Reveling in Russia at the New W Hotel St. Petersburg

Starwood's cool brand of design-led W Hotels is taking the world by storm. The new W in London's Leicester Square has been a smashing success, and W St. Petersburg-- which debuted in April 2011-- is also drawing the cool crowd. Just a stone's throw from the city's major landmarks (like St. Isaac Cathedral and the Winter Palace), the 137-room hotel has a Bliss Spa, indoor swimming pool, SWEAT fitness center, and signature miX restaurant and rooftop lounge (by acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse). The W St. Petersburg was designed by the Milan-based Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel Partners; Departures Magazine notes that the team "took aesthetic cues from the city's architecture as well as the regal jewel tones of the Fabergé egg. Though Russian history plays a part in the look, the structure's limestone and marble façade and supersleek interior make it a refreshingly modern addition to the city's lineup of opulent hotels." Your wish is their command-- even booze cruises on the Neva River-- as the W St. Petersburg has imported the brand's signature Whatever/Whenever concierge service.