From $475 to $3000 per room. What Belarus's first luxury hotel looks like
Information about the multifunctional complex at 27 Yanka Kupala Street was kept secret throughout all years of construction. Currently, the Waldorf Astoria Minsk building and its surrounding area are fully ready, and guests have begun to check into rooms. Onlíner visited the first luxury hotel. An overnight stay costs from $475 to $3000.
Territory and Architecture
It's hard to remember now what the area near the Svislach river looked like before. For a long time, the 2nd City Clinical Hospital and "Belexpo" operated here. Parts of the hospital buildings along Bahdanovich Street were reconstructed – now there is a hotel and a restaurant. And in place of the exhibition complex, a strict, monumental hotel building with a glass structure overhanging the river has grown.
All these transformations became possible thanks to an investor from Abu Dhabi – Kopaonik Property Investment (KPI Development in Belarus). The site was handed over to them in 2016, but active construction began only in 2019 and lasted a full 6 years. Why did the process drag on? The hotel's General Manager, Satirios Economou, who arrived in Belarus from Jerusalem, answered this question to Onlíner:
— The hotel has an area of 47,000 sq. m, combining a large number of rooms, restaurants, a ballroom, as well as a full-fledged spa and wellness complex, supported by a high-tech engineering infrastructure. Such complexity significantly exceeds the scope of a traditional hotel project and requires extended timelines for architectural coordination, advanced engineering design, construction, and careful testing.
The hotel was designed by the architectural studio Epstein from Great Britain, as well as the Belarusian bureau "Varabyou and Partners". It is interesting that the resulting building almost does not differ from the renders – neoclassicism, sand tones, columns. Due to the relief, the building's height varies: from one side you can count 5 floors, from the other – 7. The main entrance is from Yanka Kupala Street.
A park with wooden benches and thujas has been laid out near Friendship Alley. You can descend to the Svislach river via steps. In the future, luxury brand stores for watches, jewelry, and clothing will open in the commercial premises on the ground floor.
The Waldorf Astoria inscriptions are visible from everywhere. Let's recall that hundreds of hotels of various categories operate under the Hilton brand.
So, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is the most luxurious five-star brand, literally the pinnacle of the entire chain in the Hilton universe.
Minsk became the 37th city in the world where such a hotel opened. The client keeps the construction cost a secret, but the sum of about $250 million is circulating online. Satirios did not comment on this fact, but hinted that it is one of the capital's most expensive projects.
Golden Hall and Legendary Clocks
On its website, the hotel is presented as an icon of luxury. Gold, velvet, burgundy and emerald shades, wood, and marble – everything shines.
The bar near the reception is called Peacock. It is traditionally present in every Waldorf Astoria and has its own legend. William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor were rival cousins who built hotels named Waldorf and Astoria in New York at the end of the 19th century. After some time, the cousins reconciled, and the buildings were connected by a long marble corridor, known as Peacock Alley. Allegedly, guests walked along this alley and showed off too much. Hence the name of the bar.
The most iconic element in the lobby is a 9.5-meter high clock installation in the center of the atrium. Each hotel in the chain has its own grand clock – it's a tribute to history. It is said that the Minsk interpretation turned out to be the tallest. Several countries participated in its development: design from England, mechanism from Germany, base from Italy, and decor from Belarus (chains symbolize the art of straw weaving).
A feature of the hotel is that art objects created by local craftsmen are placed everywhere. Partitions in the hall are decorated with canvas featuring national ornaments, and Belarusian books are on the shelves.
Rooms with Views of Svislach and Niamiha
The hotel has a total of 155 rooms. An overnight stay here costs from $475 to $3000 at the current exchange rate.
Deluxe Room (about $500). Area 41 meters. The room is equipped with a "smart home" system. Bathrooms are finished with marble and wood, each with two sinks. Cosmetics are from the British brand Molton Brown.
Diplomat Suite (from $900). Area 82 square meters. It has a bedroom, a living room with a kitchen, a walk-in closet, and a large balcony with panoramic views of the city center.
Presidential Suite (from $3000). Occupies one-third of the fifth floor (282 sq. m). Three bedrooms, a study, a huge terrace. The master bedroom has a super king-size bed.
The hotel employs 180 people, including both Belarusians and foreigners.
The most private area – the spa
The total area of the spa is 3000 sq. m. It houses 8 treatment rooms, a sauna, a hammam, a salt room, a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, and an ice fountain.
Only hotel guests can visit the aqua zone (free of charge). For others, there is one option – purchasing a special spa program (massage, wrap, or rituals with Belarusian cornflower). Guest privacy remains a priority, so an endless flow of people from the street is not expected here.
Bars and Restaurants
Mramor: Premium steakhouse restaurant in a glass annex over the river. Opening scheduled for January 2026.
Nightingale: Speakeasy bar with cocktails and live music (opening in June 2026).
Zolo: The only restaurant currently fully operational. Specializes in breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Anyone can come here for breakfast (from 6:30 to 10:30).
Grand Astoria Ballroom and Conference Halls
The hotel has a large Grand Astoria Ballroom for 480 guests for weddings and celebrations. There are also other halls for conferences and business meetings.
Waldorf Astoria in Minsk started welcoming guests on December 18. The owners plan for the occupancy to be around 26% next year, as luxury accommodation is not accessible to many.
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Comments
Першымі уваходзілі у былую саўдэпію хілтаны шмілтаны розныя арабы.На той час казалі самы хуткі бізьнісЬ дзе павяртаецца укладзенае і..зразумела адмываецца.
5☆ гатэль нават ў 50% засяленне дае прыбытак
Болей 80% гэта перезагружэнна