Novotel Hotel in Prague

While in Prague recently I stayed at the Novotel Hotel, which we found to be a very hip and contemporary place to hang our hat for a few days. The location is quite good as well, just a short walk to the famed Wenceslas Square, where the National Museum is located. It’s also worth noting that a subway station and transit line are also very close, along with a number of nice restaurants and shops.

The lobby flows into the lounge where a wonderfully designed bar is on display mixing up some creatively presented drinks and libations. Several nights a week live piano music is preformed. The upscale style of the hotel does not end at the lobby or lounge. We found our accommodations to be adequately spacious (for European standards) and nicely designed. The bathroom is very modern and quite nice, with a separate room for the toilet. There is a small desk and small fridge as well. While the design style is stellar, we found the comfort of the bed to be sub-par and the pillows were a terrible. I expect a hotel of this level to have a pillow menu, but no such luck. The mediocre bed and pillow quality however is not exclusive to the Novotel, we stayed at eight hotels over a two week period in the Czech Republic and only one knocked it out of the park with regards to bed comfort. It’s very possible that Czech and/or European sleeping conditions are just much different than in the States. I mention this only to help readers and prospective guest set their expectations accordingly.

The highlight of our room was the patio deck in which we enjoyed our morning coffee, brewed with one of those high-end Nespresso machines. One night we went to a nearby pizza place and picked up a pie to go. [Note: there are a few pizza places closer, but I recommend Grosseto. The walk through the park and sight of the Church of Saint Ludmila is quite nice]. Along the way we stopped by a market and purchased a bottle of wine, then made it back to our private outdoor patio to enjoy a meal overlooking the vibrant city of Prague. [watch the video below for a quick look at the hotel and accommodations]

The downside to being on the street side of the hotel with the wonderful private deck, is that there is a hospital or emergency center nearby, so we often heard ambulances racing down nearby streets in the middle of the night (earplugs recommended). For those guests without access to a private deck, you can make your way to the top floor where guests have access to an expansive rooftop deck, which offers even better views of the city.

Like most hotels in Europe, the Novotel offers a nice breakfast buffet which is included in the room price. There is a nice selection of proteins, breads, fresh fruit and wonderful coffee. The juice on the other-hand is concentrated out of a machine.

As an iced tea connoisseur, another highlight of the hotel was its presentation of the refreshing afternoon drink in the lounge area. A concentrated tea is steeped in its own craft. Then, the tea is placed upon a pitcher of ice (custom made serving pitcher), which is accompanied by a fresh cut lime and flower, along with some pre-diluted cane sugar (no waiting for the sugar to dissolve). So nicely done…and delicious too. Watch the brief video below to see the experience.

Bottom line: The Novotel Hotel in Prague is a hip hotel with a modern flair. The location is very convenient and walking distance to many of Prague’s top sights, as well as being close to public transportation. There are a few areas where the Novotel falls short, but overall it’s a pretty good value. Room prices are around $100 to $175 USD per night depending on accommodations level.

If you’ve ever stayed at the Novotel Hotel in Prague, please leave a comment below, I’d love to hear about your experience.