A trip to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival would not be complete without a visit to a place to dine, drink and be cheerful at the legendary Czech spa resort.
Let’s take a closer look at the five local hotspots.
Thermal hotel
Thermal hotel
Film Service Festival Karlovy Vary
Hotel Thermal is the center of the Karlovy Vary Festival. A pearl of Brutalist architecture designed by legendary Czech architects Veramacho Ninova and Vladimir Makonin and built in 1977 to specially house the festival. Luxury hotels and spas celebrate the 45th anniversary in style. Hosts KVIFF’s return to pre-pandemic glory.
KVIFF.TV Park
KVIFF.TV Park
Film Service Festival Karlovy Vary
The latest building added to KIVFF, right next to Hotel Thermal, is the festival’s public forum, filmmaker Q & A, and overtime concert venues. A combination of networking (with daily afternoon meeting sessions with film delegations) and a chill-out zone, KVIFF.TV Park is a great place to hang out between shows.
Embassy restaurant
Embassy restaurant
Film Service Festival Karlovy Vary
Popular with VIPs and locals, this intimate restaurant combines picturesque interiors with vaulted brick ceilings, dark wood, stained glass and arguably the best Czech cuisine in the city. I am. Veal and schnitzel are probably the best I’ve ever eaten, and the local beer combined with the cozy atmosphere will bring me back in a hurry.
Grandhotel Pupp Public Casino
Public Casino, Grandhotel Pupp
Film Service Festival Karlovy Vary
KVIFF’s main party spot is the Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary’s iconic 18th-century hotel. The hotel welcomes VIP guests from the festival, where you can regularly see a drink at the hotel’s Becher’s Bar or try your luck on a roulette wheel at Pupp’s old school casino. Introduced in the 2006 James Bond movie Royal Casino..
Promenada Restaurant
Promenade restaurant
Film Service Festival Karlovy Vary
A visit to Karlovy Vary cannot be completed without at least one extravagant meal at the Promenada. Specializing in Czech and French cuisine, but with a determined Czech (reading: friendly) approach to service, this is a marathon week movie watching with a perfectly cooked lagoo, duck, or carpaccio meal. This is the final spot. Served with a dessert crepe that regains trust in humanity.