Astoria Hotel

The Astoria Hotel occupies an imposing building located on a corner of St. Isaac's Square. The hotel dates back to 1912 and is a Grade 1 listed heritage property with Art Nouveau and neoclassical elements in its design. A local landmark, the hotel is also famous for being one of the venues where the James Bond film “Golden Eye” was shot in 1995. 

A luxurious atmosphere permeates throughout the elegant interiors; guests are greeted in a white marble lobby illuminated by chandeliers, with a large tapestry decorating the wall behind the reception desk. Elsewhere, the Rotonda Lounge features high ceilings, pillars, and chandeliers, while the Lichfield Bar offers red velvet seating in front of huge windows framed by heavy, burgundy-hued drapes. There's a long list on a brass plaque of famous people who have stayed here, including dancer Isadora Duncan, writer Mikhail Bulgakov, and poet Sergei Yesenin. Most guests staying here are couples and business travelers, but the atmosphere can be a bit stuffy and pretentious for some tastes.

The Astoria Hotel is located in the center of St. Petersburg on St. Isaac's Square, next to St. Isaac's Cathedral. Many of the city's important tourist attractions are within walking distance, including the Hermitage, Lion Bridge, and Palace Square. The area is also well-connected to public transportation, with Admiralteyskaya subway station just a few minutes away on foot.

• Four-minute walk to St. Isaac's Cathedral
• Eight-minute walk to Admiralteyskaya subway station
• Nine-minute walk to the Neva River
• Nine-minute walk to the Peter the Great Statue (Bronze Horseman)
• 11-minute walk to Palace Square
• 12-minute walk to Lion Bridge
• 13-minute walk to Winter Palace, home of the Hermitage Museum
• 15-minute walk to Mariinsky Theater
• 18-minute walk to Nevsky Prospect Subway Station
• Seven-minute drive to Menshikov Palace
• 13-minute drive to The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
• 30-minute drive to Pulkovo International Airport

The guest rooms and suites at Astoria Hotel are spacious and elegantly furnished in a refined style. The parquet floors, white walls, and soft gray tones of the curtains, rugs, and upholstery are complemented with pastel tones of powder blue, lime green, or gray. Black-and-white photographic prints of dancers of the Mariinsky Theater add interesting local accents to the decor. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with interactive entertainment, minibars stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks. The bathrooms are decked out in white Italian marble and are equipped with shower/tub combos, bidets, and amenities like Ferragamo toiletries, bathrobes, and magnifying mirrors.

Suites have separate sitting areas and notable extras like Nespresso machines and iPod docks. Bathrooms feature double sinks, whirlpool bathtubs, and separate walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, and heated floors. There are four two-bedroom Presidential Suites and a two-bedroom Royal Suite with a spacious terrace. The largest suite is the 3,336-square-foot Tsar Suite, which includes three bedrooms, a dressing room, private gym, bar, study, and a dining room with an adjacent kitchen and a separate entrance. All suites have scenic views overlooking St Isaac’s Square and have private butler service available on request.

The Astoria offers the opulent features you would expect of a five-pearl hotel. The breakfast on offer is charged an expensive extra fee, but is fit for a Tsar, featuring a large spread that includes smoked salmon and caviar. The elegant Rotonda Lounge hosts a popular afternoon tea with live music, while the Astoria Cafe serves authentic Russian cuisine and French inspired dishes. Borsalino is another on-site restaurant serving a menu of Italian dishes. The stylish Lichfield Bar is open for drinks and cocktails throughout the day and in the evenings.

The Décleor Spa is located on the seventh floor and features a sauna and steam room, while La Maison De Beauté Carita offers beauty treatments and a hair salon. The gym is open 24/7 and is well equipped with Technogym equipment for cardiovascular, weight, and resistance training. Private yoga classes can also be arranged. There is no on-site swimming pool, but guests do have access to the swimming pool and turbo-solarium in Hotel Angleterre located next door. The hotel offers meeting and event facilities that include a ballroom, plus wedding planning services are available. There's a business center available for guests' use, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.