The Moscow Metropol, Moscow
The Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin are a mere three minutes away from the Bolshoi Theater. It would be hard to imagine a better location for a Moscow hotel with an attitude than right in the middle of this troika.
The Hotel Metropol was conceived in 1901 by arts patron Savva Mamontov, and designed by architects such as Walcott, Vrubel, Kekushev and Chekhonin. The diversity of the architect group involved in the project led to the hotel being dubbed “The 20th Century Tower of Babylon”.
The Metropol was extraordinary right from the start. It was the first Russian hotel to be equipped with hot water, refrigerators, elevators and telephones – the novelty in the comfort, which naturally attracted many prominent figures of the day. Artists such as Sergej Rachmaninov, Bertold Brecht, and George Bernard Shaw loved the hotel for its elegantly decorated suites.
Even during the Cold War, the Metropol was a popular tourist destination. After complete renovation of 1986-1991, today the hotel boasts a five star rating.
As impressive as the hotel itself is, its elegance and charm in no way outshine its restaurants. There is the “Boyarsky” presenting Russian cuisine in an elegant dining hall. There’s the “Evropeisky” all about Russian-European cuisine in two classic styled halls. There’s the monumental “Restaurant Metropol.” And then there is the rustic-luxurious “Shalyapin Bar”.
The four impressive lamps, and innumerable pillars frame the red golden carpet, the marble fountain in the middle, the artworks adorning the walls, and the ornamental glass roof of the Restaurant Metropol, making Metropol easily the most impressive of the three restaurants. Architect S. Galenzovsky designed the room in modern style, which was later complemented with neoclassical elements.
The hall has certainly experienced a great many great things. Banquets and weddings of course, but there have also been a number of concerts. Vladimir Lenin gave speeches here, George Bernard Shaw ordered vegetarian dishes, King Juan Carlos held receptions, Michael Jackson quietly played the piano.
And all who visit end up quite naturally enamored with the house’s cuisine: traditional Russian cuisine is served, including Blinis with caviar, the famous Russian “Schchi” cabbage soup, solyanka, salmon and sturgeon filets. Many recipes have been handed down through the generations of Metropol chefs. The cuisine is rounded off with mild evidence of European influence.
Location: 2 Teatral’nyy proyezd, Moscow 109012, Russia
Telephone Number: 007-499-5017800
Website: www.metropol-moscow.ru/en/
Elite.
