Café review: Monolok

What’s really crucial to the success or failure of any kavárna though is the quality of what’s on the menu. The cappuccino I had (45 CZK), proffered on a small oval tray with an accompanying shot of sparkling water, was very good. As it was a Sunday morning I decided to treat myself to some lívance with crème fraiche and maple syrup (85 CZK). I feel it’s my duty to point out that Monolok offers healthier breakfast options but to hell with those – it’s the weekend! When the pancakes arrived, I was a little disappointed: while the nouveau cuisine presentation may have looked chic, the portion size was a bit small. At least they had been freshly prepared, as I discovered when I scalded my mouth on the first mouthful – and you couldn’t fault them tastewise, either.

Once my brunchtime treat had been polished off, I decided to test another hot beverage: the překapávaná káva (65 CZK), a drip cone coffee which comes in a little glass jug with a large expresso cup. Perhaps I’m missing the point, but it seemed a bit watery. As if he were able to read my mind, the waiter raced over with a sample of the beans from which the drink had been made: “Doubleshot” Nicaragua, apparently. He waved the open paper bag under my nose and encouraged me to inhale the aroma while enthusing about the quality of the brand. It’s possible all this attentive customer service isn’t standard, as it’s possible I blew my cover by scribbling frantically in my notebook throughout my visit. However, the staff did seem generally friendly: no-one seemed to mind, for example, when I flicked through the books which were clearly meant for decoration.