2 Best Hotels in Kitai Gorod, Moscow

Rooms at this rather puzzling place at the end of winding ulitsa Pokrovka, all of them suites, pull off that elusive combination of poshness and comfort; there's lots of empty square feet to stretch out in and many have well-equipped kitchens. The lobby, with circular violet-and-gold couches that evoke flying saucers, is a refreshing contrast to the humdrum facade. Through a glass door across from reception, a restaurant with hanging steel-globe lamps and blob-shaped couches keep you aboard the starship. The staff can seem less than affable and there's no view to speak of from any room, but the neighborhood is peaceful as well as close to the center.

Surround yourself in the atmosphere of an old Russian fairy tale: there's massive carved oak furniture, stained-glass windows, and wall paintings depicting popular tales like "Little Scarlet Flower" (the Russian version of "Beauty and the Beast"). The lobby bar is nicely set in the winter garden, where there's rich vegetation. Guest rooms are quite modern, with all amenities, though they aren't as imaginative as the hotel's public areas. Though centrally located, Sretenskaya is a 25-minute walk from the Red Square. Moscow's famous boulevards and the Garden Ring are only steps away.