Prague Nightlife Guide - Cool Clubs, Party Clubs, Dance Clubs

Guide to Nightlife in Prague

Palac Akropolis (www.palacakropolis.cz), club Roxy (http://klub.roxy.cz), Lucerna music club
(www.musicbar.cz/lucerna/index.html) and Futurum (www.musicbar.cz/futurum/index.htm) constitute the bulk of the ticketed techno, rock, jazz and drum'n'bass music scenes in Prague. For a detailed schedule of what is on and where go to TICKETPRO. You may not want to buy the ticket from here but, it does give very good info on the bands playing, prices and locations. If you do want to book tickets, take a look at the How to... guide.

Nightclub or Dance Club - Finding the right place for Serious Clubbers

For those of you intent on serious clubbing, you´ll need to do some serious research. The site at Superdance (www.superdance.cz/kluby) is in Czech but you will find a decent listing of many night clubs here in Prague (with webpage info). Generally, you´ll get an idea of the place from the pictures and you´ll be able to recognise words like "d´n´b", "techno", "house" etc.

The second great resource is Rave (www.rave.cz). This link will get you to the dance club gig listings for the whole of the Czech Republic. It's in Czech but, I'll show you how to get the info you want. Imagine you are surfing for club action in Prague about a month (or even a week or a day) before you come here. Do the following:

Go to www.rave.cz/party.php (the dance party listing part of the site).
Underneath the big "PARTYLIST" banner you'll find a light blue "search box" with some options.
On the right are three rectangular boxes below a Czech question "Kam chces vyrazit?" (Where to you want to search), the middle one says "vyber mesto", use the dropdown box to select "Praha" (or if you know the night club that you want choose it from the "Vyber Klub" dropdown box.
Now go to the left hand side which has the question "Kdy chces vyrazit?" (when do you want to search). There are many options:

dnes - today
zitra - tomorrow
tento tyden - this week
pristi tyden - next week
tento vikend - this weekend (weekend includes Friday)
pristi vikend - next weekend
tento mesic - this month
pristi mesic - next month
kdykoliv - whenever

When you click one of the above options a list of Prague dance club venues with webpage info is now displayed on the screen with a small description (sometimes) and if there is an entry charge (cena). Each club webpage will almost certainly be in Czech but it will show the type of music genre being offered on any given night.

TIP1: when you get to the individual club webpage then usually the address and opening times can be found on the "Kontakt" tab and the club schedule will be on the "Program" tab.
TIP2: most of the "real" clubs i.e. not just drinking bars with music, allow free entry Sunday to Wednesday but, have an entry charge Thursday, Friday and Saturday but, it is not big i.e. 50-100kc (£2.50) and even then you may get a free beer.

Below is a collection of the more popular places but, if you have found the music that you like then the rave.cz website will give you the best club choices.

Night Club - Techno

Roxy. Metro "B" (yellow line), Namesti Republiky Also renovated, still the techno and rave king now with cool metal/glass tables upstairs and new floors. Everything else still a bit "rough" looking. Partying club at it's craziest, lots of very young kids (16) and drugs. Still, very cool. Lost it's drink licence a couple of times.
Radost FX. Metro "C" (red line), I.P.Pavlova Radost FX is a restaurant, bar lounge club upstairs and the heavy techno masses are in the basement. Can get pretty touristy sometimes, but with a bunch of friends it's a really cool spot. Recently it has diversified into R'n'B and now has a specialist "Black Music" soul night.
Mecca - Metro "C" (red line) end stop, than one stop on tram 12. Club Mecca has a cool seating area upstairs together with a restaurant that is open till 11PM and downstairs the techno club leaves the ears and eyes sensorally challenged. Parties every Friday and Saturday, restaurant open through the week. Part of the club now hosts the old zelezna jazz club. They have different resident DJ's and also plenty of foreign ones. The really cool party is Honeypot and Saladas. They end up being pretty full. Webpage has full description of nightly program events in English. Tickets for popular gigs are often pre-sold. Tickets on the door are expensive and first come first served.

