Tried & Tested

Hotel check: The Augustine, Prague

27 Jul 2010 by BusinessTraveller

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Open since May last year, the Rocco Forte Collection’s five-star Augustine hotel has been seamlessly created from seven buildings, one of which is the still-functioning 13th-century monastery after which the hotel is named. It is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Like the Collection’s other properties, the interior décor is by Sir Rocco’s sister Olga Polizzi, and she has been inspired here by the Czech Cubist movement, with striking art pieces on display in the public areas and guestrooms.

The lobby is bright and elegant with a marble floor, a skylight that lets in the sunshine, deep red and black leather armchairs and a big fireplace. Reception is to your right as you go in, to the left is a corridor leading to the restaurant, and ahead is the entrance to the ballroom. A peaceful monasterial feeling is created through – in some hallways, alternate fake doors mimic the original layout of the monks’ quarters, while prints of the monks hang on the walls. 

WHERE IS IT? In Mala Strana, a charming district with cobbled streets a few minutes’ walk from Charles Bridge and the Old Town. The airport is about a 30-minute drive.

ROOM FACILITIES The 101 rooms start from 32 sqm in size and come in a range of categories – Classic, Executive, Deluxe and Superior Deluxe Castle View, Studio and a selection of suites. They look on to the hotel courtyards, the monastery chapel or Prague Castle, and the three-storey Tower suite in particular offers stunning 360-degree views. Facilities that come as standard include air conditioning, wired internet access priced at Kc600 (£20) per 24 hours – wifi is available in the public areas – marble bathrooms with REN toiletries, minibar, flatscreen TV, safe, 24-hour room service, twice-daily maid service, two free bottles of mineral water, free shoeshine service and a pillow menu.

I stayed in a Superior Deluxe Castle View room on the third floor. It was spacious and beautifully decorated with rich furnishings and fabrics in greens, mosses and browns. The floor was wooden and a little hard underfoot, so I was glad of the slippers supplied. A comfy king-size bed was dressed with 100 per cent linen sheets. Marble-topped dark wooden chests sat on either side of the bed, and opposite was a larger chest with the TV on top. There were also two lime green armchairs, a footstool, a circular thick wooden table and attractive vases and lamps. The windows opened to a lovely view of the terracotta roofs surrounding the property and, beyond them, Prague Castle. Books by Wodehouse, Woolf and Dickens were provided for those in a literary mood. The minibar was well stocked but I missed not having tea and coffee-making facilities in the room. 

The bedroom led on to a working and dressing area with a dark wood desk, a Bose iPod dock and a wardrobe with plenty of hanging space. There weren’t many plugs, and as the internet is wired, you are restricted to using your laptop at the desk. This area led on to the bathroom, which was elegant with a walk-in rainshower, bath, twin sinks and bird-inspired art pieces.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS The bright, glass-walled Monastery restaurant is a relaxed space with a mixture of seating. It opens on to a spacious outdoor terrace with a big old tree in the centre and a covered arcade section with sofas – this in turn leads on to the monks’ Sundial garden and the elegant, laidback Tom’s bar. A la carte and buffet breakfast options are available, and the service is excellent, with the friendly staff remembering my choices from the day before. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, serving well presented European fare. An excellent three-course set lunch is available for Kc650 (£22).

Tom’s bar is a lovely spot for cocktails, with a high vaulted ceiling and relaxing music, while in the basement is the Brewery bar, housed in the cave where the resident monks made their own beer, St Thomas, until 1953. The beer is back in production off-site and is exclusive to the bar, so you can sample it while looking at the original 17th-century stalactites and stalagmites. Tom’s is open Mon-Sun 11am-midnight and the Brewery Tue-Sat 3.30pm-11pm.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES Leading off from the lobby is a 200-capacity ballroom – it has no daylight but is bright with a high vaulted ceiling and a pre-function space opposite. Also on the lobby level, down a quiet corridor, are a 24-hour business centre and three stylish meeting rooms. Two of these can be joined together to offer 71 sqm of space – don’t be surprised to see a tram whipping past the window. Coffee breaks can be held in the corridor. In the basement is a larger meeting room holding 60 people theatre-style and 90 for a reception – again, it benefits from a vaulted ceiling, and features attractive wall drapes. All the meeting spaces are wifi equipped.

LEISURE FACILITIES There is a spa in the basement with four treatment rooms, a steam room, a manicure station and what the hotel says is the only Turkish hammam in Prague. There is also a small gym with Technogym equipment.

VERDICT A beautifully designed luxury hotel, as you would expect from a member of the Rocco Forte Collection. Excellent dining facilities, a tranquil atmosphere and welcoming staff.

FACTFILE

HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 101 in total, a mixture of Classic, Executive, Deluxe and Superior Deluxe Castle View and Studio rooms, and a selection of suites.

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The wonderful view, rich furnishings and calming earthy colour palette.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in August started from €297 for a Classic room.

CONTACT 12/33 Letenska; tel +42 026 6112 233; roccofortecollection.com

Michelle Mannion

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