Prague handed over Šlechtova restaurant to the company for renovation

Prague - The leadership of Prague today handed over the construction site of the Šlechtova restaurant in Stromovka to the company Pracom. This has initiated a complete reconstruction that the building has been waiting for about 40 years. Both the interior and exterior spaces will be completely renovated, builders will add a technical wing, and the restaurant will be restored. The reconstruction will take 22 months and will cost 123 million crowns including VAT.

The building is set for a complete reconstruction. "In the case of a historical building, it will essentially be the creation of a replica," said councilor Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL/Trojkoalice). Inside, historical elements will be restored including the ceiling fresco of Apollo with Venus and an artificial stalactite cave, which once housed a statue of Poseidon. The large hall will be variably designed to adapt to individual events. The original plans also included glazing the atrium, which will ultimately not be done.

An extension will be built to the right of the restaurant. "As for the construction of the right wing of the restaurant, it will be modern. The reason is simple, as current hygiene standards are strict and the original building does not meet them," said Wolf. The new building will include technical facilities, a kitchen, and public restrooms.

In the future, Šlechtova restaurant is expected to have one hired operator, who will be chosen through a selection process either by the magistrate or Prague 7. According to Wolf, the Prague 7 municipality will also restore the missing gazebo that used to stand among the chestnuts near the restaurant.

The city leadership approved the tender winner twice because two other participants in the competition appealed against the first selection. In both cases, the selection committee chose Pracom.

The repair of the monument was initially estimated to cost a quarter of a billion crowns. The original expensive project was tasked to be simplified by the architect. Thus, staircases, elevators, and sanitary facilities will be reduced.

Šlechtova restaurant, formerly known as the Royal Hall, is a cultural monument. It is named after the last owner Václav Šlechta. Its oldest part dates back to the end of the 17th century, and the building was completed in the mid-19th century.