If you want to make the most of Moscow’s finest sights and delights, there’s only one place you should stay: the opulent Golden Apple in the heart of the city
As anyone who has been to Moscow knows it isn’t short of luxury accommodation. As a matter of fact, there is no shortage of anything that smacks of luxury in the Russian capital. Five-star hotels abound but, what of the boutique boltholes? Where do you go if you are looking for an intimate experience? The Golden Apple Boutique Hotel.
The Golden Apple, which claims to be not only the city’s first but its only boutique hotel, opened in 2004 after a complete restoration at the hands of Canadian designer and architect Rafael Shafir. The result is a 92-room hotel that offers a unique combination of modern interiors and distinctive design details within a classic Moscow facade.
Shafir’s intention was to transform the space while preserving the history of a building that was well worth saving. Constructed at the end of the 19th century, the great Russian writer Anton Chekhov rented an apartment there. It was in this room that he wrote one of his most famous plays, The Seagull. In honour of the playwright, the Chekhov Deluxe room includes a metal gull hanging from the ceiling, and at one end of the room there is a mini stage with a coffee table and chairs from which guests can enjoy incredible views of the city.
Shafir also apparently wanted to do his bit to brighten up a city that can sometimes be a cold, drab place. Guests can’t fail to be struck by his use of colour, from the huge sculpture of a golden apple in the entrance hall to the different colour schemes on each of the seven floors. The palette follows the rainbow with the doors on each floor in striking contrast to the cool grey walls and black-carpeted floors. Step inside the rooms and the colour-coding continues, with the furniture, fabrics and even the umbrellas following suit.
For extra-special attention, ask for a room on the Club floor. Here guests receive a welcome drink and fruits on arrival, in-room coffee service, the possibility of early check-in/late check-out, suit/dress pressing, daily bottle of mineral water and room service without service charge. There’s also bathrobes and slippers, in-room ISDN, one hour’s internet use in the business centre, a private meeting room, shoe-shine machine and newspapers delivered daily to the room.
Back on the main floor, the Golden Apple Restaurant offers creative ‘New Moscow’ cuisine at the hands of award-winning chef Alexander Kutepov, while the stylish Apple Bar, with its icecube- shaped bar that changes colour on the hour, has become one of Moscow’s top nightspots. For those looking for a bit of healthy relaxation, the Golden Apple Health Club has a state-of-the-art cardio room, sauna and Jacuzzi.
Centrally located on Malaya Dmitrovka Street, Golden Apple is in the heart of the city’s finest shopping, dining and business centres. For culture junkies, the hotel is within walking distance of numerous art galleries and museums, while the Kremlin, Red Square and Bolshoi Theatre are all less than a 10-minute stroll away. – Guy Fiorita
