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Situated very near to Malastranke Namesti, this is a great place to stop and have lunch, or maybe a couple of beers, while exploring the Mala Strana area.
The atmosphere is friendly and inviting; a largish room decorated with frescos/paintings of Prague. At lunch-time it was very busy with a mixture of visitors and locals, all sharing the wooden tables. The general feel is of a good old-fashioned pub/beer hall.
The food is traditional Czech (Fried fillet of fish with tartare sauce
Pork fillet with cheese, Dumplings
Boiled potatoes,Red beet salad)
with a range of main course and smaller dishes. Service was slow with only one – very friendly and charming – waiter/barman serving everyone in the place. However, while you are waiting you can enjoy the dark and light Staropramen beer.
The food, when it arrived, was good quality and at a very reasonable cost. I’d recommend it.
Karmelitska 25, Mala Strana
Very near Malostranske namesti and St. Nicholas Church
This is possibly my favourite pub/beer hall in Prague. It’s situated very near the Loreto and a short walk from the Castle.
You can’t really see into the pub from the outside so it doesn’t always look like it is open (above the door is a trio of figures in stucco on the façade of the building) but don't be put off as inside is a small traditional beer hall, with long wooden tables and benches lining the walls, serving fantastic Velkopopovicky Kozel beer.
The clientele seems mainly to be locals with a smattering of tourists. It can get quite busy but still retain the sort of relaxed, comfortable atmosphere where at one table someone may be sitting quietly reading the paper while at another a group of colleagues or friends indulge in a lively discussion all seemingly happy and all accompanied, of course, by the wonderful beer.
The pub also serves snack type food such as sausage and mustard, scrambled egg with onion, salted fish, pickled cheese.
Large beers are 21 kr (approx. 0.45 sterling each) food ranges from about 20kr-40kr (0.43 to 0.87 sterling) each
In winter it’s a great place to escape from the cold, in summer a lovely place to rest your feet while exploring Hradcany. Highly recommended.
Loretanske namesti 1, Hradcany
About 30 seconds from the Loreta, 5 to 7 minutes from the Strahov Monastry and 7 to 8 minutes from the gates of Prague Castle
Het Papeneiland is a wonderful brown café in a great location overlooking Prinsengracht.
The name – Pope’s Island – reflects the time when a tunnel ran between the café and a secret Catholic Church across the canal.
The eclectic decoration includes blue Delft tiles, a mixture of wooden furniture, ceramic beer barrels and a stuffed bird!
Take a seat near the bar downstairs – if there’s room – or venture upstairs and sit, as we did, in the window overlooking the canal and passing cyclists. Give yourself over to the atmosphere and let the beers flow!
Prinsengracht 2
Open: Mon-Thur 10am-1am
Fri-Sat 10am-2am
Sun 12pm-1am
Situated in a peaceful, quite courtyard very close to Divan Yolu, Yerebatan Sarayi and Aya Sofya this is a perfect place to stop for lunch or a drink.
The medresseh itself houses workshops and exhibition rooms highlighting traditional Turkish crafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, jewellery and so on which you can look round either before or after your meal.
The food was well prepared and very tasty and our kick-boxing, friendly and attentive waiter was great!
The menu reflects more of a cafe than a restaurant feel with dishes such as lamb meatballs served with chilli and spaghetti and scrambled eggs with tomatoes and chilli
Caferiye Sokak., Sogukkuyu Cikmazi No 1
Quite easy to miss but is signposted from Caferiye Sokak
The hotel is in a great location. Virtually on the corner of the Hippodrome, about a two minute stroll from the Blue Mosque, five minutes from Aya Sofya and 10 minutes from Topkapi.
The rooms are fairly basic and quite small but clean and comfortable. They are all en-suite, have a TV and a fridge.
The views from the roof, where breakfast is served, are fantastic. Sit by the window with a plate of olives, cheese, jam and bread and stare out at the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere relaxing. Internet access is free to guests staying in the hotel.
Having stayed there twice I would recommend it to anyone on a budget.
