Where to stay when visiting Prague? During my recent trip to this magical city in Eastern Europe, I spent three nights at the Four Seasons and visited three other
Prague luxury hotels during the course of my stay. If you're looking for a luxury hotel in Prague, Czech Republic, these are my impressions.
Four Seasons Prague (pictured above) features large, comfortable rooms; modern marble bathrooms; and some incredible nighttime river views of the Prague Castle lit up at night. With a prime location on the Vltava River, just a block from the Charles Bridge, Four Seasons has joined existing Baroque, Renaissance, and neo-Classical buildings into the preeminent five star hotel in Prague. Superior and Deluxe rooms provide the large, well furnished rooms we have come to expect from Four Seasons. Large marble bathrooms provide separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs. It is when you get to the more upscale rooms that the character of this hotel really becomes apparent. Premier Rooms look out across the Vltava River, and at night the lighted Prague Castle high on the hill across the river provides a stunning view. Rooms in the Renaissance wing are immense with 12-foot high ceilings with beautiful crystal chandeliers. For a really special WOW, book a Premier One Bedroom Suite. Book Four Seasons Prague through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant for free daily Continental breakfasts and a room upgrade upon arrival, if available.
Allegro, the hotel's restaurant, features cuisine that has won the first Michelin star ever awarded in Eastern Europe. We enjoyed a meal prepared by Chef Andrea Accordi that was both creative and exquisite.
Mandarin Oriental Prague is a recently opened small luxury hotel. With only 99 rooms, it features the contemporary Asian styling that Mandarin Oriental is known for. First built as a monastery in the 14th century, the property has a superb location in the "Lesser Village" of Prague, the oldest part of the city - and quieter at night. The hotel is just a two minute walk from the Charles Bridge. Rooms are attractively decorated and have beautiful bathrooms. However, as only 75% of the bathrooms have both a tub and a walk-in shower, it is essential to make your preference known so that you can be blocked in the appropriate room. Deluxe rooms seemed a bit cramped; I would recommend that most guests book at least a Deluxe Mandarin category ... and ask to be blocked on a floor with higher ceilings. I enjoyed a superb dinner at Essentia, the Mandarin Oriental's Asian-European fusion restaurant. When booked through Virtuoso, you will receive a complimentary daily buffet breakfast and a room upgrade if available upon arrival.
Pachtuv Palace is a member of Mamaison Hotels and part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the world. A solid 4-star hotel housed in a Baroque mansion, Pachtuv Palace offers large rooms, some of which offer laundry facilities and kitchenettes. Guest rooms offer a lot of local character, some featuring vaulted chapel ceilings, frescoes, and sculptures. Bathrooms are large and modern with single vanities and shower/tub combinations. This is a good value in a good location, on the river and a short walk from the Charles Bridge.
Kempinski Hybernská Prague is a brand new five star hotel at the edge of the Old City. With stunning contemporary styling within a neo-Classical building, most of the property's rooms are suites that include a kitchenette, a good choice for families looking for residential accommodations in Prague. Rooms feel a bit cramped, however. Even though there is adequate square footage in the suites, their design divides them into discrete sleeping and living areas, each of which is a bit too small. Rooms on the top floors have dormer windows, and the slanted ceiling (following the roofline) cuts into the cubic space of the room.
Prague luxury hotels (search here on Google)copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website..
