A day in Prague with Poise
01/2023 - Sahar Saini
All about Poise
A minimalistic, modern building located quite literally at the entry of the city's Old Town. The energy around me made it feel like someone had just removed my unnecessarily heavy backpack from my shoulders. I imagined Poise to be a millennial with an old soul—a peaceful nook in the middle of Prague's Old Town and the perfect starting point for discovering Prague's Old and New Town. As I stepped foot in Poise, I reached my room with the help of a digital key code—it was my first time skipping a reception queue that didn't exist. I entered my vibrant room, and its balcony, workspace, modern shower, and super comfortable king-sized bed (I did the jump test) made it seem nothing short of ideal.
A foot outside
To be more precise, Poise is nestled in Staré Město—an area that offers a unique blend of historical and modern. History, art, and architecture all around, but the Trdelník stand was the first to catch my eye. Trdelník is rolled dough wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with a sugar and walnut mix. It originally came from Transylvania, but it is a popular treat you'll find all over Prague. I chose to cover mine in chocolate.
Staré Město is the historic heart of the city. As I walked around, I noticed the efforts gone into preserving its medieval churches and monuments that can be traced back to the 9th century, when traders long ago travelled to the Vltava River and made it their home. I witnessed the city's old-world charm with its Gothic and Baroque architecture, medieval streets and cobbled alleys—all while chomping down on my Trdelník. The spectacular Old Town Square was only a short walk from Poise and dates back to the 12th century. I strolled around the Old Town Hall, which is bordered by the Church of Our Lady before Týn—its Gothic spires are a defining feature of Prague's skyline and were built in the 14th century. It’s always incredibly humbling to stand before something that has existed for so many centuries. The Astronomical Clock, Powder Tower, St Nicholas Church, the Jewish museum, Dancing House, Kafka's Rotating Head and the Mucha Museum are cultural highlights that were all close by. Still, I decided to unwind since I was also right next door to bars of any and every kind. I settled down at an outdoor jazz bar and gazed at the theatres, boutique stores, cafes and restaurants I was yet to discover.
As I wrapped up my day, I returned to Poise, which held me in what seemed like a warm embrace. I was happy not to be highly exhausted since transport was easy and plentiful—you have the metro Staroměstská line A and Můstek lines A and B to get you all around. I remembered reading I could catch a stunning view of the Prague castle from Poise, so I made my way up (instantly regretted not staying on the upper two floors), and there it was—grand and impressive, basking in the setting sun.
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