Jazz Clubs

Lucerna. Lucerna Music Bar is perhaps the most famous of all the jazz venues in Prague but, it's not a jazz club. The main hall hosts a variety of celebrity awards and events whilst the smaller club caters to the rock and jazz bands. The complex also contains a cinema and a restaurant.
Agharta. The Agharta jazz club used to be at Krakovska 5 off Wenceslas Square (shows how long I've lived here if I know that). Now it has moved to the old home of the Zelezna jazz club in the street called Zelezna just off the Old Town Square as you walk to the Estates Theatre. The entrance to the club is halfway along on the right, and next to the alleyway through the big wooden door. I like this jazz venue because it always attracts a nice group of people. Plenty of seating close to the stage and a waitress service unlike most of the clubs.
Ungelt. Ungelt jazz is my second favourite jazz club depending who is on that night. I like the internet page "Calendar" which gives good descriptions of the bands, instrumentation and vocalists i.e. not just the usual name of the band which is great if you know who they are but, no good if you want to know something about them. Emphasis on Blues.

U Stare Pani. U Stare Pani jazz club (At the Old Lady's) is one of the bigger jazz venues similar in area to Reduta but, with a corner stage. It's off the beaten path and the easiest way to direct you to it is to stand with your back to U Medvidku, look to your left to the end of the road. As you enter this road (Jilska) you will find another road goes off to the right (Michaelska) the club is in this street about 50 metres on the left. Tables and chairs abound. A nice atmosphere but, can seem a bit empty even if it is half full. A circuit venue but favours one or two jazz bands over the rest.
U Maleho Glena. U Maleho Glena (Little Glen's) is an American bar with an excellent basement club. It is not only for jazz so check the dates before you go. A basement club that can get very sweaty if a lot of people turn up. The bar above does great salads.
Zelezna. The old Zelezna jazz club has now moved to the same premesis as club Mecca. I've not visited since the move as I prefer Agharta.
Reduta. Reduta jazz club has a reputation for being a bit touristy (especially Russian) but, still enjoys acclaim for bringing new talent onto the Prague circuit. Infamous for Bill Clinton's impromptu sax solo. What I don't like is the fixed bench seating as it's comfortable if you facing the front but, you'll have wicked back ache if you are not. A small bar outside and the cloakroom is worth the money as space in the room is limited.
Metropolitan. Metropolitan (website in Czech and still being constructed). I've not been here but, you'll need directions. Walking up Wenceslas Square you will come to a tram line. Turn right into Vodickova and walk almost as far as McDonalds (200 metres). On the right will be a courtyard signposted by the restaurant Casa Mia. The Metropolitan club is at the far end of the courtyard.
Blues Sklep. Blues Sklep (Blues basement) is a new club on the nightlife scene. Different jazz and blues bands on most nights but, part of the circuit in Prague so if you find a band that you like you can follow them around the clubs. Emphasis on Blues. Sells Ferdinand beer and the spirits are very reasonably priced. Liliova 10, far left corner adjacent to the King George restaurant (far left door). Any map showing the old "James Joyce Irish Pub" is good because that's the location.

Mainstream Night Club

Karlovy Lazne. Karlovy Lazne (next to the Charles Bridge) lays claim to being the biggest club in Europe but, don't hold that against it. Four floors with varying types of mainstream, techno and drum'n'bass mixed music.
Lavka. Lavka (next to Charles Bridge around the corner from Karlovy Lazne). Completely refurbished after the flood. Used to have the reputation of having lots of single Czech girls looking to get hooked up with expats serving tours of duty in Prague. Still does apparently. Very nice outside garden area. Great place to stay outside for a quiet-ish drink late in the evening and then go back into the club.

Sedm Vlku. Sedm Vlku (Seven Wolves) music is largely reggae interspersed with the taste of whomever the DJ is on the night. Webpage currently Czech only. Opens 1700-0300 Monday to Saturday. Vlkova 7, Prague 3.
XT3. This used to be called "GURU". Located at Rokycanova 29 in Prague 3 , Zizkov. Eclectic mix including reggae, ska, pop rock, hip-hop, punk, funk. No themed nights like central Prague venues. Opens mon-sat as a night club and Sunday is "beer, stories and table football".......
Studio54. This is the only decent "After Party" place I know. If you want a real mix of people and great DJ's AFTER the normal clubs have closed then this is the place. Located at Hybernska 38 (30 metres before the highway). Opens 0500 to 1300 with each DJ getting two hours. You can download mp3 music from the site to give you an idea of the different types of music each DJ plays.

