13 hotels in St. Petersburg with incredible atmosphere and unique style

Few other cities on this planet match St. Petersburg’s incredible atmosphere and unique style. The place really is special. It’s the jewel in Russia’s crown, the yin to Moscow’s yang if you will. The city offers enough culture to keep any art enthusiast content for a lifetime and exudes grandeur. People visit Petersburg from all over and its hotels play a major role in keeping travellers happy.

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace

Those who pull the strings at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts know what travellers who enjoy a little luxury want. This building, designed by French Neoclassical architect Auguste de Montferrand and mentioned in Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin, has the feel of a 19th century aristocratic estate. In fact, Petersburg’s Four Seasons Lion Palace offers more than a affluent property, it’s a step up — the nobleman of lore would have been amazed at the generouslysized bathrooms and comfortable beds, not to mention the delicious breakfasts with Russian delights. Despite the classic interior, it feels rather natural to wonder around the hotel in a laid-back manner. This shows that the expression “make yourself at home” isn’t just a polite motto, but a pleasant reality.

Corinthia Hotel St. Petersburg

As one of the most successful hotel chains, the establishments of which have won endless awards around the world, Corinthia Hotels has built yet another Petersburg on Nevsky Prospect, not far from Moscow Station. In fact, it’s so close to the train you can get their by foot. At first glance it appears this particular Corinthia is an ideal business hotel, suited to people who do not want be distracted by historical design or over stylish décor. But it soon becomes apparent: everything here is a little larger and more interesting than a decent business hotel. The rooms are incredibly spacious, the colour of the fabrics a little richer, the interiors have a touch more detail, the wood finish is more refined, and the food delicious. This is a hotel for the well-versed traveller, but also the high-class businessman.

The Baltic Star Hotel

The village of Strelna was always lesser-known among tourists than nearby Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo. The Constantine Palace hasn’t had an easy life: built by Peter the Great in 1720, it turned out the chosen spot in Strelna was ill-adapted for building fountains, so the whole idea was transferred to Peterhof. The palace was only completed 150 years later. During the Second World War it was completely destroyed, then reconstructed, and then neglected yet again. Only in 2001 the palace was fully rebuilt, including a congress centre, its park restored, and The Baltic Star Hotel was added. The interior adheres strictly to classicism. There are two restaurants boasting fine food, and if you don’t fancy relaxing in the spa the Finnish Gulf is only a short walk away

Belmond Grand Hotel Europe

This is not only the oldest working hotel in St. Petersburg, but is also located in a building created by Rossi and Fontana. Rossi reconstructed the façade of the building in 1826; the Fontana reconstructed it in 1875 with the goal of turning it into a luxury hotel with a lift. Still later, from 1907 to 1914, the famous Fyodor Lidval directed its renovation and refurbishment. But it’s likely all of them, clicking their tongues, would have approved of what the hotel turned into after its last reconstruction and its transition to the Belmond. In 2009 the Europe was named the most luxurious hotel in Europe and the world by the World Travel Awards. And we suspect this isn’t simply down to the fine wood, marble, and stained glass. You could also bring students here to study different artistic styles.

The Official State Hermitage Hotel

We have been to the hotels of parliaments, ministries and universities. But the official hotel of a museum is somewhat new when it comes to both concept and expectations. Even more so if that museum is the Hermitage. Who knows what to expect from such an establishment? Well, here the designers have taken inspiration from the Winter Palace and other palaces in Petersburg, borrowed some of the most iconic aspects from each and installed it into a modern setting, with great success it must be said. Columns, frescoes, paintings, gold inlays, dishes from the Imperial Porcelain Factory, Greek and Italian marble, latticed corridor ceilings that recall the arches of the General Staff building leading to Palace Square — all of these are features hark to the city’s grandeur and history

Domina St. Petersburg

The Italian chain Domina is not as famous as the other hotel chains in Russia or Petersburg, although it’s already conquered half the world and its reputation continues to grow. The hotel’s building was finished in 1760 according to the blueprints of architect Kvasov and is recognised for its cultural heritage. Which would of course presume classical interiors with marble and gilding, but don’t jump the gun. The Domina chain prefers modernity and contemporary art. There’s no gilding here. Instead there is lilac, turquoise, orange and daubed across the interior — there are also intriguing sculptures, multilevel ceilings, and 1970s-style furniture in the lobby. It must be said that in St. Petersburg, known for its inconspicuous sun, this hotel has therapeutic value!

