Accessible Prague: Good food and refreshments

A routine visitor might choose a restaurant for their high-class cuisine, ambience or good price range. For people with disabilities other relevant priorities are easy access, plenty of space indoors and an accessible toilet. We have therefore picked out several interesting dining-out establishments near the landmark sights, which better meet the needs of the physically handicapped.

One place worth visiting near the Old Town Square, is the unique Cubist-style Grand Café Orient, situated on the 1st floor of the House at the Black Madonna. Access is from the walkway through the main entrance, with all the floors reachable by a fully accessible elevator. You can start your day with breakfast, or have lunch with soup, light salads as well as lighter meals, and there are original desserts throughout the day, made on the premises. There are accessible toilets on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Following its complete reconstruction, the building has become the home of a permanent exhibition about Czech Cubism.

Just a few dozen metres from the Old Town Hall in a historic building with a Neo-Renaissance façade and frescoes, where the Prague branch of the Hard Rock Cafe franchise has opened. On its four floors you will find vibrant bars, a shop with exclusive Hard Rock merchandise, and catchy entertainment, including live concerts. The focal point of the space is a custom-made five-metre guitar-shaped chandelier and a legendary collection of musical artifacts. The food here is all about American specialities, burgers and salads. The respective floors are served by a spacious passenger elevator; the accessible toilet is self-contained and situated on the 1st floor.

If you are near the National Theatre and could do with some excellent coffee, visit Café Nona. The theatre café is on the 2nd floor of the New Stage wing behind the original National Theatre and also offers an unusual view of the surrounding buildings and the busy Národní třída. A partially accessible toilet is available on the 3rd floor.

If your need to get your strength back is a little stronger, there is a distinctive catering complex of various styles of cuisine, with attractive spaces and a cultural ambience, not far from here – a little way upstream along the Vltava river. Most of the renovated premises of the Functionalist Mánes Gallery are connected by a modern elevator. There are two fully accessible toilets.

If you cross the Vltava River at the National Theatre to the Lesser Town side, just behind the Legionnaires’ Bridge on the left side is the accessible-friendly Kolkovna Olympia restaurant. The accessible entrance to the restaurant is right on the corner. The restaurant is renowned for its fine Pilsner beer and Czech cuisine, and on weekdays features a fresh lunch menu. The sanitary facilities offer plenty of space.

Unfortunately, the interior catering facilities at Prague Castle and its surroundings are not at all accommodating for wheelchair users.
In fine weather, you can choose from a variety of Czech and International dishes at the Lobkowicz Palace Café seated outdoors in the Renaissance courtyard of the palace, which hosts the Lobkowicz family art collections. The Lobkowicz palace has two entrances from Jiřská street: the upper entrance leads to the courtyard with the outdoor seating mentioned, the lower entrance gate allows accessible access to the museum, to the cash desk, to the shop and to the accessible toilet (situated in the free-access part of the museum, the key to be picked up in the shop or from café staff). The entrance to the interior of the café is up several steps and here staff assistance would most likely be needed.

If you round off your visit to Prague Castle with a tour of the Royal Garden, you can leave the area at Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, with a nearby fully accessible gallery including toilet at the Písecká Gate, which also includes a café open all year round with excellent coffee and home-made cakes and desserts. In summer you can sit outside in the garden. 

In the heart of the New Town on Wenceslas Square, you might be pleasantly surprised to find modern cuisine, from breakfast to lunch, afternoon coffee with dessert or a pleasant dinner at the Yalta Craft Bistro. The fully accessible entrance leads through the reception area of luxury hotel Jalta, where they will also help you overcome a small step if needed, with a detachable ramp.  There is also an accessible toilet in the restaurant area. 

If you are going to be in the vicinity of Republic Square, stop at Cukrář Skála in Celnice street on the ground floor of Šporkovský Palace. This is the outlet of a top-tier master confectioner, whom you might catch a glimpse of, with a bit of luck. There are several tables outside. The local desserts, of unconventional tastes and shapes, as well as pastries or ice cream are sure to leave a favourable and lasting impression. 

You can combine a taste of international cuisine with a view of the whole of Prague from 66 metres above the ground in the Oblaca restaurant in the Žižkov TV Tower, the tallest building in the city. The lookout platform itself, the ‘Observatory’ is on the 4th floor, 93 metres up. There is plenty of space, all the passageways are more than 80 cm wide. An accessible toilet is located at the entrance to the tower; for guests of the restaurant there is an accessible toilet one floor above, reachable by the service elevator, which the staff will gladly help you with.

However, the Žižkov Tower is not the only way to get a panoramic view of Prague. There’s a pretty distinctive experience to be had at the Aureole restaurant on the top (27th) floor of Prague’s only skyscraper. In addition to an unforgettable view of Prague it offers Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The restaurant is accessible by its own elevator, which takes you direct to the restaurant floor, which also has a fully accessible toilet. You can get to the location by metro, Pankrác station.