Escape Prague’s summer crowds and heat at this garden oasis in the heart of the center

It’s that time of year again. Prague is bursting at the seams with tourists and finding a quiet spot to chill in the city center is becoming increasingly more challenging. But not impossible.  

Slovanský dům – the historic palace along Na příkopě street offering a mix of shopping, restaurants, entertainment and a hidden courtyard shaded by centuries-old plane trees – is a popular hideaway for locals looking to escape the crushing summertime crowds.   

Linger with a book in its well-manicured neo-baroque garden that surrounds a huge metal sculpture resembling a shimmering bird’s nest titled “Subtile” by the Czech-Argentine artist Federico Díaz.

Enjoy some gelato or a mid-morning latte. Do a bit of shopping down Slovanský dům’s labyrinthine passageways, exclusive home to several fashion brands on the Czech market.

Have your pick of breakfast, lunch or dinner spots, offering a range of cuisine choices sure to satisfy any palette. Watch a summer blockbuster in the cinema hall.        

Cap your day with drinks with friends at a wine bar offering free snacks with every glass or at a top-shelf cocktail lounge. Slovanský dům will also host five special gastronomic evenings over the summer, with different culinary themes, live music and a “drink what you can” spirit.

You could conceivably spend your entire day discovering the delights of this 17th-century classicist gem, which has served the needs of knights, noble lords and artisans over the years. 

Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.  

Slovanský dům has seven restaurants under one roof, many of which provide indoor and outdoor seating. You can grab breakfast or a light lunch at Crystal Gardens. The restaurant turns into a cocktail bar later in the day, providing an extensive mixed-beverage list and live music outside Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  

The neighboring wine bar Advivum, meanwhile, offers a free snack of your choice with every glass of wine ordered on weekdays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. through the end of September. You can taste unusual roasted artichokes, bruschetta with olive tapenade, chorizo and sun-dried tomatoes, sardines or mozzarella balls with truffles. If you don't splurge by ordering a whole bottle at once, you'll get this snack offer in unlimited quantities.

The all-you-can menu at Brasileiro Slovanský dům, part of the Ambiente chain, is a big draw. Guests can enjoy sampling charcoal-grilled meats, Brazilian sushi, fish, and salad. The meat, circulating around the room by the restaurant’s well-heeled wait staff, is cut to order right off the skewer at your table. 

The Italian cuisine at the award-winning Kogo is also popular. The menu includes homemade pasta, fresh seafood, Tuscan steaks and salads. A smart, cozy atmosphere makes an ideal setting for business lunches as well as romantic dinners. 

BAŠU focuses on dishes from China’s Sichuan province. Meals include Beijing duck, stewed beef and mapo tofu. BAŠU Hotpot, by comparison, aims to add a bit more flare to your lunch or dinner experience. There you are seated at a special table and served a pot of boiling water, allowing you to cook whatever you please from the menu – whether it be seafood, meat slices or fresh veggies.

Dhaba Beas is part of a network of vegetarian and vegan self-service restaurants, offering traditional Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Czech cuisine. The spot is a favorite with Slovanský dům office workers looking for a quick lunch-hour fix.   

For dessert or to cool down on a hot summer day, try Puro Gelato. In true Italian fashion, the gelato here is delivered fresh each day. 

The retail mix at Slovanský dům is vast. You’ll find a number of well-known retailers like Weekend Max Mara, Nike, Bikkembergs and Baldinini alongside charming boutiques like Nairi Flowers, which sells interior design items, home decorations, and quality flowers, and premium chocolatier Steiner & Kovarik, where you can pick up excellent freeze-dried strawberries.  

Bikkembergs, a fashion brand known for its sports-inspired designs, and American Vintage, a ready-to-wear clothing line for men and women, have their only locations in the Czech Republic in this famed shopping arcade.   

The Ukrainian concept store ÓDYAH, also exclusive to the Prague market, showcases clothing from more than a dozen Ukrainian fashion brands and designers. It opened in 2022 as part of a growing number of shops, restaurants and other small businesses that have been popping up around the capital following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Cinema City operates 10 screening halls here, making Slovanský dům one of the prime locations to catch a movie in the city center.

Cinema City will have a promotion "UŽIJ SI CHUŤ VÝHRY,” which will run from July 4 to August 14. Anyone who buys a whole menu from the cinema operator’s snack bar will win a prize. The main prize will be a new Škoda Scala Monte Carlo, while other prizes include free tickets, refreshments and much more.  

For a special treat, check out Slovanský dům’s impressive Empire Hall. Offering more than 1,600 sqm of space, the Art Deco-style hall hosts jazz concerts, gala dinners, business conferences, weddings and other social events.

Don’t miss touring the underground service tunnels that run beneath Slovanský dům and Prague’s Old Town. The tunnels lead to the palace’s shopping arcade and will provide you with a unique perspective of the Czech capital.