History
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| Old Moscow. |
Moscow is a city of great historical and cultural traditions, attracting millions of tourists from all over the world. The first mentioning of Moscow in historical annals dates back to 1147. At that time it was a little settlement founded by Prince Yury Dolgoruky. A grand monument to the founder of Moscow is on the city’s central Tverskaya street.
The oldest part of Moscow brings one to the epoch of Tzar Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible, when an intensive stone construction began, religious and cultural life bloomed. However several severe fires caused devastating damage to Moscow with only few buildings survived.
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| Memorial to Juri Dolgoruk. |
Most Moscow sights are architectural constructions built in the 15th — 18th centuries, however, architectural monuments of earlier periods may be found: some Kremlin cathedrals, monasteries, palatial residences of boyars and princes. Considerable changes took place under Tzar Peter I, who in 1712 transferred Russia’s capital to the newly built city of St. Petersburg. It was not until 1918 that Moscow regained its status of the country’s capital.
Moscow played a decisive role in Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s invaders in 1812. The events of those days are recreated in the Borodino Panorama Museum, generally visited on INTOURIST city tours. After the battle at Borodino Napoleon’ army approached Moscow to find out that the city was abandoned by its residents. They left with the retreating Russian army and set their houses on fire so that they were not looted by the Frenchmen. A month-long stay in the devastated city put Napoleon’ army on the verge of ruin, forcing it to retreat from Moscow and later from Russia.
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| Moscow State University. |
By the late 19th century Moscow’s role in the development of Russian culture grew as new museums, picture galleries and theatres were opened. Among them are world renown Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, Tretyakov Picture Gallery, The Bolshoy and Maly Theaters.
Radical changes in the architectural image of Moscow fall on the Soviet period as many old-time buildings were pulled down to the ground to be replaced by new Soviet style architectural constructions. Among them are the seven high-rising buildings called Stalin’s Skyscrapers.
In 1980 Moscow hosted the Summer Olympic Games and in 1998 First World Youth Games.
In the past decades many historical sites were fully reconstructed, including the Cathedral of St. Saviour, Voskresensky Gate and the Church of the Virgin of Kazan in Red Square.
In 2012 Moscow will celebrate its 865th anniversary.
Major sights
Moscow Kremlin
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| The Krenlin is the heart of Moscow. |
The heart of Moscow and of the Russian state itself, the Kremlin (literally meaning “fortified town”) is a red-brick walled fortress with walls 2235 m long. Since earliest times the Kremlin had served as a fortress intended to defend the city from enemy invasions. The walls are crowned with merlons with slit-like loopholes. During combat the archers blocked gaps between merlons with shields and fired through narrow loopholes. None of the twenty defensive towers repeats itself. The most famous tower is Spasskaya with a chiming clock set up in the last century and playing the national anthem of Russia. The chiming clock dial is over 6 m in diameter.
First stone churches appeared in the 14th century, while a grand rebuilding of the Kremlin began in the 15th century. In the Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square one finds the cathedrals built at that time with participation of best Italian architects. The most beautiful are the Assumption and the Archangel gold-domed cathedrals made of white stone. They are famous for the masterpieces of old time Russian church murals and icon-painting.
The Belfry of Ivan the Great attracts everybody’s attention. Right up to the early 20th century it was the tallest structure in the city — 81 m. There is an old Russian saying: as tall as Ivan the Great. In-between the cathedrals you may find the Granovitaya Palata (Faceted Chamber), its front is decorated with faceted stone. The Faceted Chamber was used for banquets arranged by Russian sovereigns after the coronation ceremony. Also foreign ambassadors were received there and celebrations, state conferences and most important royal ceremonies were held.
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| The Cap of Monomakh. |
The Great Kremlin Palace is the residential place of Russian emperors on their visits to Moscow. It was built in 1849 by Konstantin Ton, the same architect who designed the famous Cathedral of St. Saviour. The palace has 760 rooms and halls, particularly notable is the St. George’s Hall named after the military order of St. George. Nowadays it is the residence of the Russian President.
The Armoury Chamber initially was a depository and a workshop where weapons and armour were produced and kept. The modern building was erected in the 19th century and now it is a treasure house of unique exhibits — articles made by craftsmen who worked in gold and silver. One is overwhelmed by Tzar’s regalia set with precious stones — crowns, scepters, orbs. The museum boasts original thrones of Russian Tzars and luxurious dresses of Russian empresses. Among the most famous exhibits is the Cap of Monomakh, a hereditary coronation crown of Russian Tzars decorated with precious stones and furs. According to the legend the cap was sent by Emperor Monamachus of Byzantium to Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh of Kiev.
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| Dress of Catherine the Great, 1745. |
The Diamond Fund of Russia, permanent exhibition housed at The Armoury Chamber, boast the unique collection of precious stones and jewelry of the 18th — 19th centuries: Russian diamonds and brilliants, gems, collections of golden and platinum nuggets.
The Tzar Cannon and Tzar Bell are considered wonders of Russian casting work. The bronze 40-ton Tzar Cannon was cast in the 16th century. Some sources say that the cannon was named so because of its enormous size, others say that it was named after the murdered Fyodor Ivanovich, son of Tzar Ivan the Terrible, whose picture is carved on the barrel. The cannon stood at the Kremlin wall but, according to the information available, it never fired.
The Tzar Bell is also of an amazing size. It is the biggest bell in the world. The bell weighs 12 000 poods (over 200 tons), it is 6 m high. An attempt to lift the bell failed, in the fire of 1737 the bell cracked and 11.5 ton piece broke off which is now put on a pedestal near the bell.
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| Red Square. |
Red Square
The Red Square is the central square of the city and together with the Kremlin is a Moscow visit card. In the old times the square was known as Torg — a trading place and only in the middle of the 17th century it acquired its present name. In old Russian the word red meant beautiful, likewise a beautiful girl was called a red girl.
Just opposite the Spassky Gate there is an elevated platform behind a cast-iron fence — Lobnoye Mesto where important Tzar’s edicts and sentences to offenders were proclaimed. However, it didn’t serve as a place of execution, the scaffolds were set up in another, distant place. A real adornment of the square is the Intercession Cathedral, better known as the Cathedral of Vasily Blazhenny (St. Basil’s Cathedral). The cathedral was laid under Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the subordination of the Kazan Khanate to the Moscow State. Its unusual architecture with the multi-coloured pointed domes united into a single group, original decorative forms and cheerful colours rivet visitors’ eyes and involuntarily make them smile.
