Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa

The Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa occupies a historic building on Tržiště, a quiet street in Malá Strana, and its sense of being a private palace is the point. It is a small, richly decorated hotel, and the booking page describes a full-service spa with massage and sauna, a gym, a garden and terrace, a coffee shop and cafe, room service, and a minibar in the rooms. Free breakfast is included in the booking page, and free internet is available in rooms. The location is the other half of the appeal: Prague Castle is about eight minutes away on foot, Charles Bridge about nine, and the lanes of Malá Strana are on your doorstep. Guests rate the hotel 9.4 out of 10 from more than a thousand reviews, which is an exceptional score. The property is classed at 3.5 on the booking page, but the experience is that of a much grander address, with personal service, an atmospheric interior and a quiet that is hard to find on the castle side of the river. Spa reservations are needed in advance, so contact the hotel before arrival.

Staying here suits couples and anyone who values character over scale. Room categories vary, so check the details of the one you book. The garden and terrace offer a place to sit with a drink in warm weather, and the spa is a good retreat after a long day on the cobblestones. Because the hotel is small, it books out for weekends and holidays, and the best rooms go first.

The neighbourhood rewards walking. Malá Strana is the baroque district between the river and the castle, with St Nicholas Church, Wallenstein Garden and Kampa Island within a few minutes of the hotel. You are on the less crowded side of the river, so evenings are peaceful, and several pubs and bars, including U Glaubiců, U Kocoura and Schody Home Bar, are within about four minutes on foot. Tram stops nearby put the rest of the city within reach.