Mala Strana, also known as Lesser Town Prague or Lesser Quarter, is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Prague to visit. However, don't be fooled by its name. It is part of the Royal Route and lies at the foot of Prague Castle. It has a more understated appeal, its beauty concealed in the vividly painted Baroque home facades. It is also a neighborhood home to the government, offices, embassies, and foreign diplomats. This stunning place with a unique atmosphere offers a flood of stylish restaurants, cafes beautiful luxury hotels, and palace gardens. All these features make the area look like a green oasis in the center of the city.
How to explore Lesser Town?
- The heart of Lesser Town is Lesser Town Square that includes the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas and its impressive dome and bell tower.
- One of Prague's most remarkable towers is the beautiful belfry next to St. Nicholas' Church. The Mala Strana Council owned the tower. They also hired a keeper; you may view the keeper's lodgings on the way up. You may ascend to the garret, which served as a Soviet spy room during the Cold War, from where they could eavesdrop on adjacent embassies after leaving the gallery to enjoy one of Prague's most incredible vistas.
- A lovely Baroque garden called the Vrtba Garden (Vrtbovska Zahrada) lies at the foot of Prague castle.
- The Church of Our Lady Victorious, where the fabled Infant Jesus of Prague is housed, can be found not far from Lesser Town Square.
- If you are an ardent lover of art, you will enjoy the Waldstein riding school, where the Prague National Gallery organizes exhibitions.
- Cukr Kava Limonada is a coffeehouse with an intriguing name (Sugar, Coffee, Lemonade). This coffeehouse, tucked away in the baroque Lesser Town, is the perfect location to unwind after sightseeing.
- Augustine Restaurant and Garden is the monastery complex that houses The Augustine Prague hotel. This stunning Augustine Restaurant and Garden is in a glass-covered courtyard that combines three listed and protected trees.