Mandarin Oriental Prague, the new wonder of the East

For its entry onto the Old Continent, Mandarin Oriental had to include Prague and its magnificent potential, particularly for city breaks. The chain opened its new property there last month. Located in a 14th-century Dominican monastery at the heart of the historic neighbourhood of Malá Strana and a skip away from the capital’s more lively neighbourhoods, the hotel has 99 rooms, including 22 of the largest suites in the Czech capital. Each room is personalized and offers a breathtaking view over the old city, the Prague Castle and other sumptuous panoramas. The architecture is, of course, one of the property’s key points. The vaulted ceilings, the arcades and the original parquet floors have been preserved. And with good reason: all the work was supervised by archaeologists and placed under the surveillance of the Czech Ministry of Culture. Moreover, these works have been the site of a fine archaeological discovery: the ruins of a Renaissance church where the hotel’s spa was built. The vestiges were protected by a glass floor, adding further to the charm of the place and its symbiosis with the city’s heritage. The materials used are noble and natural throughout. The Asian accents, that are the soul of the brand, embellish a décor carefully researched. The “Essensia”, the hotel’s restaurant, proposes a menu of both Western and Eastern inspiration. It also has the Barego bar, the “Monastery Lounge”, as well as elegant meeting and receptions rooms, one of which is a vast vaulted space.