The ensemble of Red Square includes the monument to Minin and Pozharsky who in the early 17th century headed the liberation struggle of the Russian people against Polish invaders. This is the first sculptural monument in Moscow opened in 1818.
Reminiscent of the Soviet epoch is Lenin’s Mausoleum with the embalmed body of the leader of the proletarian revolution. By the Kremlin wall behind the Mausoleum is the Revolutionary Necropolis, a burial place of Stalin, Brezhnev, Andropov, leaders of the Soviet State, Yury Gagarin, the first cosmonaut, Igor Kurchatov, father of Soviet atomic bomb, Sergei Korolyov, father of space ships.
Historical Museums
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The State Historical Museum of Russia.
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The State Historical Museum was founded by Emperor Alexander II in 1872. The history and culture of the Russian State is represented by over 4.5 mln exhibits and 15 mln sheets of unique documentary archive. The museum halls, each of them styled in a certain historical epoch, host the relics of Russia from most ancient times till the early 20th century. The Museum keeps archeologic collections, a unique collection of coins and medals. Also on display are documents and autographs, icons, portraits, prints, photos, manuscript and early printed books, old weapons, rare items of old fabrics, garments, full-dress uniforms, works of applied art. In Paradnye Seni (Principal Portal) concerts of classical, choral and spiritual music, Russian romance songs are held.
The Old English Courtyard, an architectural monument dating from Ivan the Terrible’s time is found in the oldest part of Moscow called Zaryadie. It was the residential place for visiting English merchants and diplomats. In 1556 -1649 the English Courtyard housed both the office of London’s Moscow Trade Company and the English Embassy — the first official representation of a Western country in Russia’s capital. In 1994 after a long reconstruction the museum was opened to visitors.
Znamensky Monastery Museum is among the most interesting old monuments with the surviving five — domed cathedral, a refectory, a belfry and cell building. It was also the site of the patrimonial estate of boyar Romanov, the first Tzar of the Romanov dynasty. In the 19th century in the territory of the complex one of the first Moscow museums was opened included by the European International Forum of 1998 into the list of thirty best museums of Europe. One can see the interior of a wealthy boyar’s house with the authentic items of applied art: tile stoves, silver plates and dishes, facial embroidery, trunks. Visitors may become acquainted with the life style of boyars, pass through the study, dining room, women’s attic, have a look at the entrance — hall. The exposition also contains a potter’s workshop of the 15th — 16th centuries.
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| Museum-Panorama — “Borodino Battle”. |
Borodino Battle Panorama Museum. The exhibits show battle scenes of the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon. The canvas 115 m in circumference and 15 m high, strikes one with its enormous dimensions and naturalistic character with 360 degrees diorama. There are military banners, weapons, ammunition and uniforms of soldiers and officers of the Russian army on display. A separate section shows captured guns from different European countries whose troops were part of Napoleon’s army. The double-level observation platform allows the visitors to see the entire panorama and to examine closely the details of the battle.
Stalin’s Bunker, a unique memorial complex of Russian military history. Established in 1930-s it was Stalin’s secret alternate command post during The Second World War, 1941–1945, with the conference room, working office and all logistical services built in. As a museum, the complex was opened in 1996. Intourist clients can visit the Conference Room, Stalin’s cabinet and Dining Room. Personal belongings of Stalin, soviet officers and soldiers are on display.
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| The Cathedral of St. Saviour. |
Cathedrals and the Monasteries
Cathedral of St. Saviour is a colossal cathedral demolished in the Soviet period and reconstructed in the 1990-s. It was conceived as a memorial to the liberation of Russia from Napoleon’s troops in 1812. The construction of the cathedral in the style of the Greek-Byzantine basilicas began in the late 19th century and continued for about 20 years. The money for its construction was collected by the means of donation. The best specialists were involved in the construction: famous artists painted the walls, the most talented sculptors created high-reliefs. In 1924 the decision of the Soviet authorities was taken to pull the Cathedral down to the ground to make room for the projected Palace of Soviets in the form of a tall tower crowned by a statue of Lenin. However, the Palace of Soviets was never built and the foundation ditch was used for the outdoor swimming pool.
Nowadays the Cathedral is reconstructed and combines museum with a working church. Museum exhibition includes priceless relics of the destroyed monument, fragments of memorial tablets with names of 1812 war heroes, as well as documents related to the explosion of the cathedral in 1920-s. The Cathedral is designed for 10 thousand visitors.
Novodevichiy (New Maiden’s) Convent. If you look at the city from the observation platform on the Vorobiyovy Hills on the left you may clearly see very light, tracery New Maiden’s Nunnery built of red and white stone. The idea of the nunnery was conceived by Ivan the Terrible’s father who in 1525 decided to erect a convent and the Smolensky Cathedral to commemorate the liberation of the town of Smolensk from Lithuanian occupation. For a long time the nunnery was the place of solitary life of princes’ and boyars’ widows and orphaned daughters. After a woman retired to the cloister all her property was transferred to the Nunnery. A great contribution to the development of the nunnery and its architectural ensemble was made by Tzarevna Sofia exiled to the nunnery after her brother Peter I had come to power. The first wife of Peter I also lived there. The Smolensky Cathedral contains frescoes of the 16th century, carved iconostasis and items produced by Tzar’s craftsmen. In 1922 a museum was opened in the Nunnery — a branch of the Historical Museum.
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Kazan Cathedral in the evening Moscow.
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Kazan Cathedral is a a Russian Orthodox church located on the northeast corner of the Red Square in Moscow. The current building is a reconstruction of the original church which was destroyed by orders of then country’s leader Joseph Stalin in 1936. The original church was erected as a shrine in the early 1630s to mark the city’s liberation from the Polish aggressors by the Russian people’s volunteer army. In 1936, when the Red Square was being prepared for the military parade Stalin ordered the square to be cleared of churches. Although efforts were made by famous architects to save it, they could not prevent the Kazan Cathedral from being demolished (though they did manage to save from destruction another one of the square’s cathedrals, St.Basil’s Cathedral). After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990-s the Kazan Cathedral was the first completely rebuilt church. The cathedral’s restoration was based on the detailed measurements and photographs of the original church architect Peter Baranovsky made before its destruction in 1936.
