Our Guide to Czechia
Czechia has a decent claim to be the only Slavic nation with a true pub culture, a consequence of its centuries of interactions within the Holy Roman and Austrian empires. The hospoda is as much a treasured cultural institution as the pub is in the UK & Ireland, serving a similar purpose, an informal, versatile and inter-generational community/family venue for chatting and socialising, as opposed to bar/café culture around the Mediterranean.
The humble Hospoda is everywhere, but you will see a few different names on the signage: Hostinec, Pivnice, Restaurace, Krcma, Klub, even occasionally Café. This is dealt with in our Glossary. There is no true guide to what to expect these days, but as a general rule, Hostinec & Pivnices historically tended towards drinks focused lower grade places. The names of the pubs follow a not dissimilar line to English pubs. While they lack the definitive article, you will notice "U" effectively replacing "The" before the likes of Hippo (Hrocha) or Black Ox (Cerneho Vola). Often the more historic venues will have had no numerical address and their property would have been distinguished by name. Some pubs have carried that on into the present, such as 'U Dvou Sluncu', or 'The Two Suns' on Nerudova in Mala Strana, Prague. It's a very nice, characterful touch.
Czech pubs are usually simply furnished with white walls and chunky wooden tables designed for communal seating, a circumstance where someone may enter a busy pub and be able to find a seat on the end somewhere.
The traditional pub keeps steadfast hours of 11am-11pm but there are some quirks out there, for example in Prague there is a pub that opens at 9am and shuts at 9pm due to mainly being used for binmen coming off their shift, in the 80s at least. The real drinks-focused places occasionally have only an evening license, opening only from mid/late afternoon.
Modernity has reached all corners, and even the traditional pubs have started to improve their offer of drinks, formerly having 1 or 2 house beers tied to a single brewery that would provide glassware and tablecloths etc in return, but now several pubs in most towns and cities are independent/non-franchised, offering a range, sometimes on rotation, of guest beers, often from smaller and more interesting breweries. Licensing rules and the fervour post-independence has led to a flourishing in the Czech brewing scene, and it is healthy enough these days that you will find there will generally be 1 traditional upright-looking town brewery and 1 craft beer/independent brewery with its own taproom or independent pub in nearly every large village upwards. That helps diversify the offering and give the locals a chance to taste something that isn't a Czech staple, ie. something other than Pilsner Urquell, Kozel, Radegast, Gambrinus, Staropramen, Budvar.
Czech beer still centres around lager, indeed Bohemia is at the heart of 'Lagerland'. A Pilsner is a Lager, and Czechs speciality is Czech Pilsner (possibly an oxymoron given Plzen is a Czech city). This can be as straightforward as any lager you have tasted before, or it can be a flavour journey that is almost symphonic in its majesty and panache. Unfiltered, unpasteurised, sometimes krausened or pitched with extra yeast, there are lagers in the country that will make you completely reset your idea of this style of beer and even fall in love with.
Be careful to look at the signage too. Instead of ABV% you will get a ° which indicates the Plato scale. This is a rougher guide to the percentage of alcohol in a beer. The most common are 10, 11 & 12°, all of which are between 3.8-5.3% ABV as a general rule. Czech beer culture both from brewing and the class dynamic has centred around this small range. People on lower incomes will gravitate towards the 10°, usually being the cheaper option, with an occasional 12° (Pilsner Urquell being one) serving as a treat, often enjoyed with a lunch. Decades of experimentation in the breweries, along with family traditions (maintained or lost/recovered) have led to both subtle and striking differences in flavours, texture, aftertaste and drinkability, in a similar way to Franconia or the Upper Palatinate in Germany (with the 1920s Financial Crash / World Wars / Communism causing major disruption inbetween). The beer can be whatever you need it to be - a casual drink to not think too much about, or a truly worthwhile exploration. This is inverted too, sometimes people with no major interest in comparing brands will wax lyrical about a particular tapster who they prefer pouring the beer, and this comes from a time when there really was much less choice about what to drink.