Music Bars

Vertigo. Havelska 4, Prague 1 (next to the market) which is in the heart of the tourist area but, much of the crowd here is either local Czech or local expat. It's a cafe on the ground floor and the music bar is in the basement. Long bar, lots of cocktails etc. Beer price is reasonable at 40kc for 0.4L. Indie rock night every week and also has trance, electro and RnB themed nights at various times (see webpage). Free entry unless it's listed as a special event.
Double Trouble. Melantricova 17, Prague 1. Again it's primarily a bar with DJ's coming in 6 nights a week. Reasonable alcohol prices and music but, I would not plan a whole evening here.
Misch Masch. Veletrzni 61, Prague 7. Formerly the home of "disco letna". Opens wed-sat from 8pm to 4am. Entry charge is 50kc for women and 100kc for men. Divided into three areas, the Dance Zone music depends on the DJ. The "Oldies" area speaks for itself and the "lounge" is primarily black soul. Can be a good night but, suffers in trying to please everyone and it's a bit out of the way.
Back Doors. Andel, Prague 5. Half a block over from the Novy Smichov shopping centre in the direction of the river. Primarily a bar/restaurant which has nightly DJ's.
Sparing. Jecna 12, Prague 1. Ten minute walk from Wenceslas Square, the club opens wed-sat from 2100 to 0600. Music based on 3 or 4 resident DJ selections.
La Fabrique. La Fabrique has an international menu reasonably priced for it's location in Prague. The music club plays 70's, 80's, 90's and the whole place has a nice atmosphere. A good place to start in the evening. Caters to parties.
M1 Lounge. The M1 Lounge opened at Masna 1 in the Old Town. It plays mainly R&B, hiphop, House and Indie but, it has the occassional themed night, Most of the M1 program info is on it's My Space area www.myspace.com/m1lounge. Club opens from 6pm to 4am but, is closed on Mondays.
Naftar. Naftar is really a Czech Pub that bought two "table football" machines, brought in some good DJ's and made a club out of it all. So if you like to play table football (In Czech it's Fotbalek) and you like freestyle rap and hiphop then this is your place. Closed Sundays.
Wakata. Wakata is a little way out of town in Bubenec Prague 7. Opens 7 days a week. Plays mainly hiphop, R&B, jungle and reggae.
Duplex. Duplex Prague (formerly Fromin) is located at Vaclavske Namesti 21 on the 6th floor and has reopened after renovation. Two different dance levels, five bars, professional dancers etc. Be patient with the webpage flash settings. You go in on the ground floor and take one of the lifts up to the 5th floor.

Summer Party Haunts - Open Air Night Clubs

During the Summer you'll find places that are not open at any other time than the Summer. The first place is at the scenic point on Letna which also doubles as a beer garden about 100 metres away from the National Technical Museum at the edge of Letna Park as it overlooks Prague. The second place is "Strelecky Ostrov" (Shooters Island) down the steps mid-way across the Legii Bridge which doubles as a beer garden and gig/theatre venue in the Summer (actually, all of the Prague "islands" come together in an "Islands of Prague" gig festival). The third place is the "Czech Riviera" www.zlutelazne.cz which is a riverfront scene about 2km downriver but easily accessible by tram (beach volleyball and sun loungers etc). Take your mosi-spray in the evening. Entry charge for Zlute Lazne is variable depending on the time of day or the event.

Prague Strip Clubs

This page is now only for music clubs. A specialist page has now been written for people coming to Prague on "group" celebrations who may want these types of clubs. You can find this info on the Stag and Hen page.

Stag/Hen Nights

A specialist page has now been written for people coming to Prague on these types of "group" celebrations. You can find this info on the Stag and Hen page.