The Retro Bathroom at GUM Has Finally Been Reborn - and You Can Even Shop the Look

Center of Moscow. GUM.

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We strolled slowly, realizing we were already being pushed and needed to find a spot to take care of business.

But the spot found us, and what a spot it was - historical!

I have to admit, it'd be silly to keep looking for a cheap option when you can go into the toilet that's now almost a museum.

Let me show you how to empty yourself in a museum, complete with all the amenities.

The GUM toilet room in historic interiors, recreated from old designs, is eight stalls for women and five for men, where you can freshen up, take a shower, change a diaper, brush your teeth, touch up your makeup, shave, and even buy related accessories. It's all about the often-overlooked but super important details. Paid services are available.

Everything here is pricey - we're talking luxurious!

The lady at the entrance not only gave us permission to take photos, but she actually recommended it.

And my soul just ran wild with excitement.

While the girls were digging through their purses to get in to the "rooms," I took a quick look around.

The beauty of this public toilet is something you want to see in any public restroom.

But we know some people won't appreciate it, and others will just be grossed out.

And for the price of 200 rubles, not everyone will be willing to part with their contents.

But if you're not afraid to spend that kind of money, you can go in, empty yourself, and if you have even more money, you can even take a shower for 1000 rubles.

You're not alone in the room - there's a cashier who's not only able to take payment, but she can also chat and touch on the history of the place.

She told us, for example, that this toilet was built for wealthy citizens back in the day, when Moscow still didn't have sewage.

When they built GUM...

I've gotta say, I was expecting a lot more from the Upper Trading Rows than just shopping. They wanted to be a place where people could come and relax, too. So, when the project was first being planned, they even included a room for a toilet and a self-contained sewage system.

The relaxation room was located in the basement between the first and third lines, and it had two entrances - one for ladies and one for gentlemen. The decor was top-notch, with marble and granite used throughout. The cubicles had English-made ceramic toilets and bidets, while the 'ladies' side had perfume and perfume bottles, and the 'gentlemen's' side had the latest Kölner water.

But in 1917, they decided to ditch the luxury and closed the relaxation room, using the space as a storage room instead. It wasn't until December 1953 that the building was given back its trading functions, and the State Universal Store was set up, where you could buy all sorts of things, even hard-to-find items. They brought back the public toilet, but they plastered over the marble walls with cement, replaced the English toilets with Soviet-made ceramic ones, and that was that.

Fast forward to 2004, and the toilet room was closed for renovations that lasted almost 7 years. But when it reopened, they managed to restore the old interior to its former glory, using the original blueprints. The layout, the marble patterns, even the Murano glass chandeliers - it's all just like it used to be.

Check out what it looks like now, after the renovation and the return to its original design.

And now, the éclat - the Secret Room.

You could even dance here, if you wanted to. There's space for it.

Apparently, the soap and hand cream here are from Molton Brown. I've had Molton Brown products before, and they're always so fragrant. But I didn't get that same scent here. I mean, it's a shame, really.

They're still selling the same brand here, but you can take it with you, of course, if you buy it at the inflated price.

Everything's spotless, and it's all so beautiful. Being here is a real treat.

After taking care of business here, we headed off to our next destination.

I have to say, the whole place feels like a museum. You walk in, take a deep breath, and are amazed.

Of course, there are other toilets around that are simpler and cheaper. I've been to those too.

But coming here was also interesting - it's definitely worth a visit!

By the way, in GUM, there's a normal cafeteria where you can grab a bite to eat. I once had breakfast there.

Cafeteria food that's tasty, fresh, and reasonably priced - right in the heart of Moscow.

And, of course, GUM is located near Lenin's Mausoleum. I actually went there once.

In my Soviet childhood, I never got to visit Lenin's Mausoleum. But I went there recently, and yeah, it was interesting!

There's a hotel in Moscow that they also call historic, sometimes legendary.

They call it legendary, and say it's the only hotel that tourists are taken on excursions to. We were lucky enough to stay there. What's inside? What's the deal?

-Where are the grab bars, exactly? -What's the question? You're already inside! MMM, good, but where are the grab bars? The girl, you're already inside!)) - Grab bars are also a food joint, but the Grabelki are on Arbat.

We had lunch there on our last visit. And the experience was the same. Prices are reasonable, the selection is great, and the decor is nice.

I'll be saying goodbye now. Thanks for stopping by.