Hotel Review: InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya – Wonderful Service & Fantastic Recognition for Ambassador Members

During a recent trip to Moscow, I decided to use my one-time InterContinental Ambassador weekend certificate at the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya. Opened in 2012, the property is the only InterContinental branded one in Russia and is generally recognized as one of the top business hotels in the city. The property is very centrally located, along Tverskaya Street with at least 3 metro stations within 5 minutes walk of the hotel. Red Square is around 10 minutes away by car.

InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya has plenty of room categories. I booked the one that is one notch above base level – the Superior Room. Before checking in, I noticed from my app that my room was upgraded to the Club InterContinental Room. This was confirmed as I checked in at the counter. I was politely informed that the club lounge was closed as I was staying in Moscow over a holiday but that I could enjoy the lounge benefits over at the property’s inviting lobby bar. No complaints there. I was also given complimentary drinks vouchers as an IHG Rewards Club benefit.

I was personally shown to my room by the guest relations officer – presumably due to the Ambassador status – and given a quick run through of the bells and whistles.

Room

The club room at InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya is essentially similar to the superior rooms except that the former are located at the hotel’s club floor (the 10th) and come with club access. At 35 square meters, the room was of average size and carried a contemporary vibe akin to other InterContinental hotels.

The interiors are dominated with dark wood – from the parquet floors to the mirror frames, nighstands and working desk. The vibe is definitely more serious, and more business-y; although it is also luxurious enough for leisure travelers.

I received these matroyshka dolls and a fruit plate as Ambassador welcome gift.

As a club room, there are bells and whistles such as a coffee maker with capsules from Julius Meinl from Austria. Complimentary teabags also come from the same brand.

The minibar comes well-stocked and you can even find a bottle of Prosecco inside.

The bath area is quite spacious and comes with a separate toilet and shower area that share a sliding panel. The showers come with a rain shower fixture.

The soaking tub is set at the opposite side of the bathroom, against the glazed glass panels that separate it from the bedroom. It comes with a squeaky rubber ducky and a TV to allow you to catch up on your favorite programmes as you enjoy a hot bath.

Like other InterContinental hotels, the toiletries here come from Agraria which is personally not among my preferred brands. I always thought the lemon/lime shower gel smells a bit like dishwashing liquid!

Club Lounge Benefits at InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya

• Breakfast from 7AM to 11AM (directed to Chekhonte Restaurant as club lounge was closed)
• Soup from 12nn to 5pm
• Dinner and evening cocktails from 7pm til 9pm (4-course dinner, limited to 1 portion from each course)

As the Intercontinental Moscow Tverskaya club lounge was closed, the bulk of the lounge benefits were assigned to the lobby bar to handle. My experience there was not very consistent. During my first night, service was quite fast at the lobby bar with them efficiently serving my 4-course dinner within an hour. However, during my second night, my 4-course dinner took almost two hours to finish because each dish took at least 30 minutes to arrive. My understanding is that during normal circumstances, the dinner is presented in a buffet format at the club lounge.

That being said, I quite enjoyed the club lounge dinner offering at InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya. I was first presented with a menu upon taking my seat.

I chose to have Beef Tongue Salad for starters. It was delicious.

It was quite cold outside which meant that this bowl of Borscht came in nicely after the cold dish.

There were quite a number of main dishes to choose from but I decided to go with Duck Confit – it came glazed with a rich demi-glace sauce.

For desserts, I ordered Medovik without knowing really what it was. The waiter said it was a Russian honey cake which I thought was interesting. It turned out be really amazing – eight layers alternating between dough and cream with the sweetness of honey very evident from the first bite. If I was not already quite full by this time, I would have finished the whole slice!

Facilities

Facilities

mahash spaThe basement of the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya houses a fitness center and a spa – Mahash – which offers a variety of treatments to guests. I was not able to try out the spa but I did make my way down to the gym one morning for a short run.

The fitness center is not particularly large but is filled with plenty of exercise machines and free weights. There is also a spacious locker room that is shared with the spa.

Breakfast at Chekhonte Restaurant, InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya

One of my favorite things about the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya is the breakfast spread over the all-day dining rerstaurant, Chekhonte. The breakfast buffet features plenty of locally sourced produce, such as yoghurt and milk sourced from dairy farms near Moscow and a wide selection of pastries. I loved the selection of fresh fruit juices as well.

Aside from the buffet, you also get a wide assortment of made-to-order dishes which you can select from the menu.

I tried a variety of dishes including some eggs benedict as well as waffles and pancakes. I especially loved the pancakes – fluffy and topped with plenty of berries.

Verdict

I was quite impressed with the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya overall. As a business hotel, it won’t wow you with avant garde design but I thought the service was excellent and highly personable. They make an effort to greet and make small talk with guests. Nothing gets lost in translation as all staff members I encountered could speak english very well. The food offerings is another plus, especially if you do decide to get a room with club lounge access.

InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya
Tverskaya St, 22
Moscow, Russia, 125009

Official Website