Augustine

Seven linked buildings comprise this spectacular property in Prague’s picturesque Malá Strana. The hotel’s oldest building, the Augustinian St. Thomas’s Monastery, dates to the thirteenth century. Several monks still live nearby, sharing the landscaped paths with guests, but these days things have gotten quite a bit more comfortable.

The stylish design by Olga Polizzi retains some elements of the building’s past. Some rooms and suites boast original iron doors and windows, which open onto views of the grounds or cityscape, dotted as it is with spires and terra-cotta roofs. The on-site restaurant, situated in a glassed-in courtyard along the former cloisters, prepares regional Czech specialties with contemporary flair. Further modernity arrives in the form of pieces from Modernista, a local furniture dealer, the sharp lines of art deco chairs and cubist couches gently contrasting with the gothic arches and baroque swirls above.

The monks’ old pastime is still on tap in the aptly named Brewery Bar. Featuring “Bohemian tapas,” the bar also boasts creepy stalactites and stalagmites, testaments to centuries of use. The other bar is housed in the former refectory; its décor showcases fixed-up nineteenth century frescoes and barrel-vaulted ceilings. Beer appears on the spa menu as well, used in facials and massages.