A new restaurant inspired by classic American diners has opened in Prague’s Karlín district. Route 54, located on the ground floor of the Pulse8 hotel on Sokolovská Street, offers dishes ranging from Texas barbecue and ribs to Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches. The project is led by Israeli chef Gal Ben Moshe, known for the Michelin-starred Prism restaurant in Berlin and the Prague fine-dining restaurant Parzival, which opened last year. While Parzival focuses on a small number of guests and refined cuisine, Route 54 takes a different direction, built around a lively diner atmosphere and a menu based on American comfort food. The restaurant’s name refers to a highway that runs between Illinois and New Mexico. In Karlín, that idea is translated into a menu that moves across several regions of the United States, combining barbecue, sandwiches and diner classics. The restaurant was created in cooperation with the Jan Hotels group, which operates hotels in Prague and Český Krumlov. Both of Ben Moshe’s Prague projects are located inside hotels run by the company. The chef, who built his career in Tel Aviv, Europe and the United States, moved to Prague last year after closing his Berlin restaurant. While...
Residents of the Czech Republic will enjoy a four-day Easter holiday this year, from April 3 to April 6. The long weekend includes Good Friday (April 3), Easter Saturday (April 4), Easter Sunday (April 5), and Easter Monday (April 6). Many Czechs use this time for family gatherings, short trips, or spring getaways. While shops generally maintain regular hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, restrictions apply on Easter Monday. Under the Retail Trade Restrictions Act, all stores larger than 200 square meters must remain closed. Exceptions include pharmacies, gas stations, and retail outlets at airports and train stations. Some supermarket chains go further than the law requires. Penny, for example, voluntarily closes all stores not only on Easter Monday but also on Easter Sunday each year. Experts advise residents planning larger purchases to shop ahead of the holiday weekend to avoid last-minute crowds or inconvenience. Prague Easter Market Guide The Prague Easter Markets are open daily from 21 March to 12 April 2026, including over the Easter weekend. The main Easter markets are held at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. • Old Town Square Easter Market is the most enchanting, set against a backdrop of historic architecture. It features...
Czech lawmakers approved the 2026 budget, keeping defence at 1.7% of GDP despite NATO and President Petr Pavel’s calls to reach the targets outlined by the US following a push from the Trump administration to aim for 5% of total spending. Czech lawmakers approved the country’s 2026 budget Wednesday, allocating 1.7% of GDP to defence despite pressure from the US and President Petr Pavel to meet NATO targets. The lower house voted 104-87 to allocate almost 155 billion CZK for the Defence Ministry. The spending would inch above 2% only if funding for defence-related projects at other ministries is included. NATO members committed in 2014 to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence. At the 2025 Hague summit, under pressure from the Trump administration, the alliance agreed to invest 5% of GDP by 2035. This further breaks down to 3.5% on core defence requirements and 1.5% on defence- and security-related spending. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the state budget is strained and that there are other priorities, including healthcare. According to Babiš the country inherited a budget deficit from the previous government that prevents increased defence spending. Earlier this month Pavel, a retired army general, urged lawmakers to increase...
Fuel prices in the Czech Republic have jumped sharply in recent weeks, driven by global market tensions, supply disruptions, and rising demand from drivers. Diesel has surged by more than six crowns per liter since late February, approaching 40 crowns, while gasoline prices have increased by roughly three crowns. According to CCS data, a liter of diesel now costs an average of 39.20 crowns. Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict at the end of February, diesel has risen about 6.10 crowns, while Natural 95 gasoline averages 36.36 crowns, up approximately 2.75 crowns over the same period. After a joint U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran, North Sea Brent crude briefly surged to $120 per barrel before falling back to around $90. Market nervousness persists, keeping Czech fuel prices unstable. In response to rising prices, the Ministry of Finance has started monitoring fuel sellers’ margins. Stations will regularly report pricing data to authorities. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová stated, “Rising purchase prices on the stock exchange cannot justify disproportionate margin increases.” The outlook remains unpredictable. Factors such as the planned shutdown of the Schwechat refinery in Austria may reduce fuel availability in Central Europe. Operators are focused on short-term procurement,...
