Čajovna Assamica

Assamica is the newest of the four teahouses in Olomouc. Its entrance is a little hard to see as you approach but it is there at Kateřinska 15, between St Catherine's church and the outdoor market, next door to U Morousů and almost opposite the entrance to the Olomoucká Krčma.

Just inside the entrance is a staircase leading down through the wafting scent of fruit tobacco to the first of the teahouse's three rooms. Beside and beneath the stairs is a seating area with sofas arranged around two or three small tables. The second and largest room is furnished with cane armchairs around glass-topped tables and the third is filled with a large podium divided into five seating areas with low tables, floor mats as thick as mattresses and large cushions so plump you could almost play ball games with them.

One of the teahouse owners is from Morocco, the other from Egypt; all three rooms are decorated with suggestions of the Middle East and North Africa. Hanging from the exposed brick ceilings are perforated metal light fittings with coloured glass panels, much of the furniture features the oriental dome shape from the teahouse's logo, and the richly ornamented upholstery, patterned carpets and cushions worthy of a sultan's harem suggest that when you leave you might need to face the billowing sands of the Sahara rather than the cold grey cobblestones of central Europe.

The hommus, baba ganouche and couscous snacks are outstanding and there's a full range of shisha pipes and flavoured tobacco. Despite the north African theme, all the usual teas from all the major tea-producing regions of the world are available. So far we've tried the Vietnamese green tea, the Yogi spice and the Rooibos caramel, which can be sweetened with honey and milk on request. Most of the teas suitable for repeated brewing offer the choice between a teapot or gaiwan cup.

One of the best things about Teahouse Assamica is that it's open seven days a week until midnight, which is at least an hour longer than most other places and just the right amount of time to enjoy a leisurely brew in the evening after dinner. With those opening hours, the comfort, friendly staff, location and quality of the tea and snacks it's bound to become the favourite teahouse for a lot of people in Olomouc.

Čajovna Assamica
Kateřinska 15
604 441729

Dobra Čajovna

Not all nightlife revolves around alcohol and the Dobra Čajovna/Good Teahouse is proof of that.

The entire teahouse displays an oriental influence. The carpets are all in the Turkish or Persian style, the furniture is of wicker, bamboo or solid unvarnished wood, there are a couple of large raised platforms with cushions and the lighting is dimmed by the Moroccan shades. The music is kept in the background, and most of it is also from countries to the east.

A favourite brew is the “Tea, Tea, Teas”, which is apparently an approximation of the everyday Chai served from pushcarts on the streets of Indian cities. Tea-drinkers with more refined palates might prefer one of the green teas or a dark tea. Also on the menu are several vegetarian snacks; the baba ganouche and hommous are 68Kc each and the pita breads range from 30Kc for the cinnamon to 48Kc for the Arabian pita with white cheese and olives.

The Dobra Čajovna is open from 1pm to 10pm Monday through Thursday, 1pm ‘til 11pm on Friday, 2pm until 11pm on Saturday and 2pm until 10pm on Sunday.

Dobrá Čajovna
Havelkova 7
Tel: 777 561 317

Kratochvile

Kratochvile is a blend of a teahouse, café, wine bar and bookstore, tucked away on Sokolská, one of the historic centre’s most interesting and overlooked streets.

There are more than 100 different types of black, green, spiced, and herbal teas from across the world. A favourite of many is the Yogi tea. According to the menu, the black tea spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves supports “mental alertness and leads to a mildly euphoric state, pleasant and warming in all seasons”. It comes served with soy milk and cane sugar, and a wonderful addition is a plate of the homemade shortbread biscuits.

Kratochvile is not all about tea, though. There are coffees from three continents, Melta barley coffee, and cocoa which can be served cold, hot, with cream and/or flavoured with cinnamon. There are also some interesting bottled beers, a short list of wines and the smokers’ corner offers two dozen flavoured tobaccos for the shisha pipes. Sweet and savoury snacks are available and if you’re properly hungry, they may be able to whip up a bowl of cous-cous or some toasted sandwiches.

The three main rooms on Kratochvile's ground floor have quite different characters. The front room is light and busy, the old gothic arches of the second room form two private nooks which are filled with cane furniture and low round tables. In the large rear room, you can sit on sofas, cushions on the floor or swing from one of the hammocks suspended from the ceiling. From this back room a wooden staircase leads up to the small loft, which is where you'll be directed if you want to try a shisha pipe.

As if all this weren’t enough, the interior walls are frequently used as a gallery and the back room hosts performances and small concerts from time to time.

Kratochvile is open 7 days a week until 11pm.

Kratochvile te & cafe
Sokolská 36
Tel: 603 564 120