Prague (Praha) Holešovice

• La Crěperie, Janovskéno 4, Praha 7 (☎22 087 8040; www.lacreperie.cz), La Crěperie's jive is as hip and French as anyone could hope for. Decor details like a gold-star-striped walls, old photos, even those red bathroom doors Frenchies require for their bowels to work, win this place before we even get to the food. But the food's great too. Sharp “zappy” espresso (32Kč) comes avec biscuits, the crepes (35-89Kč) are perfectly drizzled with honey, and the tunes are hand-selected French grunge rocks and froggie ballads. Someone should film a movie here called, Amélie II: Czech Out My Quirks! French galettes—buckwheat crepes with savory innards like ham and cheese—are the VIPs of this menu..crunchy and flaky, they're the original Hot Pockets (72-110Kč). Get them with a cup of traditional Brittany cider mixed with blackcurrant cream. C: Vltavská. From the station, head right down Bubenské nábřeží then loop around and cross in front of the giant church; the restaurant is on your left. Crepes 35-89Kč. Daily 9am-11pm. Kitchen closes at 10pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
• Molo 22, U Průhonu 22, Praha 7 (☎22 056 3348; www.molo22.cz), Full of annoyed-looking Czech businesswomen sharing bottles of wine, Molo 22 is a reasonably priced, semi-classy affair where Czech and Thai cuisnes blend with a splash of Italian charm. Main dishes combine cultures in innovative ways; try the Hot Thai Risotto (179Kč) or the pork tenderloin with sour cherry sauce and grilled grapes (229Kč). Meals are suprisingly filling and well-prepared if not always smash hits flavor-wise. Maybe they'll film the next “Sex and the City” sequel here: I Have Problems with Men and I'm in Prague. C: Vltavská. From the station, take tram 5 or 12 to the 4th stop to your left, U Průhonu. Go to your left down U Průhonu; the restaurant will be on your right. Entrees 154-425Kč. Wine 200-500Kč. Open M-F 8am-midnight, Sa-Su 9am-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
• Korbel, Komunardů 1001/30, 170 00 Praha 7 (☎22 298 6095; www.restauracekorbel.cz), The building that held Holešovice's oldest restaurant now houses its youngest and hippest one. But don't let the fancy, vaguely-Cubist chairs or the free-form paintings of “sexy Pilsner bottles” give you the wrong idea; the prices and the fare are still solid and traditional. Czech specialties dominate the menu, with options of pork, duck, rabbit, beef, and chicken in a variety of goulashes, stews, and steaks. Vegetarians will also find a selection of vegetables and cheese dinners (89-95Kč). Currently the menu is only available in Czech, but an English menu is in the works, and the staff is friendly and glad to translate. C: Vltavská. From the station, take any tram that departs to the left. Ride it 2 stops to Dělnická. Main dishes 89-175Kč. Beer 24-40Kč. M-Sa 11am-2am, Su noon-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
• Zlatá Koradlnia, Komunardů 36, Praha 7 (☎24 600 5313; www.zlatakovadlina.com), Eating and bowling, the two recreations of the wise and lazy man, come together at this innovative little pub. In addition to the 4 lanes it packs in the nether regions of the restaurant, Zlatá has a small cafe in the front decorated with a checkout-worthy collection of antique snapshots of the old-school brewing process. Meals stick to the Czech palate and favor snack foods like globs of meat, fried cheese, mushrooms, and various other delicacies (79Kč). Portions are solid enough to fill the serious bowler, while bowling—up to 6 people per lane—is fun enough to thrill the serious eater, who can nonchalantly choose to snack on a 1200g steak. Be warned: you may not ever find a reason to leave this restaurant. C: Vltavská. From the station, take any tram that departs to the left. Ride it 2 stops to Dělnická; the restaurant is on the right side of the street. Bowling 360Kč per hr. per person. Entrees 109-769Kč. Beer 15-28Kč. Restaurant open daily 11am-11pm. Lanes open 3pm-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
• Lucky Luciano II, Dělnicbá 28, 170 00 Praha 7 (☎22 087 5900; Luckyluciano.cz), On a sunny day, not a soul sits in Lucky Luciano's---they're all outside under the giant covered patio. Pizzas are large enough for two people but delicious enough for more, so keep leftovers close enough to slap away would-be scavengers. While some pizzas roll with the standard flavors, others are yellow-bellied rats, like the Tom Buscetta with cream, spinach, eggs, mozzarella, and blue cheese, named after the famous mafioso traitor. Main dishes all live in the shadow of the 250g roast pork steaks that can be prepared several ways, including Caribbean, with cream, butter, and region-inspired spices. It's a beautiful slab of pork. Wash it down with a bottle from a great list of Italian wines. C: Vltavská. From the station, take any tram that departs to the left. Ride it 2 stops to Dělnická. Walk to the traffic lights and turn left onto Dělnická. Only outdoor portion handicap-accessible. Pizza 105-180Kč. Pasta 115-145Kč. Entrees 240-330Kč. M-F 11am-11pm, Sa-Su 11:30am-11pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.
