Prague has several department
stores, some of them wilting remnants of days gone by
and others more modern and lively. Department stores
in general have been experiencing a decrease in the number
of shoppers many of whom flock to shopping malls
instead.
Below are some Prague
department stores. Please check their websites for opening times and other information.
Kotva (The Anchor)
The Kotva is an institution among Prague department stores. A remnant of socialist Czechoslovakia,
it seems to be doing relatively well, even with the large, trendy Palladium shopping
mall standing almost across the street. An interesting mixture of high-end names and specialty stores make Kotva a shopping destination in itself.
Address: Náměstí
Republiky 8, Prague 1 Getting there: Metro
B to Náměstí Republiky Website:www.od-kotva.cz
My Národní
The My Národní department store is owned by Tesco, which has been in Prague for
many years.
It is located on Národní třída where the socialist Máj department store and later Kmart once stood. My Národní is now in the shadow of the neighboring hip Quadrio mall that was opened in 2014. Walking from one building to the other offers a fun comparison between the old and the new, customer service and restrooms included.
The Bílá labuť department store, founded in 1939, is
a sad reminder of what shopping used to be like in Czechoslovakia
of the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, the Na Poříčí store
with its neon revolving swan above the entrance was the
place to shop. Today, the depressing building stands
almost forgotten and has become more or less just a convenient place to buy your necessities. The reason to go there is to transport oneself back in time. The store at the
top of Wenceslas Square is at a better location and seems
in better shape.
Two locations:
Address: Na
Poříčí 23, Prague 1 Getting there: Metro
B to Náměstí Republiky or tram 3, 8,
24 or 26 to Bílá labuť Website:www.bilalabut.cz
Address: Václavské
náměstí 59, Prague 1 Getting there: Metro
A/C to Muzeum Website:www.bilalabut.cz
Desirred
A department store at a prominent location in the middle of Wenceslas Square.
Address: Václavské
nám 21, Prague 1 Getting there: Metro
A/B to Můstek or A/C to Muzeum
Marks & Spencer
The British chain can be found on Wenceslas Square and at many shopping malls, e.g. Palladium, Nový Smíchov, Metropole Zličín. The
store offers a range of clothing for adults and children and a great food section with lots of British staples. Some locations have their own bakery. The Wenceslas Square store has a nice café upstairs.
Address: Václavské
náměstí 36, Prague 1 Getting there: Metro A/B
to Můstek or A/C to Muzeum Website:www.marksandspencer.cz
Marks & Spencer