The best luxury hotels in Moscow, including diamond spa treatments and private butlers
Moscow’s post-Communist penchant for splashy luxury is well known throughout the world. While it doesn’t have the dreamy canals and European glamour of its northern counterpart St. Petersburg, it’s no slouch in terms of culture, hosting some some of the country's most renowned art and history collections – not to mention some extremely luxurious shops, glamorous restaurants and slick bars. Many of its tackier and over-indulgent aspects have been tempered in the last decade or so, ushering in a more sophisticated sense of style. The restrained elegance of hotels such as the Four Seasons will feel familiar, while fans of classic opulence can stay at a number of hotels that feature rooms with private butlers, suites with views of the Kremlin and decadent restaurants, bars and spa treatments. Here's our pick of the most luxurious hotels in Moscow.
Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
A mix of Stalin-era design and contemporary Western styling have transformed the former Hotel Moskva into a world-class wonder. You’ll want to linger in the imaginative cocktail bar, which features 30 types of Siberian honey, or in Quadrum, a fine-dining Italian affair. The views of the Kremlin and other top sites from the suites are nothing short of astonishing. Facilities include a vast spa with a range of decadent treatments, including an all-over body scrub with flakes of 24-carat gold and an exfoliating facial using real diamonds. A troop of smartly-dressed staff provides seamless and intuitive service with warmth and personality. Read expert review From £408 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
As the first international five-star hotel in post-Soviet Russia, the Kempinski has kept up with the competition via top-notch amenities – including a luxury barber shop, beauty centre and sizeable indoor pool with saunas and hot tubs – and pristine service. The handsome neoclassical façade was designed by famous Moscow architect Alexander Ivanov, while the elegant furnishings and soothing colour schemes within ooze refined class. Be sure to book the impressive Kremlin suites, which are set in the hotel’s tower and have views right over the complex. The hotel also boasts enviable views of the Red Square. Read expert review From £216 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
Marble floors, flamboyant chandeliers and Art Deco textiles may feel too ostentatious for some, but there’s no denying The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya’s luxurious appeal. Rooms are decadently plush and spacious, decorated in gold-framed paintings; you also get your own personal butler, on hand for laundry, packing and unpacking, plus other personal requests. Osteria A Tavola, the restaurant’s upscale restaurant, serves great contemporary Italian. The prime beef dish is especially good, as are the lavish breakfasts. Other perks include a 24-hour pool and exquisite spa. Bentleys can be rented, and come with a chauffeur. Read expert review From £211 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya
Moscow, Russia
8Telegraph expert rating
This hotel occupies one of Moscow’s famous late-Fourties Stalinist skyscrapers known as the Seven Sisters. The interiors feel equally extravagant, thanks to a huge marble-clad lobby – accessed through gilded gates – that’s peppered with bronze lioness statues and outsized chandeliers. The Ambassador Suite, which has panoramic views of Moscow and additional dining and living areas, is worth the splurge. There’s also a swathe of amenities (spa, heated pool and hot tubs) and a restaurant, serving up traditional Russian specialties (borsch, beef stroganoff) as well as some international dishes. Service is exceptionally friendly. Read expert review From £60 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Savoy Moscow
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
The elegant, neoclassical Savoy has a history that stretches back to 1913, and is just a block from the Lubyanka, former headquarters of the KGB. Interiors are injected with suave Italian luxury – think chandeliers, oil paintings and cherubs – while maintaining the original Art Nouveau style. Leave time to unwind at the large indoor pool, tricked out with geysers and cascades. Bedrooms have high ceilings and are beautifully appointed with furniture custom-made in Italy. Restaurant Savoy, as famous for its Rococo mirrored ceiling and marble fountain as its high-end menu of Russian and European cuisine, is a fabulous place to dine. Read expert review From £140 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
The Ritz-Carlton Moscow
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
