Five Nights in Prague: Day Two – The City That Softens You

Written by Marco Townson | Founder of Bean

After a solid night’s sleep (we must’ve needed it), we started Day Two with the kind of slow morning that holidays are made for. Breakfast at Design Hotel Neruda was simple, relaxed and just what we needed—coffee, eggs, pastries, and that little clink of cutlery in the background that tells your brain it’s time to switch into low gear.

From there, we wandered down the hilly streets of Malá Strana, past pastel-coloured buildings and stacked rooftops with views that seemed too cinematic to be real. There's a certain charm here that doesn’t shout for your attention—it just gently unfolds as you walk.

We found ourselves at Palladium Praha—a modern mall that made us feel oddly at home. Escalators humming, people darting about with shopping bags and iced coffees. We’re the kind of travellers that enjoy local experiences and a good mooch through retail floors. It’s not about buying, it’s about seeing what’s familiar in a place that’s completely new.

Later in the day, we walked (and walked) uphill through the quieter parts of Hradčany. It’s a part of the city that feels lived in. The views over Prague with its gingerbread rooftops and landmark spires are honestly breathtaking—photos barely do it justice.

Prague Castle loomed quietly in the distance, always somewhere in your peripheral vision, like it’s watching you soak in the beauty of it all.

As the day turned to night, we ventured out again—this time with a bit of a mission: find a spot the locals like, ideally with good food and cold beer. We ended up at Zašívárna pod mostem, tucked under a stone archway like a secret only the city knows about. It felt effortlessly authentic.

I had a pulled pork Czech-style burger, Benjamin had one with duck, and both of us had a Pilsner Urquell—crisp, local, and exactly what you want after a long wander.

It’s moments like that—sitting across from someone you love in a new place, surrounded by warm lights and centuries-old architecture—that make a trip feel like more than a getaway. It becomes a reset.

On the way back, we soaked in more of Prague’s magic by night.

We passed the Schwarzenberg Palace again—the facade almost theatrical under spotlights—before turning in for the night.

Day Two reminded me of something important: switching off doesn’t have to mean shutting down. I still checked emails. I still thought about business. But I also breathed. Took photos. Wandered aimlessly. Drank beer under a bridge.

This trip’s giving me room to feel again, create again. And that—well, that’s what I reckon real inspiration looks like.

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