Moving back to the pubs, you have striking examples of highly personalised venues that have gone from being simple and every day to become cult venues, which definitely results from singular efforts to create something a bit different. Prague of course, has the greatest selection of strikingly distinctive venues but don't discount Brno and Ostrava - they have a dynamic and present alternative scene too. You may have to dig around to find anything similar in smaller towns, and, as with everything, what is there one year can have disappeared by the next.
It isn't all about beer, either. The old school wine pub or Vinárna, is still in evidence, albeit vanishing rapidly due to the advancing age of owners and customers that frequent them. These places have a similar appearance to pubs, heavy on the wood panelling and simple rickety charms, though can be smaller and more intimate. Across the lands of former Austro-Hungarian empire there is a simple no-nonsense format that entirely belies Western prejudice about wine drinking being pretentious.
There are quirks to Czech pub going that warrant acknowledging too. Formalities like customer and server greeting one another on entry, normally with 'Dobry den' or 'Dobry večer' if later evening. Some venues still have curtains at the entrance, a throwback to when the gentleman, taking their partner out for the evening, would check around the curtain to see if the venue was suitable. (There were also certain advantages to venues not allowing outsiders direct visible access to what was happening). There are subtler pieces of etiquette to observe too: place the beer mats on the table in advance for the server to use, don't allow the tally slip they will write for your beers to go astray, don't pour the remains of one beer into another. When paying, round up to the nearest whole figure if you've had a few beers, tip at least 10% if you've been eating as well and had good service. When paying, state the number you want to pay, and don't hand the server a big note and say "thanks" (or děkuji), as sometimes they will take the note and not come back with any money! Watch out for a 'cover charge' when eating - this can be justified merely by plonking a bowl of bread on your table. If you don't desire this ask them to remove whatever they've placed straight away. Don't sit at the štamgast (regulars) table (normally the one by the taps) and look out for reserved signs on other tables, which may actually be free if you check the time written on them.
Still, this makes it all sound like a minefield, whereas in fact the joy of Czech pubgoing is its simplicity. Often the streamlined offer of drinks has an effect of binding people together in ritual. While Czechs have an uneasy relationship with tourists (and a dollop of nationalist Chauvinism, hardly unusual for central Europe) their culture brings people inwards, slowly and gradually.
What else to remark on? The fact that many Czech pubs serve beer for the same price as a mineral water? The Herna Bar, 24 hour Non-Stop pubs? The venerated 'Tapster' or 'výčepní' whose job is to pour the beer and leave human interactions to a bare minimum? Yes, there is so much more we could get into here, but for now, we hope this provides a flavour of what's to come.
Ratings Key (0-10)
New In This Year: 🔹
A: Choice and/or quality of drinks
B: Style and décor
C: Atmosphere and feel
D: Amenities, Events & Community
E: Value for money
F: The Pub Going Factor
| Name | Location | A | B | C | D | E | F |
| U Bláhovky | Brno | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9.2 |
| Mýdlo | Brno | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9.2 |
| Blues Bar Traubka | Brno | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9.2 |
| Posledni Leč | Brno | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8.9 |
| U Poutníka | Brno | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8.8 |
| U Alberta | Brno | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8.6 |
| U Všech Svatých | Brno | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8.2 |
| U Daana | Brno | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8.1 |
| Ochutnávková Pivnice | Brno | 9 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8.1 |
| Zastávka | Brno | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.9 |
| Na Šrébráku | Brno | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.8 |
| U Vodičků | Brno | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7.8 |
| U Karla | Brno | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7.8 |
| Pegas Pivnice | Brno | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7.8 |
| Na Můstku🔹 | Brno | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7.8 |
| Air Café 🔹 | Brno | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7.6 |
| U Bomby | Brno Kralovo-Pole | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 |
| KMPCB - Na Mlýnské stoce | České Budějovice | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8.4 |
| Singer | České Budějovice | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8.2 |
| U Černého koníčka | České Budějovice | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8.2 |
| U Nezmara | České Budějovice | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.9 |
| Budvarka | České Budějovice | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7.5 |
| Traveller's Pub | Český Krumlov | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7.6 |
| Na Louži | Český Krumlov | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.6 |
