If Hyatt’s Andaz brand is distinguished by playfulness matched with a distinct sense of place, Andaz Prague fulfils the brief in spades. The city’s old Sugar Palace has been exquisitely remodelled to accommodate 21st-century tastes, offering historic architecture accented by quirky modern sculpture, timeless folk art motifs and the beautiful art glass for which the Czech Republic is famous.
The hotel sits on a quiet, elegant square in the heart of the city where the New Town(only slightly less mediaeval than the Old Town) meets its more ancient counterpart.
Completed in 1916, the former sugar factory became home to civil servants in the Communist era and later housed a bank after Prague joyously shook off the Iron Curtain and embraced capitalism. The building was listed as a cultural monument in 1993, but lay empty for nearly two decades before plans were hatched for its ambitious transformation into a luxury hotel, finally fulfilled in 2022 with the collaboration of Hyatt.
While the original art nouveau windows, doors, reliefs and fireplaces remain and traditional folklore patterns decorate woodwork and textiles, the art glass and paintings are brand new, the work of local artists. Even the lifts are works of art, covered in wood mosaic tiles with polished bronze details, and the “parlour”, as the lobby lounge has been christened, is a beautiful and colourful space to relax with books on local history, art and architecture.
Who for:
Design lovers and couples seeking an elegant base centrally-located but well off the beaten beer tourist path.
Accommodation
The 152 guest rooms and 24 suites are individually decorated in pastel tones and can be quite expansive – our suite had a large living-room, a sun room with chaise-longue and a private gym-cum-dressing room in addition to the beautiful bedroom.
Almost as spacious was the luxurious bathroom with large tub and twin raised basins incorporated into a handsome art deco-style brass and woods vanity, while the loo and shower were each housed in separate enclosures. We enjoyed good bathrobes, a Nespresso machine and playful touches like brass hands holding back the curtains.
Food & Drink
Andaz Prague-Japanese dessert at Zem
One of the hotel’s biggest attractions is Zem, a hot table in Prague thanks to the presence of both Japanese and Czech chefs. Fusion cuisine is not the aim – you can eat local with a modern twist or embrace the Japanese full-on, although there is genuine fusion between food and nature in the presentation, and the room is beautiful. Bar Mez, in its own space, is a buzzy hive where locals as well as guests gather for Happy Hour and post-prandial, with many cocktails unique to the hotel on tap.
Facilities:
There’s a spa, named for Klara Rott, whose products are also to be found as in-room toiletries, with steam room, sauna and a lush indoor swimming pool. Some of the treatments on offer sound good enough to eat, including a hot chocolate oil experience and a coffee body detox – but important to know massage therapists are both male and female, so book well ahead to secure a preference.
How much:
Pricing is dynamic; with Hyatt offering member rates to all who sign up to its loyalty programme, expect to pay around £330 for the room, and fair bit more for a suite, at www.hyatt.com.
What’s nearby?
Prague’s landmark Powder Gate Tower, the beautiful art nouveau Municipal Building and the elegant Jewish Quarter are all within a 10-minute stroll. Enticing shops on the doorstep include a design store showcasing homewares in the cubism style popular in the city a century ago, a branch of Vienna’s gourmet shop Meinl across the road and a boutique offering all the best in contemporary dining and kitchenware right next door.
VERDICT: The Andaz Prague jazzes up a historic building with the art glass and quirky modern sculpture for which the city is famous, offering a centrally-located base in a serene corner of the Czech capital.
Address: Senovazne namesti 976/31, Prague. Tel: +420 227 3341 234