It�s nearly impossible to remember that this country was an empty-shelved shopper�s nightmare only a decade ago. Capitalism has arrived! Upscale shops cater to foreign visitors, department stores offer something for everyone, while glass and porcelain vendors won�t let you escape their attention. Be sure to take home a piece or two of that famous Bohemian crystal or maybe some elaborate marionettes for the kids.

Antiques Art galleries Department stores Bookstores

Markets Shopping areas Unusual shops

ANTIQUES

Antique shops are located all around Prague, including several choice locations along Parizska Street (near Old Town Square on the way toward the Jewish Quarter).

Jan Hunek Starozitnosti is especially noted for fine 18th-and 19th-century Czech crystal and glass. Open daily 10 am-6 pm. Parizka 1, Prague 1, phone/fax:222 325 122 .

Antikvariat Galerie Mustek. Antique books, graphics and maps. Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm and Saturday 11 am-2 pm. Ulice 28 Rijna 13, Prague 1, phone 2268-058, fax 22423-0041.

Antikvariat U Karlova Mostu. Antique books, prints and maps. Near Charles Bridge. Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm, Saturday 11 am-4 pm. Karlova 2, Prague 1, phone 22422 9205, phone/fax 22422-9205.




ART GALLERIES

Galerie MXM. One of the oldest private galleries, featuring 18 Czech artists. Previous exhibitions have shown works by Petr Nikl, Jiri David, Jan Merta, Stanislav Divis and Martin Mainer. Tuesday-Sunday noon-6 pm. Near Malostranska Metro. Nosticova 6, Prague 1, phone/fax:2 531 564

Galerie Rob Van Den Doel. Contemporary glass art. Dutchman Van Den Doel has exhibited Czech artists in the Hague for years. Ales Klemper displays his work at this site, too. Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-5 pm. Jansky Vrsek 15, Prague 1, phone 253-82-57.

Galerie Genia Loci. Italian, German and Czech furniture designers. Also has a permanent exhibition and sale of glass, porcelain, wood, graphics and photos featuring works by Borek Sipek. Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm. Ujezd 11, Prague 5, phone/fax 2539-468.




BEST DEPARTMENT STORES

Kotva. One of Prague�s first department stores, Kotva carries men�s and women�s fashions, perfumes and cosmetics. Stop by the section selling crystal and by the well-stocked sporting goods section. Monday-Friday 9 am-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am-6 pm. Namesti Republiky 8, Prague 1, phone 22480-1111.

Krone. Located right on Wenceslas Square, Krone has a little of everything: toiletries, clothing, shoes, electronic appliances, blank cassettes and batteries. The folk-style ceramic and pottery items are reasonably priced. Open Monday-Friday 9 am-8 pm, Saturday 9 am-7 pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm. Vaclavske Namesti 21, Prague 1, phone22423-0477.

Tesco. Formerly a K-Mart, Tesco operates four floors with just about everything that can be sold. Large and usually crowded grocery store with many U.S. and other foreign items in the basement. Tesco opens Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm, Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm. Grocery store hours: Monday-Friday 7 am-8 pm, Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sunday 9 am-6 pm. Narodni Trida 26 (Line B Metro), phone 22200-3111.




BOOKSTORES

U Knihomola. The city�s largest selection of literature published in English. Art gallery and bistro within the store. Monday-Thursday 10 am-11 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-midnight, Sunday 10 am-8 pm. Near Jiriho z Podebrad Metro (Line A). Manesova 79, Prague 2, phone 627-7770, fax 627-7769, e-mail zazie@terminal.cz.

Foreign Language Bookstore (Cizojazycne Literatura). Good selection of English-language paperbacks and foreign-language dictionaries. Nice selection of books about Prague in English. Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm. In the city center at Na Prikope 27, Prague 1, phone22262-837.

The Globe Bookstore. A large stock of English-language used books and a variety of new local favorites, too. Several chairs are scattered around as a reading room. In the adjacent room, The Globe offers a coffeehouse with good cappuccinos and veggie-style food. Open daily 10 am-midnight. Janovskeho 14, Prague 7, phone/fax 226671-2610.




