the
TRAVEL
Come in
from the
cold in
Moscow
The Russian capital is changing fast.
The monolithic Soviet state of old is
crumbling, Western brands have
invaded and there’s even talk of
closing Lenin’s Mausoleum. The
city is now dotted with the ultramodern
residences of oil magnates,
and café culture is booming.
Our advice? Get there before
Caffè Nero. You need to see the
bleak concrete municipal buildings,
the ornate onion spires of St Mark’s
and the Kremlin, and experience the
still-present chill of espionage from
Gorky Park and the Lubyanka
Building. The city’s currently open
for business but, with a shifting
political climate, who knows how
long that will be the case.
WHAT IT’S LIKE
Situated in the northern part of
downtown Moscow, the MaMaison
Pokrova is the city’s first ever suite
hotel and is one of the country’s
finest five stars. You’ll feel like
an oligarch staying there. Each
of the 84 individually designed
suites is satisfyingly opulent, but
the sole ‘Chairman Suite’ on the top
floor of the hotel is breathtaking.
You step out of your own private
elevator straight into a huge living
room with two inviting and immense
bedrooms, and you can enjoy
amazing views of the city from
panoramic windows.
Historically, the Pokrovka road
on which the hotel is situated used
to connect the Kremlin to royal
residences and mansions in the
countryside, so you can gaze down
on the city’s famous landmarks from
your room like a Tsar. Or perhaps
even visit them like a tourist would –
the Kremlin and Red Square, the
Bolshoi Theatre and Manezhnaya
Square and the Pushkin Museum
of Fine Arts are all within easy
walking distance.
Decor-wise, the main areas of the
hotel are a bit mad, but in a good way.
You’ll find a huge horse sculpture in
the VIP cigar room, furniture in the
lobby that looks like it came from the
set of Blake’s 7 and retro wallpaper.
The shiny disco-style balls hanging
from the ceiling of the bar are equally
curious. Simeon de la Torre
NEED TO KNOW…
● Couples can stay at the Pokrovka
Suite Hotel (pokrovka-moscow.com)
for two nights in a Junior Suite
Deluxe for a weekend getaway
package of £830. Flights are
with BMI (flybmi.com).
● Don’t fear the freeze. Moscow
enjoys long summers and
temperatures are comfortable
(similar to the UK, in fact) until
well into September.
Book some time off, you need to get away
Baby Death Star’s first
birthday party went
without a hitch
“I’ve told you before Bill,
stop using 40-watt bulbs”
● Take US dollars with you
instead of pounds – they’re the
easiest currency to exchange
while you’re over there.
● You’ll need a visa to travel
to Russia, which takes about
eight days to be processed
(visitrussia.org.uk/moscow.htm).
● Fancy a swim in a public pool?
Tricky – in Moscow you have to
have a doctor’s note saying you’re
healthy enough to take the plunge.
Chaika Swimming Pool offers
check-ups on the spot.
WWW.SHORTLIST.COM / 45
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