While Martin Charvat didn’t always know he wanted to become a chef, it was probably inevitable. The son of Jan Charvat, who has owned restaurants in Prague for over 25 years, the restaurant business is in Martin’s blood. Now head chef at Krymská modern European restaurant Ansambl, Martin has stamped his vision on a menu where customers can have what he describes as “casual fine dining for an accessible price”. Aged 15, Martin began working in the kitchens of his father’s restaurants. “My Dad wanted my sisters and I to get some work ethic,” Martin said, speaking to Prague Morning. “So we were sent to the restaurants to help out.” But his parents never encouraged him to pursue cooking, often pointing out that “being a chef isn’t a good career, there are long hours, the pay isn’t great, it’s hot and dirty work and you never get to see your friends.” “I was going to grammar school, so I wasn’t supposed to become a cook”. Martin wasn’t sure what to study. Disappointed not to get into his first-choice physiotherapy course, he ended up spending a few weeks studying agricultural science at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Suchdol. “I...
Qatar Airways celebrated its 5th anniversary of operations in Prague on August 26, 2022. Since 2017, the world’s best airline has been connecting Prague with destinations all over the world via its award-winning hub in Doha, Hamad International Airport. T The special day was celebrated with an event at the airport for the anniversary flight QR292. In addition to Ronny de Lange, Qatar Airways Regional Manager Central Europe, other high-ranking PRG Airport employees, including PRG Airport CEO Mr. Jiri Pos, Menzies Aviation Czech Republic Vice President Mr. Jiri Petrzilka, and Menzies Aviation Director of Ground handling Mr. Petr Chochola were also present at the gate event. Eric Odone, Qatar Airways VP Sales Europe, said: “In an already special year for Qatar Airways, we are pleased to also recognize and celebrate the 5th anniversary of our flights to and from Prague. For five years, the connection between Prague and Doha has consistently provided travelers from Prague throughout Qatar Airway’s network. It is important for us to provide passengers to and from Prague with an excellent travel experience on board as well as at our hub, Hamad International Airport.” “In the second half of August 2017, a Qatar Airways Airbus A320 landed...
European Union citizens with at least temporary residence in the Czech Republic are eligible to vote in this year’s local elections on the 23rd and 24th of September. Czech local elections are held every four years, allowing residents to select regional municipal councillors. In Prague, voters will have the chance to elect the new mayor as well as city councillors and members of the city’s district councils. These elections have direct consequences on the day-to-day lives of Czech residents, directly influencing a host of local issues including decisions on transportation, urban development and tourism. Foreigners voting for the first time should register at the local municipal office of their permanent residence to be added to the voter list. Only adults aged 18 or above are eligible to vote. On election day, voters will need to bring an ID card or passport to the polling station. Completed ballots will be placed in an envelope provided by the electoral commission and dropped in a sealed ballot box. Czech municipal elections use a proportional electoral system, where each voter has as many votes as there are councillors – 65 in Prague – which can be distributed across candidates of all political parties. Councillors...
Cycling lovers know how liberating it can feel to zip along a bike path, taking in the charm of a city without the downsides of crammed public transport or traffic jams. And as governments worldwide try to cut carbon emissions, more and more cities are encouraging people to ditch cars and making it easier for them to hop on bikes instead. But which are the most bike-friendly cities out there? They’re overwhelmingly in Europe, according to this year’s Global Bicycle Cities Index. Digital insurance company Luko looked at 90 cities around the world and ranked them based on six main parameters: the percentage of bicycle users, weather conditions, crime and safety (such as accidents and bike theft rates), infrastructure, bike-sharing opportunities and special events such as “no car days”. The final results are presented on a scale from 0 to 100, where the higher the score, the more bike-friendly the city. European cities topped the list, mainly thanks to quality cycle paths and weather conditions that include a high number of “cyclable” days. While it may not come as a surprise for cyclists used to navigating the treacherous streets of the Czech capital, Prague was ranked at a disappointing 73rd place...
