The Icon Hotel and Lounge, Prague, Czech Republic - Explore & Book
"In Prague, what you see is not always what you get. Look in the window of a bar for example, and you might see a few old men sitting at simple wooden tables smoking cigarettes. What you wouldn't know is that downstairs is a veritable lair of stone domed rooms, filled with lively conversations, outstanding food and hip music. The ICON Hotel and Lounge embraces this tradition. Its heavy wooden front doors look fairly battered - more like the entrance to an ageing apartment house than a high-end hotel. But push through them, and you are greeted with colourful yet subdued mood lighting, highly polished floors and a groovy soundtrack. A remnant of the original building is found in a 'secret' inner room with painted Czech patron saints on the wall, for which the hotel is named - but elsewhere all is shiny new. The front desk staff have every right to be snooty but they're just the opposite - warm, helpful and genuinely interested in who you are and where you came from. And despite a plum location on a quiet street just minutes to the madness of Wenceslas Square and Old Town, you get that most rare commodity in European hotels - spacious and immaculate rooms. The ICON Hotel and Lounge offers a chance to party till Prague's wee hours, then stagger home and sleep it off in style. Highs A great location on what feels like a hidden street, with the restaurants, clubs and retail heaven of Wenceslas Square just 3 minutes' walk away Multi-lingual staff who are as generous with their smiles as with information about the area Immaculately clean rooms with biometric safes, Samsung smart TVs, and dreamy handmade Hästens beds Charming spa offering a range of Balinese and Thai massages Cool loft-like club space with guest DJs, a buzzy bar and crowd-pleasing buffet and a la carte breakfasts Lows Rooms lack interesting views Internal sound can carry (but the street is mercifully quiet) Standard rooms have only 1 chair and 1 coat hook, making them feel more like business hotel rooms than a couples' escape No pool, gym or outside space Since our last visit, the hotel's own restaurant has been replaced with an Indian restaurant chain, which is receiving great reviews" - Michael Franco
