URBAN GARDEN’S BEST OF VINOHRADY/ŽIŽKOV 2011

Here’s an updated list of our favorite (both old and new) Prague 2 & 3 neighborhood cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars for 2011.

BEST LUNCHTIME COFFEEHOUSE: Press Café

This comfortable corner café is a lovely spot to grab a coffee or get a light lunch consisting of salads, quiches, homemade soups and daily specials. In the evening the kitchen switches over to an extended dinner menu of bistro-style food. Breakfast is served all day on weekdays, brunch happens on Saturdays and Sundays. Velehradská 4, Prague 3. Tel: +420 605 250 958. Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30-23:00, Sat.-Sun. 10:00-20:00.

BEST CAFÉ: Kaaba Café and Tabak
Set at street level and lined with huge windows, the atmosphere of this café is light, comfortable, and cheerful. The retro design elements combine beautifully with original Art Deco pieces and furniture to make it well worth a visit. Specialties include gourmet coffees and teas, homemade desserts, soups and snacks and a large international wine list. Free WiFi throughout the day.
Mánesova 20, Prague 2 , tel.: +420 / 222 25 40 21. Open Mon- Fri from 8am, Saturday from 9am, Sunday from 10am.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT: Kofein
This family-owned restaurant serves delicious cold and hot tapas , burgers, and specialty menu items with a Spanish flair. The owners put a great deal of care into the details of this tastefully renovated space, and a big draw is the open kitchen where you can watch the chef expertly cook up the made-to-order food. Their weekly lunch menu includes soup, a choice of several hot meals and sandwiches and a glass of home-made ice tea. 
Nitranská 9, Prague 3. Tel: +420 273 132 145. Open Mon- Fri 11:00– midnight , Sat-Sun 17:00–midnight.

BEST CLASSIC CZECH FOOD: Restaurace u Básníka Pánve  (‘The Poet’s Pan’)
This medieval-style restaurant is a great venue for out-of-town guests who want to sample some authentic Czech food. Although the prices are higher than what you would find in a typical pub restaurant, so is the quality. The kitchen expertly prepares classic game dishes such as duck, wild boar, and venison, as well as an excellent beer goulash with some of the best dumplings in town. They also do reasonably priced daily lunch specials throughout the week. Mánesova 62, Praha 2. Tel: +420 222 250 072.  Open daily 11:00-midnight.

BEST BISTRO: Mozaika Restaurant
Our #1 favorite neighborhood restaurant consistently offers delicious, top-quality, creative cuisine. The food is thoughtfully presented and prepared with homemade stocks, sauces and condiments, and the majority of the meats and vegetables are locally sourced. Gourmet cheeseburgers served on homemade onion buns keep us coming back for more.
 Nitranská 13, Prague 3, Tel: +420-224-253-011. Open Mon-Fri 11:30-24:00, Sat 12:00-24:00, Sun 16:00-24:00

BEST PIZZERIA: Sorrento Ristorante
Sorrento stands out from the multitude of bland-to-average neighborhood pizzerias in that the wood-fired-oven pizzas are tasty in the crust department and topped with generous amounts of fresh ingredients. Our favorite double-bill order is ‘Diavolo’ and ‘Bolognaise’, with extra mushrooms. Delicious every time.
 Nitranská 20, Prague 3, Tel: +420-224-250-003. Open Mon-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 13:00-23:00

BEST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT: Radost FX Café
Radost is famous for its eclectic vegetarian menu offering dishes from around the world (Thai, Mexican, Italian, etc.). Nearly every entree is a Radost ‘original’ and the portions are big and filling. The homemade desserts are delicious (Key Lime Pie!) and they have an impressive list of cocktails and smoothies as well. The front cafe is now non-smoking. 
Bělehradská 120, Prague 2, Tel: +420 224 254 776. Open daily 11am-late. Weekend brunch 10:30-15:00

BEST ITALIAN/HIGH-END FOOD: Aromi Restaurant & La Bottega Deli
Aromi serves some of the best fresh seafood and authentic Italian dishes in town. As well as superior Italian cuisine, diners can expect to find unparalleled service and a great wine selection in a low-key, comfortable atmosphere. This easily qualifies as the best spot in the neighborhood to throw down some serious cash and walk away feeling like it was absolutely worth it.  Their ‘La Bottega’ Italian deli across the street (Mánesova 83) serves pasta and prepared sauces to-go, as well as pre-made daily lunch and dinner specials. They also offer an extensive line of Italian cheeses, meats, wines, as well as fresh fish and shellfish. 
Mánesova 78, Prague 2, Tel: +420-222-713-222. Open Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sunday 12:00-22:00. La Bottega: Open Mon – Fri 11:00 – 20:30, Sat 11:00 – 19:00, Sun closed.

