Hanavsky Pavilion

The popular lookout restaurant Hanavsky Pavilion in Letenske sady boasts one of the most beautiful views of Prague’s bridges over the Vltava River.

The building of the Hanavsky Pavilion (Hanau’s Pavilion) has an interesting history. It was built on the occasion of the Jubilee Czech Exhibition in 1891 in Prague district Holesovice to represent Komarov Ironworks. It was the very first cast iron building in Prague, built of cast iron, concrete and glass. The owner of the ironworks, Prince Vilem Hanavsky, after whom the pavilion bears his name, donated it to the city. When the exhibition ended, the pavilion was completely dismantled and moved to Letenske sady (Letna Gardens).

The pavilion in the Neo-Baroque style designed by the architect Otto Hercik is an artistic and technical monument. Entrance to the pavilion via a two-armed staircase richly decorated with artistically wrought iron railings is truly magnificent. The same feeling you’ll get from the interior of the pavilion, which is dominated by a wide decorative pillar in the middle. In 1967, the Hanavsky Pavilion underwent extensive reconstruction, which affected the very structural elements of the building and was followed by other restoration work in 1987. The Hanavsky Pavilion is now a beautiful dominant of Letenske sady right next to Kramar’s villa, the official residence of the Czech Prime Minister.

If you want to enjoy a unique view of Prague bridges, you can either head to the terrace of the restaurant or enjoy the lookout point under the terrace. When looking against the flow of the Vltava River, we see the Manes Bridge in the foreground, Charles Bridge behind it and then in the distance the Legion Bridge, Jirasek Bridge and Palacky Bridge. Directly in front of us is the Old Town with the dominant Tyn Church on the Old Town Square. Newer high-rise buildings on Prague’s Pankrac rise on the horizon and, as perhaps on every view in Prague, the Zizkov Television Tower.