Hotel-Penzion Arcus

Oh how we love the three-star Hotel-Penzion Arcus, a modest 13-room pension northeast of Staré Mesto.

The rooms are quite simple, with wall-to-wall carpets and basic furnishings. We saw matching bedspreads and curtains in a creamy orange in one room, and sturdy, comfortable-looking duvets covered in starched sheets in another. Rooms are remarkably spic-and-span, and fully equipped with modern amenities, including telephones, mini-bars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are for the most part fairly unremarkable, though we did see one enormous circular tub that could probably fit an entire family.

The Arcus features a beautifully landscaped back garden, which includes a dining area (with barbecue facilities!) and a small fountain. During warm weather, it's an ideal place to relax. On request, the management can organize dinners here for guests.

The only downside is the fact that the Arcus is not in Stare Mesto. It's a good 20 minutes away by foot, about half that by tram. But Arcus’s charms make up for its location. Spend a few minutes here and that all-important (and all too easily forgotten) truism is made abundantly clear: It's the management, so often, that makes the hotel. Arcus's genuinely friendly staff makes it an oasis in a desert of dispassionately-run hotels.

Breakfast is included. A shared kitchenette is available.