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The building which now houses the Fairmont Golden Prague has a less-than-sexy past. Its brutalist bones were built in 1974 during a period of Czech ‘normalisation’, when the USSR was tightening control following a failed attempt by reformists to politically liberalise the country. Like I said: not so sexy.
Its present, however, is far more seductive. Bought by the Fairmont Hotel Group in 2020 – owner of swanky global iconics like the Savoy in London, Shanghai’s Peace Hotel and the Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Mecca – it finally opened its shiny sliding doors in April 2025 after a long and expensive refurb.
The result? Some seriously glitzy Prague digs which pay a respectful nod to the past (spot the grand, chocolate brown wood pillars salvaged from its former life) while wholeheartedly embracing a far more fancy future (fully decked out spa; custom sculptures by local glass artists; on-site brewery tanks offering Czech beer on tap).
What’s the area like around Fairmont Golden Prague?
You need only clock the Jimmy Choo store and Dolce & Gabbana boutique across the square to realise which side of Prague you’re in (hint: it’s the bougie side). Nestled on the outskirts of the city's Old Town, Fairmont Golden Prague sits right on the bank of the Vltava River, so views of the water glimmering in the moonlight are a given.
What are the rooms like at Fairmont Golden Prague?
The nine-storey hotel is home to 320 rooms, suites and serviced residences (yep, you can make like Eloise at the Plaza and actually live in the hotel).
The signature double room in which I spend a tranquil couple of nights is kitted out with a king-sized bed set across from what can only be described as a certified whopper of a telly. You’ll find all the standard fare of a five-star hotel – pillows soft enough to convince you that your head rests atop a feathery cloud, a steamy rainforest shower, towel bath robes you’ll want to spend your life in. Tiny bars of Le Labo soap are a nice touch, too.
Though not capacious enough to hear an echo as you call down to the concierge for room service, there’s enough space to swing a cat or, perhaps more importantly, make the midnight trip from bed to bathroom without stumbling, pinball-style, into various bits of furniture in the dark.
What are the facilities like at Fairmont Golden Prague?
The spa is where the hotel really shines: 1,400 square metres of saunas, steam rooms, massage beds and swimming pool that’ll have you so relaxed you’ll practically float back to your room. Jacuzzi-adjacent loungers are perfect for soaking up some summer sun, as is the Tilia Garden terrace where you can pick up a superfood juice, herbal tea or a morning oat bowl. The pool itself is indoor/outdoor, with grand glass doors which open on your approach. The 24-hour gym runs yoga, weight and ‘mindful movement’ classes each week. Plus, accessible via a dedicated lift on each floor, you’re guaranteed to avoid the awkward towel-wrapped shuffle through reception.
What is the food and restaurant like at Fairmont Golden Prague?
Diverse is an understatement when it comes to the hotel’s culinary collection. Ritzy tasting menus? Tick. Casual bites at the bar? Tick. Sultry late night cocktails? Double tick.
On the fine dining side, restaurant Zlatá Praha’s jaw-dropping views of the city skyline through wall-to-wall windows are the perfect pairing for dishes like smoked eel with black garlic, cured Arctic char and dry aged beef steak with white asparagus. The local wines are so good they’ll make you wonder why the Czech Republic isn’t better known for its vino.
It’s not all small plates and seven-course meals, though. The Coocoo's Nest bar – named in tribute to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest director Miloš Forman, a Czech national treasure – will do you a banging club sando. For cocktails (and even a late-night boogie), there’s the Golden Eye Bar. Its Asian street food-inspired menu features a twist on a tikki made with sesame oil and soy sauce. There’s even a Bánh mì-inspired cocktail with Bourbon, carrot and coriander.
These gastronomic goodies go some way towards justifying its hefty price tag. With rooms starting at £300 a night, a stay at the Fairmont Golden Prague is on the spennier side (the city’s other luxury accom offer rooms for half that fee). Still, for foreign foodies with a penchant for the finer things, it’s worth the extra dosh.
DETAILS
Address: Pařížská 30, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia
Price per night: standard rooms from £300
Closest transport: Právnická fakulta tram stop is across the road from the hotel