Prague

I started writing this post in the wake of the senseless terrorist attack in Las Vegas. It became evident that, once again, it was going to prove difficult for me to write about beauty in the world. It almost feels wrong to tell people to get out there and explore big cities when nothing really feels safe anymore. I just couldn’t believe that one person caused this devastation. I wondered if a smile from a stranger or something, anything, could’ve changed this one person’s mind and prevented this. 

And then I realized that, while it only takes one to destroy hundreds of lives, it also only takes one to make hundreds better. One person has the power to inspire hundreds. Thousands. One person can transport you somewhere else for a while. Maybe now is exactly the time to write about the things that do bring us joy. And Prague has an exceptional ability to bring that to the table.

The Scene

I’ve been to Prague before, but only briefly. This time around I was lucky again to have a friend and local show me around, and see the sights that I wasn’t able to get to last time.

Let’s start with the obvious: Prague’s colorful, historical architecture is what makes the city so magical. Imagine Key West color schemes on hundreds of late Baroque and Rococo-style buildings. Other cities have a few streets like this. Neal’s Yard in London, for example, comes to mind as a hidden oasis filled with remarkable, vibrantly colored buildings that you won’t find elsewhere in the capital. Prague is an entire city of this. Virtually every building is adorned with unique carvings. No two buildings on a street have the same design. The renowned astronomical clock and Charles Bridge still standing after over 600 years – where so many cities lost landmarks this old in the second world war. You could spend an entire day just walking around. No museum visits required.  

Views & Foods

One of the best moments of this trip was discovering the Teresa rooftop bar at the U Prince Hotel. The views of Old Town Square and the surrounding neighborhoods are phenomenal. I’m always searching for a rooftop bar in other cities comparable to the ones we have in New York, and that’s not an easy task. More often than not they lack the expansive views that we New Yorkers are used to. This was a rare exception and a must-go whether you’re new or a Praha regular.

My dear friend and host Radka took us to V Kolkovne for dinner. She admitted it was a bit touristy, but authentic and delicious Czech cuisine. And it was better than any of us expected. Afterwards, we walked less than a block to Radka’s favorite New York-style bar – Tretter’s. The place is dimly lit and intimate, and they have some of the best Aperol Spritz’s I’ve had in a while.

Next up, Roma!