• Fraktal, Šmeralova 1 (☎777 794 094; www.fraktalbar.cz), C: Nádraží Holešovice. From the metro, take the tram to Letenské náměstí; the restaurant is at the corner of Šmeralova and Letenské náměstí. Delicious, hearty portions of American and Mexican food and all manner of unconventional seating, including high leather benches and a tree-stump table that appears to be reserved for hobbits. Locals appreciate the funky atmosphere while expats are happy for a taste of home. Expect standbys like the trusty chicken chimichanga (175Kč), alongside pleasant surprises like the goat cheese and pistachio burger with chili mayonnaise (185Kč). Appetizers 55-80Kč. Entrees 130-295Kč. Outdoor seating available. Open daily 11am-midnight
• Zlatá Kovadlina, Komunardů 36 (☎246 005 313; www.zlatakovadlina.com), C: Nádraží Holešovice. From the metro, take the tram to Dělnická, walk north on Komunardů; the restaurant is on your right. Every once in a while, two things are combined that you would never have expected, but when you see it you think, “Man, what a good idea.” This is the sort of place that inspires such whispered awe. Heart-stopping Bohemian pub fare meets American-style bowling as hearty locals enjoy the cheese-stuffed pork with bacon and mushrooms (179Kč). Highlights from the appetizer section include haggis with onion (45Kč) and pickled sausage with paprika and onion (25Kč). Salads 79-129Kč. Entrees 129-219Kč. Bowling 300-360Kč. Open M-Th 11am-11pm, F 11am-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10pm
• První Holešovická Kavárna, Komunardů 30 (☎283 871 327; www.kavoska.cz), C: Nádraží Holešovice. From the metro, take the tram to Dělnická, walk north on Komunardů; the restaurant is on your right. The oldest restaurant in the area with a large, red dining area frequented by locals. The menu has everything you would expect from a Czech place as well as a couple of items you wouldn’t, such as the Diavlo (spaghetti with sliced filet mignon, onion, garlic, and chili pepper; 155Kč) and the Mexican chicken with corn flakes and chili salsa (145Kč). Salad 135-155Kč. Entrees 135-185Kč. Open M-F 10:30am-midnight, Sa-Su 11:30am-midnight
• Long Tale Cafe, Osadní 35 (☎266 310 701; www.longtalecafe.cz), C: Nádraží Holešovice. C: Nádraží Holešovice. From the metro, take the tram to U Průhonu, walk to the corner of U Průhonu, and turn left; at the end of the block, turn left on Osadní. A nice, out-of-the-way coffeeshop with courtyard seating where students and progressive-looking older people can listen to light jazz in peace. The fresh ginger lemonade (50Kč) and assortment of baguettes and panini (65-76Kč) give this place an edge over lesser coffeehouses. Tea 35Kč. Espresso drinks from 35Kč. Soups 40Kč. Salads 42Kč. Free Wi-Fi. Wheelchair-accessible. Open M-Th 9am-7pm, F 9am-10pm, Sa 10am-10pm, Su 10am-5pm