Best Luxury Hotels in Moscow

Moscow's grandest hotels sit within a few minutes of the Kremlin walls, a cluster of properties that have hosted imperial guests, Soviet dignitaries, and today's business and leisure travellers in turn. Several international brands that once ran these buildings have changed hands since 2022, but the buildings, the staff, and the standard of service have largely carried on unchanged under new names.

Hotel National

Opened in 1903 directly across from the Kremlin and Alexander Garden, Hotel National is one of the few Moscow properties whose lobby genuinely feels unchanged by the century between its guests. Its Art Nouveau interiors and view straight down Tverskaya Street toward Red Square make it one of the most historically resonant addresses in the city.

Metropol

Opened in 1905 as a deliberate patron of the arts, Metropol remains one of Europe's great Art Nouveau hotels — a building often mentioned in the same breath as the Waldorf Astoria or the Paris Ritz for its scale of ambition. Its heritage rooms carry imperial-era tones, while its contemporary suites lean into Art Deco detailing, and its central location places it inside the district covered in our guide to Moscow's areas.

The Legend of Moscow

Built on the site of the storied Soviet-era Hotel Moskva and steps from Red Square, this property operated for over a decade as Four Seasons Hotel Moscow before being renamed The Legend of Moscow following Four Seasons' 2022 exit from the Russian market. The building, staff, and five-star standard have continued under local ownership, and its central position keeps it within walking distance of the Bolshoi Theatre, detailed in our experiences guide.

The Carlton Moscow

Formerly The Ritz-Carlton Moscow, this 334-room property on Tverskaya Street was renamed The Carlton Moscow after Marriott's 2022 withdrawal from Russia, retaining its refurbished interiors and, most notably, its rooftop O2 Lounge — one of the most requested addresses in the city for panoramic drinks over the Kremlin skyline, and a natural pairing with the nightlife covered in our nightlife guide.

Hotel Nikolskaya

Set inside a 19th-century building on Nikolskaya Street a short walk from Red Square, this property operated as St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya before a similar 2022 rebrand. Its dramatic marble lobby and chandeliers, blending Art Nouveau and Art Deco detailing, place it among the most visually striking hotel interiors in the city centre.

Choosing Where to Stay

Hotel National and Metropol suit travellers who want the deepest sense of pre-revolutionary Moscow history, both within walking distance of the Kremlin. The Legend of Moscow, The Carlton, and Hotel Nikolskaya offer the same central proximity with more contemporary interiors, and all three remain fully operational five-star properties despite their recent name changes.