Bukowski's Bar has held the same corner of Bořivojova in Žižkov since 2008, a dark, candlelit room named for the hard-drinking American writer Charles Bukowski and built to match his reputation rather than soften it.
The atmosphere is the headline. Prague City Tourism describes a "dark and slightly debauched" room, and the bar keeps the lighting low, the music loud enough to matter, and the candles burning on every table. There is no sign-posting toward comfort here; the space is small, a little rough at the edges, and proud of it.
The drinks back up the mood. Fodor's notes the bar's "quality cocktails and cigars," and the list runs heavy on spirit-forward builds, absinthe, and the kind of stiff classics that suit a late seat. The bartenders mix to order and pour with a confident hand, which is part of why the room has kept its following for more than fifteen years in a neighbourhood that turns over fast.
What to order
Go spirit-forward. The house cocktails and the absinthe service are what regulars come back for, and prices stay in the 180–260 CZK range, below Old Town cocktail bars a tram ride away. Cigars are available for anyone settling in for the long haul. Skip the idea of a quiet glass of wine; this is a room built for stronger orders.
Who it's for
Bukowski's rewards drinkers who want character over polish and a late seat over a tasting-menu experience. Anyone after bright lighting, table service, or a calm conversation should look elsewhere, because the room is loud, dim, and unapologetic about both.
Best time to go
The bar opens at 7pm and runs to 3am on Friday and Saturday, and the room finds its tempo late, well after 10pm. Weeknights are calmer and easier for a seat. See how it sits among the city's other rooms on our best cocktail bars in Prague list and across the wider Prague bar guide.
