Tea house on Miasnitskaya (Google map) was constructed in 1890 by merchant S.Perlov as tea and coffee shop on ground floor and apartments above. The decoration in Chinese style was added in 1896 to please the Chinese tea trader and to win the contract for tea delivery. The contract was never won, but the place became so popular among Moscovites that quickly compensated all expenses for decoration.
In Soviet times the apartments were divided in communal flats (in which kitchen and toilet facilities are shared by several families) one window = one flat = one family. Nowadays the house is rented by the descendants of the owner.
Details (click to enlarge):
