Because of its status as a top European travel destination, Prague is well-known by many from the Detroit area. Locals who do know the city may not know, however, that they can stay in a hotel which is one of the most beautiful and complete examples of the Art-Nouveau style in Prague or, for that matter, the world.
The Hotel Paris, built in 1904, is a well-located 5-star hostelry on the edge of Prague's Old Town. It doesn't offer high-rise views, the biggest rooms, or the most ultramodern amenities. Where the hotel shines is in its pure, completely preserved turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th, that is) decor. From the gorgeous mosaics in the Sarah Bernhardt restaurant, to the lobby sculptures which serve as lamps, the style is pervasive, and even overwhelming. Small details such as door pulls on the elevator, occasional tables, and guest-room doors are captivating examples of this building's architectural and decorative heritage.
If that isn't enough, the hotel provides genuinely caring service to its guests in a cordial, old-world manner. Staying within the walls of this place adds immeasurably to a visit to Prague, because it is so rooted in the city's cultural history. Declared a national monument, the wedge-shaped building, crowned by a tower at the corner, even played a role in the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal's noted book "I Served the King of England." An added bonus is the proximity, across the street, of another Prague Art-Nouveau landmark - The Municipal House, with its concert hall, restaurants, and decor by the finest artists of the day, including Alfons Mucha.
The stellar gastronomic offerings of Hotel Paris are more than a match for its stunning decor. The aforementioned restaurant, a lofty room with unique chandeliers, and windows that look out onto the street, serves as a breakfast room in the morning, but offers top-flight haute-cuisine for lunch and dinner. The "Cafe de Paris" and its attached "Bar Chez des Amis" are paneled in wood, and serve coffee, cocktails, desserts, and lighter meals with great style and easygoing elegance.
The standard hotel rooms, arrayed along old-world hallways lit by crystal sconces, are, in general, not overly large. However, they are beautifully furnished, with padded fabric walls, characteristic furniture, and bathrooms with heated floors. Some have small balconies looking out onto the streets below, and rooms on the upper floors look out onto the spires and domes that give Prague its characteristic skyline. Sunsets can be awesome from this privileged setting.
In spite of the unique old-world atmosphere, Hotel Paris isn't an anachronistic relic of a gentler age. Flat screen TVs adorn the walls of the guestrooms, there's a fine spa in the basement, and internet access is free in the lobby. A new Royal Tower Suite, Hotel Paris' most elaborate accommodation, offers a spiral staircase to a glassed-in sitting room in the building's spire itself, with what must be one of the most stunning views from any Prague hotel suite.
It all ads up to a living monument to style and art, and the place is a refreshingly old-fashioned yet not outdated opportunity for travelers to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the "Golden City" that is Prague. A stay in this most representative of Prague's hotels allows the guest a hands-on appreciation of Art-Nouveau, and gives a one of a kind perspective on its home city that will surely remain unforgettable.
For more information, visit Hotel Paris' web page.
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