Old Town

U Medvídků Brewery Hotel

★★★★★

For beer lovers there is no more fitting address in Prague. U Medvídků, At the Little Bears, is a historic inn on Na Perštýně street, on the southern edge of the Old Town, that combines a traditional Prague beer hall, a microbrewery and a hotel under one roof. The hotel describes the building as dating from the fifteenth century, and its character survives in the rooms: many have exposed Gothic rafters, and some have painted Renaissance ceilings, so you sleep under centuries-old timber rather than in a modern box. There are 45 rooms in all, 35 standard and 10 superior, ranging from singles, doubles and triples to a family room for four and the themed Beer Rooms, which lean into the brewery story. A buffet breakfast is included in the price. Downstairs is the real attraction: the big, bustling beer hall serves classic Czech dishes such as roast pork with dumplings and goulash alongside well-kept Czech lager, and the hotel calls its in-house brewery the smallest in Prague. It is known for experimental brews, including X-Beer 33, which the house bills as the strongest beer in the world, and it offers brewery tours, tastings and a chance to brew your own beer. There is also a brewery spa section on the site. The location is excellent for sightseeing on foot: the hotel says Old Town Square and Charles Bridge are about five minutes away, the Národní třída metro and trams are close by, and Wenceslas Square is a short walk. Rates are moderate for the Old Town, which makes it one of the best-value historic hotels in the centre.

Who it suits: beer lovers first of all, but also families on a budget, because a family room for four with breakfast included in the Old Town is hard to find at these prices. Couples who like character will enjoy the beams and old ceilings; those who prefer sleek modern design should look elsewhere. The beer hall is lively, especially in the evenings and at weekends, so ask for a room away from the street and the restaurant if you sleep lightly.

Making the most of it: book the brewery tour or tasting early in your stay, so you know which beers to come back for. Eat at least one dinner in the beer hall, where locals and visitors share long tables, but explore the other famous pubs within walking distance too, from the Old Town to the New Town. Na Perštýně is a quieter street than the main tourist routes, yet everything is close: the Bethlehem Chapel, the Old Town lanes, the river and the National Theatre.

The value case: you get a historic building, a breakfast, a brewery and one of the best walking locations in Prague at a mid-range price. The trade-offs are simple: rooms in an old building vary in size and layout, there is no gym or pool, and the atmosphere is convivial rather than refined. Like all Prague hotels, rates exclude the city's per-person, per-night accommodation tax.