Café review: Můj šálek kávy

Můj šálek kávy

I have a turbulent relationship with Karlín. A bad first impression sticks, and due to a couple of false starts and some unfortunate weather-related incidents, I spent much of my first year in Prague convinced that it was a dreary, grey place with a metro station whose name I could never pronounce.

Even on a cold day, inside is a treat. Warm and cosy, but also fresh, bright and smoke free. The smell of quality coffee that hits you on entrance is a welcome assault to the senses. The interior décor is all exposed brick work, floor to ceiling blackboards, and oversized lights. One wall is covered with a massive colourful mural. On the other walls hang photographs of celebrity lookalikes taken by Czech photographer and part-owner Petr Kurečka. During my last visit, Adele’s angelic voice filled the air. The overall feel is modern but not sterile; cool without being try-hard.

Who your fellow customers are depends upon when you visit. Midweek sees local workers taking advantage of the daily lunch menu (that normally includes a soup, a meat dish and a veggie option, approximately 38 to 129 CZK). Evenings and weekends draw more of a local crowd, many of whom are regulars. People are laughing, chatting and eating. You could work here (there is free Wi-Fi) but don’t expect it to be library-quiet.

The food menu changes regularly and caters for all mealtimes. During a recent visit together with some friends I devoured a delightfully egg-heavy brunch. My scrambled eggs with salmon were delicious, cooked with lovely braden rost salmon rather than standard smoked. The rest of my group opted for omelettes and their plates were all licked clean.

Můj šálek kávy also offer a tempting range of homemade cheesecakes.  Leave room for these, the baked cranberry cheesecake I tried most recently was beautiful.

This is a brilliant young business that is definitely worth supporting. Great coffee, a good food menu, and excellent dessert. It’s somewhere that keeps pulling me back to Karlín in spite of myself.

…and the winner is Sylvia Tam! Congratulations!!

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