From the dramatic architecture to the permanently parked Porsches and Ferraris outside, to the lavishly gilded lobby, this hotel screams, well, money. The hotels is so well maintained – fresh flowers and lift carpets daily, staff in crisp uniforms – there is nary a thing out of place. The impressive La Prairie spa combines European and Eastern traditions and has a crystal-studded pool, steam room, beauty salon and café. The rooms are very spacious and the suites boast some of the finest views in town. The rooftop O2 Lounge is where you can sample seafood dishes (including sushi) or drink cocktails while taking in the Kremlin and Red Square. Read expert review From £292 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Moscow Marriott Grand Hotel
Moscow, Russia
8Telegraph expert rating
This fairly longstanding and dependable five-star is in a great location on Tverskaya Street. It offers an impressively opulent interior, especially the glass-domed lobby, with a grand staircase and circular fountain. Be sure to have a closer look at the historical tapestries on the underground level, which is also where a few luxury shops – selling flowers, jewellery and souvenirs – are located. Rooms are well-appointed and spacious for the city, while the heated swimming pool is another boon. The Grand Alexander restaurant has a very good European and Russian menu and a summer patio that backs onto the garden. Read expert review From £90 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Metropol
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
One of Moscow’s most renowned hotels, historically a haunt for kings, politicians and cultural luminaries. There’s a swimming pool, sauna, and beauty salon for pampering and a fourth floor executive lounge, which also offers butler service on request. The Deluxe and Grand Deluxe signature rooms, kitted out in Art Deco style, are the plushest category, and some look across to the Kremlin. The main dining room is a destination in its own right; past patrons include Lenin, Stalin and King Juan Carlos of Spain, and the menu of French and Russian delicacies today is every bit as traditional and elegant as in days gone by. Read expert review From £153 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Swissotel Krasnye Holmy
Moscow, Russia
8Telegraph expert rating
Hotel Swissôtel, one of the city’s best five-stars, is housed in one of the tallest buildings in Moscow. The spacious and well-appointed rooms exude a savvy mix of homely warmth and modern Alpine design. If you want a room with a view, book one of the 180-degree curved Panorama rooms, whose large floor-to-ceiling windows allow impressive city views. The international restaurant focuses on local, eco-friendly, organic and seasonal ingredients. The spa offers Swiss-inspired therapies, a pleasant pool and sauna rooms. On the 34th-floor is a cocktail bar, which matches an excellent wine and cocktail menu to jaw-dropping vistas. Read expert review From £128 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Moscow Marriott Royal Aurora Hotel
Moscow, Russia
9Telegraph expert rating
The Royal Aurora is located slap bang in the city centre, offering easy access to many of the city’s main sights and shops. The hotel exterior – with its small towers, arches and tiles on the walls – is classic Russian, while interiors are bright and light-coloured. The musical suites (Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Borodin) are well worth the splash, thanks to their extra size, personalised library and music collections, and excellent views, including some over the Bolshoi Theatre. The sophisticated Polo Club is one of the best steakhouses in Moscow (and has great seafood too), while the Aurora offers casual Russian specialities. Read expert review From £105 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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The StandArt Hotel Moscow
Moscow, Russia
8Telegraph expert rating
This is unarguably the chicest hotel in the city. The Art Nouveau exterior was designed by Russian architect Pavel Andreev and makes for an eye-catching statement along a busy stretch of road. Bedrooms, possibly the most stylish accommodation in town, are inspired by a vague 1950s sensibility, with designer furnishings and tasteful colour schemes. Book the larger Deluxe rooms for a chance to stay at one of its wooden capsules beds, and enjoy views over Strastnoy Boulevard and Pushkin Square. The small but lovely spa has a Turkish bath, sauna, a small pool, and a gym with private training and yoga classes available. Read expert review From £130 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya
Moscow, Russia
8Telegraph expert rating
If you’re looking for classic luxury, the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya will not disappoint. It enjoys a fantastic downtown location a short walk from the Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre. The hotel’s plush spa is a big draw, offering a host of massages, a Turkish steam bath and a 24-hour gym. The gorgeously appointed suites are named after famous ballet dancers, such as Galina Ulanova, Isadora Duncan and Vaslav Nijinsky. The smart Chekhonte restaurant – which has an open kitchen and great views to Tverskaya – serves traditional Russian cuisine with a sophisticated European twist. Read expert review From £104 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
