In Prague, what you see is not always what you get. Look in the window of a bar for example, and you might see a few old men sitting at simple wooden tables smoking cigarettes. What you wouldn't know is that downstairs is a veritable lair of stone domed rooms, filled with lively conversations, outstanding food and hip music.
The ICON Hotel and Lounge embraces this tradition. Its heavy wooden front doors look fairly battered - more like the entrance to an ageing apartment house than a high-end hotel. But push through them, and you are greeted with colourful yet subdued mood lighting, highly polished floors and a groovy soundtrack. A remnant of the original building is found in a 'secret' inner room with painted Czech patron saints on the wall, for which the hotel is named - but elsewhere all is shiny new. The front desk staff have every right to be snooty but they're just the opposite - warm, helpful and genuinely interested in who you are and where you came from. And despite a plum location on a quiet street just minutes to the madness of Wenceslas Square and Old Town, you get that most rare commodity in European hotels - spacious and immaculate rooms. The ICON Hotel and Lounge offers a chance to party till Prague's wee hours, then stagger home and sleep it off in style.
Highs
- A great location on what feels like a hidden street, with the restaurants, clubs and retail heaven of Wenceslas Square just 3 minutes' walk away
- Multi-lingual staff who are as generous with their smiles as with information about the area
- Immaculately clean rooms with biometric safes, Samsung smart TVs, and dreamy handmade Hästens beds
- Charming spa offering a range of Balinese and Thai massages
- Cool loft-like club space with guest DJs, a buzzy bar and crowd-pleasing buffet and a la carte breakfasts
Lows
- Rooms lack interesting views
- Internal sound can carry (but the street is mercifully quiet)
- Standard rooms have only 1 chair and 1 coat hook, making them feel more like business hotel rooms than a couples' escape
- No pool, gym or outside space
- Since our last visit, the hotel's own restaurant has been replaced with an Indian restaurant chain, which is receiving great reviews
Best time to go
Prague is delightful in the spring, summer and autumn months - that is, of course, except for hordes of tourists. If you want to be here to enjoy the gardens in bloom, outdoor cafes, beer gardens and trees ablaze in colour, then you'll also have to brave the throngs of visitors who have the same idea as you. Winters can be cold and grey, but that just adds another layer of atmosphere to this already charmingly mysterious city - and you get the bonus of not being part of a herd wherever you travel.
Our top tips
While Wenceslas Square buzzes with energy and has a few good restaurants along its broad expanse, most eateries here are geared toward tourists. Free your palate from these tourist traps by either hopping on the nearby metro (Mustek) and taking it to the Namesti Miru stop, or walk there in about 20 minutes. This will put you right in front of the gorgeous neo-gothic church of St. Ludmila (c.1888) in the Vinohrady district of Prague 2. Surrounding this charming square are a number of good restaurants including Pizzeria Grosetto for "mama-mia" good Italian. Or check out Mlsnej Kocour for great Czech in a casual, hip environment.
Location
The ICON Hotel is in the centre of Prague in the Nove Mesto (New Town) district, just steps away from the much-visited Wenceslas Square and about 15 minutes walk to Old Town Square and Charles Bridge.
By Air
Fly into Ruzyne International airport (17km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.
From the Airport
You can take an AAA taxi from the airport (which would cost around CZK700, or the hotel can arrange a transfer, see Rates. You can also take Bus 119 from either of the two airport terminals, which runs from 4.20 in the morning until around 0.10 at night. It will take you to the Dejvicka Metro station (on the A line), about a 30-minute drive. From there, take the metro to Mustek, which is a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
By Train
The Mustek metro stop is 250m away from ICON.
By Car
Parking is a problem in central Prague. It becomes fractionally easier on the weekend (when many Praguers leave the city) or after 6pm. If you can find a space, you can park on Wenceslas Square for CZK450 or at the nearby Radisson Hotel for CZK900. There's also an underground garage nearby. See our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on Getting there and getting around in Prague
Airports:
- Prague Ruzyne International Airport 20.0 km PRG
Other:
- Beach 999.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
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