Arkadia
Na príkope 22, P1
No phone
Daily 22-4:30
Metro: Nám. Republiky
Housed in a seedy and run-down building on Na príkope, this reggae club has a friendly crowd and plays loud music. The bland decor is spiced up by the music, creating an entertaining atmosphere in which to have a few beers.

Banana Bar
Štupartská 9, P1
Tel.: 232 4801
Daily 17-21
Metro: Nám. Republiky
Mellow until around 10 p.m., at which time the lights are dimmed, strobe lights start flashing, the music is turned up a few octaves and dancers bust out on the bar. Very entertaining and often wild atmosphere on any night of the week, with Wednesday’s transvestites drawing an especially eclectic crowd.

Becher Club
Masarykovo nábr. 38, P1
Tel.: 293 008
Daily 12-24
This informal bar near the National Theater lets you drink Becherovka, a traditional Czech liquor, while peering across the river at Žofín Palace.

Bugsy’s Bar
Kostecná 10, P1
Tel.: 232 9943
Daily 19-2
Sick and tired of drinking beer? You’ll be glad to know that the specialty at Bugsy’s is not the beer, but the mixed drinks and you’ll have a never ending list to choose from. This is the one place in Prague where you will not stand out sipping a gin and tonic. Bartenders add to the festivities by throwing the bottles in the air as they pour your drink.

Café St Nicholas
Tržište 10, P1
Daily 11-2
Metro: Malostranská
Tucked away on a side street off Malostranské námestí, Café St. Nicholas has a great deal of character and a welcoming atmosphere. Despite the slow influx of tourists and other sundry types, it remains a pleasant place to have a few drinks.

Caffrey’s
Staromestské nám. 10, P1
Daily 9-1
If there were a leprechaun at the end of the rainbow, he could be found here feasting on Caffrey’s genuine Irish specialties. Come for the traditional Irish breakfast or one of their hearty dinners, accompanied by a Guinness, of course. Or, if you are feeling brave, try their famous oyster shots!

Chapeau Rouge
Jakubská 2, P1
Tel.: 232 6242
Daily 16-5
A pick-up bar that is crowded, hot and loud until the wee hours of the morning, making it an ideal stop at the end of a wild night. Don’t come if you’re over 30 unless you want to reminisce over your frat days.

Chelsea’s
Karlova 30, P1
Tel.: 2421 8455
Daily: 12-1
Metro: Mustek
This expat bar fills up with Irish, British German, Australian and American drinkers of all ages. Three clocks showing the time in London, New York and Prague will remind you to go home and call your significant other. Chuck, the cook, whips up some great chile, quesedillas, and cajun chicken.

Corona Bar
Novotného lávka 5, P1
Tel.: 2481 1937
Tu-Sa 11-2
Metro: Staromestská
This Latino bar/restaurant is proof that upscale and classy do not always mean stuffy and boring. Live music, dance shows and good food spice up this Charles Bridge hot spot. Special features include Spanish, Salsa and Merenge dance nights.

Disco Letná
Veletržní 6, P7
Tel.: 379 278
Daily 2-6
Down and dirty dancing till dawn.

Fromin
Václavské nám. 21, P1
Tel.: 2423 2319
Daily 11-2
Metro: Mustek
This fashionable restaurant/café/nightclub overlooking Wenceslas Square is one of the places in Prague. Make sure to give it a whirl.

Gulu Gulu
Betlémske nám. 8, P1
Su-Th 12-24, Fr-Sa 13-01
Metro: Národní trída
A young, fun, international crowd gathers here at night to guzzle beer or sip hot wine and cappucino.

James Joyce
Liliová 10, P1
Tel.: 2424 8793
Daily 10:30-24:30
The Irish pub atmosphere and always-friendly service will make you feel miles away from Prague. Come after work to enjoy the lively atmosphere and the famous chicken wings.

