U Krale Karla

Hotel U Krale Karla (King Charles) sits in a Gothic building that dates back to 1639, a house once owned by Benedictine monks. The building was rebuilt over the years, and after being restored from two town houses in 1993, it opened its doors as Hotel U Krale Karla. Today, it’s an elegant property in a rich, traditional style heavy on the antiques, though some may find the decor too stuffy. The spaces are filled with handsome wooden pieces, architectural elements like arches and columns, and other Old World details like gilt frames, stained glass windows, seating upholstered with brocade fabric, and beautiful wooden ceiling beams painted with decorative designs. The breakfast room is particularly cozy and atmospheric, featuring darling wall murals covering its curved walls and ceiling. Overall, the property has a romantic atmosphere that harks back to another era, attracting mainly couples in Prague on a romantic getaway.

While this property is a bit far from Old Town (10-minute drive or 20-minute walk), it is surrounded by restaurants and cafes and is within walking distance to some top attractions. It’s a four-minute walk to Prague Castle and 12 minutes on foot to Strahov Monastery. The Lennon Wall, a landmark graffiti wall inspired by the famous Beatle, is a 10-minute walk away. Charles Bridge is about a 12-minute walk from here. The nearest bus stop is about a five-minute walk away, and there's a tram stop that’s seven minutes away, while the metro station is a 13-minute walk. The main train station is around a 15-minute drive from the hotel, or around a half-hour by public transportation. It’s a 20- to 25-minute drive to Vaclav Havel Airport, or about 45 minutes by public transportation.

The 19 rooms are spacious and individually decorated in an elegant, old-fashioned style. Ornate wooden beds, exposed wooden ceiling beams, antique furniture, and pieces like candelabras and gilt framed paintings reflect the hotel’s historic nature, while stained glass windows infuse the spaces with a romantic sensibility. Because this is a historic building, the hotel is unable to provide air-conditioning in the rooms, though they do have flat-screen TVs, minibars, free Wi-Fi, electronic safes, and Nespresso machines -- but Nespresso pods incur an extra fee. Suites have small kitchenettes with two-burner stoves and sinks, as well as more living space. Bathrooms are clean and modern with showers or deep tubs, bidets, modern hairdryers, and baskets stocked with Eco-Boutique toiletries. Note that rooms on lower floors can get street noise.

It's not surprising that this small historic hotel offers limited amenities and lacks a full restaurant, bar, or fitness/business facilities. It does, however, offer a breakfast buffet in the mornings in a charming dining space, which can be included in the room rates. There’s also a public computer and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. Parking is not provided by the hotel.