Mamaison Residence Belgicka ★★★★

The elegant Art Nouveau apartment block is set in a quiet, leafy street with pretty tiled pavements. Each of the apartments is completely self-contained, but there is also a concierge on site, 24-hour reception and communal facilities like a billiards room, gym with a sauna, and a laundrette with washing machines and tumble driers. There are 24 suites and 6 studios altogether. They all have Wi-Fi throughout, good heating, and a fully equipped kitchen. We thought this was a perfect balance between relaxed self-catering privacy and convenient services.

Our apartment had a large living room, a separate bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. It was bright and airy, with contemporary furnishing and full of flowers, modern artworks and sculptures. It had atmospheric lighting in huge light fittings, making a nice relaxed atmosphere.  In the living / dining room there was a large dining table and chairs, a flat-screen TV and a sound system. The staff were very friendly and every two days we were supplied with clean towels and bin clearance.  The bedroom was simple with elegant light fittings, some nice rugs and classic wooden flooring. There was plenty of storage space for all of us. The bathroom was good and spacious and simply decorated in blue tiles and blue mosaic flooring. 

We found a nice minimarket just round the corner and stocked up on essentials for our stay. There are lots of nice bars, cafés and restaurants close by and the metro station for a quick and easy trip into the centre. We walked fairly often, as it was only ten minutes, and a lovely stroll through the pretty Vinohrady District - so called because it was once home to vineyards dating from the 14th century.  Even now, it is surrounded by parks and gardens and has a rural feeling compared to the city intensity of the Old Town and the newer shopping and business districts around Wenceslas Square.

Our Australian friend was as delighted by Prague as we had hoped she would be. We walked into the centre and stopped in the Old Town Square to see the Prague Meridian and the famous Astronomical Clock, and browse the little stalls selling CDs and souvenirs. We strolled through the old town accompanied by gasps of ‘Wow’ and ‘Awesome’, over the much-loved and lauded Charles Bridge and slowly up to the Palace and Vitus Cathedral. We stopped on the way to look in at one of my favourite Prague treasures, the St. Nicholas Church in Malá Strana, which I just adore for being the most over-the-top Gothic and gold extravaganza that I have ever seen, topped with astonishing trompe l’oeil wall and ceiling paintings. Once at the top of the hill we paused to gaze back over the view of Prague before exploring the Cathedral and Palace.

After the exertions of the day’s sightseeing, we were tired, or 'completely whacked' as our friend would have it. We decided we could not cram more into one day and would have to save the dinner in Malá Strana that we had planned, and a tour around the Municipal House at the other end of the Golden Mile, for another day. We were so pleased to have the home comforts of our apartment in Mamaison Residence Belgicka to return to; we could relax and recover in our very own Prague pied-à-terre.