The ‘Lesser Quarter’, or Malá Strana, is nestled along the Vltava river below the castle. It’s a fairy tale maze of cobbled winding streets full of shops (including many bad ones), cafés, and of course Czech history. Get lost in the Castle grounds (Hradčany), step inside St.Vitus, wander through the nearby gardens, climb Petrin hill, and enjoy everything Malá Strana and the Prague Castle have to offer.

Tucked behind the castle grounds in a historic Monastery is Klášterní Pivovar Strahov, brewing rich ales and lagers, with a great menu of classic Czech fare. A brief walk from the castle is Nový Svět, a cute, quaint little café (the alley it’s located on is equally cute and quaint) with locally roasted coffee and great homemade food. A beer with class can be found in the former monastery that now houses the Augustine hotel, who have a dark lager allegedly brewed to the historic recipe from the former brewery within this site.

At the foot of the Charles Bridge, to your right, on Míšeňská street, you find Lokál U Bílé Kuželky, serving possibly the freshest and best-tapped Pilsner Urquell alongside a menu of Czech cantina classics. Meanwhile, just past the two towers securing the Charles Bridge is Roesel, a small little café and pub with a focus on quality ingredients and products, easily one of best places this side of the river. Following the river south, pass through Kampa Island’s tranquil park – or maybe stay a while – and continue south to the next bridge after Charles Bridge, a stone’s throw away from here is Café Savoy, a great place to have a coffee and cake, or food from local ingredients, with a beautifully done interior.

One other place, located just around the corner for Savoy, that tops the charts in Prague is Café Lounge, who serve nice beer from Matuška, but better to go here for European micro-roastery coffee, a natural Czech or European wine (try an orange wine!), or the local Cidre that’s produced in the French manner – or, better yet, try them all, because all of these are revelationary.