Nightmare Prague Horror Bar

Located in the centre of Prague, west of the Vltava River, sits Nightmare Prague Horror Bar. I'd heard about this place from friends who had visited, and unsurprisingly, my Instagram algorithm had been relentlessly pushing it onto my feed for quite some time. It was a given that I would visit here at some point, and so it took centre stage on the agenda for my first ever visit to Prague.

Horror themed bars are nothing new, but in Prague, it feels almost essential to the vibe. With its Gothic architecture and dark aesthetic, the city exudes a sense of gloomy, dramatic grandeur, deeply atmospheric and hauntingly enchanting at every turn. This is a huge draw for those who err on the side of the macabre, and seek out what lurks in the shadows. A bar themed to horror films is an absolute must here.

Visiting this bar is quite the experience, and it begins as soon as you step through the door and descend the spiral staircase. The walls are adorned with literally hundreds of film posters, and the lighting is a dim blood red. Once you reach the bottom, you are greeted with numerous life-size horror film characters and friendly bar staff. It was 8pm on a Thursday and we'd booked a table; I'm glad we did, as it was pretty full. We were shown to our seats and handed sizeable menus - this place specialises in signature themed cocktails and shots, plus several types of beers and a wide range of spirits.

Ah, the cocktails. I could have sampled them all. I could tell from the ingredients that some are classics under a different name, but there are plenty of original concoctions in there too, and all are themed to a different horror film. They arrived in bespoke glasses that featured images of the characters, and some were accessorised; my Reanimator cocktail was topped with a syringe filled with green liquid, ready to be injected into the drink. This pleased me greatly.

All my drinks scored highly on taste and value for money. Much to my delight, the bar offers upsizing on most of the drinks - an upgrade from 'spooky size' to 'slasher size' will get you double the alcohol, with the option to add yet more alcohol on top of that. There are also non-alcoholic options, and plenty of vegan-friendly drinks. They even have merch!

But it's not all about the booze - the atmosphere in this place is perfection. Horror props and characters are hiding in every nook and cranny, the film posters continue along every wall, and the music was great (mostly rock & metal). I genuinely could have spent hours in here, working my way through the menu and admiring the spooky décor. I'd have paid the price the next day, but it would be worth it! This bar is a super fun and unique experience, and one which was clearly created by people with a passion for horror. As soon as I'm back in Prague (and trust me, I will be soon), I'm prioritising a another visit to this place. Hopefully next time I'll be seated next to Art the Clown!