House No. 4 is located almost at the very beginning of the street and originally included chambers from the 18th century. In the first third of the 19th century, they were integrated into a new three-story building with facades in the style of late classicism.

In the mid-19th century, the Society of Russian Doctors was located here. The upper floors housed a medical facility, while a pharmacy operated on the ground floor. By the end of the 19th century, the Society moved to house No. 25, and the premises were taken over by Mr. Reshko's music courses. The school accepted children from seven years old for 4-5 year courses, with tuition costing 50 rubles.

The house became known thanks to Alphonse Leonovich Shanyavsky, a Russian general who was actively involved in educational activities. He organized a club for the creative intelligentsia and inexpensive furnished rooms, initially called 'Gunib' and later 'Capital.' Notable figures such as writer Ivan Bunin, poet Konstantin Balmont, and artist Nikolai Sapunov stayed here. Room prices were affordable: from one to three and a half rubles per night. On the ground floor, there was a democratic tea house that offered not only tea but also inexpensive lunches.

Ivan Bunin mentions in his story 'Muse': 'I lived on Arbat, near the restaurant 'Prague,' in the rooms of 'Capital.' During the day, I worked as an artist at home, and often spent evenings in cheap restaurants with new acquaintances from the bohemia, fond of billiards and crayfish with beer.'

In 1905, Shanyavsky bequeathed the house and land to the City Duma for the establishment of a People's University, accessible to all who wished. However, the university opened only in 1908 and moved in 1912 to a specially built building on Miusskaya Square.

During the Soviet era, the house housed communal apartments and various offices. When constructing Kalininsky Avenue, this block, including the 'Prague' restaurant, was planned for demolition, but after long discussions, it was preserved. In the 1980s, the house underwent major repairs that dragged on for many years.