Kavarna Obecni Dum

Kavarna Obecni Dum is located in the incredible Art Nouveau-style Municipal House, adjacent to Smetana Hall, home of the Prague Royal Orchestra. Its name literally means “Café Municipal House”. In tune to its grand setting, the interiors of Kavarna Obecni Dum is truly something to behold―eight magnificent Art Nouveau chandeliers hang from the lofty, two-story tall ceilings, which in turn are supported by columns with mirrors and gold lining. At the back of the café is an alter-like fountain, a marble relief of a nymph looming above it. Mahogany panelling and leather-backed booths set the stage for one of Prague’s grandest. Though photos are technically not allowed, you’ll see fellow café-goers constantly pull out their digital cameras to snap a few photos discreetly―it’s that beautiful. First opened along with the Municipal House in 1912, today it serves up some pretty unique coffee specialties, including Caribbean coffee with rum and cloves, Mexican coffee with cinnamon and grated chocolate, and even a dubiously-named Coffee “Maria Theresa” with Cointreau liqueur. I got the Algerian coffee, which features egg-nog with a whipped-cream topping. Being located in such a central location, the café attracts a lot of tourists, with prices to match. The cheapest coffee went for 50 crowns, and a typical dish went for 200 crowns or more, potentially budget-busting, if you’re not careful.