At a Glance
A truly memorable boutique hotel, the Aria is located in the heart of Mala Strana, between the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.
Indagare Loves
- That the hotel has a private entrance to the Vrtba Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located next to the property (open April-October)
- The two two-bedroom suites, which are great for families
Review
The 52-room Aria Hotel celebrates the city’s love affair with music in a contemporary, Art Deco setting. Each of the four floors is named for a musical genre, such as Opera, Jazz and Classical. Rooms bear the names of musicians or composers such as Puccini, Dvorák and Louis Armstrong and contain related books, art and music. Many have lovely rooftop views of the surrounding buildings, as does the fine-dining restaurant, Coda, which serves up food on the rooftop terrace in summer. Modern furniture in bright forms and tones liven up the guest rooms, which feel like stylish pied-à-terres with muted yellow, beige or gray walls. Every room comes with an iPad and cellphone with free Internet and unlimited international calling for guests to use while roaming the city.
The leitmotif runs from the beautiful mosaic tiles in the lobby floor, where the notes from a Gregorian chant are unfurled, to the CDs and DVDs in each room. The beautifully appointed public rooms include two screening rooms (one holds six people; the other, forty) that can be booked for personal screenings. The Music Salon has a fireplace, comfy leather chairs and shelves lined with books on music, and the Winter Garden restaurant serves wonderful light soups, salads and sandwiches. And be sure to visit the Music Library, where a Ph.D. in musicology will arrange tickets, lend CDs and advise you on Prague’s best musical events.
Who Should Stay
Those who appreciate modern design and musical motifs will appreciate the Aria's quirky décor.
Written by Indagare