Picture-perfect Prague
As I mentioned in the previous column, there were several new things I did and revisited old haunts in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City of Prague in the Czech Republic.
It really is a must to visit Old Town Square that dates back to the 10th century and is one of the most picturesque in the world. Here is where the famous astronomical clock is located and crowds gather every hour to see the 12 apostles make an appearance when the clock chimes. One thing worth noting is that people can actually go up this tower and see breathtaking views of Prague. Another thing I had to do was go to St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. Its actual proper name is the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas, and Adalbert, but it was dedicated to only St. Vitus until 1997 and is still referred to as such. The sight of the largest Gothic church in the Czech Republic contains the tombs of Roman emperors and Bohemian kings.
An exciting new thing I just discovered was the Clementinum or Klementinum — a historic complex of buildings in Prague which houses the National Library. It also has the Baroque Library Hall, considered by many as the most beautiful library in the world. The large complex has an astronomical tower as well where people can climb by stairs and get amazing views. The place is old and small and only advance booking is required. Regular guided English tours have a maximum capacity of 20 people. Arrange a tour in advance by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
It was also the first time for me to stay at the city’s finest hotel – the Four Seasons Prague (https://www.fourseasons.com/prague/). They offer some of the best views of the city and even have an afternoon tea special based on the hit TV show “The White Lotus.” They also offer bespoke private tours and one is exploring Prague from the Vltava River. Their private boat, good for eight people, can give you a whole new perspective seeing this enchanting city from the river while drinking bubbly!
And if seeing Prague from the river was fun, it was also fun to explore Prague in the cutest vintage cars from Old Timer Tours (www. https://pragueoldtimertours.cz/en/). Go on a romantic couple tour or a fun group with friends and family on a vintage Skoda or Alfa Romeo and ride around Prague in style! This is quite popular now and so many vintage cars are going around the city!
I highly recommend two dining places for an unforgettable meal. The first is Kantyna (https://www.kantyna.ambi.cz/en/) - a canteen/butcher shop which is a paradise for meat lovers. There is amazing beef (aged and non-aged) with several cuts that people can choose from to cook at home or eat there at their canteen. Of course there also is klobasa (sausages), burgers, ham, the softest and juiciest pork belly, and the wonderful beef tartare! Down all these with Czech beer at this carnivore’s heaven! The second is QQ Asian Kitchen (https://www.qqasiankitchen.com/) – a family style “casual fine dining” restaurant that started in 2017 and has been part of the Michelin Guide since 2021. Taiwanese American chef Lee Chang and Balinese chef Nyoman Purnata have lived in Prague since 2008. Their worldwide cuisine that focuses on mainly the culinary influences of Taiwan and Bali produces delicious dishes eaten family style (with rice for us Asians always searching for rice)! The place has no degustation menu so dietary restrictions and allergies are asked prior to the chefs cooking for the group. It was a truly enjoyable meal and memorable experience. Reservations are recommended for both restaurants.
Revisiting the familiar and discovering the new is what visiting the Czech Republic is for me… every single time I visit.
Check out https://prague.eu/en and www.visitczechia.com.
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