The Best Hipster Coffee Shops of Prague

When I studied in Prague, it was all about the beer.

They say that beer is cheaper than water in Prague, and it’s no lie–Czechs love their pivo and drink it all day. I indulged heartily.

But I studied abroad six years ago. I still love good beer, but I drink less, I wake up earlier. Plus, my friend and host Lada is not really a party person and certainly not a beer person.

What Lada loves more than anything is coffee.

I spent a lot of time in cafes when I studied abroad, but at the time I barely drank coffee– even now I am exceptionally sensitive to caffeine. Of course, I drink coffee anyway, especially GOOD coffee.

Lada, it turns out, has a vast knowledge of the best cafes and best coffee in Prague. For the first time ever, I drank more coffee than booze in this notoriously beer-soaked city.

Want to explore the caffeinated side of Prague? I don’t blame you. Here are my favorite hipster coffee shops of Prague.

Kavarna Dobra Trafika

I spent endless hours here during my semester abroad, and the place is still as wonderful as I remember; it’s hardly changed since 2008 and that’s a great thing. Kavarna Dobra Trafika is hidden behind a magazine and postcard shop, but find your way to the back and you’re greeted with a dim-lit nostalgic café and a sunny garden. Featuring an extensive list of international coffees, an equally long tea list, and limited but delicious food (get the medovnik and the pita syrova— Czech honey cake and a sandwich stuffed with cheeses, garlicky yogurt, scallions, and olives – and thank me later), the offerings are high-quality. The décor is shabby chic, with the Cab Calloway or Ella Fitzgerald as the soundtrack of choice. This is still my favorite café in Prague.

Location: There are two. The one at 42 Korunni near Namesti Miru has wifi, but a smaller garden; the café at 37 Ujezd in Mala Strana has no wifi but a larger garden. The food and coffee are equally awesome at both locations.

EMA Espresso Bar

Located near Namesti Republiky, this café feels like a Brooklyn transplant in Prague. It is impeccably designed; even small details like the fruit in the water pitchers feel delightfully deliberate. The baristas were more than happy to speak English—the menu is written in both English and Czech—and the cappuccino was delicious.

Location: Na Florenci 3. No wifi.

Kafemat

A super-minimalist coffee bar in Dejvice, Kafemat has no tables, no decoration besides for some potted greens—but OH do they have lovely coffee. It’s great if you’re on the go, or if you’d like to linger and chat with the barista about coffee. The people here LOVE their coffee.

Locaiton: Dejvicka 3.

Mama Coffee

Mama Coffee is cozy, hip, and friendly—the small space is filled with color and there is very little separation between the baristas and the customers, which makes it easy to strike up a conversation about coffee. There are tables inside, and on sunny days you can lounge on the bench in front of the café and people-watch in Jiriho z Podebrad Square.

Location: Namesti Jiriho z Podebrad 12.

Bistro 8

Located near the hip area around Letna Park, Bistro 8 not only has great coffee, but good wine, good food, and a new expanded seating area. The owners are often hanging around and are very friendly if you want to say hello. The place is cool, the baristas are beautiful, and across the street is a bookstore called Page 5 if you need to pick up an art book to peruse while hanging out in the café. It’s a great place to while away a day. (Plus, there’s wifi.)

Location: Veverkova 8.

Café Lajka

There is only one thing you really need to know about this café: There are hammocks hanging from the ceiling. You can swing in them. It’s fantastic.

Location: U Akademie 11.

Whether you make it one of these cafes or all of them, you won’t be disappointed—and you’ll be buzzing all through Prague.