Ritz-Carlton – Moscow

Issue 22 January / February 2009

Occupying the site of a former Intourist hotel on Tverskaya Street, the Ritz-Carlton Moscow has raised the bar for luxury hotels in the Russian capital, with architecture by Mosproject and interiors by Peter Silling & Associates.

Opened in Summer 2007, the Ritz-Carlton Moscow is the first of a clutch of international hotel brand openings set to raise the bar for luxury hotels in the Russian capital in the near future. And Ritz-Carlton has stolen a march on its competitors in opening ahead of the imminent arrival of Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Grand Hyatt amongst others.

The hotel is located on epicentral Tverskaya Street in close proximity to key landmarks such as Red Square,  the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Grand Conservatory Hall. The site has been associated with Russian hospitality since the 18th century, when the “Tsaregradskiy Traktir” tavern offered visitors lodgings and sustenance. Throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century The Paris Hotel replaced the tavern, offering more stylish and sophisticated services to its clientele, including many Russian writers and artists who stayed in the hotel and mentioned The Paris in their works. The Paris was demolished in the 1930s as part of the urban regeneration of the area, with the 22-storey glass, concrete and steel façade of the state-run ‘Intourist’ rising from the ashes in 1970. 

In 2002, the Intourist was demolished, making way for the more restrained presence of the Ritz-Carlton. Now standing just 11-storeys high, with 334 of what are said to be the largest rooms in the city, the hotel’s classical façade and grandiose marble-clad entrance lobby convey an immediate sense of the site’s history. Mosproject, one of the largest  architectural firms in Moscow, developed the project, with German designer Peter Silling creating a classic interior reflecting the rich imperial style for which Russia was well known for during the 19th century. 

General Manager Oliver Eller describes the overall design style as being “based on the best classical traditions of Russian and European architecture”, citing the grand staircase, abundant use of gold leaf in the décor and “plasterwork performed by British artisans previously employed by Buckingham Palace” as illustrative examples.

Rooms balance a classical aesthetic of dark cherry wood furnishings, sumptuously embroidered fabrics and the aforementioned cascade of bed pillows, with touchscreen bedside control panels and generous flatscreen multimedia set-ups.

Portuguese marble bathrooms continue in a similar vein with elegant double vanities, walk-in rain shower, separate tub, Bulgari amenities, and under-floor heating for cold winter days.

Rooms on the 11th floor Club Level have access to a lounge with panoramic views of Red Square and the Kremlin, a round-the-clock food buffet, dedicated on-site concierge and meeting room. WiFi access, iPod docking stations and a number of coffee table books all encourage guests to linger over tea, champagne or caviar whenever the mood takes them.

While the Club Level is open only to those who pay for the privilege upfront, the top-floor O2 Bar is open to the public, who pay for the impressive birds-eye views with sky-high prices upon departure.
When Eller says the 12th floor bar “reflects what Moscow is today – a modern, dynamic megalopolis inhabited by people leading busy yet sophisticated lifestyles” he is referring not so much to the general public but the city’s wealthy movers and shakers. The O2 goes out of its way to court this notoriously hard to please target market with its glass dome ceiling, flamboyant hanging light fixtures and outdoors bar with illuminated dancefloor.

With DJ’s regularly flown in from London, a sushi bar serving fish from Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market and a list of vintage French champagnes to match many a Michelin-starred restaurant; the bar’s international edge provides locals with enough excuses to make this a regular hotspot on the nightlife circuit du jour.

For those who have been out partying till late, and in Moscow that’s the majority of people under 35-years-old come Sunday morning, the O2’s calorie-fuelled Sunday brunch provides a temporary solution to an aching head. For tired dancing feet meanwhile, the Ritz-Carlton’s ESPA spa is a more immediate alternative.

The 2000m2 space includes 14 treatment rooms, a black-bottomed 110m2 swimming pool lit by fibre-optic Swarovski crystal lights as well as the full range of experiential extras such as hotpools, ice fountains, lifestyle showers and a candle-lit relaxation room.

By tucking the spa away on the lower-ground level, the intention was to create an obvious zonal demarcation between the serene spa space and the rest of the hotel. Being confronted by the ESPA Spa’s modernist aesthetics straight after breakfast in the heavily traditional Russo-Georgian Caviarterra restaurant might prove too much of a leap for some more aesthetically sensitive souls.

The hotel was catapulted straight to the top of the city’s hotel hierarchy upon opening in summer 2007. But with Moscow’s ranked as the world’s most expensive city for the second consecutive year, and the scarcity of rooms driving room rates into the stratosphere, such luxury comes a cost.

This is one of those rare hotels that manages to form a cogent, cohesive whole, a spirited embodiment of all that the Ritz-Carlton brand can and should be. That’s not to say the product is faultless; smaller Superior and even some Club Level rooms come in at just 42m2 which, once the plethora of bulky silk pillows have been placed in a corner at turndown, can feel somewhat tight. Given the US$1000+ rack rates, the implication is simply that if you want more space, you have to pay for it. Welcome to 21st century Moscow. 

WORDS: Matt Morley

PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Moscow
Tverskaya Ulitsa 3 125009 Moscow Russia
Tel: +7 495 225 8888
www.ritz-carlton.ru

Rooms: 334 guestrooms and suites
Dining:    Jeroboam, Caviarterra
Drink:    Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lobby Lounge, O2 Sky-Lounge
Leisure:   Espa Spa
Facilities:    1,100m2 meeting and function space