Prague tips

[David Allen]

I will be in Prague for a few days at the end of February / beginning of March 2017.

Does anyone have any tips for:

• Galleries that exhibit photography
• Bookshops with a good selection of photography books
• Places to buy film (I will be taking, hopefully, enough with me but just in case)
• Interesting places to photograph off the tourist trail
• Cheap places to eat authentic Czech food

Many thanks advance for your insights.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

 

[spijker]

I was in Prague in 2 years ago just after christmas. We stayed in the Apartmenthotel City 5 (recommended) on Vltavská in the Smichov neighborhood right beside the Staropramen brewery. The first night, we ate next door at U žíznivého Jelena which was quite good and not expensive. Definitely more upscale but excellent food and a beautiful art nouveau decor is Café Savoy at Vítězná 124. For people with kids and train enthousiasts (I'm both), the Výtopna restaurant in the centre is a must. There is a giant modeltrain setup and your drinks are delivered by train. The food and prices are decent but it's fun. The restaurant boat Marina Ristorante was excellent too with a nice view over the river and the St Vitus cathedral, not czech or cheap though. Overall the food in Prague in small restaurants was quite good. People are friendly and helpful, good beer and coffee are standard. Menus are pretty much standard in english and czech.

Having done your Berlin walk, I think that you'll like Smichov with its architecture. My (there was a url link here which no longer exists) photo was taken here. I was there with my wife and then 4 year old daughter. I only managed to get a morning off for a photo stroll on my own shooting film with the Mamiya. I had a warm-up stop for good coffee and superb apfelstrudel at Café Savoy.

Foto Skoda https://www.fotoskoda.cz in the city centre has a good assortment of film, used camera's, books and magazines. Friendly staff that speaks good english. Highly recommended. I bought extra film, a spare battery and some books there. The art nouveau Municipal House nearby is worth a visit as well as the Mucha museum. We didn't visit any photo galleries but the people at Foto Skoda may be able to recommend something.

We had a good time in Prague. The public transportation; metro, tram bus are excellent and we didn't use the car in town. Enjoy you trip!

Menno

BTW I enjoyed your guide on Berlin and had a coffee at the café/shoe store. Still working on the pictures from that neighborhood. thanks.

 

[jeffreyg]

David,
The Josef Sudek Gallery (museum). It's been a number of years since I was there but wander around the old city early in the morning. There were some good reasonably priced restaurants (then) near the embassies. The Jewish cemetery although there were signs not to photograph, no one bothered me and I got several good images. The Charles bridge on a weekend afternoon was a happening as well as the square where the famous clock is might yield some good street photography. Don't sell the tourist areas short I have many very good images from tourist areas in different locations in various cities. Go out early after sunup to beat the crowds and go later for "street photography". I always bring film (medium format) because it can be hard to find. The Czech beer is very good and as I recall we ate in some dining halls that had good food and not expensive.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[wiltw]

My wife and I were in Prague May/June 2016. I was there on business for a week, before my wife joined me for a holiday. I can recommend these places to eat in Prague:

• Czech pub tavern with good food and great lager (and other beers) at a good price...I went there twice!:
  Pivovar U Tri Ruzi, Husova 232/10, (Stare Mesto, Old Town) Prague
• While not 'Czech', but very good Italian food, we also went here twice:
  Carmelita, Ujezd 403/31 (Mala Strana) Prague

While not notable for its spectacular food (and they have only a single lager which is dark), the oldest continuously operating tavern restaurant in Europe has been operating since 1499, U Fleků is not only the most famous Czech restaurant, but also a pilgrimage site for all beer lovers
Pivovar U Fleků, Křemencova 1651/11, Praha 1

 

[cowanw]

Restaurant Dvořák  

Na Kampě 497/3, 118 00 Praha 1-Malá Strana, Czechia
Under the bridge on the castle side of Charles bridge, take the stairs down on the side before you get to the end of the bridge and a very quiet boulevard presents. This restaurants is utterly fabulous and the only place to find Pepsi in the Czech Republic. It has very bad reviews but we were there last Oct and the reviews don't even make sense. Strongly recommend for a not a pub Czech experience.
Foto Skoda Has a small antique studio which I did not get to see and a wall of glass plate portraits that is charming, just outside and next to the main store.

 

[Slixtiesix]

The dancing house is an awesome thing to photograph!

 

[David Allen]

Many thanks for all the tips so far.

Looking forward to more!

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

 

[David Allen]

Bump

 

[Peter308]

David,

We live in Prague as well as the UK so some further suggestions.

Fotoskoda (already mentioned) is a great shop with a large selection of s/h analogue cameras and new equipment. They also have a book section with a good range of Czech photog books. They are very centrally located, just off Wenceslas Square. I also use BeFoto, a small family run traditional camera shop in Prague 7. Their equipment and film prices are the best in town. Recently bought all my B&W darkroom equipment from them.

Re galleries, the Prague City Gallery - House of Photography is good and centrally located - In January they had a great Sam Shaw exhibition. Also the Leica gallery (a bit small but has a cafe and a bit of a photog book library). Also, check out the DOX gallery - is is a modern art exhibition place with a great book shop and sometimes has some good photo exhibits.

For interesting places - there is so much - We have lived in Prague for over 5 years and still are finding new places. I like the Prague 7 District, it's former industrial, gradually being gentrified with the Prague harbour/marina and Letna park within it. Really depends on what you want - street/people anywhere in the Old Town or Mala Strana (Lesser Town). Industrial (old, new and decaying) look at Prague districts 4, 5 and 7.

Authentic Czech food - great beer is everywhere and I find food can be a bit hit and miss.

Have a great trip and PM if you need any more details.

Peter