Shaken, not stirred. And in a Splendid glass, please.

Ambience from the world of Bond

The Splendid Bar is a reference to the hotel’s name in the film. The unique, minimalistic space is hidden in the cellars below the iconic Becher’s Bar. A hidden door leads inside, and only those with a reservation can enter. The bar takes its guests into the world of James Bond, the legendary 007 agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service. One of the beverage options includes the Vesper cocktail (named after the Bond girl Vesper Lynd), served in Splendid crystal glasses, where even the lighting has been incorporated to match their design. “We had around 80 glasses made by Moser for the new Splendid Bar, which took over six months to complete. But when you see how demanding their  roduction process is, you understand why,” says Jindřich Krausz, General Manager of Grandhotel Pupp.

Splendid for Her Majesty

The Splendid Collection has acted as the glassworks’ flagship since 1911. Each glass passes through at least 64 pairs of hands before being delivered to its new owner. Its shape and dimensions must be precise, which is achieved using a mould lathed from beech or pear wood. The glassmaker blows the glass into the mould, and the different chalices are then adorned with various cuts. The most challenging is the diamond cut, also called “chequered” since it forms a delicate lattice woven from hundreds of cuts, each spaced a mere millimetre from the next. This pattern can’t be traced on, it’s completely dependent on the cutter’s craftsmanship, steady hands, precision, and depth of focus. The glass is then enclosed with a band of cut concave divots, which beautifully refract the light. And the wide relief of pure gold, polished with precious stones (agate and haematite), then augments the priceless look. The resulting effect is breathtaking.

It’s no surprise that the Splendid Collection was given by the Czechoslovakian president to Elizabeth II, the future Queen of England, as a wedding gift in 1947. Her Majesty favoured the set, which is why the Czech president then gifted her more pieces from this truly royal collection at her 60 th wedding anniversary celebration.