Hotel Maximilian
A Quiet Classic, Beautifully Reimagined in Prague’s Old Town
A Prague Icon, Evolved
For years, Hotel Maximilian has been one of those “if you know, you know” addresses in Prague — cherished by those who value proximity to the Old Town without the chaos, and subtle design over loud theatrics. Built in 1903, the building carries the intellectual imprint of Czech architectural theorist Karel Teige, while later expansions — including a smart 1995 extension — added modern bones. But it’s the latest transformation by Conran & Partners (completed in 2019) that has brought Maximilian fully into its new golden age.
Fresh-Faced and Feeling It
The entire ground floor was rewritten into a graceful progression of gathering spaces: a café + bar, a brasserie, a soft-walled library, and a leafy inner courtyard. The aesthetic is modern but gently nostalgic — where pale pastels shift hue from one room to the next, bespoke pendant lights glow softly, Czech glass is given its well-deserved moment, and Bauhaus-era Czech artworks (on loan from the Museum of Decorative Arts) give the hotel its cerebral backbone.
Rooms That Breathe
There are just 71 rooms here — Deluxe, Superior Deluxe, and only one suite — but the luxury is in the calm. Think warm teal walls, crisp white bedding, light-brown narrow-plank floors, sculptural grey banquettes, Eileen Gray accents, and considered fixtures that make each room feel more like a well-composed private residence than a hotel. Some rooms have balconies, some gaze directly onto the Old Town from higher floors — all share the same urban stillness that Maximilian has always been known for.
Eat Well, Unwind Well
In the basement — often overlooked — is a spa that could belong to a much larger hotel. Treatments draw on Indian and Southeast Asian healing traditions: think slow aromatics, therapeutic pressure, and meditative rituals to restore tired city-worn bodies. Back upstairs, Chef Scott Van Wagenen oversees the brasserie, pairing small-batch organic wines with a quietly impressive menu: fish that’s grilled then poached, 30-day aged local beef against truffled potato cream, and seasonal plates that feel both Czech and global in equal measure.
Neighbourhood Intelligence
Maximilian sits on Haštalské náměstí street, in Prague’s stately Jewish Quarter — opposite the St. Haštal church and minutes from everything: Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square. Around you: independent boutiques, excellent cocktail bars, thoughtful mid-range restaurants, Pařížská’s elegant shopping corridor. It’s the heart of the city — without the noise of the heart of the city.
DNA Hotels Verdict
Maximilian is the evolution of a cult classic — Prague sophistication with a scholar’s eye, contemporary design that understands context, and hospitality that feels collected rather than performed. This is old-town living for travelers who appreciate beauty, intellect, and privacy — all in one impeccably balanced address.
