Room Category: Corner Suite (Room 1417)
Hotel Status: Not applicable
Overview
Lazurnaya Hotel is one of Sochi’s premier luxury hotels. In fact, it is Sochi’s first international hotel. Opened in 1994 as the Radisson SAS Lazurnaya Hotel, it was Russia’s best regional hotel. It has hosted many international conferences and meetings of heads of states - a fact that the hotel is not ashamed to brag as evident in the roster of famous guests displayed in the lobby. It has hosted Vladimir Putin, Boris Yeltsin, Dmitry Medvedev, Jacques Chirac and Condoleeza Rice amongst others.
Although opened in 1994, the design of the hotel actually dates back to the 1980s. It was developed by Institute Yuzhgiprokommunstroy. The architecture is an excellent example of Soviet Brutalist Modernism. The façade actually used to be all concrete as opposed to the stone / faux marble cladding now imposed. The structure of the building is bottom heavy and commands a powerful presence amidst the hotel’s hilltop location.
The hotel has 19 floors and around 290 rooms.
Since its opening, Lazurnaya Hotel has set the standard for premier accommodations in Sochi.
Location
The hotel is located along Kurortny Avenue in a posh and quiet park area of Sochi. It is around 10–15 minute ride to Sochi’s main boulevard and a short ride away from other tourist destinations in the city such as Stalin’s dacha. Next to the hotel are posh apartment complexes which host some excellent restaurants – amongst them are La Terraza and Cheretto More which we have tried during our stay.
Room
I have booked a corner suite on the 14th floor (room 1417). There is a suite on each floor (up to the 16th floor) with a large balcony and expansive views of the mountains and the sea. This is the highlight of the room – what a view! It was simply breathtakingly beautiful. The design of the room itself was giving us a coastal Santorini vibe with the extensive use of blue and white hues. It was spacious and tastefully decorated. There is also a luxurious marble tiled bathroom with a full-sized bath as well as locally sourced toiletries (which feels luxurious to the touch). The bedroom was of a good size and equipped with a writing desk, comfortable slippers and robes.
The bed was also comfortable and provided us with a well-rested sleep.
General Impressions and Facilities
I do love a hotel with a grand entrance. There is a proper porte cochere. The golden revolving doors hark back to old European luxury. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a decadent lobby with period style furniture. Gold is the colour of choice without being tacky. It reflects old world charm and Russian penchant for extravagance. The lobby leads to the hotel’s restaurants accessed through the panoramic lifts leading to the upper floors which can be found towards the back of the hotel.
The hotel’s amenity building is impressive. It is connected to the hotel’s main building through the lower ground floor. There is a big outdoor pool area and an equally big indoor pool, both are perfect for leisure swims or morning laps. There is also wellness shower and massage rooms, jacuzzi areas, saunas and a hammam. It is a perfect place to relax and watch the sunset. There is also a well-equipped gym. The facilities are simply excellent.
Unique to this hotel is access to a private beach club. It is a short 5 minute walk downhill from the hotel’s main building. The beach club is gated and manned by hotel staff who can let you in. An elevated bridge which traverses the railway line will then take you down to the beach club. One can appreciate the luxury of having a private beach especially in the busy summer months where Sochi’s coastline is teeming with people. The beach club has a seasonal restaurant and a Russian banya facility. It is so relaxing to just grab a chair by the beach and listen to the sounds of the waves.
There is also a walking trail next to the beach club perfect for early morning walks and watching the sunrise.
Dining Options
The hotel’s main restaurant is called Sea Breeze. It serves international cuisine and provides some excellent food and service from the staff. We had dinner and lunch here twice.
Breakfast is served at the Riviera Restaurant. The breakfast spread is generous with lots of hot and cold items and changes slightly every day. On the ground floor, you will find the lobby bar which serves light refreshments and drinks. The bar is adorned with Chesterfield style sofas and a yellow piano. It is fairly quiet during the day and is an excellent place to relax or have business meetings.
Service
The service at this hotel has been great, especially from the reception team and the Sea Breeze restaurant. The check-in and check-out process was smooth and efficient.
I would recommend this hotel.
Lazurnaya Hotel Sochi | BEST HOTEL in Sochi | SUITE with MAJESTIC Sea Views