Sights for sore eyes in Moscow

The cultural and economic heart of the largest country in the world, the Russian capital welcomes businessmen, billionaires and tourists all year round, amazed by its contrasts. Showcases for modern Russia, 5-star hotels, chic boutiques and trendy restaurants are growing in number...

Endowed with world-renowned heritage, Moscow is home to iconic sites and landmarks. On its vast Red Square, buildings bearing witness to various eras succeed one another, each one more striking than the last. Symbolizing traditional Russian architecture, St. Basil’s Cathedral, inaugurated in 1651, is instantly recognizabe for its shimmering, bulb-shaped domes. The political hub of the Russian Federation, the Kremlin is an impressive fortress, once the official residence of the Tsars. Not far away, the Bolshoi Theatre is Russia’s most prestigious stage, with a troupe founded in 1776 which is still one of the most highly-esteemed throughout the world. Fans of shopping appreciate the GUM shopping mall on Red Square : with 200 boutiques, it ranks among the Top Ten largest commercial centres worldwide. As for the most luxurious brands, jewellers, watchmakers, large international banks and top-notch car-dealers, they are to be found in the Barvikha neighbourhood, the most up-market “village” within Moscow’s metropolitan area.

Les bonnes Tables :

White Rabbit

Inaugurated in 2008 at the heart of the very classy Barvikha neighbourhood, the luxury Barvikha Hotel & Spa is less than 15 km from the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum. Comprised of 54 rooms, a restaurant, and a spa with a gym and indoor pool, it can be attributed to star architect Antonio Citterio who also designed its exclusive furnishings. www.barvikhahotel.com

Nestling in the historic building of the Moskva Hotel built in the 1930’s at the very heart of Moscow, the Four Seasons hotel, renovated throughout in 2014, offers 180 rooms including 41 luxuriously decorated suites. A short walk to Red Square, it offers unspoilt views of the colourful cupolas of Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Its Amnis spa and three restaurants make it a sought-after address. www.fourseasons.com/russia

In an ideal location, less than a 3-minute walk to Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi, the 5-star Metropol Hotel combines the splendour of historic luxury with the latest amenities in terms of comfort. It offers 394 rooms including 70 suites, freshly renovated, and the Metropol Hall, one of the city’s most highly-prized restaurants. www.metropol-moscow.ru

Listed among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, the White Rabbit is

on the 16th/top floor of a central building, beneath a domed glass roof, offering a view to take your breath away - but not your appetite ! Chef Vladimir Mukhin takes inspiration from Russian fare, endowing it with letters of nobility. www.whiterabbitmoscow.ru

Café Pouchkine

Created by Andrey Dellos in homage to Gilbert Bécaud’s song “Nathalie”, the sumptuous Cafe Pushkin offers Baroque decor of lavish nobility, and the very essence of aristocratic Russian fare from bygone centuries. www.cafe-pushkin.ru

Grand Cafe Dr. Zhivago

A stone’s throw from the Kremlin and Red Square, guests are treated to typical Russian dishes

in an elegant red and white setting celebrating post-war Russia. www.drzhivago.ru