Prague Nightlife
First things first – Prague offers a great night out. Its bar and club scene rightly enjoys renown, but these days the reputation is founded on far more than stag friendly strip dens. If you're after high culture, great beer, quality DJs or anything in between, there's plenty to keep you busy.
The choice of discos and dance clubs is far greater than it was a decade ago, although when it comes to nighttime entertainment, partyers are spoilt for choice and its best to plan big nights in advance. Be aware too that just as the city's drinking venues vary widely, so too do its prices – there are some seriously swish bars in town, but you'll pay for the privilege. Old Towns boasts some lovely spots, with rooftop bars offering freshly shaken cocktails to Gothic style cellars flogging clandestine mixtures.
Lap-dancing clubs can still be found here in abundance, although many bars, restaurants and clubs (especially around the Old Town) have banned or actively discouraged stag parties, so Prague isn’t quite the destination it used to be for budget debauchery.
Of course, the traditional recipe for a great night in Prague involves beer and music - two ingredients the Czechs excel both at making and enjoying. For many, rubbing shoulders with locals while enjoying world-class lagers in a welcoming bar or traditional beer hall provides the perfect authentic evening. Jazz enthusiasts can then move on and revel in one of Prague's unique and vibrant clubs.
Bars in Prague
Hemingway Bar
This bar focuses on Ernest Hemingway's drinks of choice: absinthe, rum and champagne. You can find over 200 varieties of rum on offer and the most extensive collection of absinthe out of any bar in the Czech Republic. This is the place for those who love a great cocktail.
Address: Staré Město (Old Town), Karolíny Světlé 26, Prague 1, 110 00Telephone: +420 773 974 764
Website: http://www.hemingwaybar.cz/bar-prague
Pivovarsky Klub
If there's one place in town that can claim to give a comprehensive overview of the country's love affair with beer, it's here. Despite its name, this isn't so much a club as a mecca for lovers of a quality tipple, offering more than 200 bottled beers and six on tap at any one time. As well as typical Czech varieties, you'll find brews from Belgium, Germany and further afield. There's great food to soak it up too.
Address: Karlín, Křižíkova 17, Prague 8, 180 00Telephone: +420 2223 15777
Website: http://www.pivovarskyklub.com/?lang=en
u Zlatého tygra (Golden Tiger)
A smoky and authentic old tavern, this traditional beer hall serves up a great variety of traditional pilsner, local pork dishes and coffee to boot. Even here in the tourist-filled Old Town, it remains hugely popular with locals (particularly at the end of each working day) saying much about its magic. Former president Václav Havel famously brought Bill Clinton here.
Address: Staré Město (Old Town), Husova 228/17, Prague 1, 110 00Telephone: +420 2222 21111
Website: http://www.uzlatehotygra.cz/en
Clubs in Prague
Duplex Club
Located in a prime position, this club overlooks the beautiful and historic Wenceslas Square. During the day, the rooftop terrace is ideal for a coffee break, but by night becomes ones of Prague's hottest clubs, with a slick lounge bar that attracts the city's top DJs and some of its most elegant clientele. It is no wonder Mick Jagger celebrated his 60th birthday here.
Address: Nové Město (New Town), Václavské námestí 21, Prague, 110 00Telephone: +420 7322 21111
Website: http://www.duplex.cz/duplex-events/duplex-sunset-sessions
Fashion Club
With an emphasis on slick service, classy cocktails and good DJs, Fashion Club's bid to attract Prague's beautiful people has been a success since the venue opened. At the top of a former communist department store, the club itself is a smart, on-trend nightspot, aimed mainly at the young and moneyed. If for nothing else, its panoramic views are worth a visit for and its on-site restaurant is spectacular.
Address: , Námĕstí Republiky 8, Prague, 110 00Telephone: +420 224 815 733
Website: http://www.f-club.cz/en
M1 Lounge Bar & Club
Owned by an expat New Yorker, this club is a strong player in the Prague nightlife scene. It's got a luxury vibe thanks to an extended dance floor, a cocktail bar and some serious VIP space. The emphasis here is still about the music, with the club's team of DJs spinning a well-received selection of hip-hop and house, R&B and indie rock.
Address: Staré Město (Old Town), Masná 1, Prague 1, 110 00Telephone: +420 2271 95235
Website: http://www.m1lounge.com
Live music in Prague
MeetFactory
An art gallery and theatre during the day, this former warehouse hosts live music programmes at night. Expect regional artists and up-and-coming bands performing alternative, rock and folk, among other genres.
Address: , Ke Sklárně 3213/15, Prague 5, 150 00Telephone: +420 251 551 796
Website: http://www.meetfactory.cz/en/
Palác Akropolis
Consisting of a concert hall, theatre and cinema, Palác Akropolis is an established cultural complex in Prague. It puts on nearly 1,000 events annually, mainly focusing on art, music and theatre. A surprisingly intimate setting, this venue has played host to an array of indie, rock and metal acts from all over the world. As well as promoting homegrown talents, you may well catch the likes of Marianne Faithful, Megadeth or Sigur Rós, all of whom have gigged here in the past. Be warned though, it's a popular joint and sells out quickly. So book early to avoid disappointment.
Address: Žižkov, Kubelíkova 1548/27, Prague, 130 00Telephone: +420 2963 30911
Website: http://www.palacakropolis.com
Reduta Jazz Club
First founded back in the 1950s, this venue has a strong claim to being Prague's oldest and best-known jazz club. As such, it has hosted some great musicians over the decades – not to mention ex-President of the United States, Bill Clinton, who famously played his saxophone here. There are live music acts on every night.
Address: Edge of Staré Město (Old Town), Národní třída 20, Prague 1, 110 00Telephone: +420 2249 33487
Website: http://www.redutajazzclub.cz/en
Rudolfinum
A tourist attraction in its own right, this stunning neo-Renaissance building in the city centre has, since 1946, been the seat of the world-class Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The perfect venue to experience Czech Republic's cultural history; the monument comes to life during Prague's Spring Music Festival. Boasting internationally renowned composers Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana among its countrymen, you'll be hard-pressed to find a greater example of Czech's love affair with classical music.
Address: Josefov, Alšovo nábřeží 12, Prague 1, 110 00Telephone: +420 227 059 227
Website: http://www.rudolfinum.cz/en
Classical music in Prague
Dance in Prague
Theatres in Prague
Music and Dance in Prague
Culture in Prague
Prague National Theatre
A fantastic example of neo-Renaissance architecture, the Prague National Theatre stands proudly on the bank of the Vltava. Regarded by Prague's citizens as one of its most important institutions, it is a historic keystone in the country's cultural development. Here, amongst the sumptuous late-19th-century décor, the Prague Opera and Ballet perform regularly within a calendar of Czech drama and advent concerts.
Address: Nové Město (New Town), Národní 2, Prague, 110 00Telephone: +420 2249 01448
Website: http://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en