It’s official. 13 is Prague’s lucky number. The Condé Nast Readers Travel Awards 2011 have placed Prague number 13 on the overseas cities that people love to visit. This is above Rio de Janeiro (17), Shanghai (18) and Vancouver (15). Not bad for a city that merely twenty two years ago was submersed in a political revolution.

Dubbed the Velvet Revolution, the peaceful protests that culminated in the over throw of communism released the inner soul of the city. People took note and began to flock in their droves. The Czech capital’s culinary and culture scenes are in full swing and its allure entices all walks of life, thankfully the stag and hen parties seem to be petering off.

Perhaps the freedom in some ways came at a price. The narrow cobblestone streets and medieval alleyways are swarming. Do not despair though, there are ways around this and as a newly crowned world class destination this is to be expected. Suggestions are to start early, go off peak (November, January or February) and venture further than the centre. Although Prague Castle and Charles Bridge are a must see.

Rising like phoenixes from the Communist ashes are luxury hotels. They have sprung up all over the city using every means of architecture to capture the essence of Prague. Two such examples are The Augustine and the Buddha Bar Hotel. Both have an ecclesiastical vein running through them, maintaining the life force, albeit in a different manner.

Another life force is the beer. It is on authority from the St Augustine Monks that beer is good for you. Who are we to argue? 

The monks at the Augustinian Monastery, in the Malá Strana district (Lesser Town) A UNESCO World Heritage site, have been brewing beer for centuries. The beer in question is of the dark variety and although it is no longer brewed on site, it can be sampled in the Brewery Bar, Toms Bar or in the comfort of your room at the adjoining Augustine Hotel.

The Augustine Hotel is a converted 13th century monastery. It was converted by the Rocco Forte Group in 2009.

The challenge was to restore more than 800 years of art and architecture in line with rigorous guidelines. Old had to meet new seamlessly. Preservation was key, 17th century stalagmites and stalactites can still be found in the Brewery Bar housed in the cellar.

Original materials were used where possible and traditional methods of construction had to be adhered to. This resulted in none of the 101 rooms being the same. The décor is reminiscent of the past with lots of greens, reds and purples with dark wood.

Some of the rooms still have the original doors. Cubism furniture can also be spotted. Sharp points, slicing planes, crystalline shapes. These are the trademarks of the Czech Cubists – a unique, avant-garde group, feverishly active in Prague between 1910 and 1914. As well as fine art, they left behind them building facades prickling with little pyramids, furniture bursting with energy, and decorative objects dynamized with stark black lines

The minute detail of the luxurious rooms is also evident. The head boards are covered in cloth from the monk’s habit.  The rooms mostly look over a leafy courtyard; the Tower Suite has stunning views of Prague Castle or to Kafka fans simply ‘The Castle’.

The monastery courtyard can be hired for functions and the proceeds go back into the coffers of the monastery and its charities. The gardens leading from Toms Bar, named after St Thomas, the patron Saint of the Augustinian, have a small vineyard and a herb garden, just like it used to be.

Three mature trees form the basis of the glassed - in courtyard for the Monastery Restaurant where Head Chef Richard Fuchs whips up a culinary feast with local produce.
 
It is mushroom season in Prague. Families still partake in foraging for mushrooms. Not recommended for the novice, as death may be a side effect of picking the wrong variety. There are a vast array of mushroom dishes to choose from, such as risotto with wild mushroom and cream of potato and wild mushroom soup. Many local delicacies are on offer as well, Vodnany duck liver is a speciality as is the Ox cheek in St Thomas beer.  

Talking of the St Thomas beer, 8 monks including an Irish one still live on part of the site and play an integral part of the charm of the hotel.  You can often find them sitting in Tom’s Bar sipping the beer they have proudly brewed. It is good to see they practice what they preach.

Over the bridge in the Josefov district, The Buddha Bar Hotel offers a different style of Asian delight. Its mantra is ‘not just another hotel, it’s a lifestyle’ and this pervades throughout.

This, the first Buddha Bar hotel in the world, features luxurious contemporary Asian Colonial design, with lots of gadgets. Each of the 39 rooms is filled with gadgets; the intention is to make your life easier. This is debatable. Perhaps they should have stopped at the coffee machine and the TV that comes on in the mirror in the bathroom; just facing the oriental free standing bath tub. 

The toilet bowl is equipped to offer a variety of washing and drying amenities, Japanese design of course.  I’m not sure this was the vision of Frenchman Raymond Visan when he came up with the concept for the chain, either way it does add a ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your stay.

Little touches are thoughtful. Wireless internet is complimentary, L’Occitane toiletries don’t go unnoticed, nor does the chocolates on the pillow every night and the weather forecast for the next day. Buddha Bar music is piped into the room; the CD’s can be purchased in the bar.

The Siddharta café serves Euro Asian cuisine, wines and champagnes in a ‘pop culture’ atmosphere. For those who prefer relaxation, ‘Buddhattitude’ treatments that promote balance and harmony are available in your room.

Saint Augustine once said ‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page’.  Rude as it may seem, an addition of ‘who do not travel to Prague’ would not be out of place in this prophetic statement.

Websites:

www.theaugustine.com

www.buddha-bar-hotel.cz