Dear guests, dear friends!
 We would like to acquaint you with the history of the building in which you are seated at present. The oldest part of the house dates back to the 13th century. The tower in the rear part of the building formed part of the fortifications built to protect the new borough of Prague known as the Lesser Town (Malá Strana), which was founded in 1257 by the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II.
 The first mentions of this house, originally known as "The Three Bears", date from the year 1398. At this time the house belonged to the St Thomas Monastery. Later the house became the property of the municipal scribe Václav of Bítov. Sixteen years later, in 1436, he left the house to the borough, which established the town hall here. The two prison in the courtyard of the house date from this period. In the area of the present wine restaurant there was a session hall and scribes worked in the salons on the first floor. In 1478 the borough sold the house and established a new town hall in the building which is now the Lesser Town popular education organisation (Malostranská beseda). From the beginning of the 16th century the house was owned by an important burgher, Mikuláš Ráj. In the course of its long history the building was destroyed several times, first of all during the Hussite uprisings in the 15th century and the second time at the beginning of the 16th century, in 1503 to be exact, when it burned down together with its surroundings.
  In the 17th century this house changed owners many times. Among the most significant owners there were, for instance, the builder, Dominic de Bossi and the trader Peroni. At this time a world-famous painter was working in the court of the Emperor Rudolf, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, who earned extra money by working for the burghers of the Lesser Town and also participated in the decoration of this house. Then the house of "The Three Bears" belonged to the family of František Sigek. This family also acquired the neighbouring house "The Seven Pillars" from the son of the painter Jan Jakub Stewenson (Steinfels). The two houses were later joined together to make one house, known as "The White Ox". During part of the 18th century the house served as an inn. In 1866 the building became the property of the Stüdl family which had here for more than half a century a well-known wine restaurant and a delicatessen shop selling tea and wine. The vintner Stüdl was also the royal and imperial supplier for the kitchen of the Archduke František Ferdinand d'Este. (At the door by the entrance stairs an original sales bag is displayed.
  After this the house had yet a further two owners. Both were goldsmiths and business friends, one originally owned a similar house in Plzeň and after reaching an agreement they exchanged them. With the arrival of the new owner from Plzeň who was also one of the holders of the brewing rights to Plzeň beer the building acquired a historical connection with the brand of PILSNER URQUELL. After the Second World War the restaurant was leased by a Yugoslav wine-merchant who named it "Makarská", but with the end of the millennium the name had to be changed in accordance with the Prague tradition.
  Welcome to the Restaurant by the Church of St Nicholas. It has been our intention to try an create an ambience in which one can feel the breath of history, true comfort and a peaceful atmosphere without everyday worries.

           The restaurant team wishes you many pleasant visits.