We assume that whenever you go, you have at least some idea of what to expect. Some do their research thoroughly and over an extended period of time (that would be Zuzi), while others just quickly flip through the guide book, or simply follow the better half of the couple who has devoted some time to actual research (that would be Jan). However, no matter how much research you do, some things will still come as a surprise. Example? We love to swap houses when we travel because it gives you a much better idea about how real people live real lives in your destination, so staying in two real apartments in Scandinavia a month ago, we were surprise by the size of the bathrooms (they're very small and focus purely on function, probably to save space for the other rooms). You don't read about that in a guide book!
When doing the tours we do, we are always confronted by the fact that our guests find some things that we even don't pay attention to anymore - because they are normal to us - very strange. We then have to think about them and, in retrospect, often agree that they do look weird.
Today, we have to write about something that must be in the top five of things that have always struck our guests as highly odd: In an exercise of collective self-denial about the Central European climate, the Czech have the fascinating ability to enjoy a scoop of ice cream even on the coldest of days. Yes, obviously, many Czechs believe they live in Italy although it's freeing outside. It's strange but true, as attested by the lines in front of many ice cream parlors around Prague. So, in line with our belief that to get the best, truly local experience, you have to go with the flow and just do what the locals do (When in Rome… remember?), we think you should have some ice cream in Prague in winter. But where they serve the best ice cream?
That's where we step in: Here's our small selection of good ice cream parlors in Prague (tip: they don't serve ice cream at the Christmas markets. That would be simply too much):
- Angelato. Conveniently located near the bottom of the Wenceslas Square, Angelato quickly became the go-to place for delicious ice cream in Prague. We met the owner once in a Macro (Czech equivalent of Costco) pushing a cart filled with about 200 kilos of sugar, so you know it's good... We always recommend the mango sorbet, but other flavors are great, too. November's flavor was cinnamon, by the way.
- Cream and Dream. The king of ice cream before Angelato came about. They offer about twenty flavors, all of them very good. In addition to ice creams, they used to sell macaroons at very reasonable prices.
- Můj šálek kávy. One of the best cafés in Prague that servers its own coffee roasted in house (the café is owned by the Doubleshot coffee roasters) also serves on the best ice creams in Prague (we love the pistachio). They don't make it in house; instead, they sell ice cream made by 2AD, a very small ice cream parlor in Tuchlovice, about 20 km from Prague on the way to Carlsbad. So if you plan to go, definitely make a quick stop there, too, to see how cold ice cream tastes in cold, cold weather. (They're open to public only from Thursday to Sunday, 1-5pm).