Prague's Křižíkova street ranked among world's coolest by Time Out

Prague's Karlín district had previously been listed as one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world by culture mag Time Out, and now the Prague 8 locale also has one of the world's coolest streets.

Křižíkova, the lengthy avenue that runs from the Florenc bus and metro stations to Kaizlovy sady park, has been listed by Time Out editors as the 11th coolest street in the world, topping Tokyo's Cat Street and New York's 30th Ave.

Is Křižíkova really one of the world's coolest streets?

Anyone who has dodged cars on the busy thoroughfare trying to get to or from the Florenc bus station - until recently, inaccessible to pedestrians at street-level - might disagree.

But Křižíkova gets friendlier the further into Karlín you travel, and once past the popular Karlínské náměstí park and impressive Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, it becomes a vibrant avenue lined with trees and trendy food & drink options.

"It may have suffered years of neglect and flooding, but today Křižíkova feels like hands down one of Prague’s buzziest streets," writes David Creighton for Time Out.

"Chic art nouveau façades and loft conversions alternate with shabby tenements. Old-timers saunter with their dogs while multinational office workers grab Vietnamese sandwiches or Georgian khachapuri before dashing back to gleaming converted factories. Delis and espresso bars abound, plus a square under a lofty neo-romanesque church hosts a market. And the honey-coloured Negrelli Viaduct, recently renovated, will soon house shops and cultural spaces under its arches."

The Vietnamese sandwiches from Banh-mi-ba and khachapuri from Polévkárna are both excellent, though it should be noted that they're found on nearby streets Thámova and Sokolovská, respectively.

Other recommended dining options on Křižíkova proper include cafe classic Můj šálek kávy, ice cream sandwich specialist Parlor, avocado-themed Avocado Gang, Vietnamese lunchtime hotspot Khomfi, butcher/bistro Presto Meat Market, and Canadian poutine destination Garage (pictured at top).

Shopping options on Křižíkova are a little more limited, unless you play floorball or happen to be in the market for a new telescope. If you're up for a beer, however, David also recommends Pivní Mozaika, one of Prague's more extensive shops for local microbrews and foreign imports.

You can read more of about the history of Karlín in this article David previously wrote for Expats.cz.

Looking for more top streets to visit as travel options start to open up this summer?

These are Time Out's 30 coolest streets in the world: