Prague Smart Splurges

The 47-room Alchymist Grand is a charming Baroque hotel with luxury amenities. A Jeep or Rolls Royce escorts guests from the airport to the property on a cobbled street in Malá Strana, a fitting start to a stay in palatial accommodations where elegant, gilded chandeliers, and original artworks are reminiscent of the nearby Prague Castle The hotel’s mid-size scale is well-suited to travelers who don’t care for the intimate environs of a tiny boutique or guesthouse but also don’t want to get lost in the shuffle – the staff adhere to old world hospitality standards and are more than happy to field individual requests. Deluxe rooms and suites feature private balconies overlooking a central courtyard.

The Mandarin Oriental has found an unlikely and spectacular home in Prague. Housed in a 14th-century converted monastery in the trendy Mala Strana neighborhood, the hotel opened its doors to guests in September 2006. Original parquet floors, dramatically arched ceilings, and limestone bathrooms with heated floors add sophistication to this 99-room architectural gem while expertly preserving its history. Steps from city sights, it also has a beautiful spa and gym.

2008 SMART LUXURY WINNER
A High Style Temple With Modern Flair

After the fall of the Iron Curtain, when formerly Communist countries opened their doors to developers, a great race began between luxury hotel companies to establish beachheads in important cities. The result was many glass and steel boxes with perfectly fine, perfectly boring accommodations. But when Mandarin Oriental debuted in Prague in 2006, it got it right.

Located just off Maltézské Námeˇstí (Maltese Square) and near bustling, cobblestoned Malá Strana, the hotel is steps from Charles Bridge and the city’s main action. Housed in a former church and abbey, the Mandarin makes thrilling use of its historic assets: The 99 guest rooms (including 22 suites) sport vaulted ceilings, parquet floors, and a soft palette accented in deep reds and blues, evocative of the property’s pious past. Common areas, such as the serene Monastery Lounge, which runs along a one-time Dominican cloister, or the sumptuous spa, where a glass floor reveals foundations of an early 14th-century church, are no less evocative.

While the hotel pays homage to the city’s history, it also offers modern luxury at some of the least-expensive rates of any Mandarin satellite. In December, the hotel opened the city’s second incarnation of design and glassware shop Arteˇl. American-born owner Karen Feldman (author of Prague: Arteˇl Style) is available for private city shopping tours. Did we mention that Prague remains a comparative bargain over nearby capitals Berlin and Vienna? Best season for value: fall/winter.

Great Value Alternative: Art Nouveau K+K Hotel Central’s rooms are trimmed in warm wood and muted tones. From $150/night; www.kkhotels.com

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