The spirit of Casanova, who spent his final years in Bohemia, permeates this lavish Baroque hotel squeezed between Prague Castle and Petřín Hill in Malá Strana, an atmospheric district of palaces, gardens and monasteries seemingly pulled from a fairy tale.
Drawing from the zenith of the Venetian Renaissance, the hotel endows its 26 rooms and 19 suites with heavy doses of gilded filigree, including antique furnishings, royal textiles, hand-painted wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and parquet floors that look fit for an Italian princess.
The same aesthetic fills the common areas, particularly in Aquarius Restaurant and Café, where the walls are coated in Venetian stucco and hand-painted murals. The contrast makes the hotel’s Indonesian-inspired Ecsotica Spa, fashioned out of the 11th-century gothic cellars, pop even more.
- Finding any pool in Old Town is an
achievement, but the Prague
hotel’s mosaic-tiled swimming hole, with a crystal chandelier dangling above
and water streaming in from a rock wall, is a real hidden treasure.
- The property’s interior courtyard has
seating for the restaurant and café and is open to the public. But very few
tourists know about it, making this a quiet, secluded escape from the
congestion.
- Aquarius Restaurant and Café offers sensational Mediterranean cuisine in a sumptuous dining room, but is most
renowned for its housemade chocolate pralines.
- The hotel’s Ecsotica Spa is
replete with gorgeous antiques, but the grand prize is the original 18th-century
Chinese bed found in the relaxation area.
- You’ll find reminders of the
property’s historic past around every turn. For example, the tower at the rear
of the courtyard dates back to the fortification of the Malá Strana district in
1257, and between the second-floor windows is a well-preserved polychrome
relief sculpture of Our Lady of Loretto.
- The American embassy is right
across the street from the Alchymist hotel, and security keeps traffic to a
minimum (and bomb-sniffing dogs and armed police at a maximum).
- Every day at 5 p.m., the hotel bar
opens with a flourish by serving complimentary wine and cheese produced in the Czech
Republic.
- The luxury hotel is only a 12-minute
walk from Malostranská metro station, and multiple tram lines stop even closer.
However, public transport may not be needed as many of Prague’s major sites are
within a 20-minute walk.
- The ornate rooms are adorned with jewelry
box-like décor, including antique sedans, Bohemian crystal, leather-backed
tomes, princely writing desks and decorative nautilus shells.
- Only some rooms have balconies, and not all views are equal.
The balcony on the Alchymist Suite charmingly overlooks the fountain courtyard,
while the Tower and Family suites look out to Malá Strana and Prague Castle but
don’t include a private perch.
- When booking a stay in one of the Prague
hotel’s beautiful suites, you’ll enjoy extra perks such as a fruit platter and
a bottle of wine upon arrival, L’Occitane toiletries and separate bathtubs.
- If you’re traveling with a group,
opt for one of the Family Suites to spread out in a two-bedroom, 667-square-foot
duplex.
- At the bottom of the street,
you’ll have access to the lesser-known Vrtba Garden. The three-tiered Baroque wonderland
crafts a spell with statuary, sculpted shrubbery and frescos — it’s no wonder this is
a favorite spot for weddings.
- Charles Bridge, the symbol of
Prague and its most famous sight, is less than a 10-minute stroll away.
- Situated next door to the Prague
hotel, Petřín Hill requires a modest climb, but you’ll be rewarded with some of
the best panoramic views of the city. Those with a taste for the bizarre should
stop in the Magical Cavern, a world unto itself, halfway up the slope.
- Prague Castle is a just short walk
away, but the trek includes some occasionally steep slopes and staircases.
Those with mobility issues should take Tram 22, which picks up near the bottom
of the street at Malostranské náměstí square and ride it up the hill to the
side entrance.
Bar
Indoor pool
Restaurants
Spa
