Metropol, National, Leningradskaya, Moskva: transformations of Moscow hotels

Over the last 11 years, Moscow has become 72 hotels richer. The majority of those are situated in the city center, with major sightseeing hotspots and business objects around the corner. Today, there are almost 2,000 hotels in Moscow that match any preference and financial bracket.

In the early 20 th century, there used to be about 200 hotels. Some are still functioning, like the Metropol or the National. Their buildings are some of the most prominent symbols of Moscow. There are also some Soviet-era hotels that harmoniously complement the architectural landscape, like the Leningradskaya Hotel and the former Moskva Hotel on Manezhnaya Square, in the heart of the city.

Nowadays, these hotels are symbols of the Russian capital. They accommodate both visitors and restaurants; they regularly host immersive performance tours. as well as high-level business events, they also welcome Russian and foreign guests, among them visitors from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The Moscow Tourist Agency and Moscow Main Archive shared with us their stories about the transformations of the major Moscow hotels over the decades.

Metropol: a theater with a hotel and its revolutionary past

The hotel was built by the famous patron of the arts, Savva Mamontov, at the end of the 19 th century; he proposed the concept of a “theater with a hotel”. The hotel’s façade is the fruit of the labor of numerous outstanding architects and artists. Mikhail Vrubel worked on the internal and external designs, while the huge glass dome was created by engineer Vladimir Shukhov, the author of the TV tower project.

In 1905, the hotel welcomed its first guests. The façade caught the eye with a ‘Princess of Dreams’ mosaic panel, created by a Vrubel painting, and at the level of the fourth floor, there was a frieze ‘Four Seasons’ by sculptor Nikolay Andreyev. The hotel had all the amenities: elevators, electric lighting, telephones in rooms, and a restaurant.

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During World War I, the first floor housed the hospital. In the days of the October Revolution, the Metropol was where junkers defended themselves from the Bolsheviks, and after the uprising, the hotel was renamed the Second House of Soviets. In the 1930 s, the hotel started functioning again. Among its famous foreign visitors were Bernard Shaw, John Steinbeck, Marlene Dietrich, and Claudia Cardinale. Until the 1960 s, some rooms were occupied by Moscow families who had moved in during the Metropol’s Second House of Soviets era.

In the late 1980 s, the hotel closed for restoration work. It opened again in 1991 and, again, managed to become one of the best in the world. In 2010, the Metropol went through another renovation: the historical interior designs were restored, and an haute cuisine restaurant was opened.

The Metropol receives visitors to this day. There are rooms available that once accommodated some of the famous guests; others are furnished with antique items and original paintings. The hotel has a restaurant that used to be the setting for numerous historical events.

National: the hotel where Lenin and Krupskaya stayed

The history of the hotel started at the dawn of the 20 th century. It was built in 1902 by architect Alexander Ivanov. The Natsionalnaya Hotel opened its doors a year later. The white marble staircase with golden decorations is the architectural focus of the interior design.

During the construction of the building, workers used the most modern technologies and building materials at the time. It was equipped with elevators; furnishings and lamps were imported from abroad. All 160 rooms had their own lavatories, running water, and telephones. The prices were quite high-up to RUB 25 for a night.

In the 1930 s, the National, just like the Metropol, was placed under the order of the Intourist state company. Back in the day, its work was focused on foreign visitors. In 1960–1980 s, the hotel went through some changes. A futuristic Intourist hotel was built nearby, and one day the two buildings were combined into one complex, and another day each regained its independence again.

The National Hotel is one of the oldest in Moscow, and it still functions. It’s an integral part of Moscow’s history and of Russia itself. Some rooms in the hotel have a history behind them. For example, Vladimir Lenin and Nadezhda Krupskaya stayed in the 107 th suite (now one of the Kremlin suites). Over the years, three-room presidential suites have also hosted famous guests.

Today, the hotel is popular with citizens and visitors of Moscow for its restaurants. Guests can attend an immersive performance tour where the hotel itself becomes the stage. The New Addresses of Happiness project gives everyone the opportunity to register their marriage at the hotel and make their wedding unique and memorable. The ceremonies are held in the Suzdal Hall with a view of Red Square and the Kremlin.

Leningradskaya: Stalinist Empire style and subterranean rivers

The hotel is located in one of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers built in the 1950 s. In 2023, the building will celebrate its 70 th anniversary. It’s the lowest of the Seven Sisters, and the height of its spire reaches 139 meters (for comparison, the height of the main building of the Lomonosov Moscow State University is 236 meters). Leonid Polyakov and Alexander Boretsky were the authors of the project.

Construction was planned back in 1917. Architects offered their projects, but the work was delayed constantly. The Second World War began, and the construction of the hotel was postponed until 1947. The laying of the first stone was timed to coincide with the 800 th anniversary of Moscow. All skyscrapers were supposed to be architectural landmarks of the urban landscape, and the Leningradskaya was to become one of them.

During construction, it was found out that there are two subterranean rivers under the future building. The architects opted for a deep foundation. The Leningradskaya is a prominent example of the Stalinist Empire style that originated in the USSR in the 1930 s. The building follows the influence of medieval Russian architecture. For example, the main entrance resembles the porch of a terem with fancy pediments and other decorative elements. There are similar references in the interior designs: the elevator hall is just like an altar niche, and the lusters are stylized as a large church chandelier.

Advanced technical solutions have become an important feature of the hotel. The building has central air conditioning and dust removal systems, its own boiler room, and a 2,000-number telephone exchange.

During the Soviet era, the Leningradskaya Hotel was considered one of the best in the country. In the 2000 s, the building and rooms were restored, and architectural lighting was installed. Some elements have been preserved; for example, the original 1952 reception desk is still in place.

At the hotel, you can book rooms of different categories as well as immersive performances and excursions with the capital’s guides. In addition, this year the Leningradskaya Hotel has become a new platform for on-site marriage registration under the New Addresses of Happiness project; now the newlyweds can have their first wedding dance in the hotel ballroom.

Moskva: Soviet-era classics

One of the first Soviet hotels, the Moskva was built in the 1930 s. Leonid Savelyev, Oswald Stapran, and Alexey Shchusev headed the project. One of their key tasks was to harmoniously assimilate the hotel into the city landscape to complement the Kremlin and State Historical Museum. Initially, it was a constructivist project, but later Alexey Shchusev introduced his classical vision of the hotel.

The Moskva is famous for its asymmetrical façade. The building was constructed on the foundation of the Grand Hotel. The architects had to simplify one side of the façade to preserve its integrity. To do this and fortify the walls, window openings were created on the first floor, and decorations were completely removed from the right tower.

The construction consisted of two stages; it was commissioned only in 1977, on the 60 th anniversary of the Revolution. In 2000, the building was recognized as hazardous, and in 2004, it was demolished.

The new building was constructed in 2012 on the same site with the same blueprint. In 2014, the hotel opened its doors to guests once again. It hosts over 200 events a year: business meetings, forums and conferences, celebrations, and weddings. The hotel is popular with foreign visitors from the CIS and the Middle East.