| U Krále Jiřího | Cheb | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7.7 |
| Pivnice Simona 🔹 | Karlovy Vary | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8.2 |
| California Club | Karlovy Vary | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7.6 |
| Hostinec Stoletá 🔹 | Kolín | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Dačický | Kutná Hora | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Radniční sklípek 🔹 | Liberec | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.5 |
| Pivovar Svatý Florian | Loket | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Pivovar Malenovice 🔹 | Malenovice | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8.3 |
| U Kuděje | Olomouc | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9.5 |
| Citadela | Olomouc | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.6 |
| U Floriána | Olomouc | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7.9 |
| Retro Pivnice | Olomouc | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.8 |
| U Musea - Ponorka 🔹 | Olomouc | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7.5 |
| U Zrzavé Mary | Ostrava | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9.1 |
| Kurnik Šopa Hospoda² | Ostrava | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9.0 |
| Vinárna U Bielase | Ostrava | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.9 |
| Mirror Pub | Ostrava | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.9 |
| Hobbit Club | Ostrava | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.8 |
| U Toulavé pípy | Pardubice | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8.0 |
| Café Bajer | Pardubice | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.7 |
| Šenk Na Parkánu | Pilsen | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7.6 |
| U Hrocha | Prague | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 9.7 |
| U Černého vola | Prague | 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9.5 |
| U Sadu | Prague | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9.1 |
| U Vystřelenýho oka | Prague | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8.9 |
| Jelínkova plzeňská pivnice | Prague | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8.8 |
| Klášterní pivnice Prašivka | Prague | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 8.7 |
| U Zlatého tygra | Prague | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.7 |
| První Pivní Tramway | Prague | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8.6 |
| Zlý časy | Prague | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.7 |
| Dejvická Nádražka | Prague | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8.5 |
| Cross Club | Prague | 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8.5 |
| Pivnice Jamajka | Prague | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.5 |
| U Prezidentů | Prague | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8.4 |
| Hostomická Nalévárna | Prague | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8.3 |
| Kasárna Karlin 🔹 | Prague | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8.3 |
| U Pivoje | Prague | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8.2 |
| Vzorkovna | Prague | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8.1 |
| U Rotundy | Prague | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 8.1 |
| U Šumavy 🔹 | Prague | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8.1 |
| U Bansethů | Prague | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7.9 |
| Pivnice Ferdinand | Prague | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7.9 |
| Hospoda Nad Viktorkou | Prague | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7.9 |
| Na Slamníku | Prague | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.9 |
| Café Bar Pilotů 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7.9 |
| U Suchý Dásně | Prague | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.9 |
| U Rumlika 🔹 | Prague | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.9 |
| U Jary | Prague | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Krkonošská hospůdka 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.8 |
| U Tunelu | Prague | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7.8 |
| Marpek Whisky 🔹 | Prague | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Majk L'Atmosphere 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Hangar Pivoteka 🔹 | Prague | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.8 |
| Centrala | Prague | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Hostinec Drinopol | Prague | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Konvikt | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.7 |
| U Rysů 🔹 | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7.7 |
| Bukowski's 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7.7 |
| Mrtvá Ryba 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7.7 |
| Hany Bany | Prague | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7.7 |
| U Buldoka | Prague | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7.7 |
| Na Mělníku | Prague | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.7 |
| Fraktal | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.7 |
| V Lucemburské 🔹 | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.7 |
| Knoflik | Prague | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.7 |
| U Velblouda | Prague | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.6 |
| Klub Ujezd 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7.6 |