BEST MICROBREW PUB: U Slovanské Lípy
U Slovanské Lípy has been an active pub since the building it’s housed in was erected in 1908, and was a family-operated establishment for nearly a century. Although the pub has changed hands and is now run by a younger set, it retains the classic pub atmosphere and is decorated with historical and cult movie memorabilia. The real draw here is the collection of draft Czech microbrews, including unfiltered and unpasteurized Kout beer from Šumava. They have a non-smoking room and a limited pub food menu.
Tachovské nám. 288/6, Prague 3. Tel.: +420-602-190-112. Open Mon.-Sat. 16-23:00.

BEST ORIGINAL PUB: Hospoda U vystřelenýho oka (‘The Shot-Out Eye’)

Located between the newly refurbished Vitkov Rail Trail and Husitska street, far under the watchful one-eye of the giant General Jan Žižka statue, the Shot Out Eye has been a unique neighborhood watering hole since the early ’90′s. The décor designed by absurdist artist Martin Velíšek is a real treat (he even designed the ashtrays). There’s an outdoor terrace/amphitheater for summertime socializing, but if you want to sit inside, especially in winter, show up early as seats fill up fast. 
U Božích bojovníků 3, Prague 3. Tel: +420 222 540 465. Open Mon-Sat. 16:30-01:00, closed Sundays.

BEST OLD-SCHOOL PUB: Nad Viktorkou
Along with The Shot Out Eye, Nad Viktorkou hasn’t changed in decades. This ‘rock pub’ has been pouring excellent Czech draft beer, cooking up pub grub until midnight, and rocking out as far back as we can remember. In the downstairs music club you can party on until the sun rises. This is one of the few remaining pre-communist pubs left in the neighborhood that has not been sold, remodeled, and homogenized. Bořivojova 79, Prague 3. Tel: +420 222 722 557. Upstairs Open daily 17:00-01:00. Downstairs until 04:00.

BEST ALL-AROUND PUB: Pastička Kvelb and Pub
It’s always fun at Pasticka. Great atmosphere (they manage to do ‘cozy’ without the standard bricka-brack overkill), friendly staff, unpasteurized Bernard beer on tap, Czech food with a creative twist and…a fireplace! It’s advisable to reserve a table around any holidays, even for two, as this popular pub is a favorite for big and small parties alike.
 Blanická 25, Prague 2. Tel: 222 253 228. Open Mon-Fri: 11:00 – 01:00, Sat-Sun: 17:00 – 01:00

BEST BEER PUB: U Sadu
Although it can be tough to pick a best “beer” pub U Sadu definitely covers a lot of bases. With an impressive selection of bottled and tap beers they also feature weekly special drafts from local and regional breweries. The kitchen serves big, tasty portions of traditional Czech food as well as seasonal specials until after midnight (for the hungry and lazy they now offer free food delivery in Zizkov/Vinohrady). And if you want to get your rock-star on, the basement has a jukebox with some solid classic rock selections.
 Škroupovo náměstí. 5, Prague 3. Open Mon-Fri 8:00-4am, Sat-Sun 9:00-4am.

BEST PUB TO MEET UP WITH A BIG GROUP OF PALS: Sokool Bar
Housed within the Riegrovy Sady Sokol building, this laid-back pub with big tables is a great place to meet up with a bunch of friends once the beer garden closes down for the winter. High ceilings, warm lighting and a long hardwood bar make for a comfortable atmosphere and the beer (Gambrinus/Pilsner) always flows freely. The friendly wait staff is used to handling big tables, so the lag time between drinks is minimal, but be sure to reserve, as it packs out fast.
 Polská 1, Prague 2. Tel: +420-222-210-528. Open Mon-Fri 11:00-24:00, Saturday 12:00-24:00, Sunday 12:00-23:00.

