One of the most remarkable historical buildings in Saratov, which can be considered a symbol of the city, is the Moscow Hotel. It is located at the intersection of Moskovskaya and Gorky streets (formerly Aleksandrovskaya). The first hotel on this site was opened in 1873 by G. I. Barykin. In 1901, based on the design by A. M. Salko and funded by the Saratov Mutual Credit Society, a modern building was constructed, reopening the hotel under its current name. It featured luxurious rooms, a restaurant, and a double-height hall. Traditionally, shops were located on the first floor, which were replaced during the Soviet era by a grocery store and a culinary shop that were quite popular.

The architectural appearance of the Moscow Hotel is distinguished by a corner turret with a weather vane, elegant cast-iron balconies, and intricate decorative masonry with elements of ancient Russian architecture. Two different facades of the building are connected by the corner tower. The facade on Gorky Street is shorter but differs from the facade on Moskovskaya Street, maintaining the overall harmony of the building. The inner courtyard is spacious, and the original cast-iron balcony railings and fences, made at the factory of merchant A. V. Chirikhina, have survived to this day.

Previously, there was the estate of O. F. Nikitina with four two-story and one single-story brick buildings. In 1873, one of them was rented by merchant Grigory Barykin, who opened the Moscow Hotel. In 1879, Barykin purchased the estate but soon lost it due to debts to the Saratov Mutual Credit Society. In 1880, the hotel came under the ownership of the Society, which decided in 1899 to reconstruct the building to house a bank. The project was entrusted to architect A. M. Salko, who used motifs from ancient Russian architecture. The reconstruction was completed in 1901, and the building acquired its modern appearance.

The interior decoration of the hotel impressed the residents of Saratov: wide staircases, a double-height restaurant hall with stucco figures of "mercuries" at a height of ten meters. The second and third floors housed the Society's offices, the hotel, and various offices. From 1902, it operated as the "Northern Hotel," and from 1906, as the "Large Moscow Hotel," which was rented by Takanaev and Yalymov. In the last three years before the revolution, the hotel was rented by the merchant Zubova. The first floor was rented out to shops, including the famous tea shop of V. Perlov.

The building quickly acquired the status of one of the symbols of Saratov due to its scale, location, and architecture. The Moscow Hotel, once referred to as the "Large Moscow Hotel," was expensive: cheap rooms cost from 1 ruble 25 kopecks, while expensive ones went up to 7 rubles per day. The hotel had a restaurant offering dishes of Russian, French, and Caucasian cuisine. On the first floor was V. Perlov's tea shop, known for its luxury and quality of goods. Nearby was a pharmacy.

During World War I, the building became a trauma institute and later a hospital. From 1925, it housed a student dormitory, and during the Great Patriotic War, a military hospital. After the war, the building once again became a hotel. Currently, part of the building is occupied by the hotel, while another part is rented out.

In the 1990s, the hotel fell into decline, with rooms rented out as offices and for the editorial office of the newspaper "Saratovskaya Panorama." The century-old building deteriorated, and in 2004 and 2007, restoration began: the first floor was renovated, and the restaurant "Arbuz" and a confectionery were opened. In the future, there are plans to replace the wooden ceilings of the upper floors and to carry out internal re-planning.