7 Hidden Prague Bookstores: English Sections & Great Coffee
I remember the first time I stumbled into a Prague bookstore that felt like a secret handshake with the city. It was a drizzly afternoon in 2014, my boots squelching on cobblestones, carrying a dog-eared copy of Kafka I'd bought the day before. Jet-lagged and craving something familiar amid the swirl of Czech signs, I ducked into a narrow door and emerged in a world of English novels stacked high, with the rich aroma of fresh espresso cutting through the musty pages.
Prague, with its baroque spires and beer-soaked lore, hides these gems—hidden Prague bookstores with English books that double as sanctuaries for expats, travelers, and anyone who needs a caffeine jolt with their Jhumpa Lahiri. These aren't the tourist traps; they're the places where locals and foreigners alike linger, debating Donna Tartt over cortados. Over the years, I've mapped dozens, from Holešovice warehouses to Vinohrady nooks, chasing that perfect blend of dusty shelves and perfect pulls.
1. Shakespeare and Sons: A Malá Strana Whisper
"Another American looking for something light?" The owner, a wry Englishman with ink-stained fingers, grinned as I pushed open the door at U Radnice 10 in Malá Strana. It was 2017, and I'd just hiked up from the Vltava, lungs burning. "Try this," he said, thrusting a Zadie Smith into my hands. "Better than beer for the soul."
That exchange hooked me on Shakespeare and Sons, this sliver of a shop wedged between galleries and guesthouses. The shelves groan with English titles—contemporary fiction, philosophy, kid-lit imports—curated like a personal library. The coffee? Brewed strong in a nook by the window, Illy beans pulled with precision. I sat there once for three hours, nursing a macchiato (45 CZK), watching trams rattle past while devouring Pachinko.
Open Tuesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (closed Mondays) • New books 300–600 CZK • Tiny upstairs "secret" room with rarities
2. Holešovice's Industrial Charm: The Globe Beckons
Deep in Prague's up-and-coming Holešovice, The Globe at Janovského 14 feels like stumbling into a Brooklyn transplant. The exterior's unassuming—but inside? A labyrinth of English-heavy shelves: travelogues, mysteries, graphic novels, even manga in translation.
Their flat whites (60 CZK) are silky, sourced from local roasters, paired with house-baked scones that crumble just right. The space sprawls—café up front, quiet reading annex behind—with mismatched armchairs and a kids' corner.
Open daily • Mon–Fri 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.–7 p.m. • Perfect sunset views from the window
3. First the Brew, Then the Browse: Luxor’s Václavák Escape
At Luxor on Václavské náměstí 41, coffee hits you before the books do. The basement café serves nutty, flawless espresso (50 CZK). Only after settling with a latte do you wander up to the sprawling English sections: bestsellers, classics, sci-fi towers.
Open Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday shorter • Novels ~350 CZK • Author readings in English
4. Vinohrady's Quiet Rebel: Big Ben on Myslíkova
Big Ben Bookshop at Myslíkova 26 embodies Vinohrady’s leafy elegance. Warm wood shelves brim with curated imports—memoirs, poetry, expat tales. Their pour-overs (55 CZK) come from Czech micro-roasters. Bonus: a swap shelf for trading reads.
Open Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m. • Books 250–500 CZK
5. Gritty Žižkov Edge: Máj's Raw Allure
In the heart of Žižkov, Máj Knihkupectví at Mánesova 79 is no-frills magic. Scuffed floors, hissing steam-punk espresso machine, bold black coffee (40 CZK). The English section is lean but lethal—indie presses, weird fiction, dog-eared treasures.
Open Mon–Fri 10–6, Sat till 2 • Books ~200 CZK avg • Vinyl spinning, pure vibe
Raw. Real. Go.
6. Old Town's Tucked Shadow: Do Květuše Reverie
Hidden behind a flower-shop facade at Karlova 2, Do Květuše is pure poetry. Cool air, blooming shelves of English novels—romance, historicals, Ferrante finds. The owner brews filter coffee (45 CZK) from ancient tins.
Open daily 11–7 (weather permitting) • Pure hidden-bookstore essence
7 hjelp. Karlín's Poetic Fade: Kanzelsberger's Last Light
In reborn Karlín, Kanzelsberger at Jindřišská 33 feels like a finale worth chasing. Dusk gilds spines of English rarities: Atwood deep cuts, revolutionary poetry. Coffee is ceremonial—slow-drip eternity (50 CZK).
Not just shelves; communion.
These Prague bookstores with café English novels etch forever—go, vanish into them. Prague's magic lives here, in ink and steam. Return often.
