The Golden Ring Hotel in Moscow
First impressions of the hotel
Golden Ring was the first hotel I visited personally for the hotels.moscow project. In this review, I want to go beyond a standard list of features and describe my own experience: how check-in went, what the room was like, whether I slept well, what was served at breakfast, and the impression the hotel left after one night.
I arrived at around 8:00 pm. It was already dark, so my introduction to Golden Ring began with its evening entrance and security staff. A guard asked me to put my bag through a scanner. After a brief delay of barely a minute, I went through the revolving door and into the lobby.
The layout is easy to understand: reception is on the left, with a small waiting area, sofas and a few shops on the right. There were no other guests at the desk then. The receptionist noticed me straight away and asked whether I was checking in.
Checking in within five minutes
For registration, I was asked for my passport and given a short form to complete. While I filled it in, the receptionist explained the main rules: no smoking in the room, and quiet was required after 11:00 pm. She also explained breakfast arrangements and recommended having dinner in the restaurant on the upper floors.
The whole check-in process took about five minutes. There was no queue or long wait; everything was quick and calm. With my room key card, I headed for the lifts.
Working out how to use the lift
At reception, I had been told that I would need my card for the lift and would have to insert it somewhere. Initially, I assumed there was a reader beside the call button, but I could not see anything like that. So I simply pressed the button and waited.
The lift arrived after about three minutes. It was rather small, although it had a screen inside. With the amount of luggage I had, that was no inconvenience, but several large suitcases might have made it cramped.
Only once inside did I understand what the receptionist meant. Above the floor buttons was a separate slot into which you physically inserted the card, in a particular orientation with the chip facing up. It felt unfamiliar and a little dated. In a modern hotel, you usually expect to tap your card against a reader.
The fourteenth floor and the room door
On reaching the fourteenth floor, I stepped into the corridor. You could turn right or left from the lift, and my room was on the right-hand side. The setting and corridor design made a pleasant impression.
A second small surprise awaited me at the door. Again, rather than tapping the card against the lock, I had to insert it into a separate reader on the wall to the right. I inserted it and, out of habit, tried to turn the handle. That was unnecessary: once unlocked, the door simply needed a push. With luggage in your hands, the system is not especially intuitive, but once you have worked it out, you quickly get used to it.
First impressions of the room
I opened the large wooden door and went inside. The first thing I noticed was the spacious hallway. There was enough room for suitcases and bags without blocking the walkway.
My first impression was positive: the room looked clean and tidy, the bed was made, and there was no strong or unpleasant smell. The age of the interior was noticeable, but the room had been prepared for its guest.
There was a television, although the model looked a little dated. Below it was a proper writing desk and chair. To the right was a large bed, with two armchairs and a tea table further along. A kettle stood on the table, alongside coffee, water and small chocolates. After travelling, that little complimentary touch was particularly welcome.
The sockets beside the bed looked old-fashioned, but, most importantly, they worked. There was a separate clock on the right-hand bedside table, and a booklet nearby explained that different types of pillows were available. I did not experiment and decided to use the standard ones.
The bathroom and shower
Everything in the bathroom looked clean and tidy, and I had no concerns about housekeeping. The finish did feel simpler than I would expect from a hotel of this stated standard. On the left was a large basin with a spacious counter, with soap and towels ready. There were shower toiletries, a toilet and a bidet.
The shower area itself was quite small: it felt cramped, and I could barely fit. On the positive side, the water pressure was good, the temperature stable, and hot water flowed without difficulty. For a quick five-minute shower, the size was not such a serious drawback.
Two bathrobes hung on the door. Amusingly, one carried the hotel name and the other had no branding. Of course, that did not affect the comfort of the stay.
An evening visit to the restaurant
After showering, I headed back to the lifts. Looking more closely, I discovered that there were five in total. I first went to the twenty-second floor, where nobody greeted me. A man who happened to be passing explained that dinner was available further upstairs, while the restaurant on this floor was mainly used for banquets.
