Mandarin Oriental, Prague

In a city as storied as Prague, it is only fitting to stay in a hotel of equal cultural standing. Housed in a former 14th-century monastery, the Mandarin Oriental seamlessly fuses modern luxury with monastic peace to create a tranquil hideaway in the heart of the city’s Old Town. Set against a backdrop of a hundred gleaming spires, the 99 rooms and suites are effortlessly elegant whilst Spices Restaurant is consistently exceptional with Czech produce prepared in traditional Asian styles. Indian, Thai, Chinese, Sushi; you name it, they serve it. But they’ll also rustle up a top-notch hamburger too.

Location

On the left bank of the Vltava River, amid the quiet cobbled streets of Mala Strana, the Mandarin Oriental makes for a peaceful spot in a bustling city. A stone’s throw away from the Old Town Square, a short jaunt from Charles Bridge and lying in the shadow of Prague Castle, the city’s highlights are quite literally on your doorstep. Just half an hour’s drive from the airport, you’ll be exploring the city in no time.

Your Room

A place where contemporary design meets period features, the 99 rooms and suites at the Mandarin Oriental exude a timeless elegance, most fitting in this City of a Hundred Spires. Each room is unique in its own way with some featuring private terraces, others mezzanines – or, if you opt for the penthouse, you’re looking at an entire tower to yourselves. Splashes of royal blue bring a regal touch to this monastic space, whilst underfloor heating in the decadent bathrooms adds a sprinkle of luxury.

Why we like it

We’ve visited our fair share of spas over the years, so it takes a fair bit to stand out from the crowd. Say – a world first. The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Prague is the world’s first spa to be housed in a former chapel and with illuminated foundations lying beneath a glass floor, it’s the kind of place that makes you take notice. Swap your shoes for a pair of slippers and enjoy a cup of herbal tea in the tea lounge before an invigorating massage in one of the gorgeous treatment rooms. A spa in a chapel; What could be more relaxing than that?