Café Louvre

A grand first-floor café on Národní open since 1902, where Einstein and Kafka once sat — and unlike many legend-cafés, it's still good and still fair-priced. Proper breakfasts from 8am, a billiard hall, and efficient old-school service. It's big and busy, so it hums rather than charms; come for the institution, not intimacy.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Did famous people really go to Café Louvre?

Yes — Albert Einstein was a regular during his Prague professorship, and Franz Kafka's intellectual circle met here. The café was smashed up by communists in 1948 and revived in 1992, so the room is a faithful restoration rather than untouched original.

Do I need a reservation at Café Louvre?

Usually not — it's a huge space and tables turn over. Weekend mid-mornings can mean a short wait; you can book ahead on their website if you want certainty.

Does Café Louvre have a billiard room?

Yes — a proper old billiard hall at the back, and you can rent a table. It's one of the few grand cafés anywhere that kept this tradition alive.

Where is Café Louvre exactly?

Národní 22, one floor up — the street entrance is easy to miss, so look for the sign and head up the staircase. It's two minutes from Národní třída metro and tram stops.

What should I order at Café Louvre?

Breakfast is the move — eggs done properly, good pastries, and their hot chocolate is famously thick. Later in the day, the Czech classics like svíčková are honest, if not the city's best.

What are Café Louvre's opening hours?

Monday-Friday 8am-11:30pm, weekends 9am-11:30pm. That 8am weekday opening is early by Prague standards, which makes it a reliable proper-breakfast spot.

Is Café Louvre expensive?

No — that's the pleasant surprise. For a 120-year-old grand café in the center, prices are genuinely reasonable; a full breakfast with coffee costs less than you'd pay in most European capitals' equivalent rooms.

Is Café Louvre touristy?

It's mixed — plenty of visitors, but also Prague office workers, students, and families, especially at breakfast and lunch. It never feels like a stage set the way some historic cafés do.

Nearby in Ask Prague

• Nové Město (New Town)Neighborhood0.34 km · 4 min walk
• U PinkasůRestaurant0.34 km · 4 min walk
• Kavárna SlaviaCafé0.35 km · 4 min walk
• Hemingway BarBar0.36 km · 4 min walk
• Havelské tržiště (Havel's Market)Market0.37 km · 5 min walk