Entertainment places
Art museums and galleries
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| The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. |
There are over 200 museums in Moscow. They cover all the areas on human activity from the beginning of times to our days.
The State Museum of Fine Arts named after Pushkin. The Museum was opened in 1912 in presence of Emperor Nikolai II. The building was designed by architect R. Klein. Its facade is decorated by columns in antique ionic style. It houses a huge collection of ancient sculptures copies. The museum is famous for its collection of paintings referred to the European Renaissance, it possesses pictures belonging to the major schools of painting of Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and France. Especially famous are collections of impressionists: Cezane, Gauguin, Monet, E. Degas, van Gogh, as well as paintings of masters of the early 20th century: Matisse, Picasso, Rousseau, Kandinsky, Shagal. Besides the permanent exposition, the museum arranges interesting exhibitions. The major galleries of the world bring here their collections.
For more than two decades the Museum has been conducting The December Evenings of Svyatoslav Rikhter, the unique cultural event demonstrating unity of music and various types of plastic art — painting, sculpture, drawing. This festival has an international status due to many outstanding national and foreign musicians taking part in the event.
Working hours: 10.00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., exc. Mon
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| The State Tretyakov Gallery. |
Address: 12 Volkhonka St.
Phone: +7 (495) 603–7998, 603–9578
Metro station: Kropotkinskaya
http://www.pushkinmuseum.ru/
The State Tretyakov Gallery is the foremost depository of Russian fine art in the world.
The gallery’s history starts in 1856 when the Moscow merchant Pavel Tretyakov acquired works by Russian artists of his day with the aim of creating a collection, which might later grow into a museum of national art. In 1892, Tretyakov presented his already famous collection to the Russian nation. The facade of the gallery building was designed by the painter Viktor Vasnetsov in a peculiar Russian fairy-tale style. It was built in 1902–04 to the south from the Moscow Kremlin. During the 20th century, the gallery expanded to several neighboring buildings, including the 17th-century church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi. The collection contains more than 130,000 items, ranging from Theotokos of Vladimir and Andrei Rublev’s Trinity to the monumental Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky and the Black Square of Kazimir Malevich.
Working hours: 10.00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., exc. Mon. Ticket offices 10.00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
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| Pokrovsky Sobor (St Basil’s Cathedral). |
Address: 10 Lavrushinsky Ln
Phone: +7 (495) 230–7778, 953–5223
Metro station: Tretyakovskaya
http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/
International Reorich Center (Nicholas Reorich Museum)
The exposition of the museum presents: the story of the Reorichs’ life and creative work in the 19th-20th centuries; the unique collection of paintings by N. Roerish and S. Roerich; archives, library and personal belongings of the Roerichs; mobile exposition of paintings by N. Roerich and S. Roerich.
Working hours: 11.00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., except Mon. The ticket office is open till 6.00 p.m.
Address: 3/5 Maly Znamensky Ln.
Phone: +7 (495) 975–0745, 203–6419
Metro station: Kropotkinskaya
http://www.icr.su/
Pokrovsky Cathedral Museum (St Basil’s Cathedral)
The cathedral is an architectural monument of the 16th century and also a unique memorial to military glory. It is an inimitable examples of pillar, hip and stone architecture in old Russia.
Working hours: November – April: 11.00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., May – October: 11.00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. exc. Tue and first Mon of each month
Address: 2 Red Sq.
Phone: +7 (495) 698–3304
Metro station: Ploshchad Revolutsii
http://www.saintbasil.ru/
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| Chambers of Zaryadye. |
Andrei Rublyov Central Museum of Early Russian Cultural
The Museum is located in Spaso-Andronikovskiy Monastery. Its collection includes paintings, drawings, and books.
Working hours: 11.00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., except Wed
Address: 10 Andronyevskaya Sq.
Phone: +7 (495) 678–5055, 678–1489
Metro station: Ploshchad Ilyicha
http://www.rublev-museum.ru/
Chambers of Zaryadye
The Chambers, residence of Romanovs, is the only building that has remained up to now.
Working hours: 10.00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Wed 11.00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Address: 10 Varvarka St.
Phone: +7 (495) 298–3706
Metro station: Kitay-Gorod
http://www.shm.ru/
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| The Cosmonautics Memorial Museum. |
The Cosmonautics Memorial Museum
The museum was opened triumphantly on April 10, 1981, in 20-years anniversary of the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin. The visitors can see the vivid brilliant pages of history of Soviet and Russian cosmonautics, full of drama and bitter disappointments, triumphal victories and pride for the human mind.
Working hours: Open daily from 10.00 – 19.00 exc. Monday and the last Friday of each month.
Address: 111, Mira Ave.
Phone: +7 (495) 683–7968
Metro station: VDNKh
The Polytechnical Museum
The Polytechnical Museum is a major historic institution of science and technology, scientific, educational, cultural and leisure centre of Russia. During its 130-years’ history the Museum, first and foremost, informed its visitors about the achievements of human intellect.
Working hours: 10.00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., exc. Mon and last Thu of every month
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| The State Museum of Oriental Art. |
Address: 3/4, Novaya Square, Door way 1
Phone: +7 (495) 623–4287, 623–0756
Metro station: Lubyanka, Kitay-Gorod
http://eng.polymus.ru/rv/
The State Museum of Oriental Art
Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Asian and Arabian art, Roerich’s exposition, antique-shop
Working hours: 11.00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., exc. Mon
Address: 12-a Nikitsky Blvd.
Phone: +7 (495) 691–9614, 691–0212
Metro station: Arbatskaya
http://www.orientmuseum.ru/en/
Moscow Metro and Museum of Metro History
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| Museum of Metro History. |
Busier than New York’s subway and London’s underground combined, the Moscow Metro transports up to eight million passengers a day, with a surprising degree of efficiency. The stations themselves are the attraction; their unique designs are often palatial and provide an introduction to the development of Soviet art and architecture over more than half a century. They were also designed to double-up as bomb shelters. The Metro Museum displays interesting exhibits such as a driver’s cab and photographs from the 1930s showing cheerful Komsomol volunteers.
Working hours: Thur 09:00 – 16:00; Mon-Wed and Fri by appointment only; closed Sat-Sun.
Admission charge.
