Sophisticated Czech coffee houses
Did you realise that Prague has utterly stunning historical coffee houses? Just as characters such as Doctor Johnson put the world to rights in the coffee houses of London, so important intellectuals and other artists enjoyed the coffee culture offered in Prague.
Who were these celebrity figures? The musical composers Smetana and Dvorak, together with writer Franz Kafka, plus Rainer Maria Rilke and Jarslav Siefert, all frequented the Café Slavia, one of the oldest coffee establishments in Prague. It was opened in the late nineteenth century and is a stunning café, filled with excellent Art Deco features and superb views of the city’s castle. Prague, as we all know, has beautiful architecture.
How did the tradition of coffee-drinking find its way into the Czech capital? It is said that the coffee culture was born there in 1714 when a street-seller, nicknamed the ‘Arab,’ began selling coffee on the streets of the city. The business proved so successful that the Arab proceeded to buy a more formal coffee-house in the historic quarter.
By the early 1900s, coffee culture was an established part of life in Prague and many beautiful coffee houses are still available to visit to this day, such as the Café Louvre which was enjoyed by Albert Einstein, or the Café Imperial with breathtaking Moorish design ceramics. Café Savoy is a gem of Neo-Renaissance art and the Café Orient, designed by Josef Gocar, is in a must-see Cubist style.
Prague still prepares excellent coffee using modern techniques. Why not visit the city to sample the best of the old, with the best of new techniques?