Places To Go - Grand Cafe Orient

When I first visited Prague in 1991 all the guidebooks said that the place to go for coffee was the Slavia cafe overlooking the river near the National Theatre. Sadly in 1991 Slavia was closed for refurbishment. I have been there a few times since I came out here this year, but for me it no longer has the combination of elegance and relaxation which I associated with it. It seems busy and touristy and the staff aren't really attentive enough.

A few months ago one of Sue's work colleagues asked if we had been to the coffee house at the Cubist Museum. We hadn't, but checked it out based on his recommendation. The museum is near the Old Town Square, and the Grand Cafe Orient is on the first floor of the museum. The building itself is a prime example of Czech Cubist architecture, and the cafe and its furnishings reflect that.

In addition to the visual splendour, the service is excellent, and although it gets busy at weekends it feels quite relaxed on weekdays. Sandwiches and salads are available for lunch, but for me it is best for light breakfasts or afternoon coffee and cakes.

Another Storming Gig By Alasdair

Alasdair played Noel's again on Saturday. Again he went down a storm. We had some friends visiting for the weekend and they enjoyed the gig, too. I confused Katia, the barmaid, by switching to Staropramen rather than my usual Budvar.

I like Budvar, and always ordered it at Noel's because it is less commonly available than either Staropramen or Prazdroi Plzensky (Pilsner Urquell). Sadly Budvar seems to give me more-severe hangovers than the other two. Saturday's experience with Staropramen bears this out. I'll probably stick to Budvar if I'm just going to have a couple of beers, but I don't think I should drink it for a long session.

Places To Go - Pivnice U Švejků, Újezd 22

U Švejků is one of a multitude of bars and restaurants in this city named after Jaroslav Hašek's comic anti-hero The Good Soldier Švejk. This particular pivnice, or beer hall, is located across the road from the Petřin funicular railway, near the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, on the far side of the river from the National Theatre.

The restaurant looks like a bit of a tourist trap with a rather garish paint scheme outside, announcing itself in English, German and Czech, and it claims to date from 1618. Inside it looks a lot more homely. There are basic wooden tables and murals depicting scenes from the illustrations to the Švejk book. The staff are very friendly and the beer is good, but the best part is the game menu. This has a selection of dishes from boar, roe deer and fallow deer. We first tried U Švejků in some desperation one lunchtime. We were hungry and most nearby places were busy. Since then we have been back several times.

We have never eaten there in the evening so we have no idea how crowded it gets then, but the menu says that they have an accordian player in the evenings from 6pm. Treat that news as an advertisement or a warning as you see fit.

Alasdair's Gig

Alasdair's gig on Wednesday went down a storm, helped by the fact that a lot of his friends, colleagues, and also students came along to support him. He has a great voice and is a very accomplanished musician. The sets were a good mixture of classic Blues, soul and some folky pieces, including some of his own songs. There were many songs which were new to me, as well as some real crowd-pleasers.

I hope that Noel and Barry were pleased with the turnout, the joint was really jumping for a Wednesday. Hopefully Alasdair will get further gigs there.

Tomorrow at The Metropole (Soon to be Noel's)

My fellow teacher, Alasdair Bouch, has been booked to play a gig at Noel's tomorrow night.

Here's how Barry from Noel's is pitching Alasdair's act.

London-born multi-instrumentalist Alasdair Bouch has wowed crowds with his intoxicating blend of folk, blues and soul for some eighteen years. His barnstorming floorfillers and intricately-wrought ballads have held audiences spellbound from New Zealand to Nové Mìsto. The British newspaper 'The Guardian' favourably likened his vocal delivery to Otis Redding, and if recent performances are anything to go by, Alasdair's star is destined to rise. Catch him in the intimate venue Metropole (soon to be Noel's), strumming a solo set of self-penned ditties and choice covers. Prepare yourself for tales of love, heartbreak, booze, and low-down dirty sinners.

There are a few colleagues planning to be there in the audience to cheer him on, it should be a good night.