The Hotel Julian is situated just outside the centre of Prague on the fringes of Petrin Hill and Mala Strana. However although sometimes classed as such it is a little disingenuous to describe the hotel as belonging to ‘outer Prague’.
A leisurely 20 minute amble, less if striding out, along the side of the Vltava and through Kampa Island will bring you to the Charles Bridge and within sniffing distance of the Old Town. A little less time but crossing the Vltava at Most Legil will bring you to Narodni, the National Theatre and the New Town. The funicular railway at Petrin Hill is even closer, a 7 or 8 minute walk, and from there the sights of Hradcany, as well as wonderful views from Petrin Hill over Prague, are not too far away. If your legs do get tired then nearby trams take you through Mala Strana to Hradcany or across the Vlatav to Narodni Trida.
The hotel itself is a little like entering an English country house. Just by the lobby is the “drawing room”, an inviting space filled with easy chairs, tables and bookcases in which one can imagine curling up with a good book, stretching out with a newspaper or, given the delights of the city outside, completing your a travel journal for that day. In the evenings the “English” style pub in the basement is open, quite small with tables on three levels, leather banquettes and low hanging lights this too has a slight country manor feel to it and is a good place to start or end an evening.
Our guest room, on the second floor, was square and high ceilinged, not huge but with plenty of space for the double bed (actually two singles pushed together not that we realised that until towards the end of our stay), sofa, chest of drawers, table and the two of us. There was wardrobe space opposite the bathroom, which included a lovely corner bath with shower, and the most appropriately named wall safe I’ve ever come across as it was literally built into the outer wall of the hotel. Tea and coffee making facilities and a reasonably priced mini-bar are also provided. The first of my two very mild criticisms is that the walls between the walls seemed quite thin and sound carried easily from one room to another, though outside noise was much less noticeable.
Breakfast was a good mix of hot and cold food, breads, cakes, cereal etc.. with enough cheese and eggs to satisfy a non-meat eater like me and searingly strong coffee which helped to cut through the fuzz created by one too many dark Kozels the night before. However, and here is my second criticism, though the breakfast staff were very pleasant they were not always good at keeping the breakfast foods stocked up and a few things did run out. Again not too much of a problem as, when asked, the staff were more than happy to re-stock but I felt that perhaps such re-stocking could have been anticipated.
The staff were all very friendly and I liked certain little touches the hotel added like complimentary coffee and orange juice in the drawing room in the morning, the detailed hotel guide which included information about local transport links, sightseeing etc.. and the weekly weather forecast posted on the note board in the lobby. The hotel also has a fitness suite, with gym, sauna and steam room, internet access and can arrange transfers to and from the airport.
Altogether the Julian is a lovely hotel, welcoming, comfortable and a great base from which to explore Prague. I would have no reservations about staying there again
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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120
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Address: Elisky Peskove 11, , Prague 5, Prague 5 CZ-15000
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on Mar 4, 2008
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