Municipal House

It is a large multifunctional cultural centre that houses a major concert hall, an elegant Czech restaurant, a beer hall, an American-style cocktail bar, a traditional café, music salons, and exhibition rooms.

Municipal House is stunning from every angle. Its façade, adorned with intricate stonework, stained glass windows, and striking frescoes, gleams with gold trimmings.

The building is historically significant for Czech people. On the 28th October 1918, the proclamation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia was announced from the balcony of Municipal House, to a large crowd gathered in the square below.

It stands on the site of the former Royal Court Palace on Republic Square, next to the Powder Gate Tower, which marks the entrance to Prague's Old Town.

Smetana Hall is the main hall at Municipal House, and the grandest concert hall in Prague. It is an architectural masterpiece of carved white stone with gold decorations, illuminated by hundreds of light bulbs. Masterful frescoes by Karel Spillar adorn the ceiling and walls.

From the foyer, a sweeping marble staircase leads you up to Smetana Hall, which, for concert-goers, only adds to one's anticipation of the event to come.

Classical music concerts held in Smetana Hall can feature some of the largest orchestras to play the city - Municipal House is the seat of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO), who perform orchestral and symphony concerts here.

Smetana Hall also hosts regular chamber orchestra concerts. Some feature string quartets, other concerts feature a variety of musicians accompanied by choirs, opera singers, and/or ballet dancers.

All Municipal House concerts listed on Prague Experience are staged in Smetana Hall (not a minor salon) - view listings and book concert tickets.

Municipal House Restaurant is on the ground floor of the building, and offers graceful 1920s style fine dining. Huge windows run along one side of the restaurant, looking out over Republic Square - more info.

Municipal House Beer Hall is a premium traditional Czech restaurant on the lower ground floor. It serves the finest local fare in a lively, beer hall style atmosphere - more info .

Next to the Beer Hall is the swish Tretter's American Bar, a classic Art Nouveau bar, ideal for a sophisticated pre-concert cocktail or glass of sparkling wine - either sit at the bar or sink into a black leather armchair.

Back on the ground floor, the Municipal House Café (Kavárna Obecní dům) is a traditional café. It serves coffee, tea, hot chocolate and fresh pastries throughout the day.

Exhibitions are another draw of Municipal House, and are listed in Prague events.

To discover more of Prague, consider joining one of our Prague city tours.