Kavárna Obecní Dum

This grand café, located on the ground floor of the landmark Municipal House, evokes old-world Europe. The Art Nouveau interior has been beautifully refurbished with antique chandeliers and mahogany tables, and the arched windows open onto the sidewalk, where food is served in summer. The Czech cuisine is good, but you come here for the historic atmosphere. Be sure to see the rest of the building for its frescoes.

Note: There are two other restaurants in this building. The French one on the ground floor has a similarly fabulous interior (which, unfortunately, is too brightly lit much of the time) and serves food that is not only grossly overpriced but also fails to live up to the atmosphere. There’s also a Czech pub in the basement where inspirations from Czech folklore abound by way of carved wooden booths, folk-art stenciling, and social realist murals. Utterly transporting, the pub is a good option if you’re attending a performance in the concert hall later on and want to try some authentic Czech food beforehand.