Café Louvre first opened in 1902. In the Communist era it was made into a wine restaurant named Riviéra. The place was renovated and reopened in 1992 as café Ganys. However, after few days, the café returned to its original name under which it was known by all those who indulged in café life. Some of its frequent visitors were truly outstanding personalities, such as Karel Čapek, Franz Kafka in the company of Max Brod, Jaroslav Seifert. It was there that the Čapek brothers founded PEN Club in 1925 with such members as František Langer, Karel Matěj Čapek-Chod, Václav Tille, Božena Benešová and many others. Also Albert Einstein visited the café when he was in Prague.
This was in the first half of the 20th century. At that time, there were many other cafés nearby. Almost opposite Café Louvre, on the corner of Národní Třída and Perštýn was Unionka and further on the pub U Choděrů. These two places are not there any more. But one year ago, a café called Národní was renewed, located closer to the Vltava (we will write about it next time).
As far as the size goes, Louvre was quite exceptional. Antonín Pelc who opened and ran the café was very proud of it as well as of its modern equipment including an office with a telephone for journalists, who used to be frequent visitors to the café. Today, you can find paper and pencils on the tables for potential notes.
The present look of the café is in red tones on the wallpaper and the floor combined with cream white on the walls and stucco, all of this in the original Art-Nouveau interior. The café’s furniture and equipment as well as the personnel’s outfits are also in the same spirit as before the year 1948. The probably only modern element, yet perfectly fitting with the surroundings, is the kinetic fountain in the entrance hall.
There are also pool tables and daily newspapers at the customer’s disposal. The choice of cakes, which includes dia cakes, is undoubtedly tempting.
And just as the name, there is something about the café that could be brandy as “French flair”.
