Who's Going
Vladimir Lenin, Bolshoi Elite, Hollywood Celebs
Reason to Stay
Historic Hotel, Central Location, Local Favorite
Hotel Type
Historic Hotel
For those easily enraptured by Russian history, Hotel Metropol is a most favorite Moscow hotel built by a 19th Century railroad tycoon that created the most iconic hotel In its day, it exceeded even hotels in imperialist St. Petersburg in terms of opulence and amenities, offering electricity and elevators as well as the most sophisticated guests of the period. Following the revolution, the hotel became a Bolshevik mainstay and residence during the transfer of capitals before its return as a regime hotel complete with lackluster upgrades and design choices. Today, the art nouveau hotel sits in the backdrop of the Kremlin with opulent façade that romances the foreign eye of the gilded past. Inside, grand foyers and public rooms are etched in grand frescoes, Tiffany glass ceilings and marble-trimmed columns with a crystal chandelier never very far away. Its signature Restaurant Metropol offers feats of caviar, solyankas and traditional cuisine in a setting that's witnessed Grand Dukes, Vladimir Lenin and modern-day plutocrats. While the hotel is over-all in need of refurbishment, preferably by a Four Seasons or Rocco Forte, services like the in-house spa and fitness center don't befit the hotel's 5-star history.
The Room
You better like your Russian history if opting over this aging relic over newer city’s hotels like the Ritz Carlton and Park Hyatt. The property features architecture much as it existed over a century ago, albeit with an early 19902 remodel that resulted in a plush palette of peach and cream colors. Standard rooms are decadently sized with large seating area and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Moscow skyline or surrounding neighborhood. Junior suits come with separate entertaining space with parquet floors and crystal chandeliers in the semi-private living room. Top of the line suites would make a Bolshevik blush with gilded décor and gallery-quality artwork complete with sauna and marble bathroom.
Preferred Room
Junior Suite
Special Features
Historic Hotel, Central Location
Amenities
Lounge, Bar, Restaurant, Spa
