Reasonably priced upscale hotel in a fascinating historic neighborhood
Stylish design marrying historic architecture with modern decor
Located a 15-minute drive from the Kremlin and Red Square
Tasteful rooms with mini-fridges and coffee/tea facilities
Privilege Rooms have free minibars and Nespresso machines
Restaurant serving French and Russian cuisine, plus 24-hour bar
Gym facilities include exercise machines and sauna
Chic business center with computer workstation, printing, and faxing
Boardroom for up to 12 guests
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Not in walking distance to Moscow's major sights
Some rooms can be small
Traffic noise is noticeable
Breakfast is an additional fee
The 109-room upscale boutique hotel Mercure Arbat Moscow is situated in Moscow's Arbat district, a neighborhood rich in history and Art Nouveau architecture. Though it's not walking distance to Moscow's biggest tourist attractions, it is a one-minute walk to the metro. The hotel itself is a marriage of 19th century details with modern decor that provides a fresh take on traditional French style. Guest rooms vary in size and layout, but all of them come with free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea facilities, and cozy beds. The property also has a fitness center, restaurant, and 24-hour bar. As an alternative, the nearby Hotel Metropol Moscow offers a much grander location, but rates are almost twice the price.
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Scene
A fresh, modern take on traditional French style
For the Arbat Moscow hotel, the Mercure chain adapted a building with historic status. While the facade of the original structure remains, a lot of new architecture has been added as part of an impressive retrofitting project. Inside, Belgian designer Isabelle Jacquard decorated the lobby with a style that combines elements of classic French design, such as Louis XIV chairs and wide-striped wallpaper, with modern elements like a mirror-surfaced reception desk and marble-framed elevators. The resulting combination, which also extends into the lobby bar and restaurant, is trendy without being flashy. Though it's a cozy hotel with romantic decor, the property mostly draws business travelers.
Location
In central Moscow on Smolenskaya Square, near Smolenskaya metro station
At one point, the Arbat district was the physical and cultural center of Moscow. Today, Mercure Arbat Moscow's neighborhood is still an excellent starting point for tourists and business people. Red Square is about 12 minutes away from the hotel by car and 15 minutes by subway. The Smolenskaya metro station is just a one-minute walk from the hotel, giving access to other points in the city. The Kremlin is five minutes by car and 18 by metro. For business people, the Expocentre is about 10 to 15 minutes away by car. Arbat Street, which is filled with artsy shops and gave the district its name, is a 10-minute walk away. Arriving at the hotel from the Domodedovo Moscow Airport will take about an hour by car and 75 minutes by metro.
Rooms
French-inspired with plush furniture and distinctive layouts
Like much of the Mercure Arbat Moscow, the hotel's 109 guest rooms mix traditional French style with modern updates. Motifs like beige and cream stripes and flocked brocade appear on the walls and bedding. The smaller rooms each have a desk, sitting chair, armoire, and cozy bed. Suites extend the seating area with more chairs and sofas or have lounging areas in separate rooms, depending on the layout. All of them have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea-making facilities, mini-fridges, safes, and free bottled water (tap water isn't the best for drinking). The larger rooms also replace electric kettles with Nespresso-style machines, and Privilege Rooms include free minibars. The bathrooms are decorated in soothing pastel colors and have modern vessel sinks, hairdryers, and free designer toiletries. Rainfall showerheads in walk-in showers are standard. Some Privilege Rooms include roomy shower/tub combos.
Features
Gym, restaurant, bar, meeting space, and stylish business center
The Mercure Arbat Moscow manages to stuff quite a few on-site features into its historic building, and all continue the property's high-style look. The fitness center includes a handful of cardio and weight-lifting machines, some free weights, and a sauna. Massages are also available. The on-site restaurant, La Promenade, serves a combination of French and Russian cuisine, including a buffet breakfast for a fee. The bar is open 24 hours. The on-site meeting space is a boardroom, sufficient for VIP discussions for up to 12 people. The business center is petite, limited to a single workstation computer, but printing and faxing services are available, and the room itself is just as stylish as the rest of the hotel, with signature striped walls and Louis XIV chairs. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.
