Prague’s penchant for slick design has been on show for some time now, visible in everything from its contemporary architecture to its slew of furniture and home design stores – and, of course, its hotels. Spots like the Emblem and Boho Hotels have pushed out the boat, with jaw-dropping, art-filled interiors and slick rooms custom-designed to impress. Others offer a more traditional aesthetic, with timbered ceilings and period furnishings along with personalised service and intimacy, while proto-boutiques still offer low-key minimalism. From stylish rooms and rootop terraces to cool bars, spas and tasty breakfasts, here's our pick of the best boutique hotels in Prague.
This classy 59-room design hotel is located on a quiet street close to Prague's Old Town Square, and is nothing if not comprehensive. As well as slick, modern rooms, you’ll find a spa and gym, and one of the city’s best steak houses is right next door. Don’t miss the rooftop whirlpool tub that has – just about – views of Prague Castle. There's also a members’ club which serves complimentary coffee, tea and soft drinks, free wine between 6pm-8pm each day, and movies in the evening. Plus a games room. For a proper James Bond experience, book the Suite Library: it has a fireplace and a secret passageway that leads to a large attic bedroom and bathroom. Read expert review From £ 121Nestled on a quiet and attractive street between the Old and New Town, the hotel is close to many of Prague’s key attractions as well as endless cafés, restaurants, shops and bars. It occupies a former 19th-century factory building and has a compact fitness studio, a small plunge pool with associated sauna and steam room, and a library area with a fireplace and free coffee and pastries available throughout the day. The 57 rooms and suites have a refined feel with quality wooden floors and amenities including coffee machines, large televisions and minibars. Breakfast is a lavish spread served in the hotel’s small but bright atrium restaurant, which also offers free wine-tasting sessions each day at 5pm. Read expert review From £ 191This small 11-room boutique is ideal for anyone seeking intimacy and charm. The conveniently central location between Wenceslas and Old Town square is a boon, as is the tasty breakfast, excellent service and in-room massage option. Expect oodles of character. Original brickwork from the beginning of the 14th century can be seen in the basement, and the hotel’s crystal-studded ceiling on the ground floor, which dates back to the early 20th-century, is heritage-listed; in fact, it’s the ceiling’s jewel-themed motifs that give the hotel its name. Furnishings tend towards the stylish, including pieces of contemporary art along with vibrant colours. Read expert review From £ 117• The best things to do in Prague
Tucked away in elegant Mala Strana, surrounded by a wealth of rich Baroque and Renaissance buildings, Hotel Pod Vezi offers 12 rooms in one venue and 16 in another annex over the road. Despite various renovations the main building still has many original historic features, from its pink-coloured exterior to the arch-filled, heavily timbered interior. The network of rooms, arranged around a courtyard, can be found via delightfully winding stairs, with wrought-iron chandeliers and antique furnishings completing the period feel. There's also a roof terrace with spectacular views over the bridge and river, and a restaurant offering traditional Czech cuisine. Read expert review From £ 89• The most romantic hotels in Prague
The house, located next to Valdštejn Palace, dates back to the 14th century and was once an Augustinian brewery (the large Gothic cellar has been preserved). Most of the current structure (aside from the more classicist façade) harks back to the 17th century, elements of which have been restored. The 21 rooms are a well-balanced blend of historic and contemporary. Echoes of Renaissance and Baroque eras are evident in the fine stucco, exposed wooden beams and painted wooden ceilings, while the furnishings are stylish as well as comfortable. The most romantic rooms have wonderful views across Prague Castle. The on-site restaurant, Waldštejnská Hospoda, has a couple of rooms plus a few tables outside on the terrace. Read expert review From £ 75• The best restaurants in Prague
The feel of a royal retreat runs throughout these cosy yet classic 19 guest rooms, located just below Prague Castle in the Malá Strana district. Make sure to enjoy seafood and Bohemian game dishes at the hotel's top-floor restaurant, which boasts magnificent views and welcomes both hotel guests and Prague's elite. In the rooms, there are touches such as Renaissance-style clay wall sections, in-room iPods and iPads, and whirlpool baths which blend remarkably well with the historic setting. Views are over the city rooftops towards Old Town or over the enchanting Royal Ledeburg gardens where you might catch a classical concert. Read expert review From £ 184• Prague: what to do and where to stay
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This small but charming hotel occupies a historic building (that dates back to the 14th century and was once owned by Emperor Rudolf II) on a quiet, cobbled street in Prague’s Hradcany (Castle District) in Mala Strana. It offers intimate, well-appointed rooms, high-quality service and pleasant terraces with views across the city. Eight spacious and tasteful rooms are distributed over the hotel’s two floors – the low number of rooms and location means the ambiance is quiet and intimate throughout. Panoramic views from the two flower-laden terraces – ideal for al fresco breakfasts or drinks – span the Old Town, Malá Strana and Petřín park and gardens. Read expert review From £ 58• The best boutique hotels in Rome
