On our last evening in Moscow, we visited the 5-star Radisson Royal Hotel, on 2/1, Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Originally known as Hotel Ukraina when it opened in 1957, the hotel is the second tallest of the Seven Sisters, Stalinist skyscrapers that are a combination of Russian Baroque and Gothic styles. At 198m (650ft), Hotel Ukraina has 34 floors and 497 rooms. There are 5-7 categories of rooms to choose from, with prices ranging from £170-£372 per night (as of February 2016). From the photos and virtual tours on the website, the Romantic Suite is my favourite. Those interested in staying longer could also stay in one of 38 serviced apartments.
View from the Moskva River
Ukraina
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As soon as we entered the hotel, we had to go through security to ensure we weren’t carrying any dangerous weapons. Once we had been cleared, we wandered around the main floor. I would have taken photos of the beautiful lobby but it would have made me look like a silly tourist amongst the refined guests of the hotel, who were already staring at or judging us by our clothes. We decided to go to the Lobby Bar for a late night drink. While waiting for a table – which took longer than a few minutes, despite the fact that many tables were available – I admired the model of Moscow, which showed the city from day to night. Once we were seated, I made the mistake of ordering a glass of red wine, which turned out to be far more expensive than I had expected. At least we were given complimentary Beika (Japanese rice crackers) and a little chocolate cup!
Just as we were about to leave the hotel, the lady who had served us ran after us to return my Mum’s mobile phone, which my Mum had forgotten on the table. We were surprised she was able to find us as we had visited the ladies’ room before leaving. We were so impressed with her that we kept thanking her. If she is still working at the hotel (unfortunately, we don’t know her name), we want her employer to promote her for her astounding service. In my opinion, her genuine action compensated for the Moscovans’ reputation of being cold.
The Lady and the Rose 