New Town / Náměstí Republiky

Motel One Prague Florentinum

★★★★★

Motel One has built its reputation on a simple formula, design-led rooms at budget prices in central locations, and its Prague hotel applies it well. It sits within the modern Florentinum complex on Na Poříčí in the New Town, a few minutes' walk from Náměstí Republiky, the Municipal House and the Powder Tower, where the Old Town begins. Each Motel One has a local design theme, and here it is Prague's cultural identity: the lobby features marionettes from the city's puppet tradition, black-and-white photographs of city landmarks hang on the walls, and the One Lounge bar is decorated with Swarovski chandeliers and designer ornaments of Bohemian crystal. It is a stylish, sociable space for a drink or a snack, and it doubles as the breakfast room. Rooms are compact but cleverly designed. The standard room, The One, measures 16 square metres, with a queen or king box-spring bed, a 40-inch TV and a granite bathroom with a rain shower; there is a single version for solo travellers, a larger Special One with a king bed, and a 20-square-metre Family One with a king bed plus a sofa bed. Free wifi is included, and the official site notes that children up to 12 stay free in their parents' room, which makes it a good-value choice for small families. Breakfast is a healthy buffet with organic products and Fairtrade coffee, and the Florentinum car park offers direct access to the hotel through the passage. Do not expect a restaurant, spa or room service: the hotel keeps prices down by focusing on what most city-break travellers actually use.

Location: Na Poříčí is a busy shopping street between Náměstí Republiky and the Florenc bus and metro hub, so the hotel is very well connected. Trams stop at Bílá labuť and Náměstí Republiky, the Old Town is a five- to ten-minute walk, and the airport bus and Masarykovo station are close by. The Museum of Communism is just around the corner, and the Municipal House is at the end of the street.

Choosing the room: couples are fine in The One, but if you want space to spread out, the Special One adds a few square metres and a wardrobe. Families with one or two young children should book the Family One for the sofa bed, remembering that under-12s stay free. Rooms are air-conditioned and quiet for a city-centre hotel, though street-facing ones see some daytime activity.

The value case: Motel One offers reliable quality, comfortable beds and a stylish lounge at prices well below most Old Town hotels. The trade-off is space and services: rooms are small, and there is no restaurant beyond breakfast and snacks. For travellers who spend their days out exploring, it is one of the smartest budget bases in Prague. Book directly or compare rates early for Christmas market weekends and summer, when central budget rooms sell out quickly and prices rise sharply.