New Town / Charles Square

Mosaic House

★★★★★

Mosaic House is the answer for travellers who want to spend their money on Prague rather than on a hotel room, without giving up comfort or style. It is a design hotel and hostel under one roof, on Odborů street in the New Town, between Charles Square and the river, fully renovated in 2016 and run with sustainability at its core: its grey-water system with heat recovery, which reuses water from showers, was one of the first of its kind, and the hotel works to reduce energy and waste throughout. The accommodation spans private rooms and suites, which are air-conditioned, eco-friendly and well designed, with modern bathrooms and good beds, and dormitory rooms, also air-conditioned, with bunk beds and their own en-suite bathrooms, a big step up from the shared corridors of most hostels. This mix gives the place a lively, international atmosphere that suits solo travellers, friends, couples on a budget and families who book a private room. The social heart is the bar and restaurant downstairs, a busy, colourful space with crossover cooking and events. The location is excellent for exploring on foot and by tram: the river and the Dancing House are a few minutes away, the National Theatre and the islands a short walk along the embankment, Charles Bridge and the Old Town about fifteen to twenty minutes on foot, and Vyšehrad a pleasant walk south along the river. The Karlovo náměstí metro and tram stops nearby connect you to the rest of the city. Rates are among the best value in central Prague for the quality, especially for the private rooms.

Location: the New Town around Charles Square is a lived-in part of central Prague, with a mix of offices, schools, cafés and local pubs, so it feels less touristy than the Old Town while still being close to everything. Walk west to the river embankment for the Dancing House, the islands and the boats; north along Národní to the National Theatre, the Café Slavia and the Old Town; and east to Wenceslas Square. Tram lines along the embankment and through Charles Square make it easy to reach the castle and Malá Strana.

Choosing the room: the private double rooms and the penthouse-style suites are excellent value and the main reason for most travellers to stay; dorms suit solo travellers and groups of friends. Rooms facing the courtyard are quieter than those on the street, and the bar can be busy in the evening, so ask for a higher floor if you sleep lightly. Breakfast is available, but the neighbourhood is full of cafés and bakeries.

The trade-offs: this is a lively hotel-hostel rather than a calm boutique retreat, and the design, though stylish, is functional rather than luxurious. But the combination of location, sustainability, en-suite everything and price makes it the smartest budget base in Prague, leaving more for concerts, day trips and dinners.