Tower Park Prague / Žižkov TV Tower, Prague

The Prague TV tower (also know as the Žižkov tower - located in Prague's Žižkov district) is a dominant feature of the city skyline. Built between 1985 and 1992, the 216 meter high tower has been a target of criticism much too often. It has even made the list of the ugliest buildings in the world on several occasions, both at home and internationally. If you try to compare the tower to some of Prague's iconic buildings you may perhaps agree with the building's critics. But if you view it as a stand alone structure, you might just discover its unique nature and beauty.

Photos courtesy of Tower Park Prague

Since the year 2000 the tower has been decorated with fiberglass sculptures in the shape of babies; the work of art of David Černý. The installation was originally temporary but with the babies' increasing popularity, the sculptures became a permanent feature of the tower.

Photo courtesy of Tower Park Prague

As much as the exterior of the tower has been the center of many debates, it is on the interior that we will focus today. Over the past year, the tower underwent construction and opened its doors to the public only yesterday. The result is a more modern and practical interior. Apart from dazzling views of Prague, the tower's observatory now also offers comfortable seating in original bubble chairs.

Photos courtesy of Tower Park Prague

The tower also houses three restaurants with just as unique interiors. The visitor has a choice between the luxurious Oblaca (a play on the Czech word for skies - oblaka) restaurant, a bistro and a bar, which recently won an award for its interior design.

Photos courtesy of Tower Park Prague

Finally, perhaps the most unique feature of the tower is its newly opened One Room Hotel. As the name indicates, it consists only of one room with undoubtedly the most beautiful and holistic view of Prague. The price for a nights stay is yet to be announced but is expected to be around 1,000 EUR per night.

Photo courtesy of Tower Park Prague

So whether you're looking for the best view of Prague, a romantic dinner, a fab night out or a unique nights stay, the Prague TV tower (now branded as Tower Park Prague) is the place to be. A visit to the observatory will cost you 150 CZK, dinner ranges between 200 and 300 CZK, a drink is around 150 CZK and a sleepover will come to 25,000 CZK. 

Sansho, Prague

Very recently the Czech daily Hospodářské noviny set out to find the top 25 restaurants in the Czech Republic. Their strategy was simple. First they selected 16 Czech gastronomy experts and asked them to list their top 10 favorite restaurants across the country. The lists could cover anything from Michelin- starred restaurants to pubs and diners. Then they awarded the highly ranked restaurants points and added up the results. And the winner? Sansho restaurant in Prague.

Sansho opened only a year and a few months back and has already managed to capture the hearts (and palates) of the locals. Its chef, the Stafford born Paul Day, manages to uniquely combine Czech ingredients to create state of the art Asian cuisine. With great food and a homely setting, we can only recommend you to check Sansho out for yourself.   

 Photo courtesy of Sansho restaurant

Galerie Závodný, Mikulov

It is time to shift our focus away from interior design and back to architecture. It has been a while since I last covered this fascinating field and I am all the more happy to dive back into this topic through the architectural design of a gallery.

While browsing through the winners of this year's Grand Prix of Architects, the annual award exhibition of Czech architecture, the gallery "Galerie Závodný" caught my attention. A winner in the new build category, Galerie Závodný is located in Mikulov, a small town in the South Moravian region on the border with Austria. This private gallery opened in 2011 in the historic heart of the city and focuses mainly on the promotion of local, as well as Central and Eastern European minimalist artists. The gallery is the work of the architect Ing. arch. Štěpán Děnge.

The evaluation of the jury of the Grand Prix of Architects describes the building best: "The natural beauty and color of the limestone with a diverse structure of fossils, together with the minimalist expression and form compactness, looks stoic and calm and allows the refined presentation of arts and cultural representation to come forth."    

Photos courtesy of Galerie Závodný

Fusion Hotel, Prague

Lovers of great design, lend me your ears...

... and eyes!

Hotel Fusion opened in Prague and  it is here to attack your senses. The hotel opened on 16th March and it has already received all the media attention it deserves. So what is so special about this place, you ask...

The man behind the concept, the Dutch Chinese designer Nah-dja Tien, says: "It's like a social network but in real life." With rooms equipped with Apple TV and iTunes, a Skype booth, a variety of restaurants and bars, one cannot but agree. This is hospitality at its best.

As the website claims: "Hotels have traditionally been a place to sleep, some great, some indifferent and some we’d rather forget.But traditions get old, it’s time to evolve. We think hotels are a place to BE."

 

Photos courtesy of Fusion Hotel

Bistro Franz, Brno

Opened since December last year, Bistro Franz has been pleasing the palates of Brno food lovers for only a few months. Despite this, the bistro has already gained a remarkable reputation, which it continues to build with its fresh seasonal dishes, as well as its unique interior. Bistro Franz also serves as evidence that the tradition of bistros is not only returning to the capital Prague but is also becoming a trend in the regions.

Photos courtesy of Bistro Franz.

Prague Bistros

Bistros are becoming increasingly popular in Prague. As the demand for quality food & groceries is rising, bistros & markets are sprouting across the city. Below is a selection of a few of the new places, which caught my attention for their design, as well as overall concept and of course quality food.

Home Kitchen
Jungmannova 8, Prague 1

Photo courtesy of Home Kitchen


La Bottega
Plátnéřská 11, Prague 1

Photo courtesy of La Bottega


Kidó
Šmeralova 22, Prague 7

Photos courtesy of Kidó

Chateau Napajedla

Napajedla is a small town of 8,000 inhabitants, located in Moravia in the Zlín region. While there is a lot to be seen in Zlín, after all it was here that Tomáš Baťa founded his famous shoe factory, Napajedla is not exactly a renowned tourist destination. In fact, few Czechs would be able to locate the town on a map... and yet I feel obliged to write about Napajedla. Why? Well, the reason is simple. Few places in Europe offer luxurious accommodation for affordable prices. So if you've never slept in a chateau before, this is certainly the place to go. You will fall in love with the delicate design of the rooms, combining traditional elements with modern touches.   

     

Photos courtesy of Chateau Napajedla