Room Category: Junior Suite (Room 208)
Overview
I first came across this hotel in Bald and Bankrupt’s YouTube video. I was intrigued by the history, the Soviet past and the rumored hidden rooms. So, I decided to stay in the hotel and booked a junior suite to fully experience what it was like for a Soviet apparatchik or a foreign dignitary to stay in this hotel.
Background
Hotel Sovietsky was built under the orders of Joseph Stalin’s son – Vasily and was opened in 1952. It was built to host government delegations and foreign dignitaries and was rumored to contain numerous hidden rooms used for spying purposes (I did not really see evidence of these when I stayed at the hotel (just hallway mirrors with locks which potentially can be opened but I was not able to see what lurks behind such mirrors).
Vasily Stalin made this hotel his permanent home and the most expensive room in the hotel - the Stalin Apartments (Room 301) – was where he lived. Hotel Sovietsky also hosted foreign heads of state and royalties. From Margaret Thatcher to King Juan Carlos I of Spain to celebrities like Chuck Norris and Van Damme, this hotel played host to some very important people. The hotel is now but a shadow of its once glorious past; however, it still retains some old world splendor and historic opulence.
The architecture of the hotel is Soviet Classicism. Along with other hotels built during this period like Hilton Moscow and Radisson Ukraina, Hotel Sovietsky was designed to impress and showcase the Soviet Union’s might. It was designed to project a certain image of the Soviet Union. The grand lobby and the staircase, with their generous use of red, marble, and gold leaf, bear witness to this grand past.
Location
Hotel Sovietsky is located along Leningradsky Avenue. This is Moscow’s main central thoroughfare – it leads to the airport on one direction and Red Square on the other. However, the hotel is not located in the centre of Moscow. It is not within walking distance of any noteworthy attractions. The nearest metro station (Dinamo) is 10 minutes’ walk away. The location reflects the price. The price of a suite here costs cheaper than a standard room at a comparative hotel in the centre. I would say it is good value for money. You can take a taxi which can get you to the centre of Moscow in 15 minutes (and taxis are cheap in Moscow). However, if you like to walk and have all the attractions at your doorstep, this may not be the hotel for you.
Room
I booked a Junior Suite. I was told that all suites in this hotel are unique and have their own character. The suite we stayed at is very spacious. It has three rooms divided by double doors – the entry hallway, the reception/sitting area and the bedroom. This room was advertised as being 30 square meters, but I am pretty sure it is bigger (if not double). The décor follows the hotel’s soviet past. It is as if the time has stood still. From the furniture to the wallpaper, the suite seems stuck in the past. However, this only adds to the uniqueness of the room. It is well-maintained and also offers some modern conveniences e.g. coffee and tea making facilities, a big flat screen TV and air-conditioning.
In the reception/sitting area, there is a large writing desk and a big sofa. It looks like a reception area for some junior soviet apparatchik and it did make me feel that way.
The bathroom is also very spacious. The toiletries are hotel branded and are pleasant enough. However, the linen, the towels, the robes and the slippers are of a very high quality. I was pleasantly surprised. It is comparable to any five star hotel I have been in. My only complaint would be that the sink is a little low and it was quite difficult to use. I am 175 cm and I was having difficulties. I imagine someone taller would have greater difficulties. But otherwise, I am pretty happy with the bathroom and the suite. It is living in history.
Facilities
I should note that this hotel has no fitness center / spa facilities / swimming pool. Hopefully, this changes in the future.
It has a breakfast area / lobby bar on the first floor which was tastefully decorated. The buffet breakfast on offer was quite limited. There is definitely room for improvement.
The hotel’s jewel would be the Yar Restaurant. This restaurant first operated between 1826 and 1925 and was popular amongst Russia’s elite and literary circle. Chekhov, Gorky, Tolstoy and Pushkin all dined here. The restaurant offers traditional Russian fare in a grand space. Yar has one of the most impressive chandeliers I have ever seen in a restaurant. The restaurant looks like a palatial room.
Service
The service is friendly and everyone we met at this hotel have been professional and courteous.
I would totally recommend this hotel. This hotel is a living history and I hope this hotel continues to survive the challenges of the modern hospitality market and preserve the history to which it is a guardian of.
Legendary Hotel Sovietsky Moscow | Staying where STALIN LIVED | Soviet Building