10 MAIN restaurant & bar areas in Moscow
1. Patriarch’s Ponds (Malaya Bronnaya Street)
The Patriarch's Ponds District is, perhaps, the most famous place with cafes and restaurants in Moscow. There, you can pretty much find anything your heart desires. The most interesting places are located on Malaya Bronnaya Street and the surrounding lanes and side streets – and all of this is just a 10-minute walk from the ‘Mayakovskaya’ (green line) or ‘Tverskaya/Pushkinskaya/Chekhovskaya’ (green/purple/grey lines) subway stations. However, keep in mind: none of these establishments are cheap – the title of ‘The Most Expensive District of the Capital’ says it all!
Where to go:
You can try exquisite desserts and coffee at ‘Coffeemania Chef's’ (Spiridonievsky Lane, 17). The menu also includes a dish called ‘Morning on Patriarch’s Ponds’.
Signature versions of famous Russian and European dishes are served at the ‘AVA’ restaurant (Malaya Bronnaya Street, 21/13c2). Visitors especially praise the seafood there.
Vegetarians and lovers of lactose-free milk will definitely like the ‘Raw to Go’ café, which specializes in raw food cuisine (Bolshoi Patriarshy Lane, 12, building 1).
And, if you want to combine gastronomic pleasure and poetry, book a table at the ‘Zoyka’ restaurant, where poetry is read and live music is played in the evenings (Bolshoi Patriarshy Lane, 8, entrance 1).
2. Pyatnitskaya Street
This is one of the oldest streets in Moscow, sandwiched in between ‘Serpukhovskaya/Dobryninskaya’ (grey/brown lines) and ‘Novokuznetskaya’ (green line) subway stations. Every building there has a historical value, from the ‘House with Lions’ (64, building 1) to the ‘House of Radio’ (25, bld. 1). There are dozens of different bars and cafes, where food is tasty and affordable and, in the evenings, there are plenty of live concerts and discos.
Where to go:
Try Georgian and Caucasian cuisine at ‘DzhonDzholi’ (26), ‘Esh Khinkali Pei Vino’ [‘Eat Dumplings Drink Wine’] (6, bld. 1), ‘Khachapuri i Vino’ (3/4, bld. 1).
Have a drink at ‘Prscco’ (24), ‘Luma’ (29), ‘Kabinet Psikhologa’ [‘Psychologist's Office’] (30 bld. 1) or the secret ‘Mitzva Bar’ (3/4, bld. 1).
Enjoy the music at ‘Concert Bar’ (6/1), ‘Esse’ jazz club (27, bld. 3A) and dance all night at the ‘Moryak and Chaika’ bar [‘A Sailor and Seagull’] (25, bld. 1D).
3. Myasnitskaya Street
Want to have a hearty lunch? Then head down to Myasnitskaya Street, where you can get tasty dishes at reasonable prices. Don’t be surprised, but many cafés are frequented by students – there are several university faculties nearby. Start exploring the street from ‘Turgenevskaya/Chistye Prudy/Sretensky Bulvar’ (orange/red/light green lines) subway station and follow it down to ‘Lubyanka/Kuznetsky Most’ (red/purple lines) subway station.
Where to go:
One of the most popular places in the city where there are always waiting lines is ‘NicePriceCafe’ (47) with fixed prices for the entire menu (300 rubles, ~$3.50). The cuisine there is European and Russian and they also have seafood.
Coffee and desserts are available at ‘Skuratov Cafe’ (13, bld. 2), ‘La Poste’ (13, bld. 3) and ‘Cream Soda’ (15).
Russian and Soviet cuisine can be found at ‘Varenichnaya’ (24/7 bld 1) and ‘Bratya Karavaevy’ [‘Karavaevs Brothers’] (18), as well as Asian cuisine at ‘Ramen’ (11) and ‘J'Pan’ (22, bld. 1).
4. Maroseyka Street
If Myasnitskaya is too noisy for you, just walk down to Maroseyka, which is located near the north entrance to the ‘Kitai-Gorod’ (purple/orange lines) subway station and enjoy its cozy cafés. Besides famous fast food chains, there are a lot of places with national cuisines, as well as plenty of burger joints.
Where to go:
The main gastronomic landmark is the ‘Tsentralny Rynok’ (‘Central Market’) food mall with dozens of tasty food vendors! (4/2, bld. 1). There, you’ll find ‘Camera Obscura’ coffee shop, ‘Smoky BBQ’ burger corner, ‘Blizko’ pizza & pasta cafe, ‘Fluffy Fluffy’ pancakes and many more.
Try different Russian dumplings in ‘Lepim i Varim’ [‘We mold and boil’] cafe (9/2, bld. 1), Georgian dumplings in ‘Megobari’ (15) and Asian dumplings at ‘Pyan-Se’ (8).
