Four Seasons Hotel Prague

The Four Seasons Prague has been the obvious luxury choice in the city since it opened in 2001.

• Breathtaking views of the river, Stare Mesto and Prague Castle from many rooms (the river-facing rooms are the best)
• The hotel's location allows for early-morning or late-night visits to Charles Bridge and Old Town Square
• Cotto Crudo restaurant in the hotel lobby is a city hot spot and serves meals, coffee and drinks throughout the day

The Four Seasons' location is unsurpassed, featuring uninterrupted, sweeping views of the river and the Castle. The property is next to the Smetana Museum and the Charles Bridge, and within easy walking distance of all the museums and treasures found in Stare Mesto (Old Town). The hotel is comprised of four buildings, and accommodations are inspired by the different architectural styles of the buildings: Baroque, Neo-Classical, Neo-Renaissance and Modern. The best of the 157 rooms have views across the Vltava River to Kampa Island, Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. (Neo-Classical and Modern face the river and are the best ones to book; Renaissance faces the city.) French star-designer Pierre-Yves Rochon created 55 of the Modern rooms with a dramatic black-and-white color scheme punctuated with turquoise and sumptuous fabrics. Rooms in the Neo-Classical and Neo-Renaissance wings, meanwhile, have higher ceilings, painted embellishment, chandeliers and framed works of art. (The rambling nature of the buildings occasionally results in longer and more complicated walks to certain guest rooms, sometimes requiring the use of two separate elevators.) Though each design scheme may appeal to different types of travelers, the supreme comfort level of the beds and bathrooms can be agreed upon by all.

The public rooms are particularly memorable, with some combining antique doorways and vaulted ceilings with plush modern furniture. The main restaurant, Cotto Crudo, serves excellent Italian fare throughout the day, and its terrace is a magical place for a pre-dinner cocktail or languorous weekend brunch. (The dining room also hosts a lavish breakfast buffet for hotel guests each morning.) The Gallery lounge and bar, located just off the lobby, serves afternoon tea and pastries, in addition to evening cocktails and canapés. The serene AVA Spa, also designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, has five treatment rooms (including a couple's suite), a vitality pool with massage jets, a steam room and a sauna. The service is flawless, in typical Four Seasons style. The hotel also has its own boat for private dinner cruises.

Indagare Tip: If you are taking a train from Prague to Vienna or Budapest, you should request a packed lunch. Meals and snacks offered in the train station and on the trains are very limited and not good.

First-time visitors to Prague should stay at the Four Seasons and request a river-facing room for the ultimate view.