Sehit Mehmet Pasa Yokusu 2, 34000 Sultanhamet
On the west corner of the Hippodrome;
tel: 212 516 35 46/516 35 47
The Dragon is the symbol of Ljubljana, appearing on the city’s coat of arms.
When the Zmajski Most was built in 1901, dragons were incorporated into the design and now stand on guard at both sides of the bridge.
It was the intention that the bridge should be built to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef’s reign and the bridge was named after him. However, who can compete with dragons and over the years the bridge’s original name has been discarded and its informal name adopted.
Legend has it that the dragons wag their tails every time a virgin crosses the bridge! I wouldn't like to say!
Kopitarjeva
Your first impression of Ljubljana Castle will probably be from below staring up at it, standing like a sentinel, on the top of the hill overlooking the city. You are aware of its presence in the background well before you visit it.
Climbing up to the castle you meander on curving streets past beautiful cottages, views of the city and, in our case, under the watchful gaze of a number of neighbourhood cats! Once at the top you are rewarded with more fantastic views over the city from the 19th Century Belvedere Tower (there has been a settlement on the site since Celtic times but much of the castle is now based around 16th Century and after rebuilding) and a chance to look round St. George’s Chapel and the Castle itself.
During its lifetime the Castle has been used as a garrison, seat of provincial government and a prison. Now it is used for weddings, concerts and art exhibitions. While we were there was a fascinating exhibition of iron/metal work sculpture by Aleksander Arhar.
Castle Hill. Either take the Tourist Train from Prešeren Square or Walk up from Ciril-Metodov Trg or via Gornji trg and Ulica na Grad
A lovely traditional riad in the heart of the medina, only five minutes' walk from the Jma el Fna Square. Prices are very reasonable and the rooms are smallish but lovely, all around a relaxing quiet courtyard. When you arrive you will be greeted by a welcoming tray of mint tea and friendly staff.
If you are going to Madagascar, you will no doubt go to the park at Andisibe. Most visitors opt to stay at hotels outside the village but staying in the village is much better both from an experience point of view and for the locals. The ramshackle Hotel Orchidee is a good option and is cheap as chips. It is basic. I mean really basic. However this is as close as you are likely to get to living like a Malagasy on your trip. If going during the winter be aware that it is cold in the mountains so pack a good fleece. Check out the restaurant at the Buffet De La Gare as well. Great food. Slow service but everything in Madagascar is slow - get used to it.
Andisibe village
After a hard week schlepping across country in crowded taxi brousses and struggling through jungle to spot lemurs, you will need to relax. Fly out to the Ile St Marie (fly - believe me you do NOT want to entrust your life to the small boats) and chill for a week.
You can have accommodation from the cheap (Chez Regine on the tiny Ile aux Nattes at the tip of the island is fabulous; the chicken and rice in the restaurant is sublime) or the sublime (Princess Bora lodge run by whale enthusiast "Fifou" Mayer). Imagine the Maldives without all the muppets. Amazing beaches, huge lagoon to snorkel in, humpback whale watching in season.
A small bar and restaurant (Steam locomotive restaurant) at the S-Bahn station at Erkner (end of a line) which looks unpromising from the outside, but inside is cosily furnished with solid and comfortable wooden tables and seats with cushions as comfortable as in an old first class carriage.
They also make the best Soljanka (meat and vegetable soup of Russian origin, only available in the East) I've ever tasted, especially after a walk by the nearby lakes.
Take the number & S-Bahn to Erkner, or save time by going on one of the frequent DB regional train bound for Frankfurt an der Oder, which also stop there. Berli city tickets (valid for zone C) may be used on both
A small bar and restaurant (Steam locomotive restaurant) at the S-Bahn station at Erkner (end of a line) which looks unpromising from the outside, but inside is cosily furnished with solid and confortable wooden tables and seats with cushions as comfortable as in an old first class carriage. They also make the best Soljanka (meat and vegetable soup of Russian origin, only available in the East) I've ever tasted, especially after a walk by the nearby lakes.
