| |
One of the city’s longest-lasting five-star contenders, the Kempinski has been providing high-end accommodation since 1992. The stunning location on the riverside separates it from the city centre, but places it among the offices of oil companies, banks and pension funds in this affluent neighbourhood. Purpose-built, the designers foresaw the need for conference facilities in a Moscow that then sorely lacked them—up to 200 people can attend meetings at the hotel. If the room rates aren’t a problem for you, the walking distance to the nearest Metro is unlikely to worry you much either.
|
A breath of Scandinavian fresh air among the otherwise heavily traditional hotels in the high-end category. Purpose-built into a new office/arts complex, guests here are very likely to be employees of the multinational corporations whose offices are across the footbridge, or perhaps major music artistes appearing at Moscow’s largest and newest concert hall opposite. Up to 130 people can fit into the largest of the hotel’s eight conference rooms. Arrivals on British Airways, Swissair or Trans-Aero will find this hotel within five minutes’ walk of Paveletsky Station, the city end of the AeroExpress train service to Domodedovo Airport.
|
The Mayakovskaya location makes this a perennial favourite with those who really know the layout of the city, a short walk to Pushkin Square and with Patriarch’s Ponds just a block or two away. Russian film stars seem to enjoy staying here and can often be seen in the lobby or the health club, which is (unusually) open 24 hours. The Tchaikovsky Concert Hall is a few steps across the road. Seven meeting rooms offer a total space of 855 square meters.
|
A mere pas de deux from the Bolshoi Theatre, the Royal Aurora prides itself on being the most expensive hotel in town. Pavarotti and former President Bush (Snr) figure among the recent recipients of its 'personal butler service’, which is offered to all rooms, not only those of operatic tenors. Although it’s in the very centre of the city, only the lobby looks onto a traffic-lined street (Petrovka). The rooms overlook the chic (and quiet) pedestrian thoroughfares of boutiques and cafés behind the hotel. Five discreet meeting rooms are available for discussions and conventions. In-house dining is of the finest imaginable quality, although the nearby environs of the hotel are lined with equally good choices by way of variety.
|
The smallest of the three Marriott properties in the city, this hotel has turned this into a virtue and is well known for charming and friendly personal service. Located a stone’s throw from Belarussky Station, this is as far north as one could fairly call the centre (which is defined by all Muscovites as the Circle Line of the Metro system). Without a swimming pool, it notches up only four stars, but in every other respect the comfort level isn’t different from the two other properties.
|
| |
|