And, if you like good music, be sure to visit the ‘Alexei Kozlov’ jazz club, one of the most famous in Moscow.
5. Pokrovka Street
The vibrant and crowded Pokrovka Street is, in fact, a prolongation of Maroseyka Street – and you’ll hardly even not notice that you’re already on it! It’s worth the walk along Pokrovka Street, not only for the stunning Moscow architecture, but also the equally stunning Moscow cafés.
Where to go:
You'll find breakfasts and desserts at the ‘Bulka’ [‘Bun’] cafe (19) and ‘Ni Svet Ni Zarya’ [‘Bright and Early’] (41, bld. 1).
Get your lunch at the ‘KetchUp’ (10, bld. 2) café and ‘Scrocchiarella’ pizzeria (1/13/6, bld. 2).
Relax and take it easy at the ‘Tangiers Lounge’ (31, bld. 4), ‘Pnnvbar’ (17, bld. 1), ‘Krym’ [‘Crimea’] wine bar (44) and the ‘Verve’ bar (6).
6. Kamergersky Lane
The short pedestrian street is a stone’s throw away from the ‘Okhotny Ryad/Teatralnaya/Ploshchad Revolyutsii’ (red/green/dark blue lines) subway station, on which the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater is located. Kamergersky is quite literally one of Moscow’s brightest streets: it’s decorated with glorious lighting all year round. It’s also packed with tourists, locals, street musicians and, of course, cafés. If you have ever heard the phrase: “Moscow never sleeps” – this street would definitely live up to that!
Where to go:
Some of the best cappuccinos and Margarita pizzas in the city can be found at the ‘Akademia’ café (2, bld. 1)
Excellent ribs, meanwhile, await you at the ‘Frank by Basta’ restaurant (6 bld 1).
And everything you like to mix in cuisine and live music can be found at the ‘Hidden’ bar (6/5 bld. 3).
7. Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street
It’s not easy to choose a place to eat there – there are so many great cafés! Start from ‘Teatralnaya’ (green line) subway station (near the Bolshoi Theater) and make your way up to ‘Chekhovskaya’ (grey line) subway station. Bolshaya Dmitrovka is also considered a place with trendy and elegant restaurants that are frequented by everyone from locals and theatergoers to tourists and students.
Where to go:
Modern Russian cuisine is served at Moscow hipsters’ favorite bistro, ‘Teknikum’ (7/5, bld. 2), and ‘MOLOKO’ (7/5, bld. 5).
For meat dishes, go to ‘Krasnodar’ (9, bld. 1), and, for mussels, to ‘Mollusca’ (12/1, bld. 1).
And some truly exquisite breakfasts can be enjoyed at ‘Murph’ (32, bld. 1) and ‘Mishka’ (11).
8. Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street
This area is full of trendy youth, tourists and visitors to the conservatory, so you’ll find restaurants and cafes to suit every taste!
Where to go:
Fish delicacies and unusual seafood combinations are offered at the restaurants ‘Gvidon’ (5) and ‘Ikra’ (5).
“Long” breakfasts, meanwhile, await you in the ‘Ugolek’ restaurant (12) and ‘Muse’ cafe (14/2 p. 7).
Signature Russian cuisine will delight you in the famous ‘Severyane’ restaurant (12 pg 1) and Mediterranean cuisine at the ‘Yug22’ restaurant (22/2).
9. Lesnaya Street
The restaurant quarter near ‘Belorusskaya’ (green/brown lines) subway station (circle line) includes chain establishments, chic restaurants and small signature cafes.
Where to go:
One of the most famous places in Moscow is the ‘Depo’ gastronomic space (20, bld. 3), where you'll find dishes from all over the world.
Do you like cheese? Then check out the ‘Syrovarnya’ [‘Cheese Factory’] (20, bld. 4), where they serve a wide variety of cheeses.
Brutal steaks, meanwhile, await you at the restaurants ‘Zhazhda Krovi’ [‘Bloodlust’] (9) and ‘Steak it Easy’ (9).
10. Arbat Street
This pedestrian street is one of the oldest in Russia's capital and, even two centuries ago, it was considered the center of Moscow’s gastronomic life. So, it’s worth checking it out, not only for the sights and souvenirs, but also for the classy restaurants.
Where to go:
American classics can be found at ‘California Diner’ (23/1), Turkish cuisine at ‘Taksim’ (21 bld 1) and Indian specialties at the aptly named ‘Curry’ (32).
And if you want Soviet and Russian cuisine, visit ‘Balalaechnaya’ (23/1) or ‘Cheburechnaya’ (44/1). There is also a café with desserts from St. Petersburg called ‘Sever-Metropol’ (1).