An Architect’s Guide to Prague

“What unites our projects isn’t a visual style, but rather an open and speculative design process,” says Krištof Hanzlík, one of the founders of Coll Coll (short for “collaborative collective”), based in Prague. Known for embracing technological innovation (the firm built one of the city’s first keyless, light-switch-free smart homes in 2020), Coll Coll recently renovated Planetárium Praha, which boasts the world’s biggest LED astronomical dome display.

Here, Hanzlík shares his beloved spots in Prague, a city he cherishes because “it still has this raw, unpolished edge—a vibe that encourages you to experiment and create.” 

Eat

MIRU: “At Four Seasons Hotel Prague, it’s definitely MIRU, the Japanese summer pop-up restaurant on the roof. Events like this add so much colour to life [here].” 

Zdenek’s Oyster Bar: “They serve five kinds of fresh oysters, which is pretty remarkable for a landlocked country.” 

Malostranská Beseda: “A traditional place with great beer. We designed it, so it feels like our second kitchen; it’s a lifesaver when we don’t have time to cook.” 

Kuchyň: “Located right in front of the main gate of Prague Castle, it serves Czech food with a contemporary twist and has the second-best view of Prague. Of course, the best [view] is from my own garden.” 

Tåst: “A hidden fine-dining gem in Malá Strana [neighbourhood]. It’s not a show-off place, but pure pleasure.” 

Kro: “This bistro offers a global take on local cuisine. Imagine pork knee with hoisin sauce and coleslaw.” 

Bakeries: “Bread—oh, we love bread! Over the past few years, so many incredible bakeries have popped up, [including] Icelandic baker Artic Bakehouse; Eska, especially their [rye, wheat, and potato] Bread 33; and Chleba & Máslo—in my opinion, the best rohlík [bread roll] in town.”

Roam

Štvanice Island: “Take a stroll over the HolKa Bridge, a brand-new pedestrian bridge connecting Holešovice and Karlín. Make a digression to Štvanice Island, where you’ll find tennis courts, a skateboarding center, and Baden-Baden Štvanice—a fantastic outdoor spot for summer chilling.” 

Browse

Bookstores: “Since my wife is a publisher, we hoard books! Our go-to spots are Kavka, ArtMap, and Meander for unique children’s books.” 

See

Planetárium Praha: “Our newest project features a first-of-its-kind, 40-million LED dome and is part of a growing network of cutting-edge cultural spaces in Prague. Alongside newly opened venues like [digital art gallery] Signal Space, as well as the recently renovated Nová Spirála theatre, these spaces form a fabric of top-tier digital and visual infrastructure. This brings all sorts of magic to town.” 

Villa Bílek: “The studio-home of sculptor František Bílek from the early 20th century. It’s one of the most extraordinary houses I’ve ever seen.” 

New Stage of the National Theatre: “Famous for its striking Cuban [serpentinite] interiors and the monumental glass façade designed by Brychtová and Libenský.” 

Strahov Library: “It’s less pompous and crowded than the Klementinum library but equally breathtaking.”  

Four Seasons Hotel Prague

A luxury riverside hotel in Prague’s Old Town

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