Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia

Commissioned in 1910 the hotel was conceived as a celebration of the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty and opened in December 1912. Built by one of St Petersburg's most famous architects, Fyodor Lidval, wh had his own style that some have termed 'Northern Modern' and is almost Art Nouveau. Today the Astoria still plays host to celebrities and politicians, and the 172 rooms and suites have virtually al been renovated in the last 12 months as part of the hotel's 100th anniversary celebrations which also o course coincide with the 400th Anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 2013. The décor is light and airy and gives a sense of place that is more Chekhov's Russia than opulent Oligarch with oak parquet floors and pristine Russian Volga linen curtains and bedspreads. Splashes of color are added with sumptuous velvet cushions and we love quirky touches like the photo of Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi in From Russia with Love in each of the bathrooms of the junior suites. Local touches throughout the hotel like the beautiful Imperial porcelain in clean white or intense cobalt blue give the hotel a classic but contemporary feel. The Kandinsky Bar is a perfect place to enjoy a frozen vodka or two, and the Rotunda lounge, with its large windows overlooking St Isaac's Square is a relaxing place to watch the world go by and enjoy afternoon tea from a traditional Russian Samovar. Café Astoria serves a very nice mix of international and Russian favorites.The hotel is wonderfully located in the heart of the city in St Isaacs Square and is in walking distance from the Hermitage and the banks of the Neva River, and many excellent restaurants.