Forbes says this Prague venue is the closest thing to Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel

Prague’s Wenceslas Square has long been home to one of the city’s most recognizable, but often overlooked, landmarks: the Grand Hotel Europa. Now reintroduced as W Prague following a decade-long restoration, the property has regained its place as one of Central Europe’s most distinctive hotels.

The renovation, which reopened the doors in October 2024, has brought the late 19th century landmark into the 21st century while preserving its Art Nouveau character. Forbes recently noted that no real-life building came closer to director Wes Anderson’s vision in The Grand Budapest Hotel than Prague’s Europa, though Karlovy Vary’s Grandhotel Pupp, which Anderson has acknowledged as inspiration for his film, might have something to say about that.

With its ornate façade, lavish interiors, and history that has mirrored the Czech Republic’s cultural shifts, the new W Prague has reemerged as a fusion of cinematic fantasy and historical preservation.

Forbes contributor Sarah Turner described the hotel’s reopening as a “winning co-production” between heritage and modern luxury, one that channels Anderson’s stylized Belle Époque aesthetic while offering contemporary comforts such as a rooftop bar, spa, and a 900-square-foot presidential suite.

Restoring a landmark for a new era

The project that created W Prague spanned nearly a decade, beginning in 2016 when new owners launched an extensive restoration of the former Grand Hotel Europa. The effort preserved the building’s protected Art Nouveau façade and interior elements while adding a modern extension designed by international architecture firm Benoy.

The updated property combines restored murals, decorative details, and period craftsmanship with newly constructed facilities, including an eight-story rear tower housing additional rooms, a spa, and conference halls. The design aimed to balance authenticity with functionality, retaining historic atmosphere while expanding capacity to 160 guests.

Inside, original Art Nouveau spaces such as Café Evropa were revitalized, while new venues, including Above rooftop bar and Bisou cocktail lounge, were introduced. The hotel’s culinary program also bridges eras, with Monaco-based Beefbar adapting its international concept to local traditions through dishes such as wagyu goulash.

The investment reflects a broader trend in Prague, where cultural landmarks are being restored not only as architectural treasures but also as functional spaces within the city’s hospitality industry. The Europa’s revival highlights the intersection of tourism, heritage protection, and modern branding, positioning the site as both a luxury destination and a cultural monument.

From Hotel Šroubek to W Prague

The building’s layered history extends back more than 150 years. Originally commissioned in 1872 by hotelier Wilhelm Hauner, the property began as a Neo-Renaissance structure before being rebuilt in Art Nouveau style between 1903 and 1905 by architects Bedřich Bendelmayer and Alois Dryák. Its façade, crowned with Ladislav Šaloun’s gilded sculpture of three women symbolizing Europe, quickly made it a landmark on Wenceslas Square.

Renamed Hotel Šroubek after being purchased by restaurateur Karel Šroubek in 1924, the hotel became one of the most prestigious in Czechoslovakia, hosting cultural and political figures. Franz Kafka gave his final public reading there in 1912, and before World War II the hotel accommodated Nicholas Winton as he organized the rescue of Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe.

Following nationalization in 1951, the renamed Grand Hotel Evropa saw its reputation decline during the Communist era. After 1989, it briefly regained visibility as a cultural venue, hosting events such as the Designblok festival. But it closed to the public in 2013, beginning a period of uncertainty before its acquisition by investors who would ultimately oversee its transformation into W Prague under Marriott International.

The hotel has also played a role in cinema, serving as both an inspiration and a filming location. Its interiors have appeared in the original Mission: Impossible, and its Art Nouveau dining room said to have inspired the set in James Cameron’s Titanic. With its reopening, W Prague has restored the the local to its former glory—and recaptured the vision of Wes Anderson‘s The Grand Budapest Hotel.