St. Petersburg, Russia Hotels|St. Petersburg, Russia

Hotel Astoria, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Name: Hotel Astoria, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Telephone: 7-812-494-5757

Heritage in the heart of St. Petersburg

VERIFIED LUXURY

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Hotel Astoria first opened its doors in 1912 to much fanfare. Since becoming part of the Rocco Forte Group in 1997, it has been renovated several times, but still maintains its art nouveau interiors and authentic spirit.

A stay here immerses you in St. Petersburg’s stately surroundings — the hotel overlooks grandiose St. Isaac’s Cathedral. And nearby, you'll find the famed Hermitage Museum, the iconic Mariinsky Theater and the aristocratic Bolshaya Morskaya Street, which is full of impressive buildings, cultural institutions and fine restaurants.

The legendary hotel has a rich history, having played host to dignitaries like Prince Charles, Margaret Thatcher, George W. Bush and other eminent guests. Afternoon tea in the Rotonda Lounge is a favorite pastime for the city’s stylish set, and you’ll often spot local newlyweds celebrating in the same halls as their parents did before them.

Our Inspector's Highlights

After welcoming tourists visiting Russia for the Romanov Tercentenary (a huge celebration marking 300 years of Russian imperial rule) in 1913,Hotel Astoria, a Rocco Forte Hotel became a favorite stay of prominent figures ranging from Vladimir Lenin to Madonna, who specifically requested to stay at the palatial property. You can find gold-plated signs with names of famous past guests in the lobby.
Don’t miss the property’s iconic Russian Afternoon Tea, served daily from 3 to 6 p.m. in Rotonda Lounge. Try traditional meat pirozhki (pies), crepes, oatmeal cookies and ginger cakes, or upgrade your service with keta caviar and champagne.
The hotel’s 86 suites each provide a luxurious stay in St. Petersburg. Choose an accommodation with cathedral or palace views to enjoy the city’s architectural landmarks.
Thanks to a partnership with St. Petersburg’s Imperial Porcelain Factory, Hotel Astoria, a Rocco Forte Hotel carries exclusive sets of exquisite blue-patterned plates in restaurants and certain rooms. Try your hand at this historic art form with a painting-on-porcelain masterclass at the factory.
The St. Petersburg hotel is famous for its desserts, crafted by pastry chef Yulia Ivanova. Be sure to try eye-catching sweets like a chocolate jewelry box with confection gems created in collaboration with the celebrated Russian ballerina Diana Vishneva, or the Fabergé Spring Rose, an enchanting white chocolate egg that blooms from a marzipan flower developed with Fabergé Museum.

Things to Know

Hotel Astoria is on St. Isaac’s Square, home of a handful of luxury hotels. But this century-old beauty was the first one on the block.
The property is a popular conference spot with venues like the charming Winter Garden and Ballroom (plus six smaller meeting rooms). It's common to see expos and conferences for everything from fashion brands to car producers to charity organizations taking over the historic hotel.
Guests are welcome to use swimming pool of the neighboring Angleterre hotel.
Thanks to a partnership between Hotel Astoria and the adjacent Angleterre property, you can use the neighboring hotel’s amenities, including an Italian restaurant and an elegant movie theater.
Angleterre has a box at Mikhailovsky Theater, a perk Astoria guests can take advantage of as well.

The Rooms

The historic hotel is home to 86 suites and 83 rooms, each beautifully designed by British interior designer (and company founder Rocco Forte’s sister) Olga Polizzi. Full of light, the accommodations are decorated in beige, gray and white hues with accents of bright red and pastel blue and green.
The most lavish suites are in the corners of the elegant hotel. For a true taste of St. Petersburg, stay in one of these opulent accommodations dedicated to famous Russian figures, like the two-bedroom Tchaikovsky Royal Suite.
While all marble bathrooms have Bulgari amenities, only a certain few are adorned with prints from the famed 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love.
Behind original hotel doors (look closely to admire the early 20th-century neoclassical design), you’ll find other authentic touches, like specially commissioned rugs, objets d’art and prints from Mariinsky ballet programs.
Live the high life by checking into the 3,336-square-foot Tsar Suite. The hotel's largest accommodation is on the top floor and comes equipped with a private gym, massage room, 10-seat dining room table and a fully stocked library.

The Restaurants

Astoria Restaurant serves European cuisine and classic Russian dishes with a modern take. Choose one of the three degustation menus to savor courses like chicken Kiev, borscht (beet soup) and beef stroganoff.
If you're not in the mood for a multicourse meal, Astoria Restaurant also offers à la carte selections like Kamchatka crab Olivier salad and Siberian pelmeni dumplings — both come highly recommended.
Rotonda Lounge is the heart of the hotel and very much loved by locals. Large windows, art deco lights, cozy turquoise furniture, delicious food and live music could relax any guest after busy day in St. Petersburg.
Lichfield Bar is named after famed British photographer Patrick Lichfield. Peruse a collection of his works while warming up by the fireplace and sipping cocktails like Bijou, made with gin, Chartreuse, vermouth and orange bitters.

Amenities