Just back from a beer holiday in Prague.

There are still some great old-fashioned pubs in the town centre, but
these are getting harder to find. Posh cocktail bars with Coldplay
blasting out of the speakers are springing up all over to cater for the
yoof market.

However, I stayed a few metro stops out, in Holosevic where there are
plenty of basic local bars. I quickly got addicted to Gambrinus (18kc)
and Kosel dark (18kc, a superb drink) with the odd Pilsener Urquell (25
kr) for variety.

Highlights
---------------
U Cerného Vola, Loretánske Námestí -- Kosel -- superb beer hall;
instead of turning right for the castle, keep on up the steps then up
the hill to the next square.
Rudolfina, Krížovnická -- Urquell -- excellent beer and service;
good location.
U Zlatého, Tygra  -- Urquell -- tourist trap, but still a good pint
U Vejvodu, Perlova -- Urquell -- a real suprise; good value considering
the location.

U Houbare, Holosevic (opposite National Gallery) -- Gambrinus/
Kosel/Urquell -- excellent locals pub; there are a few other good
boozers nearby.

Vinohrady/TV Tower area -- start at Jirihiro z Pozebrahd and head N, NW
or W. Plenty of good value local pubs.

Branik pivnice, Vodockova -- Branik -- a gem in the town centre.
Staropramen brewery, Andel -- various local pubs nearby serving good
Staropramen.
Unknown Gambrinus pivnice, Ladni metro -- surrounded by Soviet-era
concrete high rise flats, in the UK this would be a well dodgy estate
pub. But it proved to be a friendly traditional Czech beer
hall/restaurant serving excellent cheap Gambrinus.

Lowlights
-------------
U Glaubicu, Malostranské Namestí -- Urquell -- diabolical service,
rip-off joint tried a schnapps scam.
U Pinkasu, Jungmannovo Namesti -- couldn't find it.
U Fleku -- too expensive and touristy, I looked at the price list
outside and decided not to bother going in.
Pivnice Radegast, Templova -- now closed down
Novomestsky Pivovar, Vodickova -- poor service, tourist trap, waiter
tried to short-change me.

Conclusions
-------------
* Attempts at rip-offs/"service charges" in the town centre left a sour
taste in my mouth.
* A pub full of Czech locals is usually a good sign.
* There are many old-fashioned good value czech pubs once you get out
of the town centre.

Bruce

I went with a party of 4 others in February and also dragged them all
out to the Pivnice Radegast for dinner only to find it was shut.
Shame you were put off U Fleku. As hyped and 'overpriced' as it is
(still cheaper than here) their dark house beer was delicious. Also we
were the only tourists there as far as I could see. However it is worth
warning that there is an apparently compulsory 'apperatif' with every
meal. yuk...

Budvar Dark is ten times nicer than the lager equivalent.

As for where else we went, can't remember, it was that good a trip.
Found this site useful though
http://www.netleyabbeytartanarmy.net/trav_praguepubs.htm

cheers.


bruce_phipps@my-deja.com wrote:

> Just back from a beer holiday in Prague.
>
> There are still some great old-fashioned pubs in the town centre, but
> these are getting harder to find. Posh cocktail bars with Coldplay
> blasting out of the speakers are springing up all over to cater for the
> yoof market.
>
> However, I stayed a few metro stops out, in Holosevic where there are
> plenty of basic local bars. I quickly got addicted to Gambrinus (18kc)
> and Kosel dark (18kc, a superb drink) with the odd Pilsener Urquell (25
> kr) for variety.
>
> Highlights
> ---------------
> U Cerného Vola, Loretánske Námestí -- Kosel -- superb beer hall;
> instead of turning right for the castle, keep on up the steps then up
> the hill to the next square.
> Rudolfina, Krížovnická -- Urquell -- excellent beer and service;
> good location.
> U Zlatého, Tygra  -- Urquell -- tourist trap, but still a good pint
> U Vejvodu, Perlova -- Urquell -- a real suprise; good value considering
> the location.
>
> U Houbare, Holosevic (opposite National Gallery) -- Gambrinus/
> Kosel/Urquell -- excellent locals pub; there are a few other good
> boozers nearby.
>
> Vinohrady/TV Tower area -- start at Jirihiro z Pozebrahd and head N, NW
> or W. Plenty of good value local pubs.
>
> Branik pivnice, Vodockova -- Branik -- a gem in the town centre.
> Staropramen brewery, Andel -- various local pubs nearby serving good
> Staropramen.
> Unknown Gambrinus pivnice, Ladni metro -- surrounded by Soviet-era
> concrete high rise flats, in the UK this would be a well dodgy estate
> pub. But it proved to be a friendly traditional Czech beer
> hall/restaurant serving excellent cheap Gambrinus.
>
> Lowlights
> -------------
> U Glaubicu, Malostranské Namestí -- Urquell -- diabolical service,
> rip-off joint tried a schnapps scam.
> U Pinkasu, Jungmannovo Namesti -- couldn't find it.
> U Fleku -- too expensive and touristy, I looked at the price list
> outside and decided not to bother going in.
> Pivnice Radegast, Templova -- now closed down
> Novomestsky Pivovar, Vodickova -- poor service, tourist trap, waiter
> tried to short-change me.
>
> Conclusions
> -------------
> * Attempts at rip-offs/"service charges" in the town centre left a sour
> taste in my mouth.
> * A pub full of Czech locals is usually a good sign.
> * There are many old-fashioned good value czech pubs once you get out
> of the town centre.
> 
> Bruce

>However it is worth

warning that there is an apparently compulsory 'apperatif' with every
meal. yuk... <

A schnapps scam. In my opinion, this should rule U Fleku out of any
"best of" listings.


>Found this site useful though

http://www.netleyabbeytartanar­my.net/trav_praguepubs.htm <

Yes, so did I. This was my second trip. Next time I will know exactly
where and where not to go.
Best thing if you see a bar is to pop your head round the door. If its
full of locals, its probably a good 'un.

Bruce

On 7 Jul 2005 01:31:05 -0700, bruce_phipps@my-deja.com wrote:


>>However it is worth
>warning that there is an apparently compulsory 'apperatif' with every
>meal. yuk... <
>
>A schnapps scam. In my opinion, this should rule U Fleku out of any
>"best of" listings.


It's a famous scam, started when they got their first busload of
German tourists.

The beer is well worth sampling. Can you really not afford the price
of the schnaps too?

You can always refuse it, of course.

What happened to U Tomasu, another good brewpub close by?


-- 
 
Regards

Mike

mikedotroebuckatgmxdotnet