Uniquely Prague

By Sandra Scott

Prague’s Buddha-Bar Hotel, the first hotel in the Buddha-Bar Restaurant chain, is unique so it was not a surprise that they offer unique cocktails. Walking into the hotel, which is housed in a historical building where the facade has been lovingly restored, was like stepping into another world. In Asian culture, red is a happy color symbolizing good luck. Buddha-Bar Hotel exudes happiness and good luck. We settled in our luxurious room where everything was state-of-the-art— and red. We appreciated our welcome cocktail and treats that refreshed us after our flight.

We had prearranged for a walking tour with Milos Curik. In the mid-1980s we had visited Prague when it was a different county with an entirely different ambience. While the city has always been beautiful and one of the best preserved because the heart of the city was not destroyed during WW II, today there is a new vibrancy and vitality. Milos took us to places we had never visited along with places we had visited years ago, sharing tantalizing stories associated with each site.

Our first stop, not far from Buddha-Bar Hotel, was St James Church, built in 1232 and one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Prague. Its great acoustics makes it a wonderful venue for concerts. Of special interest is the Virgin Mary statue on the main altar about which Milos related a fascination story

He warned, “It was believed to be miraculous and people donated gifts to the statue. A thief tried to steal the gifts. The statue grasped his hand and wouldn’t let go. He was found there in the morning. Nobody was able to disengage his hand, so it was cut off. Then the statue dropped the hand. Come here and I will show you the hand.”

He was right. There in the entryway the wizened, blackened hand was hanging as a warning to would-be thieves.

Back at the Buddha-Bar Hotel, John and I decided to have a cocktail at the bar before dinner. The bar is located mezzanine-like above the dining area. John and I selected a spot with a view of the seven-foot Buddha. The bar menu was extensive, making the choice difficult. I decided on the Sake Ljichj, mainly because I recognized the word lychee, a fruit I love and seldom have the opportunity to enjoy. Also, both John and I had never had sake. He went healthy by ordering a Sake Cucumber. While waiting for the cocktails to be delivered we munched on light, crispy rice crackers that replaced the ubiquitous chips and peanuts offered by more traditional bars. The rice crackers were made on site and I found them addicting and yummy. But so were our cocktails.. But so were our cocktails.

My Sake Ljichj was a smooth mix of vodka, sake, and litchi liquor and garnished with a lychee. John’s Sake Cucumber cocktail was created with sake, vodka, cucumber, and cane sugar topped off with a fresh cucumber. We enjoyed our cocktails and discussed the changes in Prague and marveled at the fact that the first Buddha-Bar Hotel was in Prague.

Visit www.buddha-bar-hotel.cz.

Sandra Scott is a frequent contributor to travel publications and to Creators Syndicate
and has co-authored two books on local history. She lives in Mexico, NY.

Photos by J. J. Scott.

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