Across from Prague’s National Theatre, Café Slavia pairs coffee and pastries with a view over the Vltava, Prague Castle and the theatre. Opened in 1884, it became a meeting place for artists, writers and political dissidents, including Václav Havel. Inside, Art Deco details, chandeliers and large windows set the scene for a leisurely stop. Come for cappuccino, hot chocolate or apple strudel; food is available too, though the menu gets more mixed reactions than the café’s setting.
A café opposite the National Theatre
Café Slavia opened in 1884, as the National Theatre across the road drew performers and audiences to the area. The café became a meeting place for artists and writers, among them theatre figures, poets and members of the Čapek family. Václav Havel was also a regular. During the years when he and other dissidents gathered there, the café had a place in the city’s political as well as cultural life.
The café closed for reconstruction after 1989 and later reopened. Havel supported its return. Its long connection with Prague’s cultural life remains part of what sets a visit apart from an ordinary coffee stop.
Windows, chandeliers and river views
The large main salon has an Art Deco character, with mirrors, crystal chandeliers and broad windows. From a table by the windows at the back, you can look across the Vltava towards Petřín, with its miniature Eiffel Tower, and Prague Castle. The National Theatre stands directly opposite.
For the clearest outlook, request a seat at the back of the salon. The views are a draw in their own right, so allow time to sit with a drink rather than treating the café as a quick takeaway stop. Live piano music adds to the room’s atmosphere.
Coffee, pastries and a longer menu
Coffee and dessert suit the setting: the menu includes cappuccino, espresso, cheesecake and apple strudel. You can also order hot chocolate or try Káva Slavia, coffee prepared with green liqueur and topped with whipped cream. Crêpes Suzette and Czech pancakes are other options associated with the café.
The menu extends to full meals, including goulash, duck confit and Wiener schnitzel. Reactions to the food are mixed, so a pastry and coffee are a safer fit if the view and historic interior are your main reasons for coming. Beer is also served, making the café an option beyond the usual coffee break.
Häufige Fragen
Where is Café Slavia?
It is at Národní 1 in Prague, opposite the National Theatre and beside the Vltava River.
When did Café Slavia open?
The café opened in 1884 and became a meeting place for artists, writers and political dissidents.
What can you see from Café Slavia?
The large windows look towards the Vltava, Prague Castle and the National Theatre. Seats at the back of the main salon are recommended for the view.
What should you order at Café Slavia?
Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries such as apple strudel or cheesecake suit a café stop. Káva Slavia combines coffee with green liqueur and whipped cream.
