Shopping in Prague from Quirky Shops to Trendy Boutiques
When it comes to shopping, Prague has it all: elegant shopping arcades with quirky boutiques, large shopping malls with national and international chain stores, outlet centres where you can pick up many a bargain, and stylish shopping streets where you will find international brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hugo Boss. What distinguishes Prague from other shopping cities is the large number of independent shops in the Nove Mesto and Stare Mesto districts, the very centre of the city.
Shops in Nove Mesto
1. Ivana Follova,
Go home with a hand-coloured silk dress or a loose fitting soft satin kimono, each piece of clothing Ivana Follova designs is unique and very credit card-friendly.
Ivana Follova has her own fashion boutique in the centre of Prague. She likes to work with natural material like, linen, cotton, wool and silk. As she draws her inspiration from Japanese kimonos, her designs are loose fitting and flowing. Her colours reflect the earth and the sky and range from deep ocher to cerulean blue. Elegant evening dresses, enchanting wedding gowns and practical town wear hang side by side in her showroom. If you cannot find your perfect fit, her made-to-order wear ensures unique design. Ivana Follova offers unique fashion and perfect design at an affordable price.
Address: Mezibranska 9, Nove Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: 09.00-14.00 closed on Sunday

2. Cesky Granat
Semi-precious Czech garnet, usually red stones, allegedly replace sadness with joy. Its effect probably depends on who is buying and who is receiving. A multitude of shops in the historic centre of Prague stocks garnets. Although prices tend to be similar, it pays to look around a bit.
Cesky Granat Turnov is one of the many shops in Prague selling red garnets. This semi-precious stone comes from mines in the Czech Republic. Shop windows in the historic center brim with garnets in all sizes and shapes. The jewellery is mostly classic of design and looks as if it comes straight from grandma’s inheritance. A plethora of shops in Stare Mesto stocks this semi-precious stone in the form of earrings, pendants, cufflinks, rings, necklaces and bracelets. It is difficult to decide which shop to favor because the ruby red stone set in gold or silver all look very similar. Many shops sell garnets imported from India. They look exactly the same, but if you want to have Bohemian garnets, Granat Turnov is a trusted shop to buy them. Every garnet is accompanied by a certificate of origin.
Address: Dlouha 7, Nove Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: 10.00-18.00, closed on Sunday

3. Moser
The Moser crystal collection guarantees flamboyant designs and top quality. If you cannot afford any of their trinkets, treat the shop as a museum. It is worth browsing it as much for the crystal objects as for the beautifully decorated original building.
Moser means Bohemian crystal. The shop sparkles and glows with splendid drinking glasses, carafs, vases, ashtrays and all sorts of other decorative glassware. Each item on display is more beautiful and flamboyant than the next. The Moser shop in Na Prikope street is the flagship of the prestigious glass blowers dynasty of Karlovy Vary. Lead is an important component of crystal. It makes glass strong but it is also a health risk for glass blowers. Ludwig Moser succeeded in manufacturing lead-free crystal that was as strong as leaded glass, an invention that made working conditions for the glass blowers safer and healthier.
Address: Na Příkopě 12, Nove Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: every day 10.00-19.00

4. Palac Knih Luxor
Palac Knih Luxor, Book Palace Luxor, what other recommendation is needed? This treasure trove is crammed with fiction, non-fiction, best-sellers and magazines. You will find an excellent selection of foreign books, lots of them in English, on the lower ground floor. The store is vast and sometimes it is difficult to find what you are looking for. The staff is always helpful and will search in the shop’s computer data base.
Palac Knih Luxor occupies a prime location on Wenceslas Square. This Mecca for booklovers has four floors crammed with books, a guarantee for a few hours of browsing. This welcoming shops stocks everything from comics to historical novels and from Prague history books to romantic fiction. If you have used up all your reading material, Luxor stocks a wide selection of English best-sellers books translated from Czech on the lower ground floor. You will find new releases on the ground floor as well as Czech and foreign newspapers and magazines, travel and cooking. The café on the first floor is an excellent spot to enjoy a cappuccino with honey cake while you are leafing through your newly bought books.
Address: Wenceslas Square 41, Nove Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: every day 08.00-20.00

Shops in Stare Mesto
1. Botanicus
Botanicus is one of the best shop in Prague to browse for natural products, Dead Sea mud soap, rose or lavender hand cream and herbal salt.
When you enter Botanicus, a sweet fragrance rushes towards you. This family owned company stocks beauty products and food stuff. Shelves and displays cases brim with scented soaps, herbal bath oils, cardamom vinegar, teas, honey, wax candles and dried flowers. Your purchase is beautifully wrapped in gift paper and makes the perfect present. All products are made of natural ingredients, using plants and herbs grown in their own organic farm in Ostra about 35 km from Prague. A visit to this farm makes an interesting day trip. Medieval craftsman ply their trade in this mock historical village, which runs interesting events from April to October.
Address: Tyn 3, Stare Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: every day 10.00-19.00

2. Hana Havelkova
Evocative and sexy evening dresses or fragile, innocent wedding dress, Hana Havelkova’s Haute Couture is unique and designed to bring out your personality.
When you buy a designer dress from Hana Hanelkova, you need not be afraid to see another guest at the same party wearing your dress. Dresses may be made with the same cut, but all details are different. Fine tailoring is Hana Havelkova’s hallmark. Her designs are feminine and elegant with refined details. Her fashion is timeless and suited for women of all body sizes. She is inspired by natural colors, beige, sand and white. Her collections went on show all around the world and she organizes prestigious fashion show presentations for Czech made Skoda Cars. You can find her designs at her Dusni Street, located in the Stare Mesto district in midst of other fashion designers stores.
Address: Dusni 10, Josefov/Stare Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11.00-19.00, closed on Saturday and Sunday

3. Kubista Gallery
If you cannot afford an original 1930 armchair or Cubist collectors piece, Art deco cufflinks, pendants and bracelets make great presents to take home from your visit to Prague.
Kubista is located on the ground floor of the House of the Black Madonna, the most famous cubist-style house in Prague. This building is also home to the Cubist Museum and café Orient with Cubist-style interior. Kubista Design Shop specializes in jewelry, ceramics, reproductions, pictures, paintings and furniture. They stock original pieces for serious collectors with lots of cash to spend. Prices vary greatly because Kubista also sells replicas. Browse through the collection that comprises works of Bohumil Kubista, Otto Gutfreud, Vaclav Spala and many other well-known Czech artists. Even though the cubist style ceramic tea set looks tempting, it is not very practical to take home. Beautifully illustrated books about Art deco and Cubism easily fit in your handbag and are the perfect gift either for yourself or for friends.
Address: Ovocný trh, located in the Museum of Cubism, Stare Mesto, Prague
Opening hours: 10.00-19.00, closed on Monday
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