Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa

In the heart of the hotel, there's a private library tucked away behind a velvet curtain. The collection? A mix of rare books and antique maps, some dating back centuries. It’s the perfect place to sip a cocktail and lose yourself in history.

There are hotels that feel like escapes, and then there’s Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa — where stepping through the Baroque façade is like falling headfirst into a velvet-draped fairytale. Tucked away in the cobbled heart of Prague’s Malá Strana, this 16th-century palace doesn’t just whisper of history — it winks at it. Gilded mirrors, Murano chandeliers, and frescoed ceilings abound, as though the interiors were styled by an eccentric aristocrat with impeccable taste and a flair for the dramatic.

Staff glide rather than walk, always on hand with a warm smile and possibly a glass of bubbles. Breakfast is a regal affair beneath grand arches — think truffled eggs, silver trays, and coffee so rich it could file taxes. After a stroll across Charles Bridge or a quiet hour in the hotel's mirror-lined gallery, there’s the spa — a subterranean sanctuary worthy of Cleopatra. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find a seat in Café Barocco Veneziano, where the only thing more decadent than the cake is the room itself.

Yes, Prague is the star — but at Alchymist, you get the red-carpet close-up.