Prague – Letná and Holešovice

The infrastructure here reflects the values of this demographic group: The shops emphasize sustainability and environmental friendliness, the eateries rely on local ingredients, and vegan food is as ubiquitous as free wifi. Here, you can relax in yoga studios, and watch art films at Bio OKO, one of the few remaining single-screen cinemas in Prague.

While Prague’s Old Town and Lesser Town are the domain of heritage monuments, living art is at home in Prague 7. Its ‘right of abode’ is documented by the Academy of Fine Arts or the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University, whose graduates often stay-on in Holešovice and Letná after their graduation. Their inventiveness is bringing life back to the streets and buildings that are transforming from relics of an industrial past into multifunctional spaces and natural community centres. The Vnitroblock complex, located in a former factory hall, is a great example: You can go there for a good coffee, visit a dance studio, stave off hunger in the ‘food truck’ or buy some iconic sneakers.

And there’s plenty more to Holešovice and its artistic spirit. To be found here are not only the exhibition spaces of the National Gallery Prague, with plentiful modern and contemporary art collections, but also the exceptional DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, which, like almost everything around here, used to be a factory building. Its iconic feature is ‘Gulliver’ – a 42-metre steel and timber framed airship by architect Martin Rajniš, which joins the building’s two roof terraces. Get aboard – and let your mind soar into the clouds.

One true architectural gem is the so-called Brussels Pavilion restaurant. It was built for the 1958 EXPO in Brussels and sensationally won not only first place in the overall international competition for the most beautiful national presentation, but also the Golden Star award and another 13 awards. In 1959 it came back to Prague – the pavilion itself was put up in the Holešovice Exhibition Grounds (where it unfortunately burned down in 1991) while the restaurant went to Letná, where we can still admire it, nowadays as an administrative building. Its golden age is commemorated by the Expo 58 Art exhibit in the building itself.

Firmly belonging to the Letná lifestyle are modern sports activities. Letná park makes a great setting for fitness runs and roller-blading, or just a calming stroll, or spiritually regenerative exercises. You can make your way to the green heart of Prague, the former Royal Game Park of Stromovka on the opposite side of the main Letná artery. The grassy shores of its many ponds and lakes also invite you to take a picnic and relax.

But let’s not overlook local eating either. There are no flashy experiential restaurants aspiring to Michelin stardom here, just street-credible trendy places where you have a beer or a glass of wine, an uncomplicated burger or salad, and where you’re never quite sure just where the ins and outs begin and end, because people are always spilling out and milling around, bringing their glasses to outdoor windowsills as well as bringing gusts of fresh ideas and guffaws of laughter to the locals. As you’ll see, Letná and Holešovice do their eating, drinking and living – right on the edge.

 1. Royal Game Reserve Stromovka
2. Lokál,  Nad Královskou oborou 31
3. Letná Parks
4. EXPO 58 pavilion,  Letenské sady 80
5. Mr. HotDog,  Kamenická 24
6. Bio Oko,  Františka Křížka 15
7. Trade Fair Palace,  Dukelských hrdinů 47
8. Cobra bar,  Milady Horákové 8
9. The Prague Market,  Bubenské nábřeží 306/13
10. Vnitroblock,  Tusarova 31
11. Dox,  Poupětova 1

 

Have you taken a shine to Letná and Holešovice and want to learn more interesting facts and insider tips?

Then venture out on our individual tours.

You can book a walk with a choice of commentary in a range of languages directly in our e-shop