At the Cafe Savoy

A tremendous influence on Kafka's writing and person was Yiddish theater. Some have credited it with being the major influence behind the stylistic breakthrough represented by "The Judgement." Especially important to this was the actor Jizchak Lowy, who led a Jewish theater troupe based in Warsaw that came to Prague in 1911 and which Kafka saw perform a full twenty times at The Cafe-Restaurant Savoy. This experience also piqued Kafka's interest in and fascination with eastern Judaism.

It should be pointed out that Kakfa's Cafe-Restaurant Savoy has nothing to do with the first pictured building, which bears the same name and is an elegant restaurant, in operation since the 1890's, near the river and along a major tram route. Kafka's cafe was in Josefov, in a rather less distinguished location and building (the second building pictured here). There is still a restaurant there today but not, sadly, a Cafe-Restaurant Savoy featuring Yiddish theater.