Take the number & S-Bahn to Erkner, or save time by going on one of the frequent DB regional train bound for Frankfurt an der Oder, which also stop there. Berli city tickets (valid for zone C) may be used on both
You can get a freshly made crispy 'Nan Pizza' with interesting cold toppings like rocket, avocado and sun dried tomato for four Euros. The large bowls of salad are also four Euros. You must try the home-made lemonade with chilli. Sitting at one of the tables outside is not a bad place for people watching.
Kastanienallee 49, Corner Zionskirchstrasse, Prenzlauer Berg - the upside down Mc Donalds logo is unmissable. www.whereisliz.com/pod/pod145.html
Courage is a little cafe just up the road from the world famous Circus Hostel. It's cramped and dark with a fantastic atmosphere and even better beer. The menu is ridiculously low budget, firm favourites of mine are the steak with roast vegetables and ice und heiss - ice cream with hot summer berries. A real find.
Just off Rose Luxemborg Platz
If you need a quick bite when you are shopping on Orchard Road, you can't do better than head for the basement of Takashimaya. Dishes from all over Southeast and East Asia, and elsewhere, at street hawker prices. It can get busy but it all adds to the atmosphere.
Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road
Great for bargins. Get fab wooden masks, fabrics, jewellery and clothing.The locals make it, the atmosphere is buzzing from early morning. The local priest and his elders parade the market streets setting on fireworks in blessing of the days trading.
by bus or taxi from Lake Atitlan,or Guatemala city. Get there the Wednesday night for Thursday morning
After two glorious months travelling round New Zealand, we flew out from Auckland and stayed in a campsite on the edge of town. People leave all sorts of useful stuff behind which you can pick up and use if you are camping. So I would recommend starting out in Auckland, and picking up things like cooking equipment, plates, cutlery, books, gas stoves etc that have been left behind by other travellers. We left behind pillows and a duvet (brand new!) and they were gone before we even left the campsite that morning!
If you're not fussy about everything being new, it's a great way to save some cash and stock up (& you're recycling too).
Top 10 Auckland, near airport. Most campsites in Auckland
A nightclub/alternative art gallery/run-down building. It has a silly number of bars, sofas on the roof, films projected onto the opposite building and old cars to sit and drink in. Popular with laid-back locals & travellers.
oranienburger strasse
This is a one-off fantastic place, just two stops from Alexander Platz in the lovely Prenzlauer Berg area (which is full of other great bars and cafes too). This place has no name, just a sign outside with a wine bottle drawn on it. It looks awful in daylight - covered with graffiti - but at night, it fills up with Berlin's hip and bohemian crowd.
It works like this: you go in, throw one euro into a small fountain at the door, then help yourself from bottles of wine on the large table - or juice, or hot drinks. Then you can also help yourself to the homemade and wholesome (delicious) food laid out on a sideboard in the back room (salads and a thai-style green chicken curry when we were there, plus still-warm bread). You can have as much as you like - we had seconds!
When you leave, there's no bill, you just 'pay what you feel like paying' (as one of the staff said) in a big vase beside the wine bottles. It is furnished with gorgeous shabby-chic bits and bobs, and fairy lights, and has a unique, laid-back atmosphere.
They put tables and chairs out under the trees at night and it creates a buzz in the whole street. (The Prinz Albert Hotel bar opposite and down a bit is fab on a Sunday - when we were there they had a live jazz band and a fantastic BBQ. The staff are very cheery too!
There's also a tiny, wee retro cafe round the corner which serves ice- cream sundaes and beers. It's got a big Babycham deer inside and there's 1950s pastel-painted tables and chairs outside, with pots of scarlet geraniums. Very pretty. Try the hot kirsch sundae!
The bar with no name and Prinz Albert are on Veteranenstrasse. Best bet would be to get off the underground at Rosenthaler Platz and walk up - it's on the top of the street on the corner. Or you could get off at Senefelder Platz and walk up and round - you'll pass the retro ice cream parlour then.
Lovely restaurant right in the centre of town, perfect for mid-shopping dinner, a first date (especially downstairs) or going out pre-club.
Fab decor and fantastically friendly staff, the service is fast and the food is great (the garlic bread with hummous is lush) and good value for money.
Oh, and they also have a cheap cocktail menu
7 Chapel Walks, Manchester. M2 1HN
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