Cheap restaurants & bars in Prague (Prague 2 area)??

foxmeister

My family and I are travelling to Prague this week staying at the Arcadia Residence, Hostivítova 3, Prague 2.
As my 18 month old son will be coming with us we'll not be wanting to go far on a night.

Can anyone recommend any reasonably cheap restaurants and bars within walking distance??

Many thanks,
Foxy.

peterbaker

Hi there! Unless inflation has ruined it in the space of 12 months I think you will be extremely pleasantly surprised that the overall quality is good and the price is HALF UK price for the equivalent!

This applies even to what might appear to be some of the top restaurants, and goes for food and drinks. There are one or two big cafeteria type first floor restaurants on Wenceslas Square - we looked at one and decided it was mediocre service, noisy, no atmosphere and too commercial and got up and walked down the road. The smaller and/or old established restaurants will almost without exception I think not fail to please you. There are a number of authentic Italian pizza and pasta restaurants in Prague too, often to be found in the little back streets off of the main tourist areas. One was so good we ate there twice - sorry cant tell you the name now - but it was no more than two minutes walk roughly westwards from the astrological clock.

Prague was just such good value a week or two later for us last year, but the place should by now again I think have that great Christmassy feel with the lights and markets specially set up for the season!

At Hostivítova, you are perhaps somewhat South of the main tourist shopping area which you really must spend time at (it looks from the map like it may be a mile or more) but I recall that the taxi prices are also very reasonable. We had a taxi to and from the airport - because it was very good value - we normally take the train or the bus or a mixture of the two! You can book the airport taxi online even at this late stage - I forget the name of the main family run service but with a little bit of Googling you should find it. I remember they are the small firm that say on their website that they meet you under a big blue advertising sign at the terminal at the airport (but the sign may be a different colour this year!)

Although we didn't go south as far as Prague 2, don't restrict yourself to your immediate local area - perhaps the best way to plan to get out to your restaurant and indeed main shopping and sight-seeing venues with the little one is to use a cab and keep warm! I don't think there is a Metro station near you. I am not sure about the trams. Others may know.

We got out as far as the T-Mobile Arena out across the river to the North a few kilometres and saw Simply Red whilst huddled together for warmth so don't get the impression we didn't move about! Mick Hucknall said he could see his own breath too but it didnt stop him taking off his jacket!

We used Metro and tram to get there.

There is also a very big permanent market North of the main city part way to where we saw Mick Hucknall (across the river twice I think) which you can get within 10 mins walk of by using the metro. It is mostly Chinese traders there and very cheap. I bought a very good quality winter coat there last year for just 25 Euros, and watches that look like many major ... (say no more ... wink, wink). If you go, you absolutely MUST haggle. You should aim to pay only half the first price they quote or you will be disappointed when the next trader offers the same thing for a first price less than you paid! Do go, if you get time - it's great fun to haggle and succeed and this is one place in the world where you will if you dare! Then there is a MacDonalds at the entrance to the market (if you know anyone that likes that kind of thing!)

The Charles Bridge (Karlov Mosti?) is a must visit. On the western bank about 100metres south of the bridge is a hotel named Charles V or similar. Walk across the bridge (its only for walking and admiring the statues and views thesedays!) and down the steps and you are almost at the hotel. They have a website. They also own another hotel on Zitna I think. Anyway, the one on the river has a great spaceous and traditional looking restaurant/bar beneath it. OK for kids if you go early. All ages clientele. Great atmosphere . Great family food and wine. Very fair prices. Real friendly people. And ask them to call a cab to take you home.

We've visited a lot of cities - Prague is easily in our top two or three! We plan to return before globalisation truly ruins the value for money difference as it surely will soon.

foxmeister

Peter,
Many thanks for your extensive and helpful reply.
I'm very interested to hear about the market you have mentioned, I love visiting these 'type' of markets.
Can anyone advise me further on where the market is situated and what days of the week it operates.
Cheers,
Foxy.

Foosterino

I went to Prague this year, it is a great city. Its so beautiful and cheap, its great to work out how much stuff really costs.

Although I can't vouch for taking kids anyway (just married) my favourite resturant was the Blue Rose, in an underground wine cellar, it wasn't cheap but the service was great and when I remarked about the Easter Chick decorations the waiter kindly let me have them

Prague Zoo is great, very big with lots to see. (though it might be a cold?)

Tripadvisor is a good website to find out about Prague or other holiday destinations.

pattycake

My husband has been living and working in Prague for over five years and I have spent a lot of time there.

Most restaurants in Prague are a good deal cheaper than the UK as long as you avoid the main tourist areas. You have only to walk 2 minutes down a side street from the main drag and the prices are slashed. Food is generally very good quality. Stay away from Irish bars and English pubs.

