The Rooms in Moscow: a beautiful lobby and mixed impressions of the room

My introduction to The Rooms began with a search for the entrance and some amusing monkey figures outside the building. Inside, I found a beautiful lobby, unusual furniture and the unexpected sound of budgies chirping. My first impression was very pleasant. After checking in, however, several issues with the room eventually outweighed the charm of the shared spaces.

Finding the entrance took some effort

My booking confirmation called the hotel “Butik Komnat”, while the sign on the building said The Rooms. The address is 38/23, Building 1, Nikoloyamskaya Street. It took me a little while to work out where to go: there were monkey figures outside, and the sign above the entrance initially left me puzzled.

Once inside, I noticed a pleasant scent. A woman at reception greeted me, but my attention quickly shifted to the interior. The furniture, decorative objects and lobby were all worth a closer look.

I arrived at 11:30. The receptionist told me that my room was not ready and that I would need to wait about forty minutes. My booking listed check-in from 14:00, so I had arrived early. While the room was being prepared, I explored the lobby.

Furniture, books and two budgies

The furniture had an interesting old-fashioned appearance. It felt well made and was clean. There were armchairs and sofas, paintings on the walls, and a cabinet filled with books, crockery and decorative figures. It was the kind of interior that invited you to examine individual objects.

When I sat down in an armchair, I heard chirping. At first, I thought it was a sound effect. Then I spotted two budgies in an ornate cage that looked like a miniature castle. It was a lovely surprise, and the tiredness from my journey seemed to disappear.

On the level below where I was sitting was a restaurant called “Manki”. It seemed connected to the hotel, although I did not check whether they shared an owner.

At this point, I liked The Rooms. The lobby had character, and waiting for the room was quite pleasant.

Unusual check-in arrangements

At reception, I was told about a deposit: five thousand rubles, or one ruble on a card. For a hotel listed as five-star in my booking confirmation, I found this arrangement unusual.

The receptionist then asked whether she could scan my passport. I asked why she was asking for permission. She explained that it was standard procedure. When I asked what would happen if I declined, she said that they would not scan it. An interesting exchange.

I was also told that, at checkout, I would be asked to wait five to seven minutes while the room was inspected. That surprised me too. As it turned out, leaving was much simpler.

The standard room and its amenities

I booked a standard double room through Yandex Travel for one night, from 27 to 28 September 2026. It cost RUB 6,395, with no meals included.

My room was near the lift. Inside were an entrance area with a mirror, a wardrobe, a bed, a desk and chair, and a television. The furniture was in good condition, and the room’s finishes did not look particularly worn overall.

The amenities were good: drinking water, a kettle, cups and tea, a hairdryer, an ironing board and two irons. There was also a safe in the wardrobe. The minibar was stocked, but I did not use it.

The bed linen was clean, although it had a faint fragrance. The bed itself was less appealing. It was rather low and creaked, while the mattress felt too thin and uncomfortable.

Construction outside and noise from next door

Construction work was taking place outside the window. I could hear banging and sounds that resembled metal being cut. It was irritating and noticeably affected my experience in the room.

I could also hear parts of conversations from the neighbouring room. Another detail: the door started beeping if it was left unclosed.

After the beautiful lobby, the room made a much weaker impression. The furniture and useful amenities were there, but the bed and surrounding noise made it harder to feel comfortable.

A small shower with good water pressure

The shower area was small, and the bathroom finishes looked a little tired. A curtain separated the shower from the rest of the bathroom. There was also a basin with a mirror and a heated towel rail.

Shampoo, shower gel, soap, dental kits and a shaving kit were provided. The main advantage for me was straightforward but significant: the hot water had good pressure.

The night itself was peaceful

Despite my reservations about the mattress, the creaking bed and sound insulation, the night itself was peaceful. I slept well.

That matters when describing the overall experience. The daytime construction was annoying, and I did not like the bed, but I cannot say that I had a poor night’s rest. On this stay, disappointment with the room and a decent night’s sleep went together.

Checkout was quick

When leaving, I took the stairs and looked at the many photographs of celebrities hanging on the walls.

In the end, I was not asked to wait for the room inspection mentioned at check-in. The receptionist simply asked whether I had used the minibar. I said that I had not, and she told me I was free to leave.

Would I return to The Rooms?

The hotel left me with mixed impressions. The lobby, unusual furniture and budgies were memorable in a good way. The room had clean bed linen, useful amenities and furniture in decent condition. I also slept well that night.

But the thin, uncomfortable mattress, the low, creaking bed, noise from the neighbouring room and construction outside outweighed those positives. I can only judge the standard room I stayed in.

For a future stay, I would consider a higher-category room. Perhaps a room upgrade would leave a different impression.