Danilovskaya

April 24 2008: I've stayed in the Marriott near Red Square, the Golden Ring and other hotels in Moscow, but I keep coming back to the Danilovsky. There's just something about it. It's located on the grounds of the Old Danilovsky monastery. The monastery tends a beautiful garden that's open to hotel guests. The food is wonderful and authentic (order the pelmeni. It comes in a little clay pot with bread baked over the top.) Every room has a photo of the patriarch and is furnished with Soviet furniture. Maybe not what everyone is looking for, but for me, the Danilovsky is a real gem in a crazy, crazy city.

Date of stay: June 2007
Purpose of stay: Business