The Emblem Hotel

The Emblem Hotel has a small, intimate size, but it's big and bold when it comes to design. The lobby is slightly reminiscent of a '70s luxe look, with dark gray marble floors, smoky glass room dividers, and lots of chrome details. Lighting is low, and long lounge seating in white or butterscotch leather provides a space for guests to linger. A mirrored rectangular desk topped with red apples handles reception. Opposite of the lounge, is the stylish George Prime Steak restaurant, with parquet floors, chandeliers of tiered glass bulbs, white tablecloth tables, and dark, moody artwork. The rooms of the hotel's Maharal Club, open to all guests, are similar with modern velvety armchairs and couches, intimate lighting, and modern artwork. Guests are mostly couples on a romantic and luxurious vacation; they can be seen congregating in the Maharal Club.  

The Emblem has an ideal location in Prague’s Old Town. Surrounding streets are filled with multiple restaurants and small shops. Most of Prague's iconic sights are in walking distance, which means these streets are also often congested with tourists. It's just a seven-minute walk to Charles Bridge and two minutes on foot to Old Town Square and its famous astronomical clock. Other iconic sights like the Jewish Quarter (aka Josefov) is a four-minute walk away and Prague Castle takes 17 minutes on foot to reach. Public transportation is plentiful in this area -- the closest metro stop, bus station, and trolley stop are four-minute walks away. Vaclav Havel Airport is a 21-minute drive. 

The Emblem's guest rooms are small and have a muted luxury that's apparent in their rich materials like desks with a swirling wood-grain top or walls covered in dove-gray fabric. Rooms are furnished with tall padded headboards with back lighting, silvery drapes, and fluffy white beds trimmed with gray bedskirts. Suites offer a little more space with velvety settees and chairs, and the option of a lovely terrace. The Suite Library also includes shelves of books, a typewriter, and a fireplace. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, and minibars. There’s free Wi-Fi. but it can be complicated connecting to it. Views are of the street or a less-appealing gray courtyard. Each guest that books a suite are spoiled with a bottle of prosecco, a 30-minute back massage, and a free one-way transfer from the hotel to the airport or train station. 

Bathrooms are far less subtile about their opulence. They're tiled in sheets of marble and outfitted with glassed-in showers with waterfall showerheads and separate bathtubs. Robes, toiletries, hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, and towel-warmers come standard. The Suite Library differs in that it has an open bathroom floor plan to the bedroom and a large copper soaking tub mere steps from the bed. 

Though it’s a boutique hotel, the Emblem Hotel doesn't disappoint in terms of amenities. George Prime Steak, the on-site restaurant, is well-known in Prague as a top-shelf American steakhouse. There’s a breakfast buffet that’s not included in the room rates, and room service has limited hours. The spa has a lovely rooftop terrace with views of Prague Castle, plus a hot tub. However, it costs a fee to access the hot tub. But there are plenty of other spa facilities that are free like the sauna, steam bath, and ice fountain. The usual range of beauty treatments and massages are also available. The fitness center has a few cardio machines and free weights, but it’s very small. With their small rooms in mind, the property created the Maharal Club -- a lounge space for all guests to utilize or relax in that offers free coffee, tea, sodas, and wine all day long. The drawing room is great for meetings, while the salon is a comfortable, laid-back setting. The pantry provides a kitchen, a game room has board games, and the fumoir is the only smoking area in the hotel with a free self-serve bar. All rooms can be booked for meetings, and they often host cooking classes or events for guests. The hotel also provides free Art Walks, a curated art tour to various galleries with personal guides. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and there’s valet parking that incurs a fee.