Don't be afraid of the trams or the metro. Buy a ticket at the airport for 3, 5, 7 or 15 days. Very reasonable. I alway get a 15 day for 320 Kr ( around £8.50) which gives unlimited travel or both tram and metro. They are very convenient, quick and safe.

The Christmas markets start the the beginning of December. The main one is in Old Town Square. Other stalls are dotted around the city. As referred to by a previous poster, lots of information can be found on Trip Advisor regarding Prague.

Funkyfreddy

foxmeister wrote:

My family and I are travelling to Prague this week staying at the Arcadia Residence, Hostivítova 3, Prague 2.
As my 18 month old son will be coming with us we'll not be wanting to go far on a night.

Can anyone recommend any reasonably cheap restaurants and bars within walking distance??

Many thanks,
Foxy.

Hi Foxy,

You look to be a litle bit South of "main" centre of town near Vysehrad so I'd certainly suggest looking at getting a Bus/Tram pass for the duration of your stay. A short walk away on Svobodova (Tram 7) and Na Slupi (Trams 7, 18, 24 and night trams 53, 54) you seem to have a few tram options for getting nearer the centre. Go towards the river for more options any number of which you go jump on/off to save your legs for getting into town.

More details and maps can be found at:

http://www.dp-praha.cz/en/
http://www.dp-praha.cz/en/sluzby-download.htm

There are areas at the back of trams normally (if I recall) for use by those with prams.

I've no real recomendations in the immediate area you are stopping - the nearest personal one would be the Pivovasky Dum at the corner Jecna and Lipova a little to the North of you. Good food and nice beers brewered on the premises.

http://www.gastroinfo.cz/pivodum/index-a.html

There is a reasonable online street level map at http://mapy.atlas.cz/mapviewer/mapviewer.aspx

You may have transport from the Airport arranged, if not you might try Chris at http://www.prague-airport-shuttle.com which might be the one PeterBaker mentions (I seem to recall a blue advertising board at some time in the past !)

You might also find the following site of help - reading it recently it seems one of the best I can suggest new visitors take a look at:

http://www.livingprague.com/


Have fun.

rjh090384

http://www.apetitpraha.cz/ OK ITS PRAHA 1 BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE. WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEAL WE HAD AND IT WAS BEUTIFUL . WAS ABOUT £25 FOR BOTTLE OF WINE, 4 BEERS, 2 STARTERS, SHARK MAIN COURSE, CHICKEN MAIN COURSE, 2 DESSERTS AND ALCOHOLIC COFFEE. IN PRAGUE WE MOSTLY ATE IN PIZERRIAS AND NORMALLY COST ABOUT £5 FOR BIG PIZZA CHIPS A BERE AND A WINE.

peterbaker

foxmeister wrote:

I'm very interested to hear about the market you have mentioned, I love visiting these 'type' of markets.
Can anyone advise me further on where the market is situated and what days of the week it operates.

Well I have found it on Google Earth (and MacDonalds!)
It was actually recommended to us as "The Chinese Market". It was largely under cover and I can see now that it probably occupies an old factory site.

I see it is actually on a street named Bubenske nabrezi which as the crow flies, is on the other side of the big river island you can find on any map and which is immediately north of Praha 1, but don't try and walk there like we did! Much too far and the river scenery to the north of Praha 1 is very drab! Made sure we got the Metro back! In Google Earth you can see that crossing this island is a N-S railway bridge and then a N-S road bridge slightly further west and Vitavska metro station is on the mainland open ground to the north in between the two bridges. 10 mins walk, under the railway, across a modest few roads (there are good pavements and crossings of course) to the market then, but make sure you have a compass so you know it's east you are walking from Vitavska to MacDonalds and the market and remember it's on the street that skirts the river!

I really think it is open every day. I got the impression that many of the traders probably lived there in hidden little pockets and vehicles buried behind the stalls, but obviously it is worth checking that they dont give themselves a day off! If you are looking for a particular watch for example or need a link taken out of a strap, you might be invited behind a curtain at the back of a stall and there you might find something akin to the inside of a Tardis!

Someone named kenbac on Virtual Tourist says this:
The largest market is the Prague Market. Here, every thing imaginable is for sale. It can become a bit repetitive after a while.
It is located in Holesovice (Bubenske nabrezi). Tram No's 1, 3, 14 & 25

Hope that helps! Have a great trip - you cannot fail to feel all Christmassy inside when you come back I think!

PS kenbac on VT reminds me, there is even a Tesco if you need it! The labels are products are not quite the same as UK of course but it is quite unmistakably a Tesco supermarket!

PPS And I can indeed recommend https://www.prague-airport-shuttle.com - even at this late stage you can book online, and be assured of a friendly face waiting for you at the airport and a decent vehicle to ride in. Treat yourself - its the best way to start your trip if you have your hands full!