Prague will once again turn green this March as the Irish Times Bar St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2026 brings a week of Irish music, theatre, family events and celebrations to the city. The festival, organised again this year by the Czech-Irish Business and Cultural Association in cooperation with local partners, will culminate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade through Prague’s city centre on Sunday, 15 March, transforming Wenceslas Square and the surrounding streets into a celebration of Irish culture. Festival organisers say this year’s programme has been designed to showcase the diversity of Irish traditions while welcoming the wider international community living in Prague. “St. Patrick’s Day in Prague has become a wonderful opportunity for Irish people abroad to share their culture with the people of Prague,” said Darragh Price of the festival organising committee. “The festival is growing every year, and we’re delighted to offer events for families, theatre lovers, and anyone who enjoys Irish music, dance and community spirit.” “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and the best way to join in the celebrations this year is to dress in green, white and orange, the national colours of Ireland,” continued Darragh Price of the CIBCA parade organising...
Scientists in the Czech Republic have begun recruiting volunteers for a clinical trial examining whether psilocybin therapy could help treat depression in people living with multiple sclerosis. The research is part of the international PsyPal study, which explores the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for patients dealing with severe or long-term illnesses. Researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ) near Prague are leading the Czech part of the project. Multiple sclerosis affects an estimated 2.9 million people worldwide, with more than 20,000 patients in the Czech Republic. The chronic disease damages nerves in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting communication within the nervous system. While doctors still do not know its exact cause, genetic factors and environmental risks are believed to play a role. For many patients, the illness also brings psychological challenges. Depression and anxiety are common, especially in people with progressive neurological diseases. The PsyPal trial focuses on whether psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, could ease depressive symptoms linked to multiple sclerosis. Previous studies have suggested the substance may help reduce psychological distress in patients with serious illnesses. Researchers at NUDZ have been studying psychedelics for nearly two decades. According to Páleníček,...
More than half of Prague residents would welcome metro services running later into the night, according to a new public opinion survey. Yet despite the support, extending operations beyond the current schedule presents practical challenges for the city’s transport system. At present, the three lines of the Prague Metro stop running shortly after midnight. The final trains depart around a quarter to one in the morning. A survey commissioned by the ANO movement found that 57 percent of respondents support extending metro operations, potentially until around 1 a.m. The research, conducted by the STEM/MARK agency, surveyed 805 people about their experience with Prague’s public transport. Participants were asked to evaluate daytime and nighttime intervals between connections, vehicle capacity, and the cleanliness of stops and trains. Overall satisfaction with the system exceeded fifty percent in most categories. Nighttime service intervals received weaker ratings. Eight percent of respondents said they were very satisfied with nighttime intervals, while 43 percent said they were rather satisfied. Twenty-two percent reported being rather dissatisfied and five percent very dissatisfied. The remaining participants said they could not assess the issue. Despite the mixed evaluation of nighttime service, many residents still favor keeping the metro running later, especially...
A large share of households in the Czech Republic would struggle to manage financially if their income suddenly stopped, according to a new survey by the polling agency Ipsos for ČPP Servis. Research conducted in February found that nearly six in ten Czechs would have to sharply reduce spending within three months of losing their income. For many, the situation would become difficult far sooner. About half of respondents said they would face serious financial strain within the first month without earnings. The findings underline how limited emergency reserves remain for much of the population. Only a quarter of people reported having savings sufficient to cover more than six months of expenses. At the other end of the scale, 12 percent said they have no financial reserves at all. The study also sheds light on how people store their money. Those who do manage to save tend to keep funds in accounts that are easy to access rather than in long-term investments. Nearly 40 percent said they hold most of their savings in savings accounts. Another 14 percent rely mainly on standard checking accounts, which traditionally offer minimal interest and often fail to keep pace with inflation. Investment products remain...