I went up on foot and reached the Panorama restaurant. By then, it was around 10:00 pm. Perhaps the late hour explained why nobody greeted me at the entrance here either. I looked around the circular dining room myself and eventually found a waiter by the bar. He greeted me warmly and invited me to choose any free table.
For dinner, I ordered borscht for RUB 1,100. It was a notable price even for a hotel restaurant, but I enjoyed the dish. I also ordered mint tea. The mint flavour was so vivid and full that, after the journey, the tea felt almost like a sedative: I soon became sleepy.
Moscow at night and my first night
Before bed, I returned to the window. From the fourteenth floor, the city looked especially beautiful at night. The lights of buildings and streets created exactly the atmosphere that makes you want to stand by the window for a few minutes.
After a full night’s sleep, my first impression of the bed was confirmed: the bedding was clean, I slept comfortably, and I felt well rested. I did not need an extra pillow.
The room was not completely silent. I could hear people passing in the corridor, and occasional sounds came from above, as though someone was moving a chair or furniture. Personally, I was not bothered. I would not draw a final conclusion about soundproofing from one night, but in my case, the night was peaceful.
Breakfast in the Suzdal dining room
In the morning, I went to the window again. It is interesting how much the same view changes between day and night: it feels almost like being in two different places. On the fourteenth floor, you really sense the height, with Moscow stretching into the distance.
Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 11:00 am on the second floor, in the Suzdal dining room. I went down at around ten. Almost immediately, I caught the chef’s eye: we smiled and nodded to each other. A small thing, but it gave the morning a friendly start.
While I looked over the buffet, the chef offered to prepare fried eggs or an omelette. I chose an omelette, named the ingredients I wanted, and was told it would be ready in five minutes.
Breakfast with a live harp performance
Further into the room, I noticed something I had never expected at an ordinary hotel breakfast: to the right of the tables, a woman was playing a harp.
Live music completely changes the feel of a morning. One moment you are looking over Moscow from the fourteenth floor; then you come down for an omelette and find yourself sitting at a table listening to live music. The harp sounded so beautiful that it brought out all my creative energy for the day.
This was where Golden Ring’s main contrast became especially clear. Yes, the hotel’s age shows in places. The table where I sat looked a little worn too. But with the harpist playing, the calm atmosphere and the chef making a fresh omelette, those small signs of age stopped mattering.
At breakfast, I also noticed many guests from abroad. One morning is not enough to judge the hotel’s clientele as a whole, but it certainly stood out during my stay.
A closer look
After breakfast, I looked around the room again in daylight. A closer inspection raised questions about the condition of the finishes. The age was apparent in the furniture, television, sockets, bathroom and some technical features. It did not affect my stay, but for a hotel of this stated standard, I would like to see these details refreshed.
It is important to distinguish the condition of the interior from cleanliness. The room did not feel dirty or neglected: the bedding was clean, the bathroom prepared, and there were no unpleasant smells. My concerns were about the age of the interior.
I had planned to visit the gym, but only at the hotel did I learn that it was closed for renovation. The spa was closed too. When booking through T-Bank, I did not notice a warning. I cannot say whether the information was in the terms and I missed it, but as a guest, I only found out on arrival. If these facilities matter to you, it is worth checking separately before booking whether they will be open during your stay.
Would I stay here again?
After this night, I was left with a mixed but generally warm impression. Golden Ring is certainly not a new hotel. The age of the finishes shows, and anyone looking for a thoroughly modern interior should bear that in mind.
But I certainly cannot call my experience bad. The hotel was clean, the staff polite and friendly, check-in quick, the bed comfortable and the night peaceful. I enjoyed the borscht, remember the mint tea, and found that a fresh omelette and live harp music made breakfast special.
The location is another advantage: it offers convenient access to central Moscow, Red Square and well-known sights, both on foot and by metro.
Taking prices into account, I would consider Golden Ring mainly for a short trip, particularly a business stay where location, cleanliness, a good night’s sleep and breakfast matter. Perhaps the morning in Suzdal best captures my impression: a slightly worn table, a fresh omelette and a live harp. I would prefer newer furniture. But I would happily have that morning again.