. If not, you missed the whole reason for going to Kampa Park, imho.

Sorry you were disappointed. But I stand by my enthusiastic recommendation of Kampa Park, given the fact that it is not cheap. It was very special for us.

We also spent almost a full day at Prague Castle. For those planning a trip to Prague, don't cut yourself too short on time alloted there. You can see it in less time, of course, but you'll be running, and miss some neat stuff.

For great food...worth the price you'll pay...La Veranda in the Jewish Quarter is IMHO even better than Kampa Park. And I had the best chocolate mousse in this restaurant. The chef was voted best chef in Prague last year.

If I remember right, prices were not much more than Kampa Park.

We DID eat outside at what might be one of the best tables on the outer deck. The reservation was for 7:30 - - our main courses were served after 9:30, I think. The illumination was only slightly above a birthday candle on our table, and a 25 watt buld on the wall.

Once the sun comes down, the charm of the river - - which does rate very favorably, including what appeared to be some guys in sailor suits in a little motorboat (our girls rated each one for cuteness) - - was just the moonlight on the water. Absent the daylight, the room was absolutely under-illuminated.