Jazz Club Železná
Železná 16, P1
Tel.: 2421 2541, daily 15-24
Metro: Mustek
Let the time tick away as you relax to some jazz in this subterranean cave. Jazz Club Železná features superb live music nightly and an audience that really gets into the music.

La Casa Blu
Kozí 15, P1
Tel.: 3023 774, daily 14-23
Latin music and Spanish decor characterize this inviting, friendly and deservedly crowded bar off Old Town Square. Drink Kahlua or Corona amidst the Spanish signs and chatter to enjoy the authenticity of the atmosphere.

Lávka
Novotného lávka 1, P1
Tel.: 2421 4797, Non-stop
Metro: Staromestská
Nothing beats dancing a summer night away next to the Charles Bridge. When you want a break, take a romantic stroll across the bridge to the castle.

Marquis de Sade
Templová 8, P1
Tel.: 2481 7505, daily 11-2
Metro: Námestí Republiky
Dimly lit and casual, yet funky. Relatively low key and quiet during the week, but more lively and crowded on weekends. The eclectic artwork on the wall provides a good conversation piece if you’re at a loss for words.

Novomestský pivovar
Vodickova 20, P1
Tel.: 2423 3533
M-F 10-23:30, Sa 11:30-23:30, Su 12-22
Prague’s first microbrewery consistently fills its multi-roomed cellar with Czechs and foreigners alike. It is well-known for its 11 degree light and dark brews, as well as its generous portions of tasty Czech fare.

O’Che’s
Liliová 14, P1, daily 10-1
Metro: Národní trída
O’Che’s is an Irish pub disguised as a Cuban Bar which draws a loud and sometimes rowdy clientele. Have a cuban cigar with your pivo.

Oscar’s
Týnský dvur 1, P1
Tel.: 2489 5404, daily 11-1
Metro: Nám. Republiky
Oscar’s has a steady flow of customers, but is large enough that it doesn’t get overwhelmingly packed, so you’re virtually guaranteed to find a seat. A mostly American clientele is a given in light of the generous portions of food and the strategically placed televisions broadcasting various sports events.

Paradiso Bar
Týn 2 (Ungelt), P1
Tel.: 2489 5787
The lights go down and the drinks come out! Try one (or more!) of Paradiso's long list of spirits and mixed drinks. A dance club will open soon underneath the bar, and the atmosphere will have as much kick as the drinks upstairs provide.

Radegast Pub
Templová 2, P1
Tel.: 232 8069, daily 11-24
Metro: Mustek
Typical Czech food complemented by great Czech beer. The portions are large enough to satisfy even the hungriest and thirtiest of customers.

Rhapsody
Dukelských hrdinu 46, P7
Tel.: 806 768, 803 751
Daily M-Sa 19-2
Metro: Vltavská
Rhapsody is well-known for its elegant, romantic atmosphere created by a candle-lit piano bar. Make sure to reserve a table – the intimate surroundings can become quite full, even on weeknights.

The Roxy
Dlouhá 33, P1
Tel.: 2481 0951, 2481 7686
Tu-Sa 21-4
Metro: Nám. Republiky
The Roxy stages some of the most interesting events in town but if you’re looking for a slick and shinny disco, you’ll be better off elsewhere.

Scarlett O’Hara’s
Mostecká 21, P1
Tel.: 534 793
Daily 12-24
Metro: Malostranská
Scarlett O’Hara’s and Molly Malone’s are two hot Irish Pubs in town, both under the same ownership. The Guiness and live music fuel a festive and noisy crowd. Wooden tables and dim lights create an authentic atmosphere.

Terminal Bar
Soukenická 6, P1
Tel.: 2187 1777
Daily 9-2
Two floors and a video lounge serving food, coffee, videos, music and the Internet.

U Malého Glena
Karmelitská 23, P1
Tel.: 535 8115
Daily 10-2
Metro: Staromestská
The more mellow and conservative frequenters pack the upstairs bar room for a bite or a drink, while the artsy group heads downstairs into the dark, sweaty, smoky basement for the live music. Good live music is played nightly, but Acid Jazz Thursday is the best night to drop in.

