Clown and Bard
Borivojova 102, Prague 3, Zizkov, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
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LeeRobertAdams
- Reviews: 64
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Booze, Spliff & Backpackers...
The Clown & Bard has been a home from home during my frequent visits to Prague over the past five years, and is perhaps the quintessential backpacker's hostel. If you like a place were you can sling your head for a few hours at night, then spend the rest of the time partying in the bar or the surrounding city, then this is the place to come.
The rooms are basic - four walls holding up a ceiling, with a window to let some light in, a door for ingress & egress, and some bunks to crash out in. The building itself is fairly characterful, situated in a big old shabby townhouse in Prague's colourful Zizkov district.
Busy pretty much all year round, all business is conducted in the downstairs reception-bar-breakfast area. The staff are fluent English speakers, and are usually delighted to offer any advice to those who need it.
The bar itself is a big bonus - while it tends to overcrowd with lots of young American backpackers who sit around talking about how cool they are, it's a warm and welcoming joint were you can quite happily spend a night on the lash, or roll up a big fat spliff safe in the knowledge that there'll always be someone to share it with you...and if not, the bar staff will most likely oblige.
Breakfast - a bit of toast, muesli, boiled eggs, etc - used to be included in the price, but will now set you back 50czk. It is served until 1pm, and perhaps the most irritating part of this is they won't even sell you a coffee while breakfast is on - you either pay for the full breakfast or go thirsty.
On the plus side, there are free internet terminals available in the bar.
There are better located hostels in Prague; there are also hostels that are cleaner and easier on the eye. But if you're new in town and want to meet up with travelers up for a good time, "Clown and Bard" is a pretty good place to start.
Unique Quality: The "Clown and Bard" has stuck resolutely to it's guns over the years, while the city around it has steadily grown glossier and more PC. There are nods towards respectability - the walls and ceiling of the bar area were once completely covered in crude, witty and cod-philosophical graffiti, but no more, and you can't smoke during breakfast these days. But the hostel retains the same feel as always - this is a place you come to dump your bags, meet a bunch of people, and have a good time.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Related to: Budget Travel, Study Abroad, Backpacking
- Written July 10, 2011
Clown and Bard Photo: Clown & Bard Hostel
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graeme83
- Reviews: 401
User Rating
Clown and Bard
This place was a bit strange in that I have absolutely no opinion of it. It was completely adequate without being either exceptional or bad. It was close to a metro station and tram stop which was good. Kitchen facilities and internet available for free. There was a bar downstairs which doubled as a common room.
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jlfloyd
- Reviews: 33
User Rating
Clown and bard
This hostel is so-so. It offeres free internet in the lobby and free breakfast, which is actualy nicer than a lot of hostels I have stayed in. Its a bit of a ways from the tourist sits, old town or the lesser quarter and Prague Castle, but that can be a blessing and hinderance. The area that its in is an actual neighborhood, and the prices for food and other supplies are a world better because you are not in the tourist areas. You do use the metro more, however, to get around, but there is a bar on location and plenty of bars in the area so the sites are the only thing you need to go further to get to. Its a little run down though. The cleanliness is so-so, could be better. Its about 7 stories to get to some of the rooms, with the large 32 bed dorm on the top floor and very hot. If you can spare a little more, go for the smaller 5 bed dorms, they are nicer and more calm. They do offer a kitchen, but its quite basic. They have one pot, a fork and 3 plates in the one near my room, with a small office sized refrigerator which can stand to be cleaned out. It is a fun places if you want the party life, being that the bar downstairs is always rocking and people are down there partying til all hours. The hostel does offer laundry, but for 250 CZK for a large load, which is insanely a lot. I am not sure if this is common, but the electricity to my bathroom was out all day one day which is quite an inconvenience when you are going to the bathroom in the dark. Might not happen all the time, but something that surely put a damper on my last night there. The staff are friendly and helpful enough though.
Unique Quality: Free internet, good breakfast, bar on location, great for those looking to party and dont care too much about comfort
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Gottsie
- Reviews: 133
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Clown and Bard
Clown and Bard is situated in the popular area of Bohemian Zizkov. If you like a good time and enjoy drinking this is the place. Great staff, great price, great breakfast and buy on get one free on beer between 7pm and 8pm, what more could you ask for. You have many options for getting into the centre…..20 minute walk/5 minutes to the nearest Metro and trams. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in the immediate area so you don’t need to venture far if you are tired.
The hostel itself is clean, it is however cold and gloomy in the winter. Last visit we had trouble with our hot water and although they were quick to see to the problem they failed to fix it.
I used to live in this area and had no problems, however it is a working class area and there are lots of gypsies here. Be careful when going out late at night……..do not take a camera!
Unique Quality: The staff have always been very welcoming and helpful.
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Related to: Backpacking, Study Abroad, Budget Travel
Clown and Bard Photo: Front Door
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moomee
- Reviews: 10
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Backpackers dream
If your looking for somewhere that is basic and friendly then this is where you need to come. The staff are a mixture of locals and foreigners, you get the impression that the foreigners are travellers who have fallen in love with Prague and decided to stay just that little bit longer. If you are by yourself then it is ideal as they organise tours and they also have a bar in the basement where everyone can meet up after a days sight seeing.
Unique Quality: Great bar, great atmosphere.
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LanaFromRiga
- Reviews: 640
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The Clown & Bard
Very nice location, comfortable rooms, polite service, cheap prices.