Address: Ulitsa Khamovnichesky Val 36, 3rd floor
Phone: +7 (495) 222–7309, 222–7833.
http://engl.mosmetro.ru/
The Museum of Moscow History
The unique part of the fund forms a collection of archeology, plants and maps of Moscow, articles of home life of Moscovites, sculptural renovations by M. Gerasimov, private archives.
Working hours: 10.00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mon, Wed, Fri 11.00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Address: 12 Novaya Sq.
Phone: +7 (495) 624–8490, 624–8058
Metro station: Lubyanka
http://www.mosmuseum.ru/rus/
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| Bell tower in Kolomenskoe. |
Architectural-park ensembles
Kolomenskoye — the State Museum — Preserve, a unique natural and cultural complex of Moscow, the former country residence of Tzars. Especially impressive is the beautiful Church of the Ascension, one of the first stone hipped roof churches in Russia. As the legend goes, the church was built in honour of the birth of a long awaited son of Grand Prince Vasiliy III — Ivan, the future Ivan the Terrible.
A wooden palace, which has not survived to this day, was built in Kolomenskoe. Contemporaries called that palace the eighth wonder of the world. Its model is on display at the museum.
The museum regularly arranges exhibitions of Russian craftsmen, masters of traditional handicraft
industries, modern decorative and applied art (wood carving and fabrics). Nowadays the Kolomenskoye territory is the venue of stylization festivities, popular outdoor parties, musical festivals and concerts as well as various entertaining and informative programs.
Address: 39 Andropova Ave
Phone: +7 (499) 615–2768, 614–8880, 615–2771
Metro station: Kolomenskaya
http://www.mgomz.ru
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| Ostankino Palace. |
Ostankino
In 1678-1687 a five-dome brick cathedral was built here and it was preserved till our days. The palace interior of the architecture buildings are considered to be among the best ones in Russia.
Address: 5 1st Ostankinskaya St
Phone: +7 (495) 683–4645
Metro station: VDNKh
http://www.museum.ru/museum/Ostankino/1.htm
Uzkoe
The owners of the estate were the Streshnevs, the Golitsyns, the Tolstoys, the Trubetskoys. Its main sight is the Our Lady Kazan Icon Church built in 1698
Address: 123 Profsoyuznaya St.
Metro station: Yasenevo
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| Moscow park palace band of Tsaritsyno. |
Tzaritsyno
It is the largest of the Moscow museum reserve. The architect Vasily Bazhenov designed the ensemble of the palaces, the pavilions, the fanciful park buildings.
Address: 1, Dolskaya St
Phone: +7 (495) 321–6366, 321–8039
Metro station: Orekhovo, Tzaritsyno
http://www.Tzaritsyno-museum.ru/
Kuskovo is a marvelous palace and park ensemble of 18th century, a country residence of one of the richest families — counts Sheremetievs. To this day, more than 20 unique architectural monuments have remained intact, including the Palace, the Grotto, the Great Stone Consevatory, the old church. The Palace has a wonderful collection of paintings and sculptures, porcelain and ceramics. One of the estate’s highlights is the well-preserved French park with marble sculpture, ponds and original pavilions.
Address: 2 Yunosti St.
Phone: +7 (495) 370–0160, 375–3131
Metro station: Novogireevo, Ryazansky Prospekt
http://kuskovo.ru/
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| Palace at the museum-estate Kuskovo. |
Abramtsevo Museum-Reserve
The Abramtsevo Museum-Reserve, a former country estate and a prominent Russian cultural center since the mid 19th century, is located near Holy Trinity — St. Sergius Lavra, about 60 km northeast of Moscow. In 1843 Abramtsevo was purchased by writer Sergey Aksakov (1791–1859) who wrote his best works here and hosted the most talented writers of that time Nikolai Gogol, Ivan Turgenev and other Russian intellectuals.
In 1870 the estate changed hands to become a property of a railway magnate Savva Mamontov (1841–1918), who was known for his patronizing of Russian artists, among them were Vasily Polenov, Ilya Repin, Viktor Vasnetsov, Ilya Ostroukhov, Valentin Serov, Konstantin Korovin, Mikhail Nesterov, Mikhail Vrubel and other creative personalities united under Mamontov’s artistic circle. Under Mamontov, Abramtsevo became an advanced center of contemporary art, a starting point for the national Art Nouveau school and for the revival of Russian arts and crafts.
Today, the Museum-Reserve occupies the area of 50 hectares. It includes architectural monuments of the 18th and 19th centuries, a landscape park and a typical Russian countryside along the Vorya river. The collection of museum contains more than 20 000 items of painting, graphic, sculpture, arts and crafts, folk art, photographs and archive of the estate owners.
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| Yasnaya Polyana. |
Yasnaya Polyana, located within 200 km to the south of Moscow, formerly a home place of the world famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), author of War and Peace, Anna Karenina and other masterpieces, nowadays is the museumestate. Visitors will not only see the writer’s house, stroll along the beautiful lime alley and the picturesque park but also acquaint themselves with traditions of the Tolstoy family. Popular celebrations and festivals are held annually in Yasnaya Polyana. On the territory of the estate there are book and souvenir shops, where one may buy Tolstoy’s works, including those translated into foreign languages. Works of craftsmen and artists from the nearby town Tula and Tula Region, specifically ceramic articles, wooden boxes, exclusive leather hand-bags with handwork braiding, painting on silk, high-quality paintings and drawings, birchbark articles, jewelry, forged articles.
New Jerusalem. This historical — architectural and art museum was founded in 1920. Today it boasts a unique collection of 170,000 items. It is located on the site of the architectural monument of the 17th century — Voskresensky Novoierusalimsky Monastery. It is considered to be founded by the reformer of the Russian Orthodox Church patriarch Nikon who tried to reconstruct on the Istra River near Moscow an image of the Holy Land called Russian Palestines with an exact copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
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| Churches in Sergiev Posad. |
Besides the Monastery, the complex includes a wonderful natural landscape. Here one can find the Garden of Gethsemane with a life-giving spring among century-old trees. On the bank of the Istra River which in this place is called Jordan stands a little four-storeyed building called patriarch Nikon’s secluded monastery. During the war time of 1941 New Jerusalem was completely destroyed by advancing nazi troops while the major part of the museum collections were lost. After its reconstruction the museum boasts a rich collection of archeologic and ethnographic objects, icons, embroidery, old manuscripts and rare printed books.