MARKETS

Old Town Market (Stare Mesto Market). Fruits and vegetables, flowers, wooden toys and delightful ceramic pieces. You can also purchase household items from these vendors in their canopied stalls. Monday-Friday 8 am-6 pm, weekends 8 am-1 pm. Between Mustek and Old Town Square in the center. Havelska, Prague 1.




SHOPPING AREAS

Parizska Street. Leading from Old Town Square toward the Vltava River, with buildings patterned after those in Paris, it boasts name-brand shops�Christian Dior, Pringle of Scotland, Francesa Lecca and a wonderful leather shop called Belt. Karlovarsky Porcelain, at Parizska 2, has a wide selection of Karlovy Vary porcelain and Bohemian glass and crystal with a shipping service. Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm. Phone/fax22481-1023.

The Pavilion Shopping Mall (Pavilon Vinohradska Trznice). Prague�s first venture into the world of enclosed multiple-shop malls opened in 1994 with more than 60 shops and boutiques, including Lacoste, Freemens of London, Body Basics, Levi�s Iasmir, Bohemia Art & Design. Monday-Saturday 9:30 am-9 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm. Vinohradska Trznice, Vinohradska 50, Prague 1.

Koruna Place, on the corner of Wenceslas Square and Na Prikope, boasts impressive gray marble, glass and chrome in its interior. It�s headquarters to such retailers as Swatch, Daniel Hecter, Fratelli Rosetti, Serchio Tachnini, Oillily children�s wear, Big Star Jeans, Bruno Magli shoes and Body Basics, as well as what may be the world�s largest Dunkin� Donuts.

Mappin & Webb carries exclusive gifts, watches, clocks, silver, jewelry and porcelain. Monday-Friday 10 am-7 pm, Sunday 10 am-5 pm. Near Old Town Square, Karlova 27/144, Male Namesti, Prague 1, phone 22423-7075.




UNIQUE OR UNUSUAL

Czech garnets�those sparkly red semiprecious stones�gleam in store windows all around Prague. A reputable shop with a good selection is Granat, open Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday 10 am-1 pm. Near Namesti Republiky Metro, Dlouha 30, Prague 1, phone 2231-5612.

Costume jewelry is popular in the Czech Republic, and one of the best shops in which to make your purchases is Royal Bijou. Daily 10 am-7 pm. Located in the city center at Na Prikope 12, Prague 1, phone22421-0552.

Bata shoes are world famous. Originally manufactured in Czechoslovakia by the Bata family, the base of operations was moved to Canada after World War II. Back home after a 40-year exile, Bata displays its own well-made shoes and European imports in a five-floor store at the base of Wenceslas Square near Mustek. Open Monday-Friday 9 am-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-6 pm. Vaclavske Namesti 6, Prague 1, phone 22421-8133.

Moser offers exquisite crystal. Monday-Friday 10 am-7 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday 10 am-4 pm. Male Namesti 11, phone 2 2161-1520, fax 22161-1527.

Sklo Bohemia Svetla nad Sazavou offers less expensive Bohemian glass. Monday-Saturday 1-6 pm. Na Prikope 17, phone 22421-1669.

Cesky Porcelain. The original blue-onion-pattern china. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 am-6 pm, Thursday 1-6 pm, Saturday 9 am-1 pm. The factory shop is in the center not far from Mustek. Perlova 1/412, Prague 1, phone/fax 2 2421-0955.

Krasna Jizba. Czech folk crafts, such as cornhusk dolls and the wooden toys you see advertised everywhere, as well as furniture and colorful fabrics. Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm and Saturday 9 am-5 pm. Narodni 36, Prague 1, phone 2 2494-6677.

Bontonland. One of Prague�s largest selections of CDs and tapes. Wenceslas Square 1, phone 22423-5356.

Trio. Excellent in-depth source for CDs by classical Czech composers as well as works by other composers. Knowledgeable staff. Music from this site (�Kafka�s House�) flows into Old Town Square. U Radnice 5, phone 22232-2583.