By Peter Crosta

Prague’s bar scene provides the perfect atmosphere to indulge in day drinking. The rooms are dark and moody, the music is delightfully outdated and the drinks are cheap. But there are a few things lacking—properly mixed drinks, fast service and free water. Luckily, Los Banditos heard our prayers. It isn’t your new home away from home, but drinks are strong and two-for-one at happy hour, which runs every weekday from 4:30 to 6:30.

When you walk into Los Banditos, you’ll immediately be struck by how different it is from the smoke-filled hospodas we’ve grown accustomed to in Prague. The décor is dedicated to the Mexican theme, but with a sense of humor. The walls are painted the same bright colors of Mexican slums. Day of the Dead murals adorn the ceiling, and a skeleton bandito stares at you from across the room, framed in a brightly lit window box. The decorations feel caricatured, but their tongue in cheek presentation made me suppress a squeal of delight as I found a seat.

The menus are entirely in English. The wait staff is scruffy but lovable, and usually speak with an accent from somewhere in the U.K. The place is nearly empty at 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, but if you come later in the week, it starts to fill up.

The drinks arrive quickly and are loaded with alcohol. Be sure to order a glass of water with your drink—not to avoid a hangover, but because it’s free. I thoroughly enjoyed my Cuba libre, which is just a rum and coke with lime, and for people who like the taste of absinthe, the Permanent Sunset won’t disappoint. A word of warning: drinks are not blended—your margaritas and Pina Coladas will be on the rocks.

Drinks range from 90 kc to 135 kc, or $4.75 to $7, so happy hour is easy on your wallet while it lasts, but be careful. If you’ve been there the full two hours, you will probably find yourself in a state where money has become no object.

While Los Banditos isn’t perfect, it’s a taste of home worth checking out, especially if you get out of class at 4:30 p.m.