Ritz Carlton Moscow

Steps from Red Square, this extravagant five-star property lays everything on thick.

• The contemporary art gallery, CUBE, in the hotel’s basement
• The club level, which includes access to all-day snacks and drinks
• The serene ESPA Spa on the lower level, renovated in 2018

The 11-story Ritz Carlton was built from scratch in the style of a historical building with a grand columned entryway and marble lobby with sweeping staircase and chandeliers. When it opened in 2007 on the site of the former Intourist building, the luxury property was one of the first international hotel brands in the country.

Its prime location just across from Red Square and a few blocks from the Kremlin and the Bolshoi allows guests to avoid the city’s horrible traffic delays when seeing many of the main sights. The décor of the 334 guest rooms (which are the largest in the city) continues the extravagant Imperial theme of the lobby with cherry wood furniture, marble bathrooms and heavy drapes. The only contemporary spaces in the building are the divine ESPA Spa in the basement (in partnership with La Prairie for skincare), and the rooftop O2 bar, which feels like a slice of Miami Beach grafted on to the Moscow skyline. DJs from London and Ibiza are flown in regularly to keep the scene a hot spot for locals and hotel guests alike.

Extravagance prevails from the glitzy O2, to the black marble pool in the spa and the heavy use of gilt and plasterwork in the lobby. The best rooms are those on the club floor, which come with access to the rooftop lounge where food and drink are served throughout the day. (In a city where a glass of wine can cost more than $25 and breakfast may be $75 a person; this access can quickly pay off.)

Those who want to be in a central location with great service and who are comfortable with an opulent, old guard décor.