Prague city officials plan to transform a large parking area on the western side of Letná Plain into a new public park, expanding green space in one of the city’s most visited outdoor areas. The project will cover more than 6,000 square meters, replacing the current parking zone with a multifunctional park designed for recreation, exercise and small public events. The redesign is part of a broader effort by the city to return parts of Letná Plain to a more traditional park setting while ensuring the space can handle heavy use. City leaders say the new design must cope with demanding conditions, including frequent public gatherings and large numbers of visitors. “The goal is to restore a more park-like character to this part of Letná Plain and create a place where people can spend their free time comfortably, while ensuring the space can withstand the conditions typical for this location,” said Jana Komrsková, Prague’s deputy mayor responsible for the environment and climate planning. A central feature of the project will be 61 newly planted trees, most with trunk circumferences between 20 and 25 centimeters. The trees will be planted in specially prepared rooting strips filled with structural soil designed to...
Prague is preparing to use anonymized payment card data to better understand how tourists move through the city, what they spend money on and how they use local services. City officials say the information will help them manage visitor flows and limit the negative effects of overtourism. The initiative is being developed through cooperation between Prague City Tourism (PCT) and CzechTourism, which jointly selected the data provider. According to PCT representatives, the data will provide insight into the behavior of international visitors, including their nationality, age groups and the types of experiences they seek in the city. The information will also show how tourists distribute their spending across accommodation, dining and other services. Officials say the dataset will allow experts to monitor changes in tourism patterns and react more quickly when visitor numbers rise in certain locations or seasons. The system will rely on aggregated and anonymized information from Mastercard, combined with analytical tools that focus on data from ten key tourism markets, including Poland, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. Tourism experts believe such data can also improve forecasting of future visitor numbers, using information from flight routes, reservations and payment activity. Connecting tourism data with digital...
This article has been written by Finaram.cz, a Czech platform specializing in mortgages, home financing, and real estate advice. For many foreigners living and working in Czech Republic, buying property is a natural next step. But getting a mortgage as a non-citizen comes with additional requirements. Czech banks apply stricter criteria to foreign applicants and carefully assess income stability, residency status, and financial history. Here’s what you need to know in 2026. Bank or Non-Bank: What’s the Difference? Bank Mortgages Czech banks are the main source of mortgage financing and operate under strict regulations set by the Czech National Bank (ČNB). Advantages: Lower interest rates Strong consumer protection Disadvantages: Longer approval process Higher requirements for income and residency Banks pay particular attention to employment stability, income sources, and credit history — especially for foreign applicants. Non-Bank Options Some non-bank institutions (such as building savings banks – stavební spořitelna) may offer more flexibility and approve cases that traditional banks reject. However, this usually comes at a cost: Higher interest rates Additional fees Fewer legal protections What Affects Mortgage Approval? Citizenship and Residency EU citizens generally face fewer obstacles. For non-EU nationals, requirements are stricter — particularly without long-term residence or...
Behind the scenes of Prague’s cafés and restaurants, operations have grown increasingly complex. Reservations arrive from multiple platforms, kitchen workflows are layered across systems, and payments span a variety of cards and providers, creating a patchwork of tools that rarely integrates smoothly. At the same time, locals are dining out less frequently, and delivery apps are gaining popularity. For owners and managers, the challenge is no longer just attracting guests – it’s running a tighter operation to protect margins. One solution gaining traction among independent venues is Tebi, which consolidates reservations, orders, and payments into a single, intuitive platform. Early adopters feel a positive impact with Tebi Since opening the doors of S74 wine&café in late 2025, Michal and David have experienced this costly patchwork of software. Welcoming over 100 guests on busy evenings, the duo found managing multiple subscriptions was draining their focus. By switching to Tebi, they replaced three separate platforms with a single system, relying on a digital floorplan that provides a real-time overview of occupied tables, upcoming reservations, and pending orders. The switch reduced subscription costs by around 70% and saved time on staff training and administrative tasks. These savings allow them to focus on menu...
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