U Sudu
Vodickova 10, P1
Tel.: 2421 3499
M-F 11-24
Metro: Národní trída
Dark, cramped, and spirited, U Sudu is set in a cave consisting of a neverending string of rooms. Burcák, a special sweet wine made from unripened grapes, is served here in the fall.

Zanzibar
Saská ulicka, P1 – Malá Strana
Daily 12-3
Metro: Malostranská
Superb place for cocktails next to Charles bridge. If you can handle the thoroughly obnoxious service (waiters easily out-pose their university-age customers), then you can choose from ZanziBar's phenomenally well-stocked bar and voluminous list of mixed drinks. In season, it's shoulder-to-shoulder after 9pm or so, but it does offer fair prospects as a pink neon pick-up joint.

U Cerného Vola
(The Black Ox) Loretánské námêstí 1, P 1 (2051 3481).
Open 10am-10pm daily.
Tram 22.
One of the best pubs in Prague. The murals make it look like it's been here forever, but in fact the Black Ox was built after World War II. Its superb location, right above the Castle, made it a prime target for redevelopment in the post-1989 building frenzy, but the rugged regulars, in co-operation with the former Beer Party, bought it up to ensure that all the local bearded artisans would have at least one place they could afford to drink. The Velkopopovicky Kozel beer is pure perfection and, although the snacks are pretty basic, they do their job of lining the stomach for a good long session.

La Habana
Míseñská 12, P 1 (5731 5104).
Metro Malostranská/12,
Open 10am-1am daily.
22 tram.
What was once a funky but sleepy Malá Strana cellar eatery has somehow morphed into the hub of Prague's latest craze: Latin dance. Fuel up with steaks, tortillas and Havana Club rum, then get briefed on mambo and salsa by a patient instructor when the doors first open in early evening. Later, when you see the impossible moves of the competition on the dancefloor, you'll be glad you took advantage of the crash course.

Jo´s Bar
Malostranské námêstí 7, P 1 (531 251).
Metro Malostranská/12,
Open 11am-2am daily.
22 tram.
This narrow bar gets so crammed with backpackers that some nights there's a copy of Let's Go Europe on every table. You can play chess, listen to loud rock, eat passable Mexican food, take coffee refills and get liquored quick on occasional drink specials. On a bad night it's like a mawkish American college reunion, but the cramped Gothic cellar dance space (where exactly are the fire exits?), when blasting Iggy Pop tunes, can be a kick with partiers stripping off and dancing on the bar top until 4am.

Want to know where those in the know eat? We asked four bar owners and four restauranteurs to name their favorite places in Prague:

Bar owners suggestions

Gordon - O’Che’s
“Lávka, because it’s open after my bar closes and there are always plenty of beer and birds.”

Glenn Emery - Jo’s Bar
“Chapeau Rouge. It used to be a brothel and even to this day it’s leaking sex from every corner, just like my bar.”

Frank Haughton - James Joyce, Caffrey’s
“Faros. After spending so much time at my bars, I enjoy sipping a bottle of wine at Faros and nibbling the night away with some good company.”

Glenn Spicker - U Malého Glena
“Punta Azul. It has a really young, hip lounge and the clientele is younger and hipper than I am.”

Restaurant owners suggestions

Nils Jebens – Barrock, Segafredo, Kampa Park
“Le Bistrot de Marléne. It’s always a treat to have a provencial dish at Le Bistrot de Marlene.”

Sanjiv Suri – Circle Line, Corona Bar, Bellevue, U Zátiší, Avalon, U Patrona
“La Cambusa for the food, which is great. The choice of fish is very nice and the personal attention of the owner is a plus.”

Roman Reznícek – Pálffy Palác, Erra
“La Perle de Prague. It has the best French food in Prague and very good service.”

Alain Schlala - Rhapsody, Pasha
“Jewel of India. They have spicy, exotic food that is nice for the eyes and for the stomach.”