| U Rudolfina | Prague | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7.6 |
| U Vejvodů | Prague | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7.6 |
| Bondy Bar 🔹 | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Minirest 🔹 | Prague | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.6 |
| U Medvídků | Prague | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.6 |
| Poctivej Výčep | Prague | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Pivní lokál Ostrý | Prague | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7.6 |
| U Deminky | Prague | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7.6 |
| U Slovanské Lípy | Prague | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7.6 |
| NAPALMĚ | Prague | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Zazemi 2 | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.6 |
| U sv. Antoníčka | Prague | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.6 |
| Absintherie | Prague | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7.5 |
| Na Sekyrce 🔹 | Prague | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.5 |
| Pivnice Na tržišti 🔹 | Prague | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7.5 |
| NAPA Gallery 🔹 | Prague | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Los V Oslu | Prague | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Pivní Jistota 🔹 | Prague | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.5 |
| U báby 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7.5 |
| U houbaře | Prague | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.5 |
| Táborka U Havlu 🔹 | Prague | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7.5 |
| Pivovar Porta Coeli 🔹 | Předklášteří | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Da-da-lie | Raby | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.1 |
| Pivnice U Lva | Tábor | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8.9 |
| Pivnice U Čerta | Třeboň | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.8 |
| U Kovárny 🔹 | Zlín | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 |
| Hospoda Vršava 🔹 | Zlín | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Pivnice U šneka | Znojmo | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.5 |
| Pivnice Na Stadionu | Znojmo | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Hostan Na Kopečku | Znojmo | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.6 |
| Vinoteka Jezuitska | Znojmo | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7.5 |
A working class town on the outskirts of Prague with an excellent and weird brewery near the station. Well worth a diversion from Prague and Karlstejn Castle for that alone.
Brno // pop. 379,526
This large city offers some of Czechia's real highlights when it comes to pubs and bars. Heavily Austrian-influenced while still quintessentially Czech, you can dip into centuries of tradition just by walking through a few doors. The city centre itself is pleasant with a well curated series of tours and museums that really make the most of its heritage. The castle is a nice excursion and there's an abandoned stadium not far from the centre from those abandonia-seekers. As for pubs, everything from the most upright pub-restaurants to the most down n' dirty dive bars can be found. Nightlife is busy, lively, varied and basically magnificent. If you're in the area, we recommend at least 2 nights in Brno to get even half a flavour.
České Budějovice // pop. 93,984
A large town that dominates rural South Bohemia, Budweis was a town with a German majority before the war. Famous for Budvar beer still owned today by the Czech government. The city is compact but retains a historic layout including an impressive central square, which perhaps is now too big for its own good. Nightlife is decent but unspectacular.
Český Krumlov // pop. 13,056
One of Czechia's highlights, an intact Medieval town set on hills around a meandering river. The red roofs, startlingly impressive castle and series of little squares capture the imagination. A popular tourist destination, most daytime places are geared up for tourism, yet there remain several local options to avail oneself of. Unfortunately the fate of central brewery Eggenberg seems to be forever swaying this way and that, so don't visit on any kind of guarantee their beer hall will be open, which is a great shame.
Český Těšín // pop. 24,540
A border town with Polish Cieszyn, effectively a dual town split by language (albeit much is mutually intelligible). The quirky charm of being able to dot from one country to another several times in a few hours remains a novelty. The Polish side is the architectural highlight and offers a traditional brewery, however most of the better pubs - still not great - are on the Czech side.
Cheb // pop. 32,071
This border town has a mixture of historical sights and a market town square that can easily evoke times passed. One of the few Czech towns with the half-timber design on show. There is a small cluster in the centre of busy bars of various descriptions including a nice market town pub, a modern flashy brewpub and basement bottle shop cum bar. You can guarantee real local life and few tourists to speak of.
Karlovy Vary // pop 19,056
A centre overrun with Russian mobsters and Asian tourists, there is no real bar life to speak of other than casinos and drab hotel bars. To find nightlife climb into the hills or walk the other side of town where the locals life, where you can find a typically Czech range of down to earth boozers..
