This hip boutique hotel is set in a historic building in the centre of St. Petersburg. The loft-style interiors (modelled after the Wynwood Art District of Miami) feature lots of brickwork for an industrial style. There is a greenhouse restaurant and in summer a rooftop bar.

Luxury hospitality chain Bulgari Hotels & Resorts (a Marriott International brand) has signed an agreement with Russian investor Alexey Bogachev that will see the brand make its debut in Russia. The Bulgari Hotel Moscow is expected to open in 2021, just 300 m from Moscow’s Red Square and the Kremlin. The 65-room hotel is being developed by Storm Properties and will become the world’s seventh Bulgari-branded hotel.

Set in a grand Art Nouveau building dating to 1910, the Kazan Palace is a luxury design hotel located in the historical city centre of Tatarstan’s capital city, near the banks of the Kaban Lake. The historical structure is rich in idiosyncratic features, stately stairways, and grand arches. A culturally rich world of custom-made furniture and lighting by prominent Turkish artisans, modern artwork by sculptor Erdil Yaşaroğlu, and handwoven fabrics that echo the local, ethnic culture awaits.

Richter is a luxury boutique design hotel set in an 1874 landmark mansion just 15 minutes from Moscow city center and the Kremlin. The seven-room property presents the perfect mix of minimalism, art, and history, remaining an architectural homage to the property’s namesake and former resident: famed architect Fyodor Richter. A mix of vintage furniture and contemporary works by top local artists infuse the property with a sense of provocation and inspiration.

Envisioned by one of our favourite designers, the Radisson Sonya Hotel looks like something from another planet compared to the other standard upmarket business class hotels in St. Petersburg Themed around Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment, subtle references to the book are everywhere from the carpet and furniture to the Russian restaurant.

The StandArt Hotel Moscow is set behind a monumental Art Nouveau façade on Pushkin Square. Pushkinskaya Metro Station is a 2-minute walk with the Red Square and the Kremlin a 20-minute walk away. The hotel has an art collection of singular works by the sought-after Russian artist Stanislav Tratsevskiy.

Located in Moscow‘s uber-hip quarter of Chistye Prudy, Moss Boutique Hotel is an evenly trendy hotel with its living walls of plants, light installations made of old Soviet car parts and a modern art library. Industrial chic meets Scandinavia with interiors made solely from natural materials including driftwood suspended in mid-air and sinks carved from hulking granite blocks.

SO/ St. Petersburg (previously W St Petersburg) is a luxury design hotel situated in the heart of the city, a 3-minute walk from St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The design is themed after the mysteries of the House of Fabergé in a modern setting. The hotel has a cosy lounge with an open fireplace, a popular rooftop terrace with bar and the Cococo Restaurant featuring a new take on Russian cuisine. The Spa has an indoor pool and Russian-style banya (sauna).

Winewood Moscow Lounge Hotel - small, 25-room hotel with industrial vibe, predominant wooden furniture and a wine bar (winewood?)

Moscow's answer to authentic, locally inspired boutique hotels. This highly rated hotel has 9 rooms with vintage designer pieces and works by Russian artists. Set in a 19th-century historical building in the city centre, Chistye Prudy Metro Station is a 3-minute walk.

The Chekhoff Hotel was Mocow‘s first boutique-style property when it opened in 2004 as the Golden Apple Hotel. Set behind a conservative stone façade dating to 1891, the avant-garde interiors are now gone to make way for a more timeless decor and traditional charm. Also, it joined Hilton’s Curio Collection.