Hotel Josef

When celebrated architect Eva Jiřičná conceived her first hotel in Prague for Austrian hoteliers Christian and Rudolf Ploberger, her aim was to create somewhere calm and soothing to give the eyes a rest from the onslaught of architectural styles outside. She succeeded in spades, and her cool, contemporary hotel, opened in 2002, is a breath of fresh air from the all-white entrance lobby to the minimalist bedrooms. The ingeniously spot-lit lobby, with its leather sofas and chairs, bar and fabulous sculptural staircase, makes a great meeting space and positively buzzes in the evenings. Bedrooms are all decorated in similar style with splashes of bright colour that enliven the neutral palette. The best on the seventh and eighth floors have balconies and fabulous views. A first-rate buffet breakfast is served in an airy room looking out to the garden. Terrific value too.