Sergiev Posad and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity.
Sergiev-Posad, a small town located about 74 km from Moscow was founded in the 14th century by Sergy Radonezhsky later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The heart of the first settlement was the Trinity Monastery — one of the largest founded in Russia in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 1774 the monastery was given the title of Lavra, a monastery of thehighest rank.
The Monastery played an important role in the development of Russia’s history and culture. The ancient Trinity Cathedral built in 1423 is of special interest to visitors. Here one can find the magnificent Icon Stand painted by the famous Russian icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniel Chorny. The Assumption Cathedral in the center of the monastery ensemble was built in 1585 to resemble the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. The monastery museum boasts a marvelous collection of ancient Russian art of the 14th to 17th centuries, embroidery, gold and silver work and masterpieces of ancient icon painting. There are excellent shopping opportunities in the nearby open-air market place.
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| Fountain Friendship of the people on the All-Russia Exhibition Center. |
Parks and recreation areas
All-Russian Exhibition Centre
In 1939, the VDNKh — the Exhibition of National Economics Achievements was opened here. It was to demonstrate the successes of the agricultural, industrial and building power of the USSR. In 1992, it was renamed into VVTz — “All-Russian Exhibition Center”. Today it is the largest and the most attended exhibition and fair complex of the country. Its territory is 136 hectares. Entertainments, pools, parks and flowers gardens are located here.
Address: 119 Mira Ave.
Phone: +7 (495) 544–3400
Metro station: VDNKh
www.vvcentre.ru
Izmaylovsky Park
Phone: +7 (499) 166–6119
Metro station: Partizanskaya
www.izmailovsky-park.ru
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| St. George the Victorious Church. |
Park Kultury
Address: 9 Krimskiy Val
Phone: +7 (495) 237–0707, 237–1266
Metro station: Park Kultury
Park Pobedy (The Victory Park)
The Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 is located on the Poklonnaya Mountain. They make an unique architecture ensemble, including the main monument — the 142.5 — meters high stele with bronze bas-reliefs and the goddess of victory Nika, Saint George Cathedral, the Memorial Mosque and the Memorial Synagogue.
Address: 10 Bratiev Fonchenko St
Phone: +7 (495) 148–4158
Metro station: Park Pobedy
Sokolniki
Address: 1/1 Sokolnicheskiy Val
Phone: +7 (499) 268–6011
Metro station: Sokolniki
www.park-sokolniki.ru
The Botanical Garden
Address: 4 Botanicheskaya St
Phone: +7 (495) 619–5368
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| Natural Park Losiny Ostrov. |
Metro station: Botanicheskiy Sad, Vladykino
www.gbsad.ru
Losiny Ostrov Natural Park
The park used to be a place of Tzar’s hunt. Nowadays, Losiny Ostrov is a reserve. More than 200 species of mammals live here. Historical — archaeological complex “Tzar’s Hunt” is situated on the territory of the park. Walking here you’ll enjoy picturesque lakes, numerous archeological monuments and, of course, wonderful animals.
Phone: +7 (499) 268–6045, 268–2965
Metro station: Sokolniki, Rizhskaya
www.elkisland.ru
Theatres
There are over 200 theatres and theatrical studios in Moscow.
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| The State academic Bolshoi Theatre. |
The majestic building of the Bolshoi Theatre is immediately recognizable from numerous photos as symbol of Moscow. The theatre was opened in early 1825. The magnificent building in the classical style, was considered by contemporaries as the best theatre in Europe and in scale it was only second to the Milan’s La Scala.
At the present time the Bolshoi Theatre is the main national ballet and opera theatre, its repertoire includes masterpieces of the Russian musical art of the 19th — 20th centuries as well as modern works. The most renowned artists consider as a great honor to perform at the Bolshoi Theatre. In July 2005 the theater historical building was closed for the reconstruction, while all the theater performances were transferred to the Bolshoi Theatre New Stage located in a specially erected building nearby.
The State academic Bolshoi Theatre (the new stage)
Address: 1 Theatralnaya Sq
Phone: +7 (495) 250–7317
Metro station: Teatralnaya
www.bolshoi.ru/en
Maly Theatre, located to the right of the Bolshoi Theatre, is known for its marvelous drama performances and great enlightening work. The building was constructed in 1818. The name Maly meaning small originated from the smaller size of the hall compared to the Bolshoi Theatre. After the fire of 1841 the theatre was rebuilt by architect T. Ton. A statue of playwright Ostrovsky, whose plays make up the basis of the theatre’s repertoire was erected in front of the theatre.
The Maly Theatre
Address: 1/6 Theatralnaya Sq
Phone: +7 (495) 623–2621
Metro station: Teatralnaya
http://www.maly.ru/pages.php?name=eng
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| Great Hall of The Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. |
The Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory
Address: 13/6 Bolshaya Nikitskaya St
Phone: +7 (495) 629–9401
Metro station: Biblioteka imeni Lenina
www.mosconsv.ru/english.phtml
Lenkom Theatre
Address: 6 Malaya Dmitrovka St
Phone: +7 (495) 699–9668, 699–0708
Metro station: Chekhovskaya
www.lenkom.ru
Concert Hall Tchaikovsky
Address: 4/31 Triumphalnaya Sq
Phone: +7 (495) 232–0400, 232–5353, 699–2262
Metro station: Mayakovskaya
http://www.classicalmusic.ru/?id=19
Circus
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| Nikulin Moscow Circus. |
Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard is one of the oldest circuses in Russia. The permanent brick circus building was opened in 1880. It had only five rows of seats, box seats, a dress circle, wooden unnumbered benches and a standing gallery. The circus began to expand its repertoire with elaboration of pantomimes and special performances for children. In 1982 the Circus was headed by Yury Nikulin as General Manager and Artistic Director, who remained in this capacity till his death in 1997. During this time the Circus became world known for its remarkable performances. After Yury Nikulin’s death circus traditions were followed by his son.
Address: 13 Tsvetnoy Blvd
Phone: +7 (495) 625–8979
Metro station: Tsvetnoy Bulvar
http://www.circusnikulin.ru/lang/eng/file/main/index.html
Moscow State Big Circus on Prospect Vernadskogo. Built in 1971 the circus was and still remains the biggest stationary circus of the world. The auditorium consists of a 36 metre high amphitheatre and 23 rows seating 3,400 persons. There are 5 removable arenas in the 18 meter-deep huge machinery hall, equipped with modern electronic facilities. Each of the five arenas has a name of its own: equine, ice, water, illusionary and light.