Kroměříž // pop. 28,880
This medium sized town near Olomouc, pronounced 'Krum-yeah-zzheesh' is too easily bypassed, however as a former bishopric it has a disproportionate bounty of religious buildings and an impressive central square that make it a diverting visit for an afternoon. A central brewery and one or two sidestreet pubs offer a reasonable choice, but don't expect anything too dramatic.
Kolín // pop. 31,550
An ignored town in between Prague and the cultural highlights to be found at Kutna Hora, and it doesn't look great from the ride past on the train. However, looks can be deceiving, for a short walk away is a classic Bohemia town of pastel shades, stone towers, a grand town square and preserved Jewish quarter. While low-key, a diverting few hours can be spent here. The pub scene however is fairly poor with only 1 option offering anything distinctive.
Kutná Hora // pop. 20,622
Given Kutná Hora is well on the tourist trail you may expect it to feature more in the way of nightlife. However, the strange long drag and touristic centre seems to have distended the town somewhat. While the town is worth exploring on its own right, it would be nice to find more than just the reasonably pleasant pub restaurant Dačický and a long drag of drab sports bars towards the train station.
Liberec // pop. 104,693
A city of this size should have a far better selection of pubs and bars. I'm afraid I have little to report except the blandest chain bars. Liberec operates as a skiing hub during the winter but out of season it is slightly sodden and drab, as is its nightlife.
Litoměřice // pop 23,980
A sizeable town on the Elbe river with its own quaint backstreets and bustling market square. Unfortunately lacking any great pubs or nightlife, but may be of interest to brewery baggers and anyone that simply loves a good central European town square.
Loket // pop. 3,100
A truly beautiful castle town on a peninsula, its pastel townhouses contrasting with the Medieval look of the castle and its rocky promontory. Being a small town, nightlife is limited but a central brewery and local pub U Gardnera should suffice. Highly recommended, a short public bus from Karlovy Vary.
Mělník // pop. 19,448
On exiting the train station it doesn't feel like the dramatic hilltop town it really is, but climb through the streets to a central square that has more than a hint of a Bastide about it, with the church overlooking the valley bottom and views sweeping for miles. A central brewpub and a couple of half-decent pub options keep things ticking over but it won't stand out for pub-going.
Mikulov // pop. 7,363
In the heart of Czechia's wine region, the hills surrounding this almost fantasy-world town are lined with vines. The vistas and gleaming architecture are attractions well worth a diversion. Although late night activities are inherently limited, there are two breweries and a small handful of reasonable pubs to visit.
Olomouc // pop. 100,408
An amazing city with an unduly low profile, this beautiful town has so much going for it. Dramatically beautiful with a stretch of Czech architecture only matched by Prague itself, two squares which are very atmospheric during festivals and pretty darn impressive on a normal working day too. Nightlife is busy and varied on account of a lively study population, with brewpubs, great hospodas and fairer value than you'll find in the centre other big Czech cities. We really can't stress enough - go to Olomouc!
Ostrava // pop. 289,629
Sprawling and industrial/post-industrial, Ostrava is not a place to go sightseeing unless you are into monolithic pig iron works and panelaky/towerblocks. The historic centre architecturally pales in comparison even to many small towns, however it would be unfair to write off visiting Ostrava, which has plenty to offer outside of the usual Czech attractions while still offering excellent nightlife. Some of the venues may require a tram ride, but there is a reliable core of central pubs that are down to earth and almost entirely visited by locals, a huge benefit versus somewhere like Prague.
Pardubice // pop. 92,000
A provincial city albeit one with an international airport, Pardubice is a fair way down the list of destinations, however its central square, network of canals and nearby castle easily justify an overnight stay. The nightlife lacks a true core and as the city is so spread from West to East, get to know the local public transport to help you along. A few standout pubs and a striking art nouveau cafe should provide a modest spread for the evening, while the usual city brewery and Pilsner Urquell venues provide fallback options.
Pilsen // pop. 171,707
An industrial city with much of its main sights - central square, brewery, football ground on a simple trail. A Pilsner Urquell brewery tour is near compulsory, but the city's central PU pubs like Salzmannu and Na Parkanu are well worth visiting for their tradition and sense of institution. Aside of this, a more provincial offering of nightlife prevails, perhaps a little under-par for a city of its size, although there are craft brewing operations in and around the city boundaries.
