http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34400 The coffee at Café Lounge is really excellent, and available to take away. Unusually for Prague, the menu features a flat white (67 czk) - served in a glass tumbler, with a heart drawn into the foam and a delicate biscuit on the side. Other coffee offerings include vacuum press coffee (95/125 CZK for a tricky arrangement that involved what looked like a high-school chemistry kit) as well as the usual cappuccino and espressos. Coffees and teas are all served with a suduko game to attempt while you sip, which is a charming touch. Café Lounge also offers a very extensive food menu from breakfast through to snacks and main meals, as well as daily options.
Service is impressive. Knowledgeable, friendly but unintrusive. A great experience and well worth the visit for something a little smarter than usual.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34400 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34124
Located 50m from Jiřího z Poděbrad metro station (on the green line), the “Laundry cafe“ is so named as the buidling previously functioned as a...laundry! Even today, the cafe retains that sort of friendly, clean efficiency you expect from a laundrette – the proporietor bakes cakes in the main room while taking orders and making cappucino. Prádelna offers a broad drinks menu and decent food options, including daily soups (from 38 CZK), pates (from 65 CZK), paninis (63 CZK) and homemade ice cream and desserts. Their fresh baked cakes come extremely highly recommended.

A great local business with friendly service.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34124 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33434 Street level houses a quirky veggie café and a music/video/wine shop. Downstairs is a lounge/restaurant area with the same menu, and a club.
During the daytime enjoy the Radost FX cafe. Set behind large windows facing the street, the cafe has some pretty eclectic decor. Tuck into breakfast from 8-11, or later on enjoy the wide vegetarian menu later in the day. Radost Fx has a truly global menu, boasting dishes from countries including Greece, Italy, India and Thailand as well as some of the best veggie burgers and 'slaw ever. Food is available all day.
The same menu is available in the longue area downstairs, which is complimented by a great bar and live music at the weekends - well into the small hours.
I especially love the shop area on street level next to the cafe. As well as videos, DVDs and wine, this cosy shop offers an ever changing selection of vintage and contemporary music on vinyl.
There’s something for everyone here, at any time of day.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33434 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32906 As well as a special location, Čajovna Ve Věži's boasts a lovely herbal smell throughout and a cosy ambience - decor includes mismatched chairs and tables, Persian rugs, a large Buddha and several small oriental wall hangings. Like a favourite teddy bear, everything looks a little tired but well loved.
The menu is only available in Czech, although as most teas have Japanese or Chinese names, this is not too tricky. Staff speak some English but a phrase book might be useful.
Čajovna Ve Věži offers over 80 teas (from 40 to 115 CZK) from India, China, Japan, Turkey, Nepal, Vietnam and Tibet, as well as some fruit teas and non-caffeinated teas. A small selection of soft drinks is also available, as well as wine.
Light snacks are also offered – nuts (from 30 CZK), sandwiches (35 CZK), corn on the cob (44 CZK) and sushi (85 CZK).
Slightly slow service is more than compensated for by the location, atmosphere, and the excellent teas.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32906 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31281 Everything in the shop is baked daily, including their famous sourdough bread, with varieties such as walnut, potato dill, rosemary olive oil, and black olive.
Their display cases showcase loaf cakes, savory pies, canapés, quiches, sandwiches and even wedding cakes.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31281 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31280 This is a nice quiet place to get away from the hordes of tourists in the Old Town. The cosy café has tables and couches set in a relaxed atmosphere. You are encouraged to sit, relax and pass the time away. The long list of hot chocolate varieties include: spiced ginger, sea salt, chili, rum or fresh fruits. My favourite is the hot chocolate with chili. I love how the bittersweetness of the chocolate blends nicely with the hot chili kick - very nice. Try it!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31280 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24200 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24200 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21176 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21176 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21126 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21126 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20077 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20077 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18756
It's walking distance to the centre of the city but secluded enough within its diplomatic quarter to be quiet.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18756 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15247 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15247 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14850 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14850 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13457
The service is quite superb, which really stands out after a couple of days of Czech service, which can be surly. Have the Czech breakfast, which includes delicious apple cake. The English breakfast - toast and marmalade, baked beans and chopped up frankfurters, is only worth ordering for its comedy value.

As to Prague, being careful crossing the roads cannot be stressed enough. The drivers only stop on red lights (in theory) or if a pedestrian's corpse jams their wheels. Beware the trams, which are quiet and easily missed above the hubbub.

Try to get off the main streets at night, as the pimps, drug dealers, strip club and bar advertisers are utterly persistent and will follow you for long distances. Unless, of course, you are there for "sucky sucky" or the half price attentions of a lesbian midget.

One more thing: Large numbers of British stag groups are absolutely running riot there, and you can feel the resentment, even hatred, of many of the locals. If you are Prague-bound, start practising your Canadian accent now.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13457 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12313
I must say that the food and service were fantastic! The location is great, away from all the tourists, but conveniently located just a few Metro stops from Old Town.

We liked it so much, we went back three days later after the opera.

The restaurant is usually packed, so make a reservation.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12313 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10499
The best thing for me was going to Cafe Slavia (opposite the National Theatre) and Cafe Louvre (Narodni 20). Try to get a table by the window and enjoy their great coffees, hot chocolate (the real deal) looking over Charles Bridge and taking in the atmosphere.

Whether you are travelling alone or with someone, it will definitely relax you and might even give you some inspiration. Cafe Louvre, though without a great view, has this unexplainable charm and has entertained the likes of Franz Kafka and Albert Einstein. A city where the pace is slow but still with a vibrancy that touches your soul.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10499 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6974
Limited menu, but good wine and excellent hosts.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6974 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3125 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3125 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3086 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3086 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3052 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3052