Prague's historic Grand Hotel Evropa reopens under new luxury brand

On Prague's Wenceslas Square, the Art Nouveau Hotel Evropa building has reopened after a lengthy reconstruction that spanned over 10 years. It is now rebranded as “W Prague,” operated by multinational lodging provider Marriott and its luxury W Hotels network.

The 161-room hotel, which has been closed since 2013, will offer guests several restaurants, cafes, a rooftop bar, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a wellness center. This marks a significant addition to Prague's luxury hotel scene, following the recent opening of Penta's Cloud One hotel and the upcoming renovation of the Intercontinental Hotel, set to be renamed Fairmont Golden Prague.

According to Martin Hocek, a hotel real estate consultant with Cushman & Wakefield, renovating a five-star hotel in Prague can cost between EUR 1,740 to EUR 2,750 (CZK 44,142 to CZK 69,765) per square meter. Hotel owner Ferid Nasr, founder of travel firm Exim Tours, purchased the hotel from Julius Meinl in 2019, with plans to restore its luxurious character from the First Republic (pre-World War II) era.

"We intend to bring the legendary Grand Hotel Evropa back to life, with progressive design and an innovative spirit," said a W Hotels representative. "The Art Nouveau hotel first welcomed guests in 1905 and was known for pushing the boundaries of the hotel industry at the time. We're thrilled to bring that same vision," they added.

The building’s history dates back to 1872, when it was built in the Neo-Renaissance style. In the early 20th century, it was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style and became known for good cuisine, and first-class service under the ownership of Karel Šroubek. After nationalization in 1951, the hotel gradually decayed, but after 1989, it was restituted and changed hands several times.

The hotel has appeared in several films, including Mission: Impossible and "Kafka," due to its atmospheric setting. The Grand Café Evropa was a popular meeting place for Prague’s elite in the early 20th century.

The W hotel brand is globally recognizable, with branches in Barcelona, Miami’s South Beach, and Times Square in New York.