What to See in Prague According to Artel’s Karen Feldman

When American founder and designer Karen Feldman launched her Czech crystal company, ARTĚL, in Prague in 1998, she was a newly arrived expat with no contacts in the Czech Republic's centuries-old glassmaking industry—and didn't even have a phone. "I had a voice mailbox, which I called to see if a fax had arrived at the main post office, where I picked it up and sent a response," she recalls. From those pioneering beginnings, Feldman has built ARTĚL into an internationally recognized luxury crystal brand, celebrated for its distinctive combination of traditional Czech craftsmanship and sophisticated contemporary design. Each piece is mouth-blown and hand-decorated by Czech master artisans, preserving techniques that have defined Bohemian glassmaking for centuries.

If you visit only one store while in Prague, make it Feldman's gem-like ARTĚL boutique in Malá Strana, just steps from the Charles Bridge. The atmospheric flagship showcases ARTĚL's colorful barware and tableware alongside intricately engraved and gilded crystal, as well as a beautifully curated collection of jewelry by local and international designers and an eclectic assortment of novelties and curiosities personally selected by Feldman. It remains a wonderful destination for distinctive, truly Prague-specific gifts to bring home.

Having watched Prague change, transform and grow over nearly three decades, Feldman is also an invaluable guide to experiencing the city like a local. Her wonderfully opinionated book, Prague: ARTĚL Style, is filled with the kind of discoveries and recommendations that come from years of exploring her adopted city. For Indagare, Feldman has selected some of her favorite places and experiences—from celebrated Prague landmarks to unexpected neighborhood finds—offering a glimpse into the city she has called home since 1994. Here is Karen's Prague.

Karen's Prague Highlights Not to Miss:

• Enjoy the view: Astronomical Tower in the Clementinum
• Go for a sandwich: Naše maso Dlouhá or Sisters Bistro
• Take a coffee break: Municipal House Cafe
• Visit hands-on exhibitions: Public Transport Museum or National Technical Museum
• Take the kids to the zoo: Prague Zoo
• Take a break: Petřín Hill or Letná Beer Garden
• Shop for traditional Czech toys: Rocking Horse Toy Shop-Hracky or Hugo Chodí Bos
• Shop for antiques: Antique Ahasver or Antiques Michal Jankovský
• Shop for Czech Christmas ornaments: Crystal Dana Bohemia Prague
• Learn about architecture: Villa Müller
• See an incredible private collection: Lobkowicz Palace
• Get a view from the river: Take a private boat ride before dinner at Kampa Park