This place is quite expensive, so it’s kind of natural expecting excellent service. My last visit was horrible. I came with group of people-5. At the end of the night we wanted to pay separately (ooooo, what a sin paying separately in a "posh" place). The made a big fuss about that, but at the end they allowed us to pay separately. Thanks!! My friend wanted to pay with the credit cars, as she didn’t have cash. But they didn’t allowed her to pay, because they accept credit cards only if you spend more than 300 PKC (on the credit card). Very welcoming approach I have to admit! And the best surprised came at the end! The charged us some special SERVICE CHARGE. Interesting. I never played service charge in this place...wondering how they decided to charge it this time. Do one Mojito 165 Kc plus 40 Kc service charge! For what service? Bringing one drink? After we went to another cocktail bar. The atmosphere was better, drinks the same and bigger for reasonable praces and no "service charge". So, I dont think I will go to this bar again....thanks.

I used to be a big fan of this place.....

A nice quiet retreat where you can find some great wine and whisky (at a premium).....in a pleasant atmosphere.

However my last visit was very dissapointing.

They have a policy now where you have to give them your coat - which they hang up outside the toilet. I politely declined and asked if i didn't, i would not be able to stay....whcih was confirmed - as it was their 'rule'..... so i left, and will never be back.

First question would be - why the coat rule?
Second question - isn't the customer always right? Shouldn't that be their rule?

I now see Bar and Books for what it really is - a small, overpriced, rather pretentious and kitsch.

My advice - find somewhere that is not trying too hard to be something it isn't.

<i>

Response from Bar & Books:

Dear Michael,



The coat check rule prevents garments from going missing, getting damaged during service and disrupting patrons in our admittedly small premises. The reviewer once was a “great fan” and, suddenly, has written us off completely due to our polite request that he follow a simple house rule. There is not much that is “right” about this reviewer´s disregard for others who have come to enjoy a civilized bar experience without worrying about an avalanche of coats in their personal space.



sincerely



Martina Pestova

managing partner</i>

stumbled across it in a quiet street of prague , looked okay from outside so went in to have a drink.
tries to give you a feel of sophistication , but is far from sophisticared , 80's music by abba , boney m etc, too small , tables are too small , infact the place is far too small, feels claustorphobic if too many people are in it.
best avoided as is too expensive but doesnt warrant the prices on the menu and wine /whisky list.

Just returned from another amazing weekend in Prague and once again a weekend at Bar and Books.

The service was even better this time than the last. From our first visit last time (see previous review) to my second visit, we have become friends rather than customers!

We emailed the owner in advance who booked bar seats for my party for Friday and Saturday night. The service again was the best in Prague and the company there as alway was first class.

This place for me is Prague. I now have the honour of having my own book from bar and books and my own space on the bookshelf so that the owner can remeber me when i am not there. As there is only one other person she has done this for, i would say that's a pretty exclusive club and was a heartwarming moment for me.

From drinking in this bar, we have been accepted into Czech society, we were invited to lunch at a Czech's house, and have been invited to sample Prague with them next time we go.

Again i cannot believe the previous comments as this time the experiance was even better than last. I guess we go in there as decent honest people who enjoy socialising, drinking and having a good laugh. We also do not judge people before we have gotten to know them. And by doing this we have made great friends who, to me, make the visits all the more worth while.

I love this city, the people are great and so is Bar and Books. Already planning the next visit to spend new year with my new friends.

