Bokovka

Quality wines from a forgotten courtyard

Wines, cheeses, sommelier waiters and a forgotten courtyard in 37 Dlouhá street. That’s Bokovka, a wine club run by sommelier Roman Novotný. 

Do you remember the wine club Bokovka in Pštrossova street? It was founded by friends from artistic circles that would meet up to taste wines. They later opened a wine bar, where grand wines were enjoyed by little glasses. 

“We wanted to bring the punk atmosphere of the Bokovka in Karlovy Vary to Prague,” explains Tomáš Karpíšek from Ambiente. Bokovka in Karlovy Vary is unique due to the fact that it opens only once a year during the International Film Festival. People linger with wine glasses on an unkept yard and Prague’s Bokovka takes something from this atmosphere - primarily the casualness and ease that goes hand in hand with improvised seating on radiators, windowsills or benches in the courtyard. 

Bokovka is cared for by four sommeliers headed by Roman Novotný. Mainly the environment is surprising. The house U Zeleného stromu contains original vaults, peeling walls, a courtyard patio, but at the same time design, hype and playfulness - interior architect Tereza Froňková used a chandelier from Jiří Černický and Studio Olgoj Chorchoj, for example, which unexpectedly connects the radiance of an industrial bulb with the glow of a wax candle; the sommelier aprons and the curtain with the color droplet was designed by Kristina Netíková. 

Bokovka also includes a room in the first floor. It serves as a place to sit or to rent for private events. It is equipped with a film screening canvas, a projector, armchairs and flea market cinema seats (including apparently the front row from cinema Světozor). “Director David Ondříček took charge of the dramaturgy and will be screening films here,” states graphic designer Aleš Najbrt with anticipation. As the former founder of Bokovka his role in the club is one that brings people together and he believes that the courtyard in Dlouhá street is the right place for a wine bar.

The selection of wines in Bokovka is made by sommelier Roman Novotný, the present chief sommelier at La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise. Bokovka is a new challenge for him. “We wanted an establishment that everyone could visit, whether they love natural or commercial wines. If you look at the shelves, it intermingles beautifully. There are the authentists, ecological winemakers from abroad, but also relatively large companies,” Roman describes. You can therefore find an interesting selection of wines from around the world here, currently with a large emphasis on Europe. With time, around three hundred to three hundred and fifty different kinds should be featured here. 

How did Bokovka originate?

In the beginning there was friendship and joy for wine. Aleš Najbrt, Jan Hřebejk, David Ondříček, Tono Stano, Jan Bejšovec, and Stanislav Diviš actually used to split the costs of their dream wines - how else to enjoy a drop from the sacred Château Haut-brion 1970, than to share it amongst a group of friends? Thanks to this, the entire Bokovka wine bar was established - as a place where grand wines are enjoyed by small glasses. Tomáš Karpíšek of Ambiente later joined the Bokovka group, but in 2014, the original Bokovka was closed and relocated to a new address.

design team:  

interior Ing. Arch. Tereza Froňková

U Průhonu 26
Praha 7 _ Holešovice
170 00
tel: 777 161 710
mail: [email protected] 

graphic design Studio Najbrt

U Nikolajky 822/7

Praha 5_Smíchov

150 00

tel: 251 561 060

mail: [email protected]