28 May Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow
The Lowdown
Kempinski Baltschug is the first international luxury hotel in Moscow as of 1992 and in the 16th century, on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, the first tavern (kabak) opened at the Baltschug’s location.
It is a classic European Grand Hotel, with a historical façade dating back to 1898, is situated in the very heart of Moscow, directly opposite the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral. Long a byword for style, comfort and service, this imposing hotel provides business and leisure guests alike with the perfect base from which to explore the capital. Hotel Baltschug Kempinski is invariably connected with Moscow’s history and signature attractions of the Russian capital. More than 100 years ago, the views from the Baltschug were immortalised by famous Russian artists, and today those same views continue to be the best memories of Moscow for the guests of the hotel. Today, Hotel Baltschug Kempinski displays its full glory after a recent upgrade that brought even more renowned comfort to be experienced.
At first, it seems as if you have not walked into a lobby at all, but rather, an elegant variation on a lounge. The interior is exquisite – from the elegant spiral staircase with its wrought- iron balustrade to the white columns of Italian marble that reflect the intricate pattern of the sparkling floor and the Art Deco furniture. The chandeliers are the stand-out highlight of the lobby décor, custom-made from Murano glass, manufactured by the well-known company Masiero and sized one-and-a-half times larger than usual. The glow from the grand chandeliers enhances the surrounding wall mirrors with vintage frames.
The Rooms
The hotel has 227 rooms and suites. The rooms are split into Superior, Deluxe and Grand Deluxe. The 57 entry-level Superior rooms (35-40 sqm) overlook surrounding streets or the inner atrium function space. All rooms have a good size working desk, flatscreen TVs, in-room safes, direct-dial satellite telephones with voicemail, in-house mobile phones, high-speed wifi internet access, iPod docking stations, fax and PC connections. The 95 Deluxe rooms (37-47 sqm) are slightly larger, but are in red and beige and have views of the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral. Both the Superior and Deluxe rooms were last renovated in 2007, but are still smart and have 24-hour room service, “Les Clefs d’Or” concierges, personalised guest-relations employees (called “Ladies in Red”), complimentary in-room newspaper and mineral water each day. The 38 rooms and suites on floors 2 to 4 were upgraded in 2015 and have heated marble floors in the bathrooms, new rain showers, big bathrooms and large mirrors. These are now called Grand Deluxe rooms (37-47 sqm) and have a different design by Slovakian firm Cadé, who created a new range of light colours for them – warm pastels, golden and yellow shades – as well as new hardwood furniture, brass lamp accents and lithographs by Russian painters.
The hotel’s 36 suites include six Studio suites (68 sqm), 11 Executive suites (70-80 sqm), six Kremlin suites (68 sqm), six Red Square suites (75-85 sqm) and six Design suites (70 sqm). and more than 50% of rooms offer spectacular views of Red Square, the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral that are UNESCO World Heritage objects.
Food & Drink
The Baltschug Grill restaurant welcomes guests for the daily breakfast buffet with the Kremlin view. The morning feast offers more than 100 different dishes for all tastes: fresh croissants, traditional Russian pancakes with red caviar and sour cream, various kinds of honey, local dairy products, omul fish from lake Baikal and freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. The design of the restaurant room is dominated by warm tones, from the dominant beige accents to subdued hues of burgundy and olive. Soft light is reflected in the glass elements, creating a cosy and relaxed atmosphere.
Café Kranzler is the calling card of the hotel. By day, it has vibrant atmosphere: catching up with friends, business meetings and everyone in good spirits, enjoying the aroma of ground coffee beans and fresh pastries. By night, the Kranzler takes on the spirit of a casual lounge – the perfect place for a relaxed dinner. To whet the appetite, there is a vodka degustation set. The classic salads are served with a light touch of originality, and a few in particular have become a legacy of the place, Café Kranzler such as “Baltschug” Olivier Salad with crayfish, veal tongue and salmon caviar. Guests that are looking for a wholesome main course will love the beef stroganoff and the signature suluguni vareniki with morels and champagne sauce. The essentials of the menu are the grilled dishes prepared in accordance to a guest’s preferences.
The cosy and friendly Lobby Lounge bar offers a great selection of desserts, beverages and exquisite drinks.
Services and facilities
As well as excellent jogging trails along the river,the Hotel has a swimming pool, small fitness centre ( 7 am- 11 pm) , a whirlpool, and men’s and women’s saunas in its basement. It also has a beauty centre on the second floor with hairdressing by La Biosthetique and face and body treatments using cosmetics by Sothys. New to the Hotel is the Truefitt & Hill barbershop on the ground floor, which offers shaving, manicure and haircuts for gentlemen.
Essential info
Ul Balchug 1, 115035; +7 495 287 2000; kempinski.com/moscow
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