Prague Vacation

[Wilson]

Well, its official. I'll be in Prague the first part of April. Some friends and I have a room there for a week, but we may take a quick train trip somewhere else. I'll be sure to search the threads for adivce, but any other suggestions are welcomed!

Na zdravi!

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by Wilson
Na zdravi! Nice driveway, too!

[Sladek]

Yes, there are threads here about Prague watering holes. Just off the top of my head, be sure to visit U Zlateho Tygra, if you can get a table. The Prazdroj is excellent. More touristy but still "local" is a Prazdroj tankovna nearby, called U Zeleného Stromu, "At the Green Tree":

http://www.hospy.wz.cz/uzelenehostromu.htm

Here's a picture of their tanks:

http://www.hospy.wz.cz/Fotky/uzelenehostromu/uzelenehostromu2.jpg

If you want a true štamgast pub experience, I recommend U Hrocha ("At the Hippo"), Thunovská 178/10, Praha 1 – Malá Strana.

[Pivo Prosim]

Wilson,

Just saw your posting today. I think I can help you.

I'm from San Diego originally but have been living in Prague for almost four years and have done plenty of research on your topic of interest.

Because of work, I've got to run now, but here's a head start for you. I'll send you more info real soon.

Google these names: Enjoy.

Pivovarsky Klub
Pivovarsky Dum
Pivni Galerie
Celnice

[Wilson]

Originally posted by Pivo Prosim
Wilson,

Just saw your posting today. I think I can help you.

I'm from San Diego originally but have been living in Prague for almost four years and have done plenty of research on your topic of interest.

Because of work, I've got to run now, but here's a head start for you. I'll send you more info real soon.

Google these names: Enjoy.

Pivovarsky Klub
Pivovarsky Dum
Pivni Galerie
Celnice

Aye, I knew I should have chaecked this earlier. I'm off to Praha on Wed; thanks for the tips I've got them and all the others mentioned on other threads marked on my map. Good news is the place we're staying is within walking distance of 3/4 of the bars mentioned, so I'm looking forward to it! Thanks for all the help guys!

[Wilson]

Wow, what a trip! Prague is an awesome town!! I drank so much beer, its almost crazy! Thanks for all the tips on where to go, I did get to most of them. Here I am enjoying some Pivo at U Zeleneho Stromu.

[Wilson]

I thought the best beer of the trip was at U Zeleneho Stromu. Couldn't be beat and the food was outstanding. We kept on comming back here. We did make it to U Hrocha, which was a good experience, my buds thought the best beer was here, and it was good. There was a Budweiser bar right down from Stromu that was also great, U Medvidku, great for late night fun. We spent several nights drinking here. Cheapest beer was found at a local joint called Demijohn. 28kc a half liter of PU. We very well could have had cheaper, I just dont remember. We also hit up U Pinkasu (really good beer cheese), U Fleku, Pivovarsky Dum, U Zlateho Tygra, and a few others I cant remember the names.

Pivovarsky Dum was great, but I only had their Czech Pilsner (light and dark), and their weizen. Weizen had so much banana going on I was afraid to try their Banana beer. Really good pilsner though.

U Flecku was Ok. The "Umpa" band got on my nerves.

Overall, I loved U Zeleneho Stromu, U Medvidku, and U Hrocha best.

If I remember more, I'll report back. But what a trip!! I love Prague!

[Sladek]

Hi Wilson! Wow, you actually checked out U Hrocha? Don't you love how it's a non-descript door essentially in an alley? So Czech. Apparently Prague Orchestra players hang out there after rehearsals.

I'm glad you like U Zeleneho Stromu! Great tank Prazdroj there, and not touristy. Did you try Oldgott at U Medviku, up non-descript stairs way in the back? Apparently Prague's tiniest brewery. GREAT beer, but not cheap.

Damn I miss Prague.

[Wilson]

I missed the Oldgott. I saw advertisements for it, but never got any. By the time we got there we were "well lubed." We enjoyed this joint because they always stayed open till around 1:30 or 2:00, and the crowd was pretty fun and loud.

U Hrocha was something else. We damn near walked past it. After being ignored for 15 minutes by the waiter, we went to the bar and ordered. The barman then promptly yelled at the waiter who grabbed our beers and slammed them down on the table. Luckily, I guess, a young Czech couple joined us at our table and service improved greatly. We didnt really care though, it was obvious that they hadn't seen tourists in a while. We wound up having a great time there, the beer went down like water!

[mnstorm99]

I'll be there a week from today, although only for three days as we have business there and in Innsbruck, Austria. Getting extremely excited.

[Wilson]

Originally posted by mnstorm99
I'll be there a week from today, although only for three days as we have business there and in Innsbruck, Austria. Getting extremely excited.

Have Fun! I want to go back! Check out some of the places I mentioned here and are on other Prague posts. All are basically within walking distance of Old Town Square. I just googled them, found the address, and looked them up on www.mapy.cz ; then marked them on my map, went to them, and drank lots of good pivo!!

[mnstorm99]

After looking up your favorites, I found that the U Zeleneho Stromu and U Medvidku are extremely close to my Hotel. U Hrocha is just accross the river, I will definatly be checking these out as well as a few we just stop in. Thanks for the info.

[mnstorm99]

This will be my first trip overseas. Just wondering if there is anything else I should know. How is it with the language barrier? How easy is it to get around?

[Wilson]

I learned some useful Czech phrases when I went (beer please, another beer please, where's the toilet, check please, etc.) It was kind of saddening though, I dont think I overtly look American, but I really never got to speak much Czech. 99% of the time the waiters and shop owners spoke english and would talk to me first that way.

It was very easy to get around. They say not to use unmarked taxis in Prague; I used the AAA taxi service to and from the airport with no problems. They speak english for the most part. Public transporation is easy and cheap, but if you are near Old Town Square, you will probably not need to use it, unless you just hate walking. Get a good map and enjoy.

That's Prague; I've been to Vienna, Austria before but I am semi fluent in German, so I can make do. I can't speak for Innsbruck, but would assume its not that hard.

All-in-all, its always useful to know at least some of the local language (or a few key phrases), it anything it shows you're trying and people will be more apt to help you out. But dont stress out about it, you'll be fine. Oh yeah, ATM's are everywhere.