Hotel Paris Prague

Hotel Paris was built in 1904 in the Art Nouveau
style by famous architect J. Vejrych. For many years it was among the premier
hotels in the city, attracting well-heeled travelers from across the world.
However, as the political situation changed in Prague in the second half of the
20th century, so did the hotel, and it went into disrepair until after the
Velvet Revolution. Today the property has been beautifully restored and
retains much of its original charm alongside newer elements that make it a
comfortable choice. The exteriors are decadent,
with detailed molding and bas-relief sculptures on balconies and window frames.
Guests enter through a high arched
door bordered with an intricate floral and vine design. Multiple salons can
be found inside the lobby with low, modern couches and original design pieces that include female sculptures and gilded mirrors and tables. A grand stairway
with a red and gold runner leads guests up through the hotel's many levels, and
there's also an old-fashioned elevator for those who would rather not walk. The
hallways around the hotel have an eclectic array of art pieces, ranging from
medieval-style tapestries to sci-fi/fantasy images to Mucha prints. 

The hotel is located in old Prague's historic
center, right across from Powder Tower. The nearest metro
stop, Namesti Republiky, is a two-minute walk east. The Astronomical Clock
is a seven-minute walk west and the State Opera, southeast of the property, takes just under 15
minutes to reach by foot. Getting to Saint Vitus Cathedral takes 10
minutes by car or 20 minutes by public transport, while the Hradcany castle district
is a 10-minute drive or 25-minute public transport ride west. Václav Havel
Airport is 25 minutes west by car or 45 minutes by public transport. 

The
Hotel Paris has 86 rooms and suites that fall into four categories: Deluxe
Rooms, Executive Rooms, Junior Suites, and Luxury Suites. All come with free
Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, safes, minibars, and flat-screen TVs with satellite
channels. More than half of the rooms fall into the Deluxe category, and
these have either single king beds or two twins, but may feel a bit small.
Executive Rooms are a bit bigger and often have corner locations with city
views. Junior Suites have king-sized beds and seating areas, but are open-plan
and don't have separate sleeping areas. Decor is similar from room to room and
relies heavily on hues of gold, peach, tan, and sea-foam green. Bathrooms
have floor heating and navy-and-white checkered tiled floors that look oddly
nautical and come with tubs or showers (or both), bidets, and wall-mounted
hairdryers. The three Luxury Suites -- the Tower, Klimt, and Mucha -- are
individually styled, each with their own perks. The Tower Suite is, as the name
suggests, in the tower, with a 360-degree view of the city and two stories
connected by a spiral staircase. The Klimt Suite is the largest space in the
property and has a massage shower area and two dressing rooms. The Mucha Suite
has gorgeous views and a kitchenette with a bar. 

The hotel's spa is free for hotel guests and
open to outside guests for a fee. Private reservations can also be made for
up to three people for a fee. Facilities include a huge dry sauna with
multi-leveled seating areas, an adjacent mosaic blue plunge pool, a steam room
with the same mosaic scheme, a whirlpool tub, and a massage shower for two. The
spa also offers Thai massage, sometimes known as yoga massage, a traditional
type of stretching and kneading treatment. The hotel's adjacent fitness center
has a few machines and free weights. Although Hotel Paris doesn't
have enough rooms to host huge events, it is a popular wedding destination, and
full wedding and/or reception packages are available. The hotel also has
two meeting rooms: the Petit Salon, which can seat up to 20 people, and the
Violet Salon, which hosts up to 55. Both come with audiovisual equipment and
catering services. A free breakfast is offered up every morning in the
non-smoking Sarah Bernhardt Restaurant, which serves French and Czech cuisine
at lunch and dinner a la carte. Tasting menus are available and the wine
list is extensive. Café de Paris has a casual, early 20th-century vibe, serving cakes,
sandwiches, and light meals in addition to coffee, tisane, and alcoholic
beverages.