Narodni Kavarna

Despite being located right near the National Theatre, on the same street as the café giants Café Louvre and Kavarna Slavia, the atmosphere at Narodni Kavarna is considerably more relaxed. It shares the same grand history, with the first mention of a café in this location being back in 1896. Originally named the Imperial Café, it was renamed the National Café (“Narodni” in Czech translates to “National”) when the building went through a renovation in 1923. The new café was a hit, quickly becoming a gathering spot for an avante-garde left-wing artists’ association named “Devětsil”, or “Nine Strengths” in English. The artists in Devětsil were perhaps the most prolific in Czechoslovakia at the time, and were the origins of various artistic movements in Czech: magical surrealism, poetism (focusing on picture poetry), and proletkult, a proletariat art institution originating from the then-nascent Soviet Union. Narodni Kavarna counted among its regular patrons, surrealist Vitezslav Nezval, lyric poet Frantisek Hrubin, and the ever-present Capek brothers―famous for coining the word “robot”. For modern-day guests, Narodni Kavarna offers a less touristy, more authentic Czech café experience for those stuck in Prague 1. Most guests frequenting the café are Czech, in contrast to the crowds of foreigners found in Café Louvre or Kavarna Slavia. In addition to the reasonably priced coffees and desserts, this café is also known for its wine selection. Pop in for a cup of their mulled wine garnished with orange, and listen to some live piano music before catching a play at the National Theatre―this is one experience you won’t regret.