U Fleků
A Prague pub and microbrewery founded in 1499, known for its dark lager.
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U Fleků is a pub and microbrewery located in Prague’s New Town (Praha 1), at Křemencova 11, near the National Theatre. The complex of buildings surrounds a central courtyard, and the front facade features an old, ornate clock above the door. Founded in 1499 as a family business, it marked its 500th anniversary in 1999 and is often called Prague’s oldest brewery.
The name comes from Jakub Flekovský, who bought the brewery in 1762; “U Fleků” means “At the Fleks’” in Czech. After World War II, the state nationalized the company, placing it under a state-appointed board. Following the Velvet Revolution, it was privatized.
The pub today
Customers can sit in an open-air beer garden or inside the restaurant, which has eight halls. The most famous, “Academy,” retains its original designs. Most halls are reserved for large groups, with total seating for 1,200.
Guests share long wooden tables and benches. Strolling accordion or tuba players often perform, and some patrons sing along. Some nights feature a live cabaret show (fee, reservations required) with international dance routines, including Czech polka, and comedy.
A museum tour in the former malt house explains brewing history with original machinery and taped audio in English (fee, reservations needed). A weekday brewery tour includes a short film, beer tasting, and a souvenir (fee, reservations required). The gift shop sells souvenirs, including many beer steins.
The walls are decorated with tall, dark wood panels, paintings, and plaques. One plaque commemorates the founding of HNK Hajduk Split, a Croatian football club, at the pub in 1911 (the club was founded in 1908 but registered that year). A group of students from Split—Fabijan Kaliterna, Lucijan Stella, Ivan Šakić, and Vjekoslav Ivanišević—came to the pub after a match between Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague, liked the sport, and decided to bring it to their Dalmatian hometown.
Brewing
The pub brews two beers on-site: a dark lager and a light lager, both at 5 percent alcohol by volume and 13° Plato. They are called Flekovský Tmavý Ležák 13° (or Flekovská třináctka) and Flekovský Světlý Ležák 13°, and are not available elsewhere.
Traditional Czech meals are served. Prices are notably higher than other local pubs, and beer is served in 40cl measures instead of the standard 50cl. Still, some consider the dark beer the best in Prague.
Lore & Background
U Fleků was originally a family business founded in 1499. In 1762 the brewery was bought by Jakub Flekovský, which gave its current name: U Fleků means in Czech 'At the Fleks'. After World War II the company was nationalized, and control was transferred to a board of management appointed by the state. Following the Velvet Revolution, the company was privatized.
Customers can sit in the open air beer garden or inside the restaurant. There are eight halls, with the most famous one, with its original designs, called 'Academy'. Most of the halls are open for large groups only (with total seating for 1200). Customers sit at, and often share, long wooden tables and benches.
Often strolling accordion and/or tuba players provide entertainment, and some customers like to sing along. On some nights, there is also a live cabaret show (fee, reservations needed). It features international dance routines (including Czech polka) and comedy.
There is a detailed museum tour in the former malt house building of the brewery, mainly explaining the brewing process over the centuries, with original machinery on display, and with taped audio (including English) (fee, reservations needed). There is also a tour of the brewery during the week, with a short film, beer tasting, and souvenir (fee, reservations needed). Visitors can also purchase an array of souvenirs at their gift shop, including a multitude of beer steins.
Reader's Guide
U Fleků is notable as a Prague pub and microbrewery that has operated since 1499, making it one of the oldest breweries in the city. Its dark lager, Flekovský Tmavý Ležák 13°, is brewed on the premises and is not available anywhere else; the beer is served in 40 cl measures rather than the 50 cl standard in almost all other Czech pubs. The pub's history includes nationalization after World War II and privatization after the Velvet Revolution.
A plaque on the wall commemorates the founding at the pub of HNK Hajduk Split, a Croatian football club, by a group of students from Split in 1911. The pub offers museum and brewery tours, live music, and cabaret shows, and its eight halls can seat up to 1200 people. Traditional Czech meals are served, and prices are considerably higher than other local pubs.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: U Fleků (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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