Café Montmartre

Named after Montmartre, a neighbourhood in Paris, this cosy café in the heart of Prague oozes charm and warmth within the confines of its barrel-like vaulted ceiling. Antiques, including a worn green piano, half-a-dozen eclectic armchairs, leather shade lamps, and wooden chairs and tables furnish the room, and old posters complete the scene. Dimly lit by candlelight, the smoky air and relaxed atmosphere ensure that if you stop by for a date you’ll be unhurried and happily left to linger. Unlike some other cafes on this list, its quaint, idyllic, homely feel obscures its rich history. The only trace of its past is twenty-name list on the menu: Franta Sauer, Artur Longen, Franz Werfel, and of course, Franz Kafka. Famous back then for its dancing scene, Café Montmartre sported a large dance room and became known for its wild nights of tango and revelry, which you can see today memorialised in old photographs hanging on the walls. Strangely, despite being located steps away from the Old Town Square, and despite its history, Café Montmartre is little known to tourists. The evening we went, there was only one table occupied by a group of what looked like art students smoking and sifting through old photographs. The apple strudel was superb, as was the tea and the prices were the cheapest in town. Truly, Café Montmartre is perhaps one of the few remaining remnants of authentic Bohemian café culture, unspoiled by the tourist hordes that have invaded its more famous cousins.