No 46

In chic, laidback Vinohrady district, this beautiful apartment combines Baroque bohemia, eastern artefacts and luxurious mod cons (sleeps 4)

Set in the elegant district of Vinohrady (meaning ‘vineyards’ - the area once supported vines, orchards and roses), this is a large first-floor apartment in a 19th-century building. It’s refreshing to be away from the maddening crowds of Prague’s centre, and feel yourself in a genuine Czech district; plus it’s only a 15-minute walk or a few tram/metro stops to the city centre.

Owned by a well-travelled interior designer and photographer, the 116sqm flat has high ceilings, tall windows, stucco cornicing, deep red long curtains, and pistachio-painted woodwork. There's a large sitting room and an extraordinary coffee table, made out of huge bellows from an old Czech factory. Glass chandeliers are reflected in Baroque wood-carved mirrors (all from East India), and giant photos of Prague decorate the walls. The 2 bedrooms, one double and one twin, are elegantly restrained, while the kitchen-dining room has everything a serious chef could dream of. And there’s tons of local info in the 'black book'.

Highs

• In a real Czech neighbourhood, a peaceful district with lots of charm, restaurants and bars
• Near a metro stop and tram routes, so easy to get around the city from here
• Great mod cons, including WiFi, an iPod player and surround-sound (which can be piped into other rooms)
• Wines, beer and bottled water are supplied; use what you want and the cost is deducted from your deposit

Lows

• It's not in the centre of Prague - you're 10 minutes' walk from Wenceslas square - but this could also be considered a plus point!
• There's only one bathroom
• This is a self-catering property, so don't expect a concierge service - though there's an English-speaking contact (and a local mobile phone) in case of problems