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Rock bands on the comeback trail, touring bluesmen, and other solid performers across many different musical genres, including some Czech acts, make up the live schedule of this basement music venue in the historic pasáž. The crowds are always friendly and up for it, and the acoustics are good, making it a great place to see live music in the city center. Book tickets in advance for the bigger acts. Another big draw are the nights—usually Saturday—of 1980s or '90s music videos. The nostalgia-fest will have you dancing your socks off until the wee hours, alongside what feels like half of Prague and much of the rest of Europe as well.
Vodičkova 36, 110 00, Czech Republic
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One of the coolest places to drink and hang in Prague just got cooler (and considerably more appealing during the chilly winter months than it previously was). This riverside promenade near the Dancing House began with little more than pop-up pubs on benches and boats, but newly reclaimed former storage pods inside the waterfront walls offer cafés, galleries, and even a branch of the municipal library. Don't worry, sunset beers are still central to the vibe, with plenty of pop-up pubs and tethered boat/bars still present.
Náplavka, 120 00, Czech Republic
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This brewpub may be short on history, but it makes up for that with outstanding beer. The dark, light, and seasonal microbrew beers are stellar. (Fermenting beer can be viewed through a window.) The food is good but a slight letdown when compared with the drinks, which include sour-cherry beer and even a Champagne beer for the more adventurous. Take heed: there is often a line to get in.
Lípová 15, 120 00, Czech Republic
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This jazz club is where President Bill Clinton jammed with Czech president Václav Havel in 1994, and lots of pictures of that night are still hanging around the joint. Reduta was one of the bigger clubs in the 1960s and '70s, and it still feels a little like a dated museum of those glory days (or like a funky retro tribute to that era, depending on your persuasion). The coat-check person can be pretty aggressive, which is another throwback to the pre-1989 era, but the jazz is worth any aggravation. If you go on a quiet weeknight, staff might upgrade you to the VIP seats, where Bill and Václav sat back in the day.
Národní 20, 110 00, Czech Republic
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Located on the very touristy Wenceslas Square, the drinks here are delivered by miniature train on 900 meters of track (including five drawbridges). It's gimmicky but great fun when the drinks pull up to the table.
Václavské nám. 56, Czech Republic
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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While Duplex is effectively an all-nighter, strobe-heavy superclub in the center of Prague, it also boasts a gorgeous roof terrace right on Wenceslas Square and a restaurant. Prices can be high and it is obviously touristy, but the location makes up for it, and if you do feel like hitting the dance floor afterward, this is where the biggest global dance music names perform.
Václavské nám. 21, 110 00, Czech Republic
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With 6,400 combinations, this stylish gin palace offers everything from a perfect traditional tipple with ice and a slice to a G&T with sun-dried tomatoes or even bacon. Small plates complement the gin-heavy menu, and there's a gorgeous little candlelit garden for mild nights.
Navrátilova 11, 110 00, Czech Republic
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Nové Mesto | Bars/Pubs
An outdoor beer garden hidden from passersby on the street provides a refuge from the noisy downtown crowds. The indoor bar is decorated with old rock-and-roll posters. Beer and hard cider on tap go with Mexican food and some pretty good burgers. Internet access is available here for a reasonable price, and Wi-Fi access is free.
V Jámě 7, Prague, Praha, 110 00, Czech Republic
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Nové Mesto
Sometimes all you want is some guaranteed good pop tunes, a friendly vibe, and a packed dance floor. If that's what you're after, Nebe will never let you down. Plus there's no cover charge. There are a couple of branches, but this slightly hidden one on Křemencova is the best of the bunch.
Křemencova, Prague, Praha, Czech Republic
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They call themselves cocktail artists and, although it is slightly cringe, it's hard not to agree. The team here make drinks based on your tastes rather than from a menu, and they are invariably great. There is no sign: look for the door with the little white horse. This haven is still astonishingly close to the bustle of Wenceslas Square.
Krakovská 15, 110 00, Czech Republic
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An authentic shopfront with a modern brewery-style look behind, Pilsnerka has a very alluring vibe. It's worth the drop-in, too; good, fresh Pilsner Urquell from the tanks---one of several spots around town affiliated with the brewery, and serving the freshest version of probably the most famous Czech export out there---and affordable, tasty takes on Czech classics in a part of town that has not previously excelled in this kind of bar/restaurant.
Národní 22, 110 00, Czech Republic
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Nové Mesto | Dance Club
A clubbing institution dating from the early '90s, this place still draws a loyal following. The dance floor can be a little cramped, but other rooms offer lots of seats and couches for hanging out. Those with two left feet can chill upstairs with a drink or eat food until late in the vegetarian restaurant.
Bělehradská 120, Prague, Praha, 120 00, Czech Republic
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The oldest brewpub in Europe—open since 1499—makes a tasty, if overpriced, dark beer and serves around 2,000 pints of it every day. But the steady stream of tours means it can be hard to find a seat (in the evenings, at least), even though the place is cavernous, spread over eight halls and a garden. There's also a brewery museum and cabaret shows. Beware of waiters putting unordered shots of liquor on your table. If you don't insist they remove them right away, they'll be on your bill, and service can be indifferent to rude. But the raucous, beer-swilling, mug-clinking bonhomie makes up for that.
Křemencova 11, 110 00, Czech Republic
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Although Prague is beer territory, this bar is all about wine. A mazelike, multilevel cellar forms the large wine bar in a baroque building, and there's a garden too. Make note of where your traveling companions are or you might never find them again—the interior is that labyrinthine. But this also makes for a cozy drinking hole in the cold winter months, and it's open extremely late.
This is usually one of the first places during the year to crack open burčák, tasty new wine served shortly after harvest.
Vodičkova 10, 110 00, Czech Republic
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Currently the holder of the unofficial title of Prague's most alternative city-center pub and music venue, Vzorkovna operates a confusing chip system for payment (you get the change back at the end of the night, but don't lose the chip or they'll charge you). It's an acquired taste, with a rough pop-up feel of bars in metropolises like London or New York, plus that uniquely Prague junkyard vibe, with dusty floors, and often a giant dog wandering around. The beers on tap are from the award-winning Únětický Pivovar brewery, and reasonably priced for such a centrally located bar.
Národní 339/11, 110 00, Czech Republic
