coffee guide

5 Amazing Specialty Coffee Shops in Prague

The beautiful medieval fairytale city of Prague is both mesmerizing and magical. Offering a melting pot of Gothic and baroque architecture, we guarantee you’ll need a drink at a Prague coffee shop after navigating the maze of winding cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards.

While Czech Pilsner put the country on the map, specialty coffee in Prague is on the rise. While beer is still cheaper than water, it turns out people are still willing to spend their koruna on a solid cup of caffeine. After rising at dawn to catch the sunrise at Charles Bridge, check out this Prague coffee guide to seek out some famous cafes in the Old Town and beyond to recharge your batteries.

La Boheme Cafe

La Boheme is a place for interior design fans and book lovers. Upon entering, you’re greeted by squishy sofas and quirky armchairs that reminds Jasmine of a Harry Potter common room. The bookshelf wallpaper makes it feel like you’re in a library. A high bench table in the front window is perfect for laptop workers.

The cafe’s connections with coffee farmers from Africa and Latin America run deep. Owned by Charles Fleer, La Boheme is committed to excellence, sustainability and environmental consciousness. The dedication of the team to serve the perfect cup of coffee is evident on La Boheme’s Facebook page. La Boheme lives up to its tagline “Connoisseurs of Taste”. The menu features a generous list of espresso based coffees and specialty brews.

If you’re feeling a bit cheeky, try one of the La Boheme specialities that mix coffee with liqueurs – we can vouch for the refreshing Cold Driponi. The cafe partners with Harney & Sons to also offer an extensive tea menu. Choose from the large cake cabinet and you’re in for the perfect morning tea.

Můj šálek kávy

Located in the inner suburb of Karlin, Můj šálek kávy translates to “My cup of coffee”. As it consistently appeared in our coffee research before our campervan trip, we made a point to visit during our second visit to Prague. As we made our way to the cafe from the metro, it became apparent why people speak so highly of this cafe. Nestled on the corner of a leafy street, cafe-goers were sitting outside on the pavement enjoying the sunshine. It’s the perfect spot for a breather if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Old Town.

Inside, you’ll find wooden tables and a few comfy couches under a large colourful mural on the back brick wall (perfect for the ‘gram). Coffee beans from Burundi, Costa Rica and Brazil are served for their espresso based and V60 filter coffees. For hot summer days, you can order an iced latte or affogato to beat the heat. If you’re inclined to settle in for more than an hour, we’d suggest choosing the tasting flight which consists of three coffees from the cafe’s offering.

As we stopped by during an afternoon, we missed out on the weekend menu that includes a full English breakfast, strawberry jam pancakes and smoothie bowl. All pastries are baked in-house if you’re after a smaller bite to eat.

I Need Coffee!

Aptly named, I Need Coffee! is the pitstop you’re looking for when wandering along the banks of the Vlata from the Old Town to the New. A short walk up Na Moráni street from Karlovo Náměstí metro station, the corner block cafe opens up into a small, light filled room.

People watchers should perch on the one of the bench seats facing the street as commuters pass by. The coffee manu includes all the regular espresso options plus a small selection of teas and freshly squeezed juices. Their coffee beans are roasted by Casino Mocca, a Hungarian coffee roaster. We ordered an iced latte and a cappuccino with the latter having some delicious caramel undertones. A selection of pastries accompanies the short breakfast menu of grilled cheese and yoghurt and granola. Takeaway coffee is also available as we witnessed many regulars pick up their coffee, presumably on their way to work.

Coffee enthusiasts can further spread their love for coffee by picking up a t-shirt or coffee mug from the merchandise shelf. If you end up visiting after midday, we believe it to be perfectly acceptable to select from the wine list should your travelling companion not be as affectionate towards coffee as you.

TIP: Remember to travel responsibly by bringing your KeepCup to reduce your global footprint.

Kavárna co hledá jméno

Over in Smíchov, far away from Prague’s Old Town, is the very cool and very hipster Kavárna co hledá jméno. Loosely translated as “cafe looking for a name”, you’ll actually be looking for the cafe itself. Walking through a parking lot and hidden behind a florist, this locals secret spot is where you should go for breakfast, weekend brunch or a slice of cake.

Large glass windows overlook the leafy garden entrance. The decor inside is industrially chic where vintage tables meet exposed pipes and brickwork. Small jars of flowers adorn the tables next to an eclectic mix of mismatched chairs and an indie playlist in the background. A small breakfast menu includes eggs benedict, eggs florentine and bircher muesli induced some serious food envy from us. Several sighting of the eggs benedict souffle clearly indicated that this breakfast item reigns supreme and is the ultimate Insta-worthy snapshot.

The coffee menu leans towards more espresso-based drinks but V60 is available if you’re after filter coffee. Clearly a meeting point for business meetings and study groups with laptops aplenty and conversations going full speed around us in tongues we couldn’t understand. A small art gallery next to the cafe entrance also leads to a beautifully designed bathroom.