Prague Billiards Guide

When playing a game of billiards, it is usually not a good idea to scratch. It would be an equally poor idea for you to merely scratch the surface of the plethora of establishments available in Prague in which to play this great game. Whether you prefer an elegant game of snooker, a straight up game of billiards such as 9-ball or even some of the more eccentric versions of the game such as carom billiards (karamboly), there are no shortage of options here in the heart of Europe. The key for those of you looking for a place to play is to remember that each billiard hall has its own unique ambience and finding one that is perfect for you might take a little looking. Ex-Pats is here to help streamline that search and lead you to your ideal green felt paradise.

If size and spectacle are what you are looking for in a billiard hall then you simply must make a trip down to Billiard Centrum V Cípu (V Cípu 1), which is located just a short walk from Wenceslas Square. After traversing down a dark and dingy alleyway the last thing one expects to find is the largest billiard hall in all of Prague, but if you seek it out you will be pleasantly surprised. Upon entrance you will be taken aback by the impossibly high ceilings and giant crystal chandeliers overlooking the sea of green felt below. It is a beautiful setup which is home to 28 pool tables scattered throughout the multi-floor interconnected assortment of rooms. Whether you prefer to be in the main room amongst the buzz of your fellow patrons and the sweet sound of balls being broken all around you or would rather be tucked away in a much more private room with that special person on a night out, Billiard Centrum will meet your needs. Any one of the 18 billiard tables, regardless of room, can be rented for a very reasonable 95-125 CZK/hr. The 3 carom tables (75-95 CZK/hr), 2 snooker tables (110-150 CZK/hr) and 5 Russian pyramid tables (125-165 CZK/hr) can also be played for a very fair price. The lower rates are available from 11:00-17:00 with the higher rates taking effect from 17:00-02:00.

Although billiards are definitely the main draw here there is plenty more to discover if you go wandering through the facility. Around each corner are more games rooms filled with an assortment that includes: 7 ping pong tables (80 CZK/hr), 2 bowling alleys (200-300 CZK/hr), 3 foosball tables, 3 dart machines and a room for playing chess and poker. Searching out these various rooms may feel a little like going on a scavenger hunt at a dilapidated old church yet somehow it feels just right. If you do work up an appetite trekking around the facility though, you will most likely want to fill your stomach elsewhere as the one weakness of Billiard Centrum seems to be their menu which contains only a small assortment of snacks such as nuts or chips. The drinks however are aplenty.

For players who appreciate a touch of class and a dose of culture in their ideal destination for a game of billiards, a trip to Café Louvre (Národni 22) should top your list. Affording yourself the opportunity to enjoy some Czech beer or fine wine while hitting a few balls in a café once frequented by the likes of Franz Kafka and Albert Einstein does provide you with a unique and memorable ambience. One visit will provide you with enough insight to understand why such luminaries would have kept coming back. The café´s beautiful large windows with arched window frames looking out onto the street allow for abundant amounts of sunlight to enhance the soft pastel shades of the walls. From copious amounts of marble to the dazzling array of mirrors it certainly is unique and breathtaking. Considering how beautiful it is the very reasonable prices seem too good to be true.

If you find yourself near Jiřího z Podébrad station take a short walk over to Billiard Club Řipská (Řipská 24). Located in the former Slavia cinema, Řipská has its 18 pool tables laid out like a gauntlet in front of you when you walk in. Thirteen billiard tables including both 8 ft. and 9 ft. versions (60-130 CZK/hr), 4 carom tables (60-115 CZK/hr) and 1 snooker table (130-150 CZK/hr) constitute your playground at this charming club. It is usually booked quite full, so calling ahead 24 hrs. for a reservation (224251430) is recommended. If you find your stomach starts to growl while you´re there take a look at Řipská´s extensive menu with a wide variety of dinner options. All are reasonably priced with most dishes costing less than 130 CZK and available to order until 01:00. You will also find the service to be very attentive with both empty glasses and full ash trays being a rare sight. Řipská is available to serve its customers from 12:00-02:00 every day of the week.

After your first visit to Řipská, if you find it to your liking and wish to return for some more serious competition, 9-ball and 10-ball tournaments are held every Sunday at 18:15 for some attractive prize money. They also host a darts tournament every Thursday at 20:00 which can be entered for only 60 CZK.

For a nice game of pool intertwined with a little history of the game one should venture to Billiard Club Balabuška (Michelská 19/16). The club is named after George Balabushka, a legendary producer of billiard cues known as the “Stradivarius” of billiard cue manufacturers. His cues were featured in the classic Scorsese movie The Color of Money with Paul Newman and Tom Cruise and they routinely fetch tens of thousands at auction. While you won´t find a priceless cue awaiting your use here you will find 14 beautiful tables available for play from 14:00-02:00 every day. Among the array of tables are 11 Brunswick billiard tables (59-135 CZK/hr), 2 carom tables (59-120 CZK/hr) and 1 Willie Holt snooker table (90-150 CZK/hr). Due to the popularity of Mr. Balabushka´s namesake it would be wise to book a reservation (241482331) at least 14 hrs. in advance.

On a night that you find yourself interested in having some great restaurant quality food with some pool on the side you should entertain the idea of attending the Grill Billiard Club (Kafkova 47). As you can tell by the name, the focus here is more on the food than the pool, yet both are intertwined exceptionally well. A full assortment of grilled food from steaks and wings to fresh salmon or trout, Greek specialties and even duck or goose await your taste buds. Next to your comfortable booth sits one of 5 pool tables (3 billiards, 2 carom) ready to be enjoyed. The atmosphere of the place is enhanced quite intriguingly by the prehistoric-looking robotic dinosaur murals adorning the walls. If you just reread that sentence trying to picture them I suggest you head on over to Prague 6 and have a look for yourself.

When you are searching for a place to play make sure you don´t only include places with billiard in the name otherwise you would miss out on a place like the Bowling Bar (Ruská 88). Although it is primarily a bowling establishment it has a separate billiard room designed for the quiet enjoyment of the game. Whether you are looking to avoid the excess noise or smoke of a normal billiard hall or you simply want a change of pace to provide a more private feel for you and a date, Bowling Bar´s billiard room would be a good place to investigate. The room contains four well-kept tables (3 billiard, 1 carom) available to play for only 90 CZK/hr at whatever time you choose to play during their hours of 15:00-24:00. The room is furnished with a series of comfy leather couches completing the relaxed feel that Bowling Bar was able to create.

A lot of times as an ex-pat you find yourself wanting to participate in a particular activity, unfortunately the friends you would do it with are in another country. If you find yourself in this situation when it comes to billiards you should look into joining the ICQ Pool League. It is the largest pool league in Prague with nearly 200 members and it cycles through two month seasons throughout the year so the opportunity to join and start playing is never far off. You can register free of charge on their website in a matter of minutes and wait for the new season to start. The league is divided into three levels based on skill and you can work your way into being promoted into the top tier in a similar fashion to what you would see in English football. Their website also provides extensive stat-tracking and full leaderboards for you to easily chart your progress.

While some treat the various billiard games as purely a leisure opportunity, there are others who take it seriously enough to warrant them purchasing their own cue or possibly even a table for their home. If this describes anyone you know, you should check out Billard-Centrum (V Pitkovičkách 11). This is the sister website to the aforementioned largest billiard hall in Prague and it sells a wide variety of tables as well as all accessories needed for all types of billiard games. It is a very well organized website, a necessity due to the size of their inventory, which includes not only equipment but also DVD´s and literature on billiards.