Choosing where to go for a drink in Prague means first knowing what to avoid. Don't go anywhere near the sports bars on and around Ve Smeckach in the New Town, or the English and Irish pubs in the center of the city, unless you enjoy the company of drunk stag parties. Although those gatherings are now migrating to elsewhere in Eastern Europe, Prague still gets a number of them and they're the last thing you'll want to bump into as you bar-hop. Instead, enjoy a good old Czech beer at one of the bars recommended below, usually frequented by locals and expats. When you feel like dancin', most clubs are very unpretentious and cater to those who love the MTV Dance and upbeat house music.
These are the places worth checking out:


Bugsy's Bar
A favorite of the well-heeled business crowd, this bar has a huge list of cocktails which together with the location right off one of Old Town's main shopping streets keeps it crowded from early in the evening until closing time.

Barego
For after-dinner drinks, the diffused lighting of this bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel makes it one of the most sophisticated options in Prague. It has an Eastern flavor (East Asian and East European), with live musicians creating the perfect atmosphere as you drink the signature champagne cocktail.

Tretter's Bar
Hoping to recreate a piece of New York in Prague, this bar was a trendsetter when it opened. It offers classic cocktails in the dark wood interior, evoking the Big Apple of the 1930s. Live jazz is the soundtrack once a week.

Club Roxy
Formerly an art deco cinema, this is a slightly alternative hotspot, although it often hosts some of the country's top DJs. Before the nightclub dancing starts there are often performances and live music, especially on weekdays. The best days to show up are naturally Friday and Saturday, when there's a better chance that you won't find the place empty. Still, the chill-out space with its "ice bar" look is a good option on any day.

Mecca
When the world's top DJs are in town, they'll likely end up spinning at this former warehouse. It's as close to Ibiza as the local fashionistas get, and in fact very few tourists show up here due to the location away from the center of the city. But it's worth going out of your way to find it. You can sit in the cool lounge that serves excellent cocktails, although this is best for those who love to dance, joining everyone on the huge dancefloor for the deep house beats.

Misch Masch
A cinema complex was transformed into this now industrial-looking club with various dancefloors. A good-looking crowd sits at the lounge before returning for dancing and body-rubbing on the dancefloor.

M1 Secret Lounge
A DJ plays chill-out sounds as a hip crowd of all ages sits on the comfortable couches having a beer or cocktail. It's a cool place with an industrial-chic interior, and always a good bet at night.

Solidni Nejistota
A sophisticated but unpretentious crowd gathers at this bar lit in shades of red. It also serves meals, and there's space for dancing too.

Radost Fx
One of the hottest clubs in the city for some time now, RadostFX was once ranked as one of the top 10 clubs in Europe by Ministry of Sound magazine. It continues to host some of the world's best DJs, and has reached the status of a city institution. By the entrance is a highly recommended vegetarian restaurant, while the dancing takes place downstairs. The décor is constantly changing, keeping the ambience always fresh and updated.

Duplex
Although the plan apparently was for an exclusive club, you may just come across one of the dreaded British stag parties here. Still, this is worth checking out, with its 7th floor location in one of the city's tallest buildings offering spectacular city views. The interior décor and music are not bad either.