The Czech Republic - Eastern Europe - page 251

where cool lighting and high-tech sound set the right atmosphere. Yes, it was here that
Mick Jagger had his 60th birthday party in July 2003 during the Stones' fourth con-
cert in Prague. Prices are reasonable. It's open daily 10:30pm to 3am (Fri-Sat until
5am). Václavské nám. 21, Praha 1. & 224-232-319. www.duplexduplex.cz. Admission 50Kc-150Kc
($2-$6.25/£1.20-£3.40). Metro: M*stek.
Radost FX The Radost tries so hard to catch the retro 1960s and 1970s crowd
that it has become a cartoon of itself, yet it remains popular with a mixed straight, gay,
and model crowd. The rec-room interior of the ground-floor lounge is great for a chat
and a drink. The series of downstairs rooms gets filled with rave and techno mixes. The
crowd is very attractive and style-obsessed, and the bouncers have been known to boot
those who don't look the part. Open daily from 10pm to 5am. Bêlehradská 120, Praha 2.
& 224-254-776. www.radostfx.cz. Cover 100Kc-250Kc ($4.15-$10/£2.30-£5.50). Metro: I. P. Pavlova or
Námêstí Míru.
Roxy Another reincarnation of a dead cinema, the Roxy pushes the boundaries of
bizarre in its dark, stark concrete dance hall down Dlouhá Street near Old Town
Square. The balcony allows the art-community crowd to people-watch amid the candle-
light. The club is ultra-deconstructionist. Acid jazz, funk, techno, salsa, and reggae are
among the tunes on the playlist from the recorded or live acts. The Roxy is the longest
late-night romp in town, open daily from 7pm to 5am. Dlouhá 33, Praha 1. & 224-826-
296. www.roxy.cz. Cover 50Kc-250Kc ($2-$10/£1.20-£5.40). Metro: Námêstí Republiky.
Jazz
Prague attracts all the serious underground bands you'd expect in a famed capital of
Bohemian living. International global fusion groups turn up, and so do some of the
top talents of the jazz and funk world, especially during the Prague International Jazz
Festival.
AghaRTA Jazz Centrum Upscale by Czech standards, the AghaRTA regularly
features some of the best music in town, from standard acoustic trios and quartets to
Dixieland, funk, and fusion. Hot Line, the house band led by AghaRTA part-owner
and drummer Michal Hejna, regularly takes the stage. Bands usually begin at 9pm.
Open daily from 7pm to midnight. Zelezná 16, Praha 1. & 222-211-275. www.agharta.cz.
Cover 100Kc ($4.15/£2.30). Metro: M*stek.
Metropolitan Jazz Club There never seems to be anyone under 30 in this sophis-
ticated downstairs jazz club, fitted with ceramic-topped tables and red velvet chairs.
It's home to a house trio that plays several nights a month, and Dixieland and swing
bands fill the rest of the calendar. Concerts begin at 9pm. Open Monday to Friday
from 11am to 1am and Saturday and Sunday from 7pm to 1am. Jungmannova 14, Praha 1.
& 224-347-777. Cover 100Kc ($4.15/£2.30). Metro: M*stek.
Pubs
Good pub brews and conversations are Prague's preferred late-evening entertainment.
Unlike British, Irish, or German beer halls, a true Czech pub ignores accouterments
like cushy chairs and warm wooden paneling, and cuts straight to the chase—beer.
While some Czech pubs do serve a hearty plate of food alongside the suds, it's the
brew, uncommonly cheap at usually less than 30K c ($1.25/70p) a pint, that keeps
people sitting for hours.
U Flek* One of the original microbreweries dating from 1459, U Flek * is Prague's
most famous beer hall, one of the few pubs that still serves only its own beer. It's a

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