Aria Hotel Prague

Hints of the Aria Hotel’s theme pop up even before guests walk through the door -- the sidewalk out front features a musical note worked into the stone pattern. A cartoonish mural of musicians decorates the wall behind the front desk, and guests can hear a different genre of music on each floor, including jazz, opera, classical, or contemporary music. The rooms are devoted to various musicians and genres, and guests can call up a computerized bio and list of music by each artist on the in-room PCs. There's a beautiful music library with a selection of CDs, DVDs, and literature covering all kinds of music. Guests can watch the movies on the 80-inch screen in the viewing room or in the Musicbox, a cozy lounge area with sofa seating and a 42-inch TV screen. Fittingly, the top of the bar resembles the black and white keys of a piano, and bar stools mimic piano seats. Of course, there's an actual piano in the bar too.

The Aria Hotel is located in the Mala Strana district on the left bank. The hotel is tucked between buildings on a cobblestone street, and is directly in front of the Vrtbovska Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s within a 10-minute walk to both the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. The city's Town Square, with its famous Astronomical Clock, is within a 15-minute bus ride, and the airport is less than a 25-minute drive. 

Rooms at the Aria Hotel are classic in style and decorated with framed pictures focusing on a particular music genre or musician, such as Billie Holiday or Mozart. Rooms have modern electronic equipment, including computers with free Wi-Fi and Apple TVs, giving guests access to videos and music from their iTunes accounts. Minibars are well-stocked, and suites are available with kitchenettes and dining tables. Bathrooms are equipped with makeup mirrors, robes, and slippers, and Molton Brown toiletries. Some rooms have views of the beautiful Vrtbovska Garden, but others have ceilings and walls with awkward angles that compromise space and views. 

The Aria Hotel includes a free breakfast buffet, but some guests complain that the choices are limited. The Aria's restaurant has a seasonal rooftop terrace offering gorgeous views of the city and a menu of traditional Czech cuisine that includes wild boar goulash, rabbit leg, and oven roasted duck. The hotel has a bar and a beautiful atrium lobby. A music library lends DVDs and CDs that guests can enjoy in their rooms, in the screening room, or in the cozy music lounge. There's also a fitness center with exercise machines and a steam room, a small meeting room, and free Wi-Fi throughout.