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Once known for its crumbling tenements and shuttered storefronts, the Prague neighborhood of Vršovice has transformed into a district of independent cafés, restaurants, and boutiques—frequently compared to Montmartre or Kreuzberg for its bohemian appeal and local color.
At the heart of the district is hilly Krymská Street, a storied boulevard named in 1947 after the Black Sea island of Crimea. The street’s revival began in 2010 when Ondřej Kobza opened his Café V Lese, sparking a wave of new bars, cafés, galleries, and cultural happenings.
In 2013, the first edition of Korso Krymská took place, marking the start of what would become one of Prague’s largest annual block parties. The event returns this weekend on Saturday, May 24.
Grassroots start to marquee event
Radek Motlík, who manages Café V Lese and oversees programming for the festival, remembers its beginnings as a grassroots gathering.
“Initially, it was a local event with a small number of businesses and a strong sense of community belonging,” he says.
After a four-year pause due to street construction and the pandemic, the festival has since become more structured. Today, with support from the city, Korso Krymská is more organized, featuring professional staging, security, toilets, and cleanup crews—services previously handled informally or not at all.
The event remains deeply connected to local businesses and residents but welcomes visitors from across Prague and beyond. Although no ticket sales make exact attendance numbers difficult to estimate, Motlík expects several thousand visitors throughout the day, even if the weather is unfavorable. An additional stage will be set up in a nearby building garage this year.
Largest number of vendors yet
Motlík adds that this year’s lineup features the largest number of participating vendors to date, many of them serving up local and international flavors.
Rooster Gourmet will be grilling Přeštice pork sausages, served in wholegrain rolls from a Žižkov bakery. Raclette U Sýraku offers melted French cheese over potatoes and toasted bread. Bao Bao Xiang serves clay pot rice with crispy crusts, Chinese sausage, and vegetables.
Zmrzlina Cream & Dream will be scooping traditional Italian gelato, while Churros Chocos prepares cinnamon-dusted churros with chocolate or caramel and crushed almonds. To drink, visitors can enjoy Italian-style spritzes from Ciao Spritz or craft beer from Galerie Piva.
But it’s not just foodies who’ll find something to sink their teeth into: Boutiques, books, sewing workshops, and even salons will have a presence at this year’s event.
“Almost every business on Krymská Street takes part in Korso,” says Motlík. “It’s a collective effort for local shops, cafes, and services to showcase what they offer and strengthen ties within the neighborhood.”
How to spend the day at Korso Krymská like a local
Planning to join the festivities? Motlík shares tips for experiencing the event from day to night.
- Early arrival? Come around noon to beat the crowds and take full advantage of what all the vendors have to offer—perfect timing for a relaxed Saturday lunch. A DJ will be spinning from midday, setting a sunny soundtrack for your street stroll.
- Midday chill? As the afternoon kicks in, so do the cocktails, street food, and live music. Local teenage talents Bea.K and Beata Myslikova take the stage early, and even the neighborhood kids get involved—selling homemade bakes and crafts.
- Afterdark version? Stick around after sunset for the afterparty scene. Café V Lese will host legendary Slovak rapper Vec for a DJ set, or explore other beloved local bars for more good drinks and live sets deep into the night.
- What about kids? Krymská keeps things family-friendly, too. The Café V Lese stage will feature a puppet theater performance of Golem, and the street will have large foam blocks for play, plus cotton candy, ice cream, and other kid-approved treats.
Korso Krymská takes place on May 24, 2025. See Facebook event here.