This intimate hotel, discreetly tucked away next to the beautifully baroque Church of St Nicholas in the heart of Malá Strana, has just nine suites, all charmingly appointed for romantic getaways or family stays. The historic building means lovely touches like exposed wooden beams and stone statues are matched to lovely wooden floors and furnishings. Service is highly personalised. The only available meal on site is breakfast: a decent buffet spread of fresh breads, ham, cheese, eggs, jam, fruits, yogurt, juice, tea and coffee (no hot dishes) which is served in the hallway and eaten in your room. Read expert review From £ 87• The best boutique hotels in Paris
This low-key design hotel is located on the central but quiet Haštalské náměstí in the Jewish Quarter, and faces the handsome St. Hastal church. From the backlit yellow onyx wall of the reception to the Eileen Gray chairs and historic Czech artworks peppered throughout the public spaces, the overall feel is considered and distinguished. Rooms have Art Deco furnishings and rain showers. As well as a design-themed library and business centre, a range of massages are available at the Asian-inspired Planet Zen Wellness Studio. There are a few neat little freebies on offer like morning sightseeing runs, 30-minute Czech-language courses, and a neighbourhood orientation tour. Guests can also book, for free, a real goldfish in an aquarium as a pet during their stay. Read expert review From £ 109• The world's most unusual hotels
This retro hotel seven minutes’ walk from Prague Castle is a breath of fresh air in a city well known for pomp and pageantry. The building's history stretches back to the 14th century when it was part of St Agnes Convent around the corner. Its cobbled courtyard is accessed directly off the street and gives an immediate feeling of bucolic charm, enhanced by the wooden staircase that leads up to the bright, airy rooms, which are all arranged around the courtyard. Décor sticks with the traditional throughout: wooden beams, frescoes and stucco with antique furnishings to match. There’s a jukebox, spa and rooftop terrace too. Read expert review From £ 108• The most unusual hotel spas in the world
The richly restored historic interior at this intimate, seven-suite hotel, situated on a quaint corner of Mala Strana, is as noble as it gets, with palatial hallways lit by crystal chandeliers, a handsome dark oak staircase renovated according to the designs of Art Nouveau architect Josef Fanta (a former resident), and sculpted ceiling panels. Rooms are every bit as lavish as the rest of the hotel, with views from the upper rooms of the pretty Petřín gardens or the splendorous St Nicholas Church. A banquet-esque breakfast buffet is served in the mornings. Guests can make use of a personal butler, who doubles as a chauffeur and makeshift tour guide for the duration of the stay. Read expert review From £ 175• The most unusual hotels in the USA
Aria Hotel Prague is all about the music, with a staff musicologist, a music library, and bedrooms dedicated to musicians (featuring related books, artworks and iPads pre-loaded with works from each composer). Interiors are rich and glamorous, with antique touches like grandfather clocks, hardwood floors and period tables mixed with modern touches. A curated music salon, private access to Unesco Heritage Baroque garden Vybta, and live concerts add to its appeal. Coda, run by Executive Chef David Šašek is an intimate but sophisticated affair, modelled in an Art Deco style. Complimentary tea is served each afternoon in the bar, and the panoramic rooftop terrace (summer only) is a divine place to drink and dine while overlooking the city's rooftops and spires. Read expert review From £ 247This central-Prague hotel occupies a four-storey historic building that dates to the 16th century. It offers an intimate atmosphere, warm service, comfortable and contemporary rooms, and a decent buffet breakfast. Rooms are reasonably sized, contemporary and elegant – thanks to a mix of hardwood floors and good quality modern furnishings – and reasonably upbeat with the cream and brown colour schemes broken with red, blue and yellow bed coverings. All come with wall-mounted televisions with satellite channels, minibars, work desks and coffee- and tea-making facilities (kettles) and bright bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers, fluffy slippers and gowns, and Eco-Boutique toiletries. Read expert review From £ 75• The best hotels in Prague's old town
Set inside a former archbishop's palace, parts of which date back to the 15th century, Domus Balthasar’s eight rooms blend historic elements such as rustic wooden beams with mod cons and designer furnishings. There isn't much in the way of facilities but the location – on a pleasant cobbled street on the main street that leads to Charles Bridge – is convenient for sightseeing. The eight rooms feature minimalist modern furnishings, canvas photographs of Prague Castle by local snapper Pavel Štecha, and traditional features like timbered ceilings. The fourth-floor attic rooms are the most romantic, while suites have kitchenettes with microwaves and hobs. The best views are over Charles Bridge Tower. A buffet breakfast served in the ground floor Bohemia Bagel café. Read expert review From £ 52ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbHLnp6rmaCde6S7ja6iaKyilsOmuI6dnKysmaOutbXOp6ponaWnvLGxjpyxnpuYYr%2BmvNSbo6KbX6W%2ForPUnmaaqqSesK2x0miZnqukYq%2BwwdOiqK6dXZ28tbHLrGSipl2lv6Kz1J5m