Mandarin Oriental, Prague

Mandarin Oriental, Prague is a former monastery set on a quiet lane in Malá Strana, a short walk from the Vltava and Charles Bridge. The building dates to the 14th century, and its Baroque, Renaissance and Spa wings still carry the period through sloping ceilings, exposed beams and antique wooden floors. Ninety-nine rooms and suites are spread across these wings, each individually laid out rather than duplicated floor to floor. Superior Rooms average 32 square metres; Deluxe Garden Rooms face a landscaped courtyard through floor-to-ceiling windows; Premier Castle View Rooms look toward Prague Castle and carry artwork by contemporary Czech, German and Israeli artists. The Monastery Suite lies beneath the vaulted ceiling of a former Renaissance church, with its own kitchenette and a deep bath under heated flooring. Dining centres on Monastiq, serving Czech dishes in a vaulted room, with a bar attached for drinks. The spa occupies a 16th-century chapel, one of the more unusual settings for treatment rooms in the city. A courtyard garden gives the property a patch of green rare this close to the castle district. Kampa Museum and the lanes of Lesser Town sit within walking distance, and you can hear little beyond the courtyard fountain from an upper-floor room. Check-in details and rates are handled directly through the hotel.