Prague // pop. 1,309,040
What to say that hasn't been said? We'll keep it brief. Many of the best bars in the world are situated in Prague, and the city itself has arguably the highest number of pubs per capita of any European city. Pub-life is an ingrained culture whether that's the truly scuzziest drive to a muted kavárna, the social scene can be gauged on a voyage through its storied nightlife. A dozen breweries and thriving craft scene represent just one facet among many. You could visit dozens of times, stay for a month - we have - and still be barely halfway through experiencing what's to offer.
Svitavy // pop. 16,892
Don't go looking for much nightlife in the centre of this disturbingly inert town. A beautiful central square which should be lined with thriving cafés and pubs is eerily quiet even on a weekend. This is not to say there are no options. The typical town brewpub is on the fringes of the centre, there's a casual rock music/hangout spot near the station, but after that, you're left going to an all-night Herna bar. You might make a few friends at the pool table but it's pretty grim. Slim pickings.
Tábor // pop. 34,453
A sizeable town in central/southern Czechia noted for its central involvement in the Hussite wars, with a Museum in the town centre to match. The town's layout is Medieval and builds towards its sloped central square. The backstreets offer lots of opportunity to get lost and you will feel far from home. The nightlife is mediocre with the exception of the fantastic pajzl U Lva.
Třebíč // pop. 35,853
A typical market town with activity centred around its town square. However with a small Jewish quarter and a brewery not far from the centre, there is enough here to merit a stop off in between Brno and Telč.
Telč // pop. 5,313
A tiny town on a peninsula, this is an architectural highlight of South Bohemia with its incredible central square in the most picturesque surroundings. With a new brewing operation, there is just enough nightlife activity with the other workaday options to justify spending a night here.
Tišnov // pop. 9,240
While obscure, a half hour commuter connection to Brno makes this a more compelling choice than some for an excursion. The town centre is pleasant with two hills for nearby hiking, and an adjoining monastery Předklášteří that features one of the best brewpubs in the country.
Třeboň // pop. 8,265
Nestled in the heart of South Bohemia, this is a fishing town set on a lake, with a famous old brewery, castle and exquisitely beautiful town square offering a variety of diversions. It is however a very sleepy place with a pathetically limited array of nightlife offerings - with the exception of U Čerta which reopened this year.
Turnov // pop. 14,310
Small town Czechia, the pub offerings are typically limited, with two modern brewpubs and a tiny handful of scuzzy, local hospodas - some friendly, some unwelcoming. Oddly, 3 cushion pool is quite popular around here, you may notice tables and old crusties grumbling along with their games. A couple of bars provide an alternative to beer, but it's a low key offering overall.
Zlín // pop. 74,385
A surprisingly large settlement, the 11th largest in the country as it happens. Famous for Bat'a shoes, possibly the most iconic Czech brand after Skoda. A small village until the turn of the 20th century where an industrialist family - then the socialist government - decided to turn it into a modern metropolis. The effect these days is in sharp contrast to nearby Olomouc with its medieval squares and Italianate architecture. Here you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the suburbs of a provincial town in the US, were it not for the Czech signage. Set by a river, but typically for the era, not making best use of it as a focal point. Large residential blocks are built into the hills on the North side while downtown is to be found on the South bank. Trolleybuses trundle along the main thoroughfares west to east, and it's easy to get around. This is useful because the village of Malenovice is worth visiting for its brewery and castle, while there are suburban pubs worth reaching. In the city centre there are a few lively pubs - it's hardly Prague, but it's substantially better than many towns.
Znojmo // pop. 33,757
Well worth a visit, this is a wine town by any Czech standards but beer is really fighting for attention. With a range of Vinotekas, 2 breweries and some decent pubs, nightlife can be found in different shapes and sizes. Very atmospheric in summer with valley views, towers and terrace socialising.