Prague’s Century-Old Café: Affordable Coffee, Desserts, and Local Cuisine

Text and Photos byHappy Cloud

On our revisit to Prague, where would be our first stop?? Café Louvre must be the place we visited most often and loved the most!!

Back then, it had already deeply captured our hearts during our first visit years ago. A place with historical significance and frequented by many celebrities is naturally a must-visit on any trip. Coupled with its affordable prices, we treat it like a regular café—whether after a meal or just passing by, we’d always want to stop for a coffee.

This year, Prague experienced unexpectedly high temperatures, and I doubt this century-old café was prepared for such heat either!! After arriving at our apartment in Prague and dropping off our luggage, our first stop was this nostalgic café.

The café not only serves coffee and desserts but also traditional local dishes. The difference today was that we could enjoy these while sweating profusely—hahaha, what an unforgettable experience.

In the past, most apartments and shops in Prague didn’t have air conditioning, but with rising European temperatures in recent years, many establishments now advertise “air conditioning inside,” which seems to have become a key selling point. Perhaps Café Louvre, once a gathering spot for intellectuals, still sticks to tradition without AC. This keeps many travelers away during the scorching daytime, but in response to the summer heat, the café has even introduced watermelon ice cream...

Maybe next time we visit, they’ll put up a sign for air conditioning too!! Revisiting this café, which embodies Prague’s century-old traditions and gathers social elites, still brings back the same feelings as our first visit. And no matter how many times we come back, it never gets old—we’ve enjoyed dinners, breakfasts, and afternoon teas here...

The familiar setting and the handsome staff whose service is beyond price remain unchanged. The newspapers from the past, featuring the café’s celebrity patrons, are still on the tables and available near the entrance. There’s also a small shop by the door selling café merchandise and postcards, along with the kind greetings of a young staff member. While it might sound commercial, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all. I actually like Prague’s subtle commercialization—it doesn’t feel off-putting.

Today, we skipped coffee and opted for cool drinks—an orange juice-based cocktail and a special lemon sparkling beverage. Hopefully, these will help beat the heat a bit??

First to arrive were the special butter and bread. Hahaha, the butter here is absolutely delicious, and the bread sometimes has a slightly tangy flavor, which some friends might find unusual, but it’s a local specialty. The bread itself is also very chewy!!

Since we were hungry, we ordered the famous Czech dish “Hungarian Goulash.” The familiar beef came with a starchy side dish resembling steamed buns or rice cakes. It’s very filling, and the sauce pairs surprisingly well with the bread. Some people love it, while others might not be used to it. For me, who loves starchy foods like steamed buns, this combination was quite tasty.

We also ordered something that looked like Italian gnocchi. It may not look impressive, but it was actually quite delicious—one bite led to another, and I couldn’t stop eating.

Hahaha, maybe it’s because I’ve always loved pasta-like dishes. Simple as it may seem, the seasoning wasn’t unfamiliar, and it didn’t feel out of place at all—just left me too full (hahaha, everything was super carb-heavy and filling).

Czech food generally suits Taiwanese tastes—not too salty or greasy. The cooking methods sometimes feel familiar too. Perhaps this is one of the reasons we love Prague so much.

When it came time to pay the bill, it was even more delightful. Prague, being the most expensive city in the Czech Republic, doesn’t require you to hold back on ordering. And when the bill arrives, the prices are never shocking. Here, you can spend just a little (about the same as in Taipei) and still feel like a king.

Plus, restaurant staff earn tips from customers, so the service is usually more enthusiastic and attentive, with more greetings and care. This is quite different from our experience in Budapest. So friends, when visiting the Czech Republic, don’t forget to add a 10–15% tip to your bill.

The familiar space remains unchanged, complete with a pool table. The pink-toned, French-style decor in rose hues seems to have existed for centuries, and locals often gather here with friends.

Visiting for breakfast in the morning, you might see people enjoying simple croissants and coffee while reading the newspaper. Different times of day bring different vibes. Although more tourists are coming, the local atmosphere hasn’t been lost. I really hope it stays this way.

On this trip, we visited Prague, Český Krumlov, Dresden, and Budapest. We’ll share more stories if we get the chance. Next time you’re in Prague, don’t miss Café Louvre. Though we’ve been here several times on this trip, today we’re sharing photos from our first visit!!

................................................ Eating, drinking, and having fun—there’s no end to it.

Café Louvre
Address: Národní třída 22, Praha 1
Phone: (+420)224-930-949
Fax: (+420)224-930-941
Website:www.kavarny.cz/louvre
Business Hours: 8:00 AM–11:30 PM (opens at 9:00 AM on weekends)

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