BEST COCKTAIL BAR: Hapu
Hapu hit the neighborhood 14 years ago and remains one of the friendliest bars around, mixing excellent cocktails made from the freshest ingredients available. Patrons can sip their drinks and relax in the comfy little living-room-like atmosphere where the vibe is always lively and welcoming. They also offer a multitude of top-shelf liquors, including an extensive rum and tequila selection. As of September 2011, Hapu officially went NON-SMOKING. Orlická 8, Prague 3, Tel: +420-775-109-331. Open daily 18:00-03:00.

BEST LATE-NIGHT BAR: Bukowski’s
Whether you want to lounge in a dimly lit corner for a quiet drink or elbow up to the usually-packed bar, Bukowski’s is a great place to keep the party going into the wee hours. The friendly expert bar staff serves some of the best cocktails in the neighborhood and the music is always pumping. Good times…(what you remember of them the next day anyway…). 7Kc beers on Sundays and ladies drink sangria for free on Tuesdays. 
Bořivojova 86, Prague 3. Open daily 19:00-02:00

BEST OVERALL VENUE: Palác Akropolis
One of the most interesting cultural spaces in Prague, the aptly named Palác Akropolis, contains a labyrinth of activity. Upstairs the uniquely designed corner pub serves food from lunchtime until around 22:00 daily. Next door you’ll find a small café and a stairwell leading down to the funky theater bar, ‘small stage’ bar, and concert hall, which collectively host local and internationally acclaimed bands and theater events. The entire venue is showcase for Czech design and a real hub for neighborhood party people. 
Kubelíkova 27, Prague 3 Tel: +420 296 330 911. Open Mon-Fri 10:00-05:00, Sat-Sun 16:00-05:00

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD ADDITIONS: Pho & Yes Burger
In a city that has extremely limited ‘street-food’ options compared to other world cities, two new hole-in-the-wall joints Pho and Yes Burger are here to start filling in the gap. Pho offers Vietnamese soups and Asian specialties including summer rolls, sushi and Czech Chinese. Yes Burger serves up grilled-to-order hamburgers. Customers can eat standing up (Pho), have a seat in the little side room (Yes Burger), or get orders to go. Pho: Slavikova 1, Prague 2. Tel:+420 774 167 786. Open daily 11:00-22:00. Yes Burger: Seifertova 14, Prague 3. Tel: +420 608 956 345. Open daily 10:00-23:00.

International Seminar ‘Cities in Motion’

Environmental Partnership invites you to a seminar Cities in Motion, organized in collaboration with Environmental Partnership association and Czech Savings Bank Foundation.

International seminar for companies, municipalities and professional public is focused on Mobility plans, Greenways and public spaces.

*When: Thursday, 7.4.2011, 9:00-16:00
*Where: Česká spořitelna, Mramorový sál, Rytířská 29, 110 00 Praha 1 (map)

Please register early, capacity is limited.

Cities in Motion

A Green Map of Prague

Prague Residents, dust off your walking shoes! As of Wednesday, September 22nd Prague has joined over 600 cities and communities in getting its very own custom-designed Green Map. Developed by volunteers and published by the Auto*Mat association with support from the Nadace Partnerství and the Ministry of the Environment, this map differs from traditional maps in that it charts green living, ecological, social and cultural resources. It achieves this by highlighting the city’s walking and bike paths, parks, pedestrian zones, bio cafes, and public transportation routes.

The Green Map System offers a refreshing perspective where the car-heavy streets and highways take a back seat to the possibility of making one’s way around the city without four wheels and a gas motor. Also included are hundreds of tips for residents and tourists seeking out cultural monuments and eco-friendly businesses around town, as well as smoke-free establishments.

Prague Green Map.

As stated on the official Green Map website, this guide is instrumental in mapping out environmentally sound living, nature and culture with adaptable tools and icons. The goal of the association is to promote inclusive participation in sustainable community development worldwide, using map-making as the medium.

The paper map is free, with over 40,000 copies currently in distribution.