Moscow's Luxury Boutique Hotel Pokrovka

[Phil Butler]

Last week I had occasion to send a technology team from my Our Russia Magazine to Moscow. Sasha and Natalya, my partners in the new media experiment, were scheduled to meet with Skolkovo science city executives and other key technology people in town. As it happened, they stayed at a wonderful hotel I knew of, Mamaison All-Suites Spa Hotel Pokrovka, so I thought a review here on Tripatini might be helpful for any of you headed to Russia's capital.

The Mamaison brand part of a group of upscale boutique hotels known as CPI Hotels. Mamaison has become a trusted name for luxurious hospitality in Bratislava, Budapest, Moscow, Prague, and Warsaw. The Moscow contingent being the only property in Russia so far. Pokrovka, just steps from the Kremlin, is a popular stay for any number of reasons. Not the least of these reasons is the quiet Natalya described during their stay there. Anyone who's ever been to Moscow can attest to the fact "silence" in the city's center is not gold, but platinum. But let me relay some property details Sasha and Natalya shared with me. 

This Mamaison Hotel sports more than sound proofing or secluded pillow talking value. The chic city stay offers a small private garden, pillows and mattresses Natalya says are dreamy in themselves, and one of the best restaurants in Moscow. Meat & More, is probably the best place in Russia to get a steak, and the adjoining cigar and spirits bar was a pleasant surprise for the Our Russia tech team, who enjoy their tobacco and whiskey straight up. 

We were told that this wonderful boutique hotel experience was designed by the famous Jestico+Whiles architectural bureau. This bears scrutiny mainly because the hotel is just that stylish and modern. As you can tell from the images, Pokrovka is crispy chic in it's contemporary and colorful appeal. Sasha and Natalya tell me, the experience is a blending of elegance and comfort.

As an added bonus, Our Russia's intrepid couple discovered that all the suites here are essentially efficiencies. After leaving their home in Pskov, some hours North and West of Moscow, discovering a "home-away" kitchen paid additional dividends. In fact, the only negative the couple relayed to this writer, was the 6 digit code necessary to enter everything at Mamaison Pokrovka. Yes, my Russian friends complained about added security? Go figure. 

Anyway, other amenities my colleagues were impressed with include the wonderful spa, which takes up most of the ground floor; the aforementioned dining magic; and the fabulous staff they could not stop raving about. The hotel's grand location would play a major role in my own Moscow business travel plans. All in all, Sasha and Natalya say they'll definitely stay with Mamaison again. 

On my end, I did a bit of room rate and satisfaction research. On Booking.com, the hotel rates "Very Good" with a score of 8.4 out of 10. The hotel has won TripAdviser's Certificate of Excellence many times, and it maintains a 4.5 out of 5 rating there. The best rate without promo or special value from Mamaison is €154 euro per night during December. I believe travelers can do better than this on the site if one of the promotional offers is chosen.