As the show goes one of the arenas go down, while the other goes up, and it takes no more that five minutes. The Circus has produced over a hundred different performances starring the best Russian and foreign circus artists. Among the performing animals are bears on ice, scary Ussurian and Bengal tigers, huge elephants dancing on one foot. The Circus international company includes guest stars from China, Mongolia, Italy, Holland, Sweden, Hungary.
Address: 7 Vernadskogo prospect
Phone: +7 (495) 930–0300
E-mail: circbilet@mail.ru
Metro station: Prospekt Vernadskogo
http://www.bolshoicircus.ru/
Restaurants
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|
Pizzeria Academy.
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Academy
Popular chain of fashionable pizzerias with woodovens and the fashionable addition of sushi to the traditional menu. Excellent pizzas, pasta and salads. Drinks are expensive. Pleasant summer veranda at the Kamergersky pereulok. The branch on B. Bronnaya has its own bakery.
Cuisine: Italian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 9.00–24.00, Sat-Sun 11.00–24.00
Address: Bolshaya Bronnaya Ul. 2/6 , Kamergersky Per. 2, bldg. 1, Plosgchad Kievskogo Vokzala 2, Gogolevsky Bulvar 33/1
Metro: Pushkinskaya, Okhotny Ryad, Kievskaya, Arbatskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 697–8978
www.academiya.ru
ArteFAQ
Bohemian club-restaurant. There are a few finds in the interior: amusing toilets and a glass floor on the second floor. The menu is decent with several creative dishes and sometimes un-bohemian prices. The restaurant is comfy enough for a full dinner while the two-floored bar area is better for cocktails and ligt bites. The cellar hosts literary readings, live concerts and other cultural events. It has Wi-Fi.
Cuisine: European
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| Club-restaurant ArteFAQ. |
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–6.00
Address: B. Dmitrovskaya Ul. 32, bldg. 1
Metro: Tverskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 650–3971
www.artefaq.ru
Avocado
Pleasant vegetarian cafe not far from Chistiye Prudy. Wide choice of healthy, organic and strictly vegetarian food as well as dishes with avocado. The oxygen cocktails and dishes with sprouted sesame, flax, pumpkin seeds, lentils and chickpeas deserve special praise. No-smoking. There is a summer veranda for warm weather.
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 10.00–23.00, Sun 12.00–23.00
Address: Chistoprudny Bul. 12/2
Metro: Chistiye Prudy
Phone: +7 (495) 621–7719
Baba Marta
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| Bulgarian restaurant Baba Marta. |
The ony Bulgarian restaurant in town. The folk wood cuts in the interior go well with the national specialities. The menu has dishes from brynza, aubergine, pepper and meat — entirely familiar and tasty food.
Cuisine: Bulgarian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–23.00
Address: Gogolevsky Bul. 8
Metro: Kropotninskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 232–9209
www.babamarta.ru
Baltschug
Restaurant Baltschug invites guests to enjoy culinary masterpieces from head chef Niko Jovanolli. Magnificant view of the Kremlin, St. Basil's cathedral and Red Square spread out from the window . Luxurious breakfast, business lunch or romantic dinner — fauiliess service and a refined atmosphere for all quests. Baltschug is famous for its Sunday brunches. There is a children's room for young gourmands.
Cuisine: European
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 7.00–23.30
Address: Baltschug Ul. 1
Metro: Novokuznetskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 287–2000
www.kempinski-moscow.com
Beer market
Heaven for beer lovers. More than 70 types of the hoppy drink from all corners of the world, including exotic types, and food from various countries that goes well with beer.
Cuisine: Beer
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00, Fri-Sat 12.00–02.00
Address: Butyrskaya ul. 69
Metro: Dmitrovskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 977–7959
www.beermarket.su
Blackberry cafe
Modern Provence style with urban elements is how you might describe the interior. Neither is the menu simple, a mix of European and Asian cooking with both shashliks and Tom Yam soup. DJs and dancing in the evenings; theatrical performances during brunch for young guests. Prices are not as high as you might expect.
Cuisine: International
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| Restaurant Chagall. |
Average bill: 1500-3000 rubles
Open hours: Sun–Tues 12.00–24.00, Wed–Sat 12.00–06.00
Address: Akademika Sakharova Prospect 10
Metro: Turgenevskaya, Krasniye Vorota
Phone: +7 (495) 926–1640, 926–1645
www.ginzaproject.ru
Chagall
Restaurant in the Jewish cultural centre with an official kosher certificate from the rabbi council of Moscow, serving Ashkenazi cuisine, i.e. that cooked by Jews in Europe: esik fleisch, calf-liver pate, filleted fish and so on. There is a no-smoking hall.
Cuisine: European
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: B. Nikitskaya Ul. 47/3
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| Сlub-restaurant Che. |
Metro: Barrikadnaya
Phone: +7 (495) 926–4803
www.chagall.ru
Che
A club-restaurant in the style of the Cuban revolution with DJs, dancing and live music. The menu presents Latin American and Mexican food. The cocktails are especially good and also naturally the Cuban cigars. Always packed at the weekends.
Cuisine: Latin American
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 24-h.
Address: Nikolskaya Ul. 10/2
Metro: Lubyanka
Phone: +7 (495) 621–7477
www.clubche.ru
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| Coffeemania. |
Coffeemania
Chain of expensive coffeeshops. The most famous is on Bolshaya Nikitskaya next to the Conservatory grand hall. The coffee is very good and the desserts ingenious. In hot weather the terrace is especially popular.
Cuisine: Coffeeshop
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 8.00–24.00, Fri-Sat 10.00–24.00
Phone: +7 (495) 721–3182
www.coffeemania.ru
Damas
Splendid furniture and refined hand-made accessories make up the luxurious and intriguing interior of this Arabic restaurant. The menu includes excellent dishes of Syrian, Lebanese and Italian cuisine — for this answer two chefs, from Syria and Italy.
