Zamoskvorechye Moscow, Russia
Renovated
2013
Price
$$$
Rated for
Luxe Classic HeritageOutside the door
The house
KempinskiGilded riverfront landmark
This is a formal grand hotel on the riverbank, defined by Old World service and front-row Kremlin views.
What it’s good at
Notable
Silver-tray room service deliveries and concierges coordinating private visits across the capital.
Notable
Uniformed bell-hops paging guests with chalkboards maintain a decades-long lobby ritual.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
Behind the Baltschug′s hundred-year-old facade beats a glossy and very up-to-date heart—huge rooms overlooking the Kremlin, internet access, and a blissfully serene swimming pool.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral sit directly across the bridge, while the quieter streets of Zamoskvorechye stretch south.
1 of 4
The rooms
Over half the rooms look across the water to the Kremlin, finished with maple woodwork and marble bathrooms.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The pool and gym
Azure tiles line the heated indoor pool, flanked by marble columns. Beside it, the gym has Technogym equipment.
At the table
Breakfast brings blini with red caviar and sparkling wine. By afternoon, tea is poured beside the lobby lounge's working fireplace.
One night at the Baltschug Kempinski Hotel, I throw open the curtains for a night rapture of St. Basil's Cathedral only to find it outshone by a spotlighted, half-mile-long BMW billboard.
How it began
In the sixteenth century, Ivan the Terrible established Russia's first royal tavern on this riverfront plot for his guards.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.