For a country so rich in traditional handicrafts, it only makes sense that workshops would be offered in various crafts. Such is certainly the case in Prague, which has a number of workshops for adults as well as children. Kavarna Maluj If you would like to paint your own plate, bowl, serving tray, or mug – or a number of other pieces of pottery – this is the place to go. Parents often bring their children here so that the whole family (or a birthday party) can indulge in a painting session. You buy your own piece, then paint it according to your whim. Paints and brushes are provided, as well as stencils. If you’d rather create your own item before painting it, pottery lessons are also offered. Mosaic tile courses are another option at Kavarna Maluj. Corporate events can be arranged through the company, as well as various activities for children. Puppets in Prague Want to create your own marionette? Here’s your chance. This workshop takes 16 days. Students will learn not only to carve marionettes, but to paint them and design their costumes. In addition, they will make short films “starring” their marionettes, assisted by professional filmmakers. This...
The atmosphere of magical dusk in Prague and thousands of excited runners and spectators. This is going to be an experience to remember. Birell Prague Grand Prix races will take place in the city center on September 3rd and no one should miss them. The 5 km adidas Women’s race will start at 6 pm, followed by the Birell 10K Race at 7:30 pm. “This is the most romantic running event of the season. Runners will enjoy Prague at dusk, so it will enchant them with its mystery. The 5 km adidas Women’s race is perhaps more of an experience than a race. The Birell 10K race brings together runners of all performance levels and also lets them experience something unique,” said Carlo Capalbo, president of the RunCzech organizing committee. The races return after a three-year break caused by the covid restrictions. Those who want to enjoy a sport performance combined with a spectacular experience should take the time to register for one of the two Birell Prague Grand Prix races on the evening of September 3rd. The first one is exclusively only for women. The five-kilometer course of the adidas Women´s race will be an enjoyable running party that participants...
Now an entertainment and shopping complex, the first business located in Lucerna Palace was a Japanese tea house. Because of the ‘geisha’ hostesses, the people of Prague believed the place to be a brothel. Throughout the 125 years of its existence, Lucerna Palace has been home to many restaurants and cafes, but one of the first was the Japanese teahouse Yokohama, created by the Hlouch brothers. The brothers traveled Japan extensively and were great admirers of the country. They first introduced their teahouse at the 1908 Jubilee Exhibition of the Chamber of Commerce and Trade at the Prague Exhibition Centre. Their idea was so popular that they decided to move the teahouse to the Lucerna building. Today, Lucerna Palace is an integral part of the Czech capital. It would likely be difficult to find someone across the country who has not heard of Lucerna. It was built 125 years ago by the grandfather of the first president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. Originally, he planned to build an ice hockey and winter sports stadium, but the land was too small for such a huge project, so he decided to build Lucerna. Construction took place over 14 years between 1907...
The Cold War that ensued after World War II partitioned Europe into East and West, with an Iron Curtain cutting right through Germany. The division of East and West Germany culminated in the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Many East German refugees died during attempts to cross directly into West Germany, and as a result, people began to look to third countries to reach the West. On August 23, 1989, the West German embassy, in the exquisite Baroque Lobkowicz Palace just below Prague Castle, was forced to close down for its day-to-day business. By then hundreds of East Germans were trying to get in, many climbing over the fence into the manicured embassy gardens. The surrounding streets were soon packed with their abandoned Trabants and Wartburgs. For several weeks, around 4,000 people lived in its garden and adjacent streets in makeshift conditions. In the following days, Red Cross was brought in and tents were set up as the number of people in the embassy garden grew. Deliverance from this bleak situation came on 30 September, when, after several rounds of talks with representatives of the GDR, the USSR and Czechoslovakia, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the West German foreign minister, delivered...
