Glamorous First Republic Pastry Shop Returns to Prague

Myšák cukrárna in downtown Prague was a First Republic institution, a pastry shop frequented by Czech celebrities like Oldřich Nový, Ema Destinnová, and president Tomáš G. Masaryk who once hosted a birthday party amid its lavish interiors.

František Myšák’s confectionery, established as early as 1904, was considered among the best in Europe, eventually moving to a building on Vodičkova street with an exquisite Rondocubist exterior; inside the luxurious furniture, crystal chandeliers, and polished display cases filled with signature cakes provided additional candy for the eye.

Myšák was famed for its orange pancakes and caramel ice cream, punch cake and little “coffins” with whipped cream as well as its baskets of marzipan mushrooms made especially for Expo 1958 in Brussels.

The building collapsed in 2006 and reopened in 2008; for the past several years it has remained shuttered.

Now the legendary establishment has been revamped under the direction of the Ambiente Restaurant Group.

“The company is run by Café Savoy. They will deliver sweets and also try to restore some of the original recipes of the Myšák confectionery,” said Tomáš Karpíšek, co-owner of Ambiente.

Architect Tereza Froňková worked with respect to the original look of the café from the 1920s.

“The bottom floor of the patisserie has been renovated in cooperation with conservationists, but there is nothing left at the top because the house fell 10 years ago, leaving only the facade,” she said.

Master Bohemian glassmakers Preciosa have crafted chandeliers of stylized glass fruits, mushrooms, and animals while gold-accented velvet tapestries add a luxe finish. Signature ice cream sundaes are served in crystal dishes from Rückl inspired by their 1930s catalog.

The new management says it will offer deluxe breakfasts, classic desserts, and selective coffees.

The Ambiente-helmed sweet shop stands in the exact same location as the confectionery shop of František Myšák, which opened in 1911.

Myšák cukrárna at Vodičkova 710/31 is open from Mon-Fri 7:30-20:00 and Sat-Sun 9:00-20:00.