Mandarin Oriental Prague

The Mandarin Oriental Prague revived a series of long-neglected Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings to create the city’s most sophisticated contemporary hotel. Opened in 2006, the property, which once housed a Dominican monastery, retains elements of the past including arched and vaulted ceilings. It also repurposed a refectory. The hotel is located in the Mala Strana district and within walking distance to Prague's major attractions. Like all Mandarin Oriental properties, it elegantly blends local culture with an Asian sensibility to create a serene, discreet, and sensual space.

Although the hotel offers the services and amenities of a larger property, it has only 99 spacious and luxurious rooms, which include 20 suites. Couples can’t go wrong in any of them, but the deluxe suites are especially romantic. The huge bathroom alone — with its honey-colored polished limestone walls, tub for two, shower that could easily fit six, phone, TV, and embossed toilet tissue underscore Mandarin’s commitment to provide five-star luxury. Fresh orchids and sensual textiles delight the senses. High-speed Internet is available for a fee in-room, but wi-fi is free in the business center, bar, and lobby.

Essensia is the hotel’s singular restaurant. The menu offers both Czech and Asian dishes prepared with flair. Start with soft shell crab and salmon in wasabi tempura. As a main course, mee goring noodles feature stir-fried vegetables topped with thick slices of Peking duck. For a profoundly seductive meal, opt for the Champagne Menu. It features three courses and a half bottle of Champagne to quaff through each. English-style afternoon tea in the Monastery Lounge offers a series of individual conversation areas with 20-foot-tall vaulted ceilings where you can nibble sweets and savories in private from 2-5 pm daily.

A dramatic setting for a ceremony, The Cloisters is a long, narrow hall that is located in the hotel’s Baroque building. Here the bride and groom can’t help but be the center of attention as they recite their vows at the end of the walkway. The space opens up onto the Grand Ballroom, the monastery’s former refectory. With vaulted ceilings and crystal chandeliers, the hotel’s largest event space can hold 90 at dinner or 200 for cocktails. In warm weather, couples also have the option of using the hotel's private courtyard to host their event.

The hotel's Romantic Prague package is designed to introduce couples to the delights of the city. It includes accommodations (an upgrade to a suite if available), roundtrip airport transfers in a Mercedes S-class limo, a bottle of chilled Champagne upon arrival, daily English breakfast for two in-room or in Essensia, choice of a half-day ritual in one of the hotel's spa suites for couples or a private boat trip that includes a packed picnic basket, the Perfect Kiss Guide to Prague’s most romantic spots, and late check-out.

Set inside a former Renaissance chapel and consistently voted the top spa in the Czech Republic, the hotel spa features traditional treatments as well as ones unique to the brand that combine traditional Chinese medicine and aromatherapy. It spans two floors and the glass floor on the ground level reveals the remains of an ancient Gothic church unearthed below. Two of the seven treatment rooms are set up for couples. Fitness-oriented guests have a dedicated workout space – unless, like recent celeb guest Madonna, they commandeer the entire Grand Ballroom for their four-hour workout and push the thermometer up to 104F.

Located on a quiet side street, the hotel adjoins the Czech Museum of Music. Prague’s closest major landmark is the 14th-century Charles Bridge, a five-minute walk on cobblestones. It draws crowds as well as craftspeople and caricaturists selling their wares. To avoid the throngs, cross the Vltava River on the nearby Mánesuv bridge or simply head for one of the nearby parks or gardens. The Baroque-era Wallenstein is known for its high hedges and families of peacocks. And Prague Castle is ringed in greenery; many couples ride the tram or funicular to the top and then take their time wandering down to the street level.

Aside from the Presidential suite and a few rooms close to it, most quarters here lack noteworthy views. But if you’re willing to look inward and let your senses lead you, what’s outside the windows won’t matter till you hit the street. Otherwise there are two small irritations in this top hotel: Despite an in-shower pictograph, how to switch the controls from the handheld spray to the overhead rain spout is a mystery. And although we were grateful for free wi-fi in the business center, we would have been even more appreciative if one of its two desktop computers was an Apple machine.

Unlike some other Prague hotels, the Mandarin Oriental feels vital and alive. Perhaps it’s the mix of guests – young business types (observed working late in the business center), celebrities and diplomats, and couples of all ages. Mingle with them in Barego bar, which pours some of the country’s legendary beers and micro-brewed specialties. When we visited in September, no children were seen anywhere, perhaps because of the month or simply because there are no facilities for little tourists and the hotel attracts a sophisticated, adult audience.

Mandarin Oriental Prague
Nebovidska 459/1
Mala Strana, 118 00
Prague 1, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 233 088 888
Official Hotel Web Site

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As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation and meals for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.