Café
Café Louvre
A first-floor grand café on Národní třída open since 1902, with Viennese-style coffee, Czech classics, homemade cakes and a historic billiard hall.
Grand Café Orient
The world's only Cubist café, designed by Josef Gočár in 1912, on the first floor of the House of the Black Madonna in the Old Town.
At a glance
- Type
- Cubist café
- Area
- Staré Město, Prague, Czech Republic
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- grandcafeorient.cz
Good to know
- Historic interior
- Desserts
- Garden seating
Why we recommend it
Grand Café Orient occupies the first floor of the House of the Black Madonna, one of the key buildings of Czech Cubism, on the corner of Ovocný trh and Celetná Street in the Old Town. The house was designed by Josef Gočár and completed in 1912, and the café opened the same year with an interior that he also designed. Cubism in architecture and design was a largely Czech phenomenon, and the Orient is widely described as the only Cubist café in the world. After many years out of use, it was restored and reopened, and it now looks much as it did in Gočár's day.
The interior is the main attraction. Gočár's angular, faceted Cubist forms run through the whole interior, down to the furniture and light fittings. The effect is elegant rather than gimmicky. Come for coffee and dessert and spend some time noticing the details. The menu concentrates on coffee, cakes and pastries, including Czech classics, with light dishes and drinks as well, and there is a separate menu for the small garden seating area.
The Black Madonna herself, a small Baroque statue, sits in a gilded cage on the corner of the building, giving the house its name. Access to the café is by a staircase, which is part of the Cubist design, so the café is not suitable for wheelchair users. Take your time on the way up, as the Cubist staircase is one of the best-known features of the building.
The café suits anyone interested in architecture and design, couples looking for a quiet break and visitors who want a coffee house that feels different from the grand Viennese-style cafés elsewhere in the city. It is open from 09:00 on weekdays and 10:00 at weekends, closing at 21:00 every day. It can be busy in the middle of the afternoon, when a short wait for a table is possible.
Ovocný trh is on the Royal Route between the Powder Gate and Old Town Square, a few minutes from both. The nearest metro stations are Náměstí Republiky on line B and Můstek on lines A and B. The Estates Theatre, where Mozart's Don Giovanni had its premiere, is directly opposite across the square.
Grand Café Orient FAQs
Why is Grand Café Orient famous?
It is widely described as the only Cubist café in the world, designed by Josef Gočár in 1912.
Where is Grand Café Orient?
On the first floor of the House of the Black Madonna, at Ovocný trh 19 on the corner of Celetná Street.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 21:00, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 21:00.
What should I order?
Coffee with cakes or pastries, which are the focus of the menu.
Is there step-free access?
No. The café is reached by a staircase.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes. There is a small garden seating area with its own menu.
What is nearby?
The Estates Theatre, the Powder Gate, the Municipal House and Old Town Square.
How do I get there?
Walk from Náměstí Republiky metro station on line B or Můstek on lines A and B.