Grand Hotel Evropa: Prague's stunning Art Nouveau building opens under new luxury brand
The iconic Art Nouveau Hotel Evropa on Prague’s Wenceslas Square has reopened to the public after an extensive renovation that lasted over a decade. Now rebranded as “W Prague", the hotel is managed by Marriott as part of its upscale W Hotels collection.
The hotel’s history stretches back to 1872, when it was originally constructed in the Neo-Renaissance style. In the early 20th century, it was transformed into an Art Nouveau masterpiece under the ownership of Karel Šroubek, gaining fame for its fine dining and first-rate service.
During this period, the Grand Café Evropa on the ground floor became a gathering place for Prague’s high society. It was here that Franz Kafka reportedly gave his only public reading in the city in 1912. Just before the Second World War, Nicholas Winton stayed at the hotel while organizing the transport of Jewish children to safety in England.
Nationalized by the Communist regime in 1951 and renamed the Grand Hotel Evropa, the hotel retained some of its former prestige but gradually fell into decline. Following the fall of communism in 1989, it returned to private ownership and changed hands several times over the years.
The beautifully restored Art Nouveau hotel remains one of Prague’s architectural landmarks to this day. The stunning exterior, with its vibrant yellow, green, and red façade, has also played a role in several films, including Mission: Impossible, while its restaurant, also designed in the Art Nouveau style, was used as the dining room in the film Titanic.
