Eating - Prague and the Czech Republic - page 133

Irish: Molly Malone's Irish Pub, hidden in a forgotten cor-
ner of the Jewish Quarter, may seem a strange recommendation
in Prague—home of some of the world's best beer—but it has the
kind of ambience that locals (and few tourists) seek out. Molly
Malone's has been the expat and local favorite for Guinness ever
since the Velvet Revolution enabled the Celts to return to one of
their homelands. Worn wooden floors, dingy walls, and the Irish
manager transport you right into the heart of blue-collar Dublin—
which is, after all, a popular place for young Czechs to find jobs
in the high-tech industry (Sun-Thu 11:00-1:00 in the morning,
Fri-Sat 11:00-2:00 in the morning, U Obecního Dvora 4, tel. 224-
818-851).
Latin American: La Casa Blů, with cheap lunch specials,
Mexican plates, Staropramen beer, and greenish mojitos, is your
Spanish village in Prague and one of the last student bastions in
the Old Town. Painted in warm orange-and-red and guarded by
creatures from Mayan mythology, La Casa Blů is packed nightly
with smoke, guitar music, and a fusion of Czechs and Chileans
(Mon-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 14:00-23:00, on the corner of Kozí
and Bílkova, tel. [phone]).
North American: Bohemia Bagel is hardly authentic—
exasperated Czechs insist that bagels have nothing to do with
Bohemia. Owned by an American, this practical café caters mostly
to youthful tourists, with good sandwiches (100-125 Kč), a little
garden out back, and Internet access (1.50 Kč/min). If homesick,
you'll love the menu, with everything from Philly cheesesteak to
bacon and eggs (daily 7:00-24:00, Masná 2, tel. [phone]).
In the Jewish Quarter
These three eateries are well-located to break up a demanding tour
of the Jewish Quarter—all within two blocks of each other on or
near Široká (see map on page 69). Also consider the nearby ethnic
eateries listed above.
Kolkovna, flagship of a franchise owned by Pilsner Urquell,
is big and woody, yet modern, serving a fun mix of Czech and
international cuisine—ribs, salads, cheese plates, and good beer
(a bit overpriced but good energy, daily 11:00-24:00, across from
Spanish Synagogue at V Kolkovně 8, tel. [phone]).
Franz Kafka Café, with a cool, dark, and woody interior
strewn with historic photos of the ghetto and a few good side-
walk tables, is great for a relaxing salad, sandwich, snack, or drink
(150-Kč salads, daily 10:00-21:00, one block from the cemetery at
Široká 12).
Restaurace U Knihovny (By the Library), situated steps
away from the City and National Libraries as well as the Pinkas
Synagogue, is a favorite lunch spot for Czechs who work nearby.