Helvetia

Helvetia is a five-star hotel set inside a 19th-century mansion on Marata Street, a short walk from Nevsky Prospect in central St Petersburg. Two wings make up the property, one facing the street and the other set back around a courtyard. It is privately owned and run, not part of a chain, and the owner keeps a visible hand in daily life at the hotel. Rooms range from compact classic doubles to the Signature Residence, a 150 m² suite; the Executive Suite alone spans 70 to 90 m². Guests can eat at Cafe Claret, which serves international dishes from the in-house chef, or at Marius, a beer restaurant open around the clock. Room service pulls from both menus, day or night, drawing on more than 160 dishes between them. A courtyard terrace opens from May to October. Downstairs, a fitness room fitted with Technogym equipment runs 24 hours, and guests can book massages, manicures or a sauna session afterwards. Three meeting spaces, named Basel, Bern and Geneva, handle conferences and smaller gatherings. Check-in is straightforward, and the mansion's two courtyards keep street noise at bay.