Creative Cocktails at Prague’s Black Angel’s Bar

Prague’s Black Angel’s Bar is easy to miss, which is exactly how it was designed.

Located in Prague’s Old Town Square, just across from the city’s famous Astrological Clock, Black Angel’s Bar‘s entrance is unassuming. If you’re not specifically looking for the simple red neon sign or the plaque embedded in the walkway, you’ll certainly walk right past it. I did. Twice.

 Barkeeper, Pavel Kubík

Located in the basement of the former Black Angel Hotel, now the hotel U Prince, The Black Angel’s Bar has the feel of a Prohibition-era speakeasy. The bar is dark, has kept the original Gothic and Romanesque masonry in the design, and gives the feeling of stepping back in time. The atmosphere alone explains why it’s been named one of the world’s best bars, as well as 2012’s best bar in the Czech Republic.

 Lemon Drop–Served in Two Glasses

Penicillin–Whiskey-based with a Potato Wedge

The menu selection is large and is divided into categories such as Forgotten Classics, Contemporary Classics, Tiki Drinks, and Molecular Mixology. I skimmed over the extensive menu and couldn’t decide what to order, so I asked barkeeper, Radka Miklasová, to bring a varied selection to the table. One after another, Radka delivered delicious drinks. The Diamond Black Angel was my favorite and by far the most beautiful. This blood-orange cocktail with a diamond ice cube on the side was stunning–almost too pretty to drink.

Snowcone Bramble–Sour Fruit Punch with Grapes

Diamond Black Angel–Blood Orange with a Diamond Ice Cube

Can a bar really be considered one of the world’s best without great cocktails? I think not, but Black Angel’s delivers. All of their cocktails are made with the freshest ingredients, homemade syrups, and they even make their own ice. Much of the Black Angel’s cocktail menu harkens back to the USA in the 1920s and 1930s. This was when the Volstead Act banned the sale of alcohol, which ironically spawned some of the world’s greatest cocktails. Using recipes found in old books, the Black Angel’s Bar strives to be authentic to their cocktails’ origins. Black Angel’s Bar also strives to keep the atmosphere intimate. Don’t think you’re going to take photos, unless you get special permission like I did.

Singapore Sling–Classic and Fruity

 Absinthe–Taste of Traditional Prague

The Black Angel’s Bar reminded me of something out of a F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. I half expected to see Jay Gatsby sitting in the corner with Daisy on his arm and Ewing Klipspringer playing the piano. Descending down the stairs of the hotel U Prince into the bar is a step back in time. The menu reads like a history of cocktails, but also offers unique options from some of Prague’s most innovative barkeepers. In a city known for its beer culture, the Black Angel’s Bar is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and sip on some spirits.

Hurricane–Traditional New Orleans Drink Set on Fire

In Prague, there are several other great places to grab a cocktail. Check out World’s Best Bars to find more, but Black Angel’s can certainly be added to the list of three things I’ll miss about Prague.

Join me, along with @CzechTourism, @REPUBLICA_CHECA @czechtourism_uk, @FSPrague, and @FourSeasons on Monday, April 22 10:00 am (EST) for the Twitter chat, #BestOfCity. We’ll discuss all that’s great about Prague and answer any questions you may have about the City of Spires. Find more information about the #BestOfCity chat here.