Review: the new Andaz Prague hotel, part of World of Hyatt

This is our review of the new Andaz Prague hotel.

Readers who think that we spend all our time on free trips here at HfP may be surprised to know that the last complimentary hotel stay I accepted for review purposes (as opposed to being given a hotel room because I was invited to an event) was in May 2019. At this rate the next one won’t be until late 2025 ….

However, a few months ago someone I respect had given me exceptional feedback on the new Andaz Prague. Independently, Hyatt suggested it as a hotel that it would like to highlight to readers. Who wouldn’t want a couple of days enjoying the snowy Christmas markets of Prague – especially if, like me, you hadn’t visited the city for almost 20 years?

Hyatt picked up my hotel bill and graciously picked me up from the airport. HfP paid for its own flights and all other costs.

About Andaz Prague

Andaz Prague opened in March 2022. I will say now that this is a very, very accomplished hotel. It shows how far the Andaz brand has come when I say that they could put a Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental sign on the door and no-one would be disappointed.

The 176-room hotel is in a building known locally as the Sugar Palace, on Senovážné náměstí in Prague’s Old Town. It was built in 1916 for the Sugar Industry Insurance Association. It is a listed cultural monument, with its irregular pentagon shape attached to the Jindřišská věž church tower by an archway:

The building had been mainly empty since 2006, used primarily as a film set. Various hotel plans came and went, including plans for W Prague, before the Andaz plan was finally agreed.

To put the location into context, it is around 10 minutes walk from the railway station and National Museum. This means it is to the east of Old Town Square. The Mucha Museum is a couple of minutes away. Basically, everything you might need in Prague is walkable. Going to the castle and Mala Strana requires a 20 minute stroll through Old Town Square to Charles Bridge.

Here is a shot of the front entrance, although as the hotel is on its own small block there are street views from all sides. Some rooms have views over the interior courtyards.

Note the octagon-shaped area on the far left – this was part of my suite.

Wintergarden Suite at Andaz Prague

I was offered a Wintergarden Suite, which I accepted after the hotel promised to give me a tour of the other room categories. It seemed rude to say no.

It was, I have to say, lovely. I would be happy to pay for this suite if I returned to Prague and if you’re going for a special occasion – or are simply happy to pay the going rate – I recommend it.

The key feature, as the name suggests, is this little conservatory which I used as my office for two days. It was delightful with, as you can imagine, excellent views in all directions and huge amounts of light. Sitting here watching the snow fall over the city was very atmospheric. The area can be closed off with the doors, which is important as you get tram noise from outside.

The rest of the space was open plan, so actually more of a junior suite if you’re being picky. Here is an overview:

There is a seating area which you can’t see in the picture above because it is behind the unit, but it looks like this:

From the other angle:

What I cannot stress enough is that no expense has been spared here, or anywhere in the hotel. If there was a cheap way or an expensive but classier way, they chose the latter. I’m not going to chat about sockets and the usual bits and pieces because, here, it all just ‘works’. You even get a valet stand for your clothes.

As I wrote in my hotel review of 2022, this is equal to Park Hyatt New York and One&Only Le Saint Geran in Mauritius as my favourite hotel room of last year.

The bathroom isn’t enormous but is certainly good enough – and the art nouveau touches are lovely. Not pictured is a stand-alone shower which has two shower heads including a rainfall. The loo has a door.

Toiletries are from Klara Rott, a local brand which also runs the hotel spa. Everything is in large bottles so unfortunately there is nothing to take home.

Other room types

The decorative style is similar across other rooms types – I saw five rooms in the end, up to the ludicrously huge top suite.

These two shots are from a mid-level room, and is a good size for a couple for a weekend:

and

This is as small as they get at the bottom end:

When I talk about a lot of thought being put into the design, I’m talking about little touches in the bedrooms like this golem, a symbol of Prague:

…. and the hands holding the curtains:

This is absolutely not your usual cookie cutter luxury hotel.

This is the end of Part 1. In Part 2 of our Andaz Prague review – also published today, click here – we look at the public areas, bar and restaurant.

I have locked Part 1 for comments – let’s consolidate discussion under Part 2.

---

World of Hyatt update – April 2024:

Get bonus points: World of Hyatt is not currently running a global promotion

New to World of Hyatt?  Read our overview of World of Hyatt here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on what we think World of Hyatt points are worth is here.

Buy points: If you need additional World of Hyatt points, you can buy them here.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from Hyatt and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.