Cuisine: Near East
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–5.00
Address: Maroseyka Ul. 8
Metro: Kitai-Gorod
Phone: +7 (495) 628–8080
http://www.damas-rest.ru
De Ville
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| Arabic restauran Damas. |
French cafe that is very popular with people who work in nearby offices. The interior does not tickle the imagination: bordeau tones, simple furniture. But it has everything to make it a successful town cafe: breakfasts, lunches, wi-fi and a separate no-smoking hall.
Raiffeisenbank bonuses: yes
Cuisine: European
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 08.00–24.00, Fri-Sat 24-h, Sun 09.00–24.00
Address: Sadovaya-Samotechnaya ul. 24/27
Metro: Tsvetnoi Bulvar
Phone: +7 (495) 725–6476
www.cafe-deville.ru
Drevny Kitai
This Chinese restaurant in the centre of Moscow has red paper lampshades, statues of dragons, giant Ming vases and a good ratio of price to quality. You can often see Chinese tourists next to the restaurant which is definitely a good sign.
Cuisine: Chinese
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
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| Beer restaurant “Durdin”. |
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Kamergersky Per. 5/6, bldg. 4
Metro: Okhotny Ryad
Phone: +7 (495) 692–2900
www.old-china.ru
Durdin
In the middle of the 19th century Ivan Durdin's Brewing Society. The Durdin restaurants are continuing his work in the 21st century. All branches are decorated in the Russian industrial style of the start of the 20th century as if they are beer factories, with head engineer's office, technical rooms, library etc. The beer on tap here was resurrected from recipes from the century before last. There is Russian and home-style food to go with the beer. Live music in the evenings, often with dancing.
Cuisine: Beer
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Address: Leningradsky Prospect 80, B. Polyanka 56, Volgogradsky Prospect 4a, Michurinsky prospect 8
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Phone: +7 (495) 780–0139
www.durdin.ru
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| El Gaucho. |
El Gaucho
El Gaucho is a little corner of far-flung Argentina in Moscow. The branch at Paveletskaya has flamboyant decor, lively music and waiters in national costume, creating a distinctive atmosphere of the life off the beaten track of Argentine gaucho cowboys. The interior on Krasniye Voroty is more restrained and the one at Mayakovskaya is sophisticated and classical, but the main player in all branches is the meat. Esconced in one of the halls you can fill up on traditional dishes: Angus and Churasco steak, Caballero and Asado ribs, and enjoy the best Argentine wines.
Cuisine: Meat
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Zatsepsky val 6/13
Metro: Paveletskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 953–2876
www.elgaucho.ru
El Parador
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| El Parador. |
Restaurant with a rather severe 'masculine' interior and excellently-prepared Spanish dishes. Excellent steaks are cooked on a brazier. Splendid Spanish wine can be ordered by the glass.
Cuisine: Spanish
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Tverskaya Ul. 12/2 (entrance on Kozytsky Per.)
Metro: Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 629–3671
www.Elparador.ru
Ermak
This restaurant can be thought of as an ethnography musuem. It has a whole wooden village with towers, chambers, mills and gazebos built on the bank of the Moscow river not too far from the centre of town. Russian food. There is a buffet called Ladya (castle). Foreign friends will be in ecstasy from what they see. Only you have to warn them that all this national finery will cost a bit.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
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| Expeditsiya. |
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Mizhniye Mnevniki ul. 41, bldg. 1
Metro: Molodyozhnaya, Oktyabrskoye Pole
Phone: +7 (499) 191–2523, +7 (495) 979–5363
Expeditsiya
This Siberian house has a fascinating interior for those who love adventure: hewn wooden tables, plaster trees and a real helicopter as decoration. You can try unique northern Russian fare such as reindeer meat, arctic partridge, fillet of whitefish and white salmon, other Siberian delicaties and of course alcoholic infusions. The restaurant complex has its own banya and shop of adventure-related goods. They can also help to organise expeditions and picnics.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Pevchesky per. 6
Metro: Kitai-Gorod
Phone: +7 (495) 775–6075
www.expedicia.ru
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| Restaurant “Godunov”. |
Godunov
A unique restaurant located in the former refectory of Zaikonospassky monastery, founded at the start of the 17th century. Yellow, red and green halls are done like Boyar chambers with skilful paintings on the walls and arched ceilings. The menu is compiled of time-honoured Russian dishes, for which the recipes were collected from ancient culinary books. Some entries had to be modified since their ingredients simply don't exist any more. In the evening there are performances from a Russian ensemble and Romany.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Teatralnaya Ploshchad 5/1
Metro: Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii
Phone: +7 (495) 698–4490, 698–4480
www.godunov.net
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| Restaurant “Gusar”. |
Gusar — 1812
An unusually pompous and solemn restaurant in the historic manor of general-lieutenant Orlov. Moscow's main architect, Alexander Kuzmin, worked on creating the establishment. The restaurant's facade is executed in the shape of a triumphal arch; inside are columns, rich cornices, wrought iron balustrades, sophisticated furniture and English china. The menu has European and Russian specialities. It is worth trying the olivier with lobster cheeks and pelmeni with bear meat.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Ul. Sadovaya Kudrinskaya 6
Metro: Barrikadnaya, Krasnopresnenskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 697–3600, 697–5055
www.gusar-rest.ru
Homemade Cafe
Urban cafe right in the centre of Moscow, next to Tverskaya and Pushnkinskaya metro, serving real, home-made food in an unpretentious but pleasant and cosy atmosphere. The interior is simple and elegant at the same time, comfy coloured sofas combine well with brown wooden tables, chairs and stairs, and the light walls are decorated with photographs from the book 'Tasty and Healthy food'. Simple food at accessible prices is definitely not the only selling point: the menu has new dishes practically every day, including seasonal products. There is also a section of dishes prepared from recipes donated by customers.
Raiffeisenbank bonuses: yes
Cuisine: International
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 9.00–23.00
Address: B. Gnezdnikovsky Per. 10
Metro: Pushkinskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 629–6656
www.hmcafe.ru
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| Restaurant “In the dark”. |
In the dark
Created by an eye doctor as a franchise of the famous restaurant Dans Le Noir. Guests take part in an experiment: to eat in total darkness. Visitors are led to a hall where not even the tiniest ray of light penetrates (they ask you to leave telephones and watches in the safe by the door) and offered several varieties of set menu dinners, which are served by blind waiters. Guests are not told what they ate until they are led back into the light. Visiting this restaurant is a unique experience.
