"The National is in the perfect location — deep in the heart of Moscow, directly opposite Red Square and the Kremlin, with the Bolshoi Theater close by. This is the grand dame of Moscow hotels, dating back to Czarist times, and it still has the Art Deco facade to prove it. Long the home to statesmen and dignitaries, it was in fact Lenin’s favorite, and his home for a brief stretch in 1918. In recent years the hotel has undergone extensive renovations, and while quite a bit of historical color remains — such as the marble lobby and the ceiling paintings in certain guest rooms — today’s National is a more contemporary affair. Among the features are such modern business-hotel amenities as a fitness center, a beauty salon and an indoor pool. The restaurant, Piazza Rossa, is a fine one, with views of the Kremlin; the Alexandrovsky Bar has a private-lounge ambience, and is open seemingly all hours. Nearby attractions are almost too numerous to name — but this is the place to stay for that authentic old-world Moscow experience." - Tablet Hotels