Well all i can personally say is whats above. What a place. I have never been any where in the world like Bar & Books! My friend's who have previousley been to Prague have also been to Bar and Books and they took me in ther for the first time this september. They never told me what it was going to be like, they just let me see for my self what the experience was going to be. I have never been looked after so well anywhere in all my life. The level of service that you recieve from the Bar & Books staff is second to none. Where can you order a bottle of wine or a beer and have you glass refilled as soon as it is empty, When you go to light a cigarette they light it for you before you can even get to your own lighter. The staff are so friendly toward the clientel, so much so that i have made several czech friend's who i now keep intouch with. Bar and Book's owner Martina Pestova is such a lovely woman who looked after me so well whilst i was in prague and for this i thank her very much! Also thank you to her staff that also looked after me very well whilst in Bar & Books and also outside of Bar and Books whilst staying in prague. I look forward to my return journey to prague and most deffinatly Bar and Books in the new year period. I have read other reviews about bar and books and please believe me that other people have it all wrong when they are saying bad things!

I cannot believe some of the comments posted below about this place. I have just returned from 4 days in Prague and found bar and books to be quite simply the best place to go in the city.

The service is second to non and i cannot think of any other place where you will recieve the level of service that the staff in Bar and books furnish upon you.

Yes it's not the cheapest place in Prague to drink, but we found prices were in line with the UK, however, what you do get is first class service.

Imagine a bar where your champagne is always served with fresh iced strawberrys and your glass always filled up by the bar staff, where as soon as you take a cigarette out of your packet it is lit for you, a place where fresh bar snacks are always served with a smile and even a place where if you do not like the music it is changed for you. This is Bar and books.

We met some lovely czech people in there who we will keep in touch with, and the ownere of the bar, Martina, is one of the most civil and polite people i have ever met in the czech republic. She even came down to see us on our last night to wish us a safe journey home.

I liked the place so much, i am flying to Prague for my birthday this year just to take my friends to this bar.

This is a non tourist bar that caters for the czech elite. If you are happy to spend some money rather than buy 35czk beer then go to bar and books, i can assure you that you will be treated like royalty

Well this place is definitely different from other bars I have visited in Prague. It´s nice in that it is quite small and chilled out, no loud music and its relatively empty so you don´t have to put up with people trampling all over you.

Unfortunately that´s where the positive remarks end, as the reviews above have said the wine list is not particularly interesting, the cocktails are overpriced (we ran up a 6 000 bill without drinking too much) the service is friendly (except one tall women who looked like the manager/owner) but slow.

You will find 2 types of people in Bar And Books:
1 Praha style Yappies as described here:

http://www.expats.cz/prague/t-132408.html

2 Middle aged American “business man” wearing cheap suits and imitation Rolex with over dressed Czech companions.

So in summary this a good place to smoke a cigar while washing it down with a whiskey or to entertain a younger less seasoned girl. However if you are looking for a nice classy place to have a relaxing drink I suggest you keep looing.

This is the place to go if you like:

1: Cigars
2: Whisky
3: James Bond "Sophistication"

The name fooled me - I expected it to be a literary place - instead the books are mere decorations. The main focus here is on expensive cigars and whisky (neither of which I am interested in). Fancy snacks and modest wines are both pricey - and best avoided.

Maybe it was just the night I went, but most of the other folks there appeared to be overdressed and attempting to be "sophisticated": balding businessmen "impressing" women with stories of their "great achievements" and glitzy 30-something women hanging on to their appearance with fake tans and sparkly dresses.

If you like such things, you will love the place. I should have gone to a čajovna instead.

Let's be positive: it is quiet; not too many guests when I went; no boom boom music; nice cigar smoke. But the Stewardess (see earlier review) was somewhat officious, the prices somewhat long and the choice rather short (unless you are a malt buff).

This is a very nice bar, quite small, very chilled, the Whiskey sampler is good.

Staff speak English, the lady table staff dress like air stewardesses in red outfits.

They don't do 'proper' food though - just nibbles.

Oh its pretty expensive, its a bit like being in a nice place in the UK - so maybe you don't want to take locals there unless you are paying, or they are unlike most of the Czechs I've met!

Bar and Books has become the place I like to go to relax after a long day in the office. I love that it does not have loud banging music, and you can sit and enjoy your drink and cigar in peace. Not to mention that it is the only place in town that makes a perfect martini, just like back home.