Cuisine: European
Average bill: 1500-3000 rubles
Open hours: Mon–Fri 18.00–24.00, Sat–Sun 15.00–24.00
Address: Oktyabrskaya ul. 2/4
Metro: Novoslobodskaya, Ploshchad Suvorova
Phone: +7 (495) 688–3396
www.v-temnote.ru
Kavkazskaya Plennitsa
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| Restaurant “Kavkazskaya Plennitsa”. |
The restaurant Kavkazskaya Plennitsa is one of the capital's most successful themed restaurants. It has been working since 1998 and since its very opening has been attracting guests with its hospitable and joyful atmosphere and with excellent cooking. The restaurant was created using the motif from the adored Soviet film, Kavkazskaya Plennitsa, or the New Adventures of Shurik. The soup list on its own is worthy of long Caucasian toasts: mountain ukha, kharcho, tatariakhli, chanakhi, chikhirtma. And then there are the shashliks, khinkali, lyulya, chakapuli, artala, chakhokhbili. In other words, you have to visit Kazkazskaya Plennitsa even if it is only for the opportunity to utter the cult saying, 'To live is good. But to live well is even better!'.
Cuisine: Georgian
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Prospekt Mira 36
Metro: Prospekt Mira
Phone: +7 (495) 680–5111, 680–5177
http://www.novikovgroup.ru/restaurants/kavkaz
Kvas
An establishment in pre-revolutionary style. Quality Russian home cooking, a peaceful interior with photographs of old Moscow, a good choice of home-made alcoholic infusions, live-brewed kvass — Kvas deserves your attention!
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Sadovaya-Chernogryazskaya ul. 29
Metro: Krasniye Vorota
Phone: +7 (495) 917–5669
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| Restaurant “l'Albero”. |
l'Albero
Pretty and romantic Italian restaurant in an idyllic park, not far at all from the noisy Garden ring. Inside are two sophisticated halls: the light and airy Winter garden and the more solid, dark-toned Divan room. The chef from Italy presents modern Italian cooking.
Raiffeisenbank bonuses: yes
Cuisine: Italian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00, Fri-Sat 12.00–01.00
Address: Delegatskaya Ul. 7, bldg. 1
Metro: Novoslobodskaya, Ploshchad Suvorova, Tsvetnoi Bulvar
Phone: +7 (495) 650–1674, 650–1675
www.albero.su
Louisiana Steakhouse
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| Louisiana Steakhouse. |
This time-tested steakhouse with a wild west theme has huge portions of meat. The menu also has Mexican and Cajun cuisine that was brought to Louisiana by French-speaking migrants from eastern Canada.
Cuisine: Meat
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 11.00–01.00
Address: Pyatnitskaya Ul. 30, bldg. 4
Metro: Tretyakovskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 951–4244
www.louisianasteakhouse.com
Lucien
This restaurant is located in a manor estate from the start of the 20th century. The noble and beautiful interior makes you want to eat unhurriedly, in the Russian manner. The favourite is the salad Olivier — they say that it is made strictly from a 19th century recipe. There is daily shchi with veal, minced pike served with tender caviar, champagne and beetroot jelly — real refined, noble food. Don’t forget to order the real Russian spectacle: tea ceremony with a real samovar on coals from Tula.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Gilyarovskogo ul. 65, bldg. 1
Metro: Prospect Mira, Sukharevskaya, Rizhskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 997–7665
www.lucienrest.ru
Mari Vanna
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| Restaurant “Mari Vanna”. |
Unbelievably sentimental interior styled as a flat that touches the depths of your soul. Sofas with cusions, commodes, sideboards, lacy napkins and flowers in vases in the window — every detail is noticeable and in its right place. The menu has good examples of Soviet-Russian cooking. At lunch time they lay out a buffet that disappears almost at once.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 09.00–24.00
Address: Spiridonovsky per. 10a
Metro: Tverskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 650–6500
www.marivanna.ru
Na Melnitse
A mercantile atmosphere and top-notch Russian cooking is this restaurant’s visiting card. Pheasants live here in large cages and gold carp swim in the stream, making pleasant amusement for the guests. There is music on Saturday evenings in the ‘windmill’. There is Russian folk music from 19.30, and Romany sometimes perform too.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Sadovaya-Spasskaya ul. 24
Metro: Krasniye Vorota
Phone: +7 (495) 625–8890, 625–8753
www.namelnitse.ru
Noev Kovcheg (Noah's Ark)
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| Restaurant “Noah's Ark”. |
You’ll be spoilt for choice in this Armenian restaurant — the menu presents more than 120 Caucasian dishes. They say that this is the best shaslyk in town and with that they might be near the truth, since all the dishes cooked over coals here are uncommonly tasty. Dolma and basturma also deserve undivided attention. The menu also has many sorts of cognac.
Cuisine: Armenian
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: M. Ivanovsky Per. 7-9, bldg. 1
Metro: Kitai-Gorod
Phone: +7 (495) 917–0717
http://www.noevkovcheg.ru
O2 Lounge
Glamorous bar on the roof of the hotel Ritz Carlton. Excellent sushi, oysters, lobsters and kobe beef let you imagine yourself as part of the elite. And you won’t find another view of Red Square like this anywhere.
Cuisine: International
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: Mon–Thurs 12.00–2.00, Fri–Sat 12.00–3.00, Sun 12.00–0.00
Address: Tverskaya Ul. 3
Metro: Okhotny Ryad
Phone: +7 (495) 642–7072
www.ritzcarltonmoscow.ru
Pokrovskiye Vorota
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| Restaurant “Pokrovskiye Vorota”. |
A Soviet-style restaurant decorated with motifs from the film of the same name. The sentimental decoration brings to mind a Soviet flat. All-time favourite Russian dishes at practically Soviet prices, considering the quality of the food — the veal medallions and fish porridge with cream are especially good, as well as the homemade mors and kvas.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 11.00–23.00
Address: Pokrovka ul. 19
Metro: Kitai-Gorod
Phone: +7 (495) 917–3985, 621–4340
www.pokrovskievorota.ru
Porto Maltese
This brand has more than once received the award of best fish restaurants in Moscow. The menu has more than 25 entries of fresh fish and seafood, including skate wings and mollusks straight from the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas. For a fish restaurant