Beneath Prague's Old Town Square, a legendary bar crafts creative cocktails

Located just below the streets of Prague's most historic district, Black Angel’s Bar is the kind of spot that reminds you why people once dressed up for cocktails. Hidden inside 600-year-old vaulted Gothic cellars lined with original stonework, the bar channels the spirit of a 1930s speakeasy, where dim lighting, live music, and sharply executed drinks create an experience that is both intimate and theatrical.

As one of Prague’s earliest craft cocktail bars, Black Angel’s remains remarkably uninterested in gimmickery, something increasingly rare in the center these days. Despite its prime Staré Město location, the space, tucked below Hotel U Prince, feels more like a late night hideaway than a stop along the tourist circuit.

Part of that atmosphere comes from the bar’s own mythology. During the reconstruction of the cellar, workers reportedly uncovered the writings and sketches of Alois Krcha, a First Republic-era bartender whose travels, ideas and fascination with symbolism now shape much of the cocktail menu, which moves confidently between classics and original creations.

In a nod to Krcha, you’ll find drinks like Scarface Mary, a sharper, darker take on the Bloody Mary, alongside Blind Tiger, and Alois’s White Lady, a citrus-driven blend with a clean, elegant finish. 

Novelist Dan Brown, a fan of Black Angel’s, which made a cameo in his latest thriller, also gets top billing with a selection that echoes his titles in flavor and mood, including the spicy Inferno and a smoother Search for the Secret.  

Beyond the literary references, you’ll find a carefully selected range of spirits, champagne and wine. Bartenders also turn out balanced Negronis, clean Old Fashioneds and seasonal beverages with the kind of precision that avoids unnecessary flourishes. Non-alcoholic cocktails and mocktails receive the same level of care. 

A concise menu of light bites designed for lingering over drinks rather than formal dining. Service strikes a balance many bars aim for and few achieve. Attentive without hovering, polished without stiffness.

Black Angel’s has long attracted an international crowd of expats, visitors and locals looking for a more atmospheric alternative to the usual Old Town fare. It’s the kind of spot that treats a night out as something worth lingering over. 

Reservations are recommended later in the evening. House rules are understated but worth noting: smart casual dress is preferred, large groups are generally limited, and photography is kept discreet in keeping with the mood of the room.