The Hotel

The Chernigov is located on a hill, partly flanked by government buildings. It’s a white stone structure with four stories. The entrance has columns and there is an ATM to the left and the snack window (where you can buy bottled water) to the right on the entrance wall. They sell sparkling water also so if you want regular, buy bottles marked “still”.

In front is a parking lot. Behind that, a park with a pedestrian promenade opening onto long wide stairs leading down to a major street below. Across from that, is another park with a large fountain (shut down for the season).

It is all very picturesque.

The lobby has dark marble floors, dark hardwood paneling and wooden columns. There is a café off to the left; down the corridor. A grand stairway is straight ahead, branching to the left and right at the landing.

The second floor has a large lobby area with a seating section by the windows. To the left, in the corner, is a podium stationed by a woman. When we first arrived Olga talked to her briefly. During our stay, our room was not cleaned. We thought it was because Olga had arranged for us to only pay for one day, because we had arrived so late (1:30 am). Turns out that the rule is, if you want your room cleaned, you leave your key with that attendant. Ah ha!

The rooms are through a set of glass doors to the right. The hallway has a red carpet runner with gold border. The hardware on the doors is ornate metal. The lock uses a normal key that is hooked to a piece of wood (hard to lose that).

The room was comfortable, but with tiny beds on opposite walls. Looks as if they might double as couches. No springs just a mattress of the type that can be rolled up for storage.

The tub in the bathroom was mounted on a raised platform, making it risky to step out. The shower curtain was normal length, but because of the platform, it only overlapped the top of the tub by a few inches and the rod was very high. Had to fling the towels to hang them on the rod to dry.

The towels are normal, but no wash clothes, of the type used at home, instead they appear to be an inexpensive type of plaid dishtowel.

All of our various electronic items were dual voltage, so all we needed were plug adaptors. We brought four and used them all.

Behind the hotel is another park (with statutes, of course), plus a casino and an Italian restaurant. We tried to eat at the restaurant on our second evening (we had heard it is quite good), but it had been reserved for a party of some sort.

Both times we ate a meal in Bryansk, it was at the tiny café in the hotel. The food and service was good and very reasonably priced. Had to try the borscht (hot, not cold) and did enjoy it. Tried a couple of chicken dishes, one wrapped in pastry, the other between layers of crepes. They have bottled water and canned sodas.