Art Deco Imperial Hotel

The look of this place is a total contradiction. From Na Poříčí street, the hotel looks like a sharp Cubist fortress. It's all hard angles and geometry. But step inside and the mood shifts. Suddenly, you're surrounded by the soft curves of late-Art Nouveau. The 1914 ceramic mosaics in the lobby and Café Imperial are legendary. Look for the lions and flowers hiding in the tiles. There's a lot of Moorish and Egyptian influence here. It’s all deep greens and heavy gold. Experts spent two years between 2005 and 2007 restoring every inch of wood and ceramic. Now it’s a living piece of art. Worth every forint.

People have been coming to Café Imperial for over a hundred years. It was a second home for Franz Kafka and Leoš Janáček. Now, it's run by Michal Pšenička and Zdeněk Pohlreich. They don't do fussy food. They take classic Czech dishes and make them work for a modern palate. Order the Daily menu. Try the Imperial Beer 18°. It's brewed just for this room. Breakfast is the real show. You’ll eat off Villeroy & Boch porcelain while surrounded by those famous mosaics. The service is sharp and stays that way until they close at 11:00 PM.

Most old hotels shove their gyms in a dark basement. Not here. The wellness center is part of the story. You’ll sweat in a room covered in the original 1914 emerald-green tiles. It’s beautiful. They’ve added Life Fitness gear, but it sits against century-old wood paneling. Use the dry sauna or the steam bath after a long day of walking. If you’re really beat, look at the massage menu. They offer Swedish and Thai options. The 75-minute FACE Ritual is the move if you want to look human again after a long flight.

You're staying in Nové Město. This district has been around since the 1300s, but today it's the city's commercial engine. It's a smart base. You can walk to the Náměstí Republiky metro or grab a tram at Masarykovo Nádraží in minutes. Getting to Václav Havel Airport usually takes about 30 minutes. Step out the front door and you’re right in the thick of it. The Palladium mall is close if you need to shop. There are plenty of bars nearby too. You can spend your day in the quiet luxury of the First Republic and your nights in modern Prague.