Experience Americká Differently on Saturday, September 10, at Prague’s Vinohrady district on Americká and Záhřebská streets, which will be transformed into a festival full of music, dance, theatre, workshops, activities for children and great food from 10.30 to 21.30. Entrance to the event is free and there will be something for everyone. This is the twelfth year of the event and this time it will offer Czech and foreign bands on four stages, the traditional La Calle Mexicana festival, theatre performances, workshops for children, Latin dance workshops, lots of food, drink and fun for all generations. The main organiser of the event, Omri Goz, invites you to enjoy a varied accompanying program: “Music will be provided by bands such as Cumbia Cooperativa and SeVesel. One of the electronic stages will be sponsored by Radio 1 from Vinohrady.” Throughout the day you will be able to taste delicacies right on the street. As well as in previous years, you can explore the flavours of Mexican and Latin American cuisine, visit local businesses, enjoy trendy street food, craft beer, fine wines and summer mixed drinks. At the MINT Market, you’ll find designer pieces from local designers as well as original products from...
Prague will celebrate Oktoberfest twice this autumn, with four-day events planned in both Vysočany and Holešovice next month. Vysočan Oktoberfest will go first from the 14th to the 17th of September at Permanent Pragovka beer garden in Prague 9, followed by the Holešovice festival from September 21st to 24th at Food Truck Point in Prague 7. The third edition of the annual festival will feature six traditional Bavarian beers on tap such as Hofbräu Dunkel, Paulaner, and Löwenbrau as well as several Festbiers including from Germany’s oldest brewery: Weihenstephaner. Typical bavarian food will also be served, with pretzels, radishes, Bavarian sausages, and burgers on offer. Visitors are encouraged – but not required – to come in traditional Bavarian fancy dress. You will also be able to taste Festbiers, for example from the oldest German brewery Weihenstephaner. “There will be typical Bavarian delicacies such as pretzels, radishes, and spread Obatzda or Bavarian sausages. In addition, of course, our traditional large and hearty Burgers. So smeckt Bayern!,” says one of the organizers. “Stylishly dressed welcome. Look in your wardrobes and wear something Bavarian. We open every day at three, we close at 10 pm,” he adds. Permanent Pragovka in Vysočany is the largest...
The seventh annual Beer and Burger (‘Pivo a Burger’) Festival will return to Karlínské náměstí on September 11, from 11 am. A total of 25 burger stands will be operating throughout the day, including many of the Czech favorite food trucks and burger joints. You can taste burgers from several Karlin restaurants but also some of Prague’s highest-rated burgers, like, Kaiser Franz, Hell Smoke, Take Eat Ez, Diego Pivni Bar, Zelva, and many others. You can find the full list of participants here. The best domestic breweries will also offer bottom-fermented beers: 23 craft brewers from Prague and across the Czech Republic, including favorites like Matuška, Clock, Raven, Albrecht, and many more, with over 100 beers on offer. Admission to the event is free. However, to taste beers, it is necessary to buy a tasting glass for CZK 100. Visitors can also have a bowl of soup from Karlín Polévkárna or a glass of wine from the Kubík winery, churros and coffee from the FairBio roastery. Live music will be provided by SCHODISTE and IGLÚ and DJ Jakobeen. Another news of this edition will be the busker stage, where basically everyone can play.
The fourth season of Sky series Das Boot directed by Dennis Gansel is currently shooting in Czech Republic’s capital with Stillking Films providing services. At the beginning of August 2022, the Czech Government approved CZK 570 milion for film incentives, which will add to the CZK 800 milion decided in the original draft budget. Additional support is expected in 2023 and 2024. Das Boot is one of the longest international productions shooting in the Czech Republic. All the previous seasons of the series have been shot in Prague since 2017. The shooting has largely taken place at the Barrandov Studio, where the submarine set was dismantled and rebuilt for production on each season. This week the filming also took place near Old Town Square. Shooting in the Czech Republic started in June 2022. The premiere is set for 2023 on Sky One. The series is a sequel to the feature film Das Boot (1981), whose director Wolfgang Petersen died on 12 August 2022. Das Boot is based on the real-life experiences of war correspondent Lothar-Günther Buchheim, who fictionalized his experience on a German U-boat for the 1975 book of the same name. Across its first three seasons, Das Boot has featured international stars such as Vicky...
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