Hotel Augustine Prague

Prague's most recent five-star resort, the Augustine Hotel Prague, is simply heavenly, fashioned as it's from seven buildings surrounding the cloisters regarding the 13th century St. Thomas Church and Monastery, and featuring an operating neighborhood of Augustinian friars residing adjoining quarters. The result is an upscale resort that conveys ecclesiastical serenity — not monastic austerity.

Designers have actually transformed the old monastery cells into 101 plush areas, many with vaulted ceilings and marble bathrooms with hot flooring. Heavy linens in papal-inspired colors of purple, red and orange channel a relaxing heat, while furnishings impressed by 1930s Czech Cubism provides areas a quirky side. All suites boast views of Prague Castle, the monastery or garden courtyards. Many impressive, however, will be the 360-degree views through the Tower Suite, a three-story penthouse that when served once the monastery's observatory.

The previous refectory houses a club in which visitors drink sinful "Archangel" cocktails beneath nineteenth century Baroque frescoes. Plus the monastery's centuries-old brewery is cut back alive in a cavernous basement; it once more brews an aromatic lager that follows the monks' time-honored dish. Once you tire of gluttony, head to the Augustine spa to clean your sins with holistic treatments, including a body wrap — in alcohol — that nourishes the skin. A divine knowledge.