The luxury lies in details
The Julius Meinl brand is known to almost everyone in the Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1862 in Vienna. Currently, it is the fifth and sixth generations of Meinls that are engaged in the family business.
From the original trade in coffee, tea and chocolate, the business has expanded over the years to retail food sales with a supermarket chain, and later to banking, real estate and other fields of business. The subsidiary Julius Meinl Living is engaged in the reconstruction and operation of luxury hotel residences. Martin Švehla, Head of Hospitality Julius Meinl Living, presented the company’s structure and some of their plans in more detail.
What is the organizational structure of the family business in Prague in relation to Austria?
The various Meinl family businesses operate separately and independently of each other. The Julius Meinl brand has an exceptionally strong reputation in the Czech Republic, being associated not only with premium coffee and delicacies, but recently also with the hospitality industry. In Prague, the Julius Meinl Living Group owns and operates The Julius residential hotel, which offers luxury accommodation. In close proximity to the hotel is the House of Julius Meinl – Gourmet, which provides Czech customers with a small selection of the iconic Viennese Julius Meinl store at Graben Square. The Julius Meinl coffee business operates in the Czech Republic through a subsidiary based in Prague.
Which companies do currently come under the Meinl brand and what is their structure?
The Meinl brand has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The Meinl family’s business activities are nowadays run under the patronage of the House of Julius Meinl brand across various sectors and countries. The group puts emphasis on long-term vision, quality and innovation, with the individual parts of the business complementing and supporting one other in a synergistic spirit. One of the key pillars of the group is Julius Meinl Living, which focuses on the development, management and operation of luxury residential hotels. Another important part is Julius Meinl am Graben, an iconic delicatessen situated in the heart of Vienna. The group also includes KEX Confectionery, a premium confectionery manufacturer operating in Austria, Romania and Switzerland. The House of Julius Meinl also includes Julius Meinl Private Wealth s.r.o., based in Prague, which offers financial and investment consultancy services. The group’s portfolio is further complemented by selected strategic investments such as a stake in the London-based luxury footwear brand Baudoin & Lange.
The Julius Hotel Bucharest
Let’s take a look at the Julius Meinl Living brand. What is the comprehensive scope of the business?
Julius Meinl Living focuses on acquiring premium properties in European metropolises and transforming them into modern luxury residential hotels. Our flagship is The Julius Prague – an elegant residence in the very heart of Prague, offering timeless style, generous space and exceptional comfort. We believe that true luxury lies in details. Our apartments are thoughtfully designed to combine aesthetics with functionality – from fully equipped kitchens and comfortable living rooms to design elements that create a pleasant homely atmosphere. We are currently expanding our operations to Bucharest, where we are preparing to open a new residence, The Julius Bucharest.
The residential hotel called The Julius opened less than three years ago and surprisingly, it was the first of its kind in Prague and not Vienna. What was behind the decision to open it in Prague?
This decision was not accidental. Prague has a deep personal meaning for the Meinl family – the founder of the dynasty, Julius Meinl I, came from Bohemia, where he began to build the foundations of the business in the 19th century, which subsequently expended to an international level. In addition to this historical and personal aspect, the strategic aspect of the matter also played a significant role. Prague has long been considered one of the most attractive European metropolises – both in terms of tourism and economic development. It offers an ideal combination of cultural richness, architectural charm, safe environment and ever-growing interest from foreign visitors. That is why we decided to create the first The Julius there.
What is the capacity of the hotel?
The Julius Prague was designed with an emphasis on space, functionality and flexibility. It offers a total of 168 accommodation units in a combination of spacious rooms and suites with an above-standard size – an average of 41 sq m. The offer also includes 18 interconnecting rooms and three disabled friendly rooms. Apart from the accommodation, The Julius Prague also offers facilities for smaller corporate or private events. Business meetings, workshops, smaller presentations and private events can be held in three modern conference rooms with a total area of 119 sq m. The hotel also includes the Brasserie The Julius restaurant, which offers all-day gastronomic service and combines a modern concept of European cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere.
What makes The Julius Prague unique and what kind of clientele does it target? Its success is certainly due to its exceptional location in the very centre of Prague and the offer of quality services.
The Julius Prague is unique primarily thanks to its philosophy, which combines the comfort of home with the services of a luxurious five-star hotel. Most of the accommodation units are spacious apartments with fully equipped kitchens. What also plays a big role is our great location – right at the newly renovated Senovážné Square in the city centre from where it is just a few steps to all the main sights of Prague. Our goal is to appeal to a wide range of guests who are staying in Prague for both short and long stays. Typical clients include families with children, couples, business travellers and digital nomads. Everyone who appreciates the opportunity to have not only a designer room, but also a fully equipped kitchen, plenty of space, a work area and quality facilities for relaxation during their stay. A significant part of our clientele is made up of guests from the USA, the Middle East and Western Europe. Our success is certainly due to the emphasis we put on the quality of services throughout the hotel – whether it is the approach of the reception team, the level of services in the restaurant or the cleanliness of the rooms. Thanks to this, The Julius Prague has become one of the best-rated hotels in Prague.
Despite its short existence, The Julius has become a popular venue for various events. What forms and variants does it offer?
Although we have only opened recently, The Julius Prague has quickly gained popularity as a venue for smaller social and business events, typically up to 100 people. Our premises are designed to offer maximum flexibility, and we always try to adapt to the specific requirements of our clients – whether it is the layout of the areas, technical facilities or the style of the entire event. We provide all-day events with catering at the highest level, including services and all accompanying services. Our restaurant is also regularly used for social events, but in the past, it also served as a venue for private celebrity dinners, weddings or presentations of world brands. Thanks to the combination of high-quality spaces, discreet service and an exceptional atmosphere, we are able to create a truly unforgettable environment for various types of events.
Given the successful operation of The Julius in Prague, are you planning to open hotels in other Czech cities or abroad?
At the moment, we are not planning to expand The Julius brand to other Czech cities, although we appreciate the great success of our Prague residence. Our goal is to focus on expanding to other European metropolises. We always consider new locations very carefully – several key aspects must come together there: sufficient potential of the city, its international attractiveness, but also a suitable historical or architecturally interesting building with the potential to turn it into a residence that meets our standards. We always look for a central location that can be practical but also inspiring for our guests.
When you mention a foreign project – at what stage is the reconstruction of the hotel in Bucharest?
The reconstruction of the hotel in Bucharest is one of our key projects within the development of the The Julius brand in European metropolises. In March 2024, we acquired the iconic Ambasador Hotel – a 12,600 sq m historic building with a rich tradition dating back to the interwar period. Our goal is to bring this building back to its original elegance and build on its architectural and cultural heritage, especially in the spirit of art deco, which is typical for the building. The building has already been completely prepared for the main construction works – all internal parts have been removed, only the facade, roof, supporting structure and floors have remained. The project is currently in the phase of selecting the main contractor and the construction works alone should commence in the summer of 2025.
What will be the capacity of the hotel after the reconstruction and what kind of clientele is it intended for? And the most important question at the end – when will its grand opening take place?
When completed, The Julius Bucharest will offer a total of 160 apartments, a restaurant on the 11th floor offering breathtaking city views for over 100 guests, a lobby bar, meeting rooms, a fitness centre, a wellness centre, and a gourmet shop, the House of Julius Meinl Gourmet. We target guests who appreciate the combination of spacious accommodation, timeless design, and quality services – whether they are traveling for business, leisure, or culture. The Julius Bucharest aims to become a destination that appeals to both international travellers and locals looking for an exceptional experience. The grand opening of the residence is planned for the end of 2027.
Arnošt Wagner
Photo: Julius Meinl Living Archive