Solo Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge

It’s still not very well known here, but the chain Sokos Hotels is famous in its homeland and has made waves across Finland and much of Estonia, so it was warmly welcomed in Petersburg. The hotel is located on Vasilyevsky Island — it’s 15 minutes on foot to the Hermitage over the Palace Bridge, and not far from the Peter and Paul Fortress as well as numerous old red brick factories, beloved by industrial photographers. A Scandinavian aura determinedly prevails in the hotel, finding expression in the brick walls of the restaurant, in the neutral, unobtrusive colours of the interior, and in the futuristic ceiling of the Palace Bridge Wellness Club. However, the Mediterranean cuisine in the two restaurants gives all of this a shade of the .

Hotel Astoria

Both hotels, the Astoria and the Angleterre, existed separately for a long time but are now united under the wing of Rocco Forte. The Astoria opened with pomp in 1912 and immediately became one of the most famous hotels in Europe. The hotel has hosted many guests, including dancer Isadora Duncan and poet Sergei Yesenin. But after only four years it landed in the meat grinder of history — first it became a military hospital, then the First House of the Petrograd Soviet, during WWII it became a hospital, and only then did it get a break under the auspices of Intourist. Now the brilliant Astoria hotel has acquired the appearance and status it deserves. And even Sir Rocco Forte’s partiality for false modesty would not allow him to do without crystal and marble — which is of course very much St. Petersburg.

Kempinski Hotel Moika 22

The centre of St. Petersburg may appear to adhere to one particular style, but if you come here twice or thrice, that illusion disintegrates. It soon becomes clear that across only the space of five hundred meters, the mood and spirit of the place can change unrecognisably. On one side of the Nevsky, along Bolshaya Morskaya and Gorokhovaya, closer to St. Isaac’s, things are more lively and active. On the other side, beyond Palace Square, there is peace and quiet, and even tourists sailing along the Moika fall silent. Kempinski is truly harmonious with this atmosphere, or the atmosphere is harmonious with it. Pastel colours on the walls, different kinds of wood, an atrium under a glass roof, company service, regular and on time. If you have come to Petersburg for peace and relaxation, this is your place.

Lotte Hotel Saint Petersburg

While St. Petersburg hotels are constantly being refurbished, there are some brand new ones among them. The Lotte Hotel Saint Petersburg was completed recently, and has taken up residence in the House of Yakunchikova — a maison once belonging to a famous merchant’s wife. As for its interior, there is something distinctly oriental about the place. All the usual symbols of Petersburg, it would seem, are present — stucco, crystal, and marble Ionic columns. Its unique atmosphere, hospitality, and uncompromising service makes the Lotte Hotel so recognisable. The official opening will be held in May, however, booking for the white nights is now available, so get organised and book a trip to Russia before this place fills up with travellers who know a good deal when they see one

Radisson Sonya

Sometimes it seems that the number of Radisson hotels in the world is approximately equivalent to the number of fish eggs produced by large sturgeon. But even if that’s the case, what’s so bad about such abundance? Usually in Radisson hotels there are spacious rooms. Here traditions are observed — the ceilings are high, despite the fact that the building is from the 18th century. Radisson hotels also usually have vibrant details, and this has been upheld here, too. In this hotel your eye falls either on the crimson armchair patterns, or on pillows with gold threads — they show— case the hotel̓s attention to detail. In all Radissons there are excellent breakfasts and restaurants. Visitors can expect all of this and more at this particular establishment at Liteiny Prospekt.

W St. Petersburg

Have you ever ended up being the only person in a club or bar, and regardless of your solemnity were simultaneously relaxed and inspired, as if around you there was a crowd of fun, beautiful, trendy people? If you think that’s impossible, then Petersburg’s W Hotel will quickly convince you of the opposite. Here that feeling arises without any club or bar, from just the strength of the interior: it overflows with lilac, gold, silver, truly unique chandeliers, causing light to dissipate into a thousand rays, like strobe lights. You want to dance in the middle of the room even without music. As a bonus, there is the CoCoCo restaurant which has taken up residence here, and is a bastion of Petersburg’s seasonal cuisine, which gives preference to local produce. So bring an appetite.

Dom Boutique Hotel

What would happen if you were to take an old apartment building on the Fontanka, built in 1876 according to a plan by August Geoffriot, restore it and hand it over to the famous British architect-designer bureau Project Orange, so that its interior was infused with different coloured marble and parquet floor made of valuable kinds of wood, hung the photographic works of Alexander Kitaev around the establishment, put a stylised red commode in each room, put up aged mirrors, and removed all the velvety textiles, turning every room into a kind of private English home with a strong bias for tradition, but also with a notable sense of humour about this bias? You would get Dom Boutique Hotel, a stay at which should be just as long as the first sentence of this paragraph