The Emblem Prague Hotel

Central Europe was slow to hop the boutique bandwagon, but a hotel as stylish as the Emblem is proof positive that Prague, at least, is making up for lost time. Clean lines, rich materials, a warm retro-inspired color palette and a host of well-chosen modern details, courtesy of designer Alison McNeil, establish the Emblem’s luxury-boutique bona fides in short order.

But it’s a matter of philosophy as much as it is the look and feel. The Emblem sets out to be a haven for free thinking, and while we can’t necessarily vouch for the thoughts of each and every guest, there’s an air of originality about the place, suggesting that at least the founders took the idea seriously.

Like the best city hotels, it aims to make no distinctions between work and life — for most of us, five o’clock is no longer any kind of dividing line. The rooms, then, are equally devoted to form and function, which is just as it should be — Nespresso machines, free wi-fi and in-room tablet computers are just as useful for leisure as for business.

And while the Emblem is as urban as they come, for their spa they’ve gone with the high-mountain Pure Altitude brand — maybe it’s just the scents, but there’s a hint of alpine-lodge ambience about the top-floor spa, which makes the view of Prague’s rooftops from the panoramic terrace an uncanny sight indeed.