Lonely Planet Review

An attractive historical building barely 30 paces from Old Town Square, the 'Black Elephant' has 16 modernised and pleasantly furnished four-star rooms, a Gothic-vaulted dining room and a tiny courtyard garden.

Right in the historical core of the Old Town, the 'Black Elephant' could hardly be better located for sightseeing or anything else you might want to get up to in this bustling city. An elephant of any colour would find it a very tight squeeze indeed to negotiate its way down this narrow alleyway between Old Town Square and Týn Court, which seems forever crammed with souvenir stalls and parties of tourists, but if it's lively and central you want, this is the place to come. The hotel, which also incorporates a popular restaurant and bar, dates back to the 14th century. Although it has undergone a complete renovation, it has retained much of its historic charm, with exposed wooden beams in some of the rooms and the wonderful vaulting in the dining room. The brightly polished bathrooms are all thoroughly modern, and most have both tubs and showers.