12 Warm and Cosy Cellar Bars in Prague

These cosy, subterranean spaces keep the chill out with all manner of warming bevvies, and no shortage of nooks and crannies in which to sip

Prague is good at a lot of things. But in winter, one of its talents becomes especially obvious: clap together your freezing, snow-covered mittens, for this city has mastered the art of the cosy cellar bar. When it’s cold out, the legions of cellar bars in Prague are the first defence against frozen digits. The perfect winter warmers, these cosy, subterranean spaces keep the warmth in with all manner of bone-warming bevies, and no shortage of nooks and crannies in which to sip them. From the local pilsner served up at Pivovarský Klub and Ferdinanda, to the mulled wine of U Zlatého Tygra’s hallowed halls, these are the best cellar bars in Prague to visit next time you’re in town.

1. U Sedmi Švábů

In case you’ve somehow missed Prague’s cobbled streets and old-school turrets, a trip to U Sedmi Švábů won’t leave much room for confusion when it comes to the city’s medieval past. Fatten yourself up for the winter with hearty dumplings and frothy pints by the fire.

2. U Staré Studny

Though beer may be the local staple – and a fierce source of competitive pride – it’s not the only winter warmer on offer in the city. At U Staré Studny, a sophisticated little cellar bar in Prague, wine and cognac are the preferred pours, accompanied by prettily flickering candles.

3. Pivovarský Klub

If holing up with a beer or few is the first and last reason you booked a ticket to the city (and fair play to you if so), then consider Pivovarský Klub your pilgrimage point. While the upstairs room is more casual, stocked as it is with bursting shelves of bottles, wander downstairs to one of the most warming cellar bars in Prague and over 240 different varieties of beer to choose from.

4. Lokál U Bílé Kuželky

Traditional sausages, piping-hot dumplings and fresh Pilsner: Lokál U Bílé Kuželky serves up some of the best Czech food and drink at happily reasonable prices. This Lokál branch is situated near the Charles Bridge and Castle, and is usually packed. However, there’s plenty of room underground in the cosy cellar, and more than enough beer to go around.

5. Kozička

Though its name translates to “little goat,” don’t expect anything other than urban chic from lively Kozička, a cheerful cellar bar in Prague that’s been a staple of the nightlife scene for years. A staircase gives way to a labyrinthine warren of rooms, which grow progressively louder and more crowded as the night goes on (and here it goes on for a long, long while).

6. Zlý Časy

Zlý Časy may mean “bad times” in Czech but don’t run off just yet: behind the cheeky demeanour, this cellar bar dishes up just the opposite. It helps that the fruits of 48 different local breweries are on offer. Find your nook, settle in with a generously proportioned glass, and top it all off with a plate of rump steak – the ideal remedy to an icy Prague winter.