We walked up a few steps to the second floor of an old, Victorian house. Outside the door, there was a small bureau covered in antique tea cups and saucers displaying their menu and accolades to passers by. When you step through the door, a waft of sweet, fragrant air envelopes you. The house feels lived in and although it’s been transformed into a cafe, the bones of the homey residence remain.

The walls were covered in vintage china plates scattered like birds across the pale blue sky coloured wallpaper. Every chair and table was different from one another and seemed to have been cobbled together as the cafe grew. We snagged a table on the second floor against the windows. The fresh air was like lifeblood to me, and I slowly began to awaken. There were all sorts of different things we could order, but we settled on the afternoon tea set. It came complete with a large pot of tea of our choosing, a selection of sandwiches and cake, two scones, cream and jam.

There is something about tiny food that just excites me. I have always loved sharing platters, being able to taste a bit of everything, so this was right up my alley. One of the unique dishes we were served was smoked salmon and cream atop a Scottish treat called an oat cake. Sarah maintained that it was very traditional so we relished in trying something new!

My favourite thing we ate, by far and away, were the scones. There is nothing like an English (or Scottish) scone. They just know how to do it right. The cream was so thick and sweet without being overbearing. And the jam, oh the jam! It was rhubarb jam! It’s not often you get rhubarb jam, and it’s one of my favourites so this meal felt extra special.

As our lunch was winding down, I wandered around the restaurant, soaking up every inch of this place. If there was ever somewhere the felt like home, it was here. This is what I have always dreamed my home would look like. Covered floor to ceiling in treasures, bright colours, the smell of baked good permeating the air. Even the bathroom as replete with artistry. The tiles on the walls were painted with Art Nouveau printed by Alphonse Mucha, one of my favourite artists! It was meant to be.

Once our meal had all but disappeared and our teapot was empty, we knew it was time to go (although we knew we’d be back before the week was out). We walked down the emerald green staircase, adorned in prints of Scottish men dressed in their finery, and skipped down the cobblestones street, filled with a renewed energy after our long flight, and ready to take on the rest of the day!

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The building was constructed in the Art Nouveau style. Art Nouveau architecture in the Czech Republic was made famous partly due to the success of painter, Alphonse Mucha. Mucha’s pieces featured images of curvy women with long, organically flowing hair, surrounded by leaves and swirling facades.

The features that separate Art Nouveau from other architectural designs are it’s obsession with asymmetry, embracing natural elements like; flower, vine, insect wings, and buds. These objects all have graceful lines and a rhythmical force. In Art Nouveau architecture there is a substantial use of ironwork, glass, ceramics and brickwork. There is a desire for lightness in the construction instead of reason and structure.

Inside the Municipal House contains a small but sparkling cafe called the “Kavarna Obecni Dum. Inside this sparkling cafe are some of the best original art nouveau decorations from all over the world. It’s like dining inside a museum. The windows are a stunning example of the importance of light in art nouveau design. The chandeliers are another eye-catching feature that you can’t help but stare up at.

Towards the back of the cafe is a large marble statue of the Carrara Nymph, standing against the wall like the guardian of the cafe.

Even the smallest details are styled to match the architecture around it. From the dishes to the menu, everything follows suit. Although this place has since become mainly a tourist spot, it still maintains the pleasant atmosphere reminiscent of what Prague would have been like in 1920’s.

The menu contains an array of Czech dishes and classic cafe favourites We watched intently as the cake trolley was pushed around from table to table, thinking only of dessert even as we ate our delicious dinners.

We picked out an assorted berry cheesecake to finish off our meal, but there were also walnut cakes with whipped cream, raspberry temptations or Schwarzwald cherry cakes which all look delicious.

I also ordered a Rose Tonic Water which was one of the best non-alcoholic drinks I’ve ever had. We tried to find it elsewhere throughout Europe, but this was the only time we managed to track it down.

Kavárna Obecní Dům café is the least expensive of all the restaurants inside the Municipal House but looking up at all the richly decorated decor you’d never believe it. If you have a little more to spend, check out one of their other more upscale restaurants which will treat you like a Bohemia King or Queen for a day.

The post Dining at Kavárna Obecní Dům Café, Prague first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.