The best hotel in the category “Best Bargain in Europe” was the Arcadia Residence in Prague. World No.1 in the category “Best Hidden Gem in the World” is U Zlaté Studně Hotel (Golden Well Hotel) in Malá Straná, Prague. This victory is all the more precious considering the fact that winning hotels have mostly been in the USA, one in Germany, one in Spain and the rest are South-American or Central-American destinations. The “Traveller’s Choice” survey is among the most closely watched and most respected evaluations of the quality of hotels. The users of “Tripadvisor” portal are the biggest internet travel community; every month around 30 million users visit the portal. The final order in the survey is determined by a special equation which includes the evaluation of guests or opinions found on the web.
U Zlaté Studně Hotel has long been in first place on the popularity chart among the 536 hotels in Prague and now it has achieved the acclaim it really deserves. U Zlaté Studně Hotel is right under the ramparts of Prague Castle. The history of the hotel building goes back to the year 1528. The house was given by Rudolf II to the famous astronomer Tycho de Brahe, who saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary here and had a new, gilded curb put on the well. Thus the title U Zlaté Studně arose. The hotel offers 17 above-standard double rooms and 2 apartments. The rooms are furnished with reproduction French period furniture from the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries, made by the renowned Richelieu company. Each room is unique in its design, its view of Prague and the Ledeburská garden.
The hotel also boasts the acclaimed restaurant Terasa U Zlaté Studně (Terrace at the Golden Well), which is situated on the 4th floor of the hotel. There was a terrace here as early as the 1920s, where visitors such as the French poet Guillaume Appolinaire admired the view of Prague. There is now direct access to the gardens of Prague Castle from the restaurant terrace; previously the restaurant was accessible only via winding steps from Malá Strana.
Besides its top quality services, the hotel cuisine, in the hands of Head Chef Pavel Sapík, also attracts many of the visitors to Prague. Born into a culinary family, Pavel has many years of experience and, among other things, he is a member of a national team which regularly brings home medals from the FHA Cullinary Challenge Singapore competition. He has bronze, silver and gold medals in his collection. He has also attained silver and bronze at the IKA Olympics in Erfurt.
The Terasa U Zlaté Studně Restaurant is situated on the 4th floor of the hotel, and affords a panoramic view. The whole of Prague is right there for you to see. There is direct access to the gardens of Prague Castle from the restaurant terrace.
Head Chef Pavel Sapík and his team create works of culinary alchemy. Few people can dream up such interesting innovations the way he can. Born in 1975 into a family of chefs with many years of tradition. He gained experience working in Austria, Italy, France, Singapore and Germany. In the 2001/2002 season he was awarded silver medal in the Chef of the Year competition. He is a member of a national team which regularly brings home medals from the FHA Cullinary Challenge Singapore competition. He has bronze, silver and gold medals in his collection. He has also attained silver and gold at the IKA Olympics in Erfurt.
This restaurant was extensively renovated at the turn of January and February 2008