The Staircase

Next to the charming elevator with a small seat, the staircase is a beautiful example for the time in between fin de siècle (turn of the century) and art deco. The dent in the brass railing between first and mezzanine floor apparently stems from a soldier's butt; after the Second World War the Hotel Bristol had been the US headquarters (the Hotel Imperial served as Russian headquarters instead). From the 5th floor onwards the staircase is freely floating in an artistic way - it was transformed during the 1986 construction works in order to preserve the art nouveau mirrors.