I spent the day strolling around the neighbourhood and basically eating and drinking coffee, so I thought I would do a blog on the subject. The Farmers Market has the hands down best coffee and fruit and vegetables I've had so far in Prague. The market as discussed before runs from Wednesday to Sunday at the park at the end of Manesova in Prague 3. Generally in Prague you will pay between 30-40 Crowns for a cup of coffee, which is about $1.50 to $2 in US dollars.
Kaaba with the funky 1950/60s decor is my favourite cafe at 20 Manesova, Prague 3. I love the atmosphere with the artists and the coffee's great as well. The free Wifi is good too of course.
At the top of the screen is a good cafe in Prague 3 closer to our apartment. I've been good and resisted the homemade sweets on display. La Boheme further away in Prague 2 is an excellent choice.
In relation to restaurants you have a wide variety of cusine choices. I like the vegetarian restaurant, Maitrea, behind the Old Town Square church.
A special mention must go to Gastronomica near the telecommunications tower in Prague 3. The roasted French Chicken is superb. I don't know why the French raise the best chickens, but they do.
I must admit I don't think I've had a pork belly yet or any of Prague's famous apple strudel. Nor have I had any chicken schnitzel. There's a family run Greek restaurant in Prague 3 that I can't wait to try.
Generally, like in Spain, it appears most people drink in small bars and restaurants in Prague. I don't drink myself, but the Czech Republic is renowned for it's beer. Beer prices are, like many things here, much cheaper than in Australia, and cigarettes are at genuine 1984 prices (70 Crowns or $3.50), and you can still smoke in bars and restaurants. Not that I'm encouraging that sort of thing, but it's refreshing that you don't have to have your dog on a leash, can have a drink in public, and they appear more free from all those petty laws and intervention of the State in our lives back home.
The more people travel the more they are going to question how things are done in their own countries, whether it's a different approach to alcohol or more liberal drug laws to more bike paths and public transport. I think this factor along with the growing importance of Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogs) is really breaking down State power all over the world. In many ways it's similar to the Reformation and the Age of Englightenment after the invention of the printing press (1450), the internet of it's day. Jan Hus, who we learnt about earlier, was saying similar things to Martin Luther a hundred years earlier in Prague, but he lacked the printing press to spread his ideas widely and quickly (against indulgences & radical things like people being able to read the bible in their own language!). People are questioning how things have been done, and whether there are better ways to organise our lives. In other words the power of the Main Stream Media (MSM) is in decline, governments and institutions can't control the message, and they don't like it.
That may be a good thing.
Travellers Tips
Coffee
1. Farmers Market, Prague 3 (Weds - Sunday)
2. Kaaba, Prague 3
2. La Boheme, Prague 2
Restaurants
1. Gastronomica, Prague 3
2. Maitrea, Prague 1 (Old Town Square)
3. Pho, Prague 3 (Vietnamese cuisine)
- Generally you should tip around 10% for service staff, but it's up to you of course.
- There's a wide variety of restaurants to choose from in Prague, so mix it up a little.
- learn from other countries about how they handle issues, because you might be surprised that there are better ways to do things. Just a thought.