Unique Quality: There is nice bar in the ground floor of the hostel where is good czhech beer. There you can meet people from different countries of the world.
- Opinion of Price: least expensive
- Related to: Study Abroad
Clown and Bard
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Orbital_
- Reviews: 135
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Cheap beds, but there is a price...
Yes this is one of the cheapest beds in town, and one of the liveliest places to hang out. But this isn’t the place to get a good night’s sleep and neither will you feel totally secure regarding your valuables at any time. Facilities are spartan at best, but the cheap drinks in the lively bar/social area may cushion any shortcomings for some people. Beware though, the place is like a dimly lit rabbit warren, and with people coming and going at all hours, often ending up in the wrong room – keep a close eye on your stuff. The location isn’t too bad however, a five-minute walk from the tram stop on a hill in Zizkov and a five-minute ride into the center of town.
Bear in mind though, I'm writing this as a 28-year old 'veteran' packer; if you're younger and doing the 'Eurorail' or 'Busabout' round Europe you may well adore this place, depending on your scene. Perhaps I'm just slowing down a bit in my old age.
Unique Quality: Probably the graffiti scrawled EVERYWHERE. And I mean EVERYWHERE. Some intriguing, some insightful, and much just plain crude.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Related to: Budget Travel, Trains, Backpacking
Clown and Bard Photo: Beware ye who enter here...
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artapartment
- Reviews: 2
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Best Hostel in Europe
Although i havn't been to every hostel in Europe,
I would still call this one of the best, if not the best.
It reminds me of why Independent Hostels are simply the greatest in all, and are better than many,many HI hostels.
Anyway, without a shadow of doubt, if your staying in Prague you need to stay in this Hostel.
English speaking run, but still a deeply foriegn experience. Each Hostel Dorm has its own name. Mine was "Gipsy Room", so you get the understanding of what this place is like.
Granted, if it wasnt for the bar downstairs, it would be average, but the bar IS what makes the Clown and Bard come alive. There are hundreds and hundreds of phrases dotted all over the walls, written by all kinds of travellers. One of my favourates was a George Orwell quote, but ill leave you to find it. Mine is written on the left wall of the first "room" of the bar, and ill leave you to find that too. If you are a Right-winger and love Bush.. this Bar and its wall-wrightings are NOT for you.
There are so many beautiful women as well. Rebbeca and Katie(?), if you're out there, say hi!
They just come up to you, because in the evening everyone, i mean EVERONE is hammered beyond belief. You just see random strangers walking up to other random strangers, and breaking into a conversation.
And it is great when everyone is hammered, you get such a feeling of all being pennyless travellers, all bunched together.
I can rightly say i have never been that hammered as that first night were i drunk 5/6/(7?) pints of bud. I was litterally stumbling about, crawling to the toilets, were a guy having a slash was talking to an invisible person at the top of his voice.
I recommend just dumping your bags in the room and then spending your night down there. Its worth getting all sleepy because of it.
They have kareoke, film showings, and many more things going on.
You 100% are gaurenteed to meet new people, even if you are shy and inward like me.
Come for the hostel, but come more for the bar.
Brilliant, briliant hostel, brilliant.
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lthornton11
- Reviews: 9
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Dark but Entertaining
This is definitely not the place for the cheerleader-type backpacker. This is a darker crowd, but much more interesting and fun than most typical hostels.
You will defnitely meet people here!
Unique Quality: The people
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adamofgrayskull
- Reviews: 13
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Helpfulness
Cheap and Cheerful
7 lads, 2 rooms, 4 days, very cheap, did the job, centre of town, what more can you say!
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Forum Posts
best place to go for world cup bars and clubbing
hi we are coming to prague 17th 18th 19th june we want go out have a good time watch all the football in bars then end the night ith a club, wondering where is the place to go for cheap beer and a good nite out. dont know where to get accommadation. any help would be awesome and come on england!!!
RE: best place to go for world cup bars and clubbing
here's two links that may help you.
for accomodation try here: http://destinia.com/hotels/hotels--in-prague/prague/czech-republic/europe/23200/en
they 've generally got good deals and a wide choice.
for night life : http://www.pragueexperience.com/clubs_nightlife/clubs_nightlife.asp
covers most of the things you can do there at night.
steve
RE: best place to go for world cup bars and clubbing
plenty of leary student type nightclubs in Prague centre eg Karlovy Lažne. if you want something a little more sophisticated then try mecca a short cab ride away. Much better club (and usually djs' and the drinks are fairly cheap)
http://www.mecca.cz/
http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/prague/karlovy-prague.htm
RE: best place to go for world cup bars and clubbing
Best bet for footie is Hvezda Sports Bar, right off Wenceslas Square on a street called Ve Smekach. It's not your typical Irish/English sports bar, and it attracts a lot of people who live in the city. Beer's dirt cheap and there's food aswell. It gets pretty sweaty in there during the summer, but there's usually a good atmosphere.
You'll have a good night out pretty much wherever you go, but check out my page for more detailed suggestions. As for accommodation, have a look at Clown & Bard - it's a hostel, but if you can get reservations, it's one of the liveliest places to stay in Prague, right out in Zizkov, which is great for weird and wonderful pubbing, and you can usually find a spliff in the basement bar, if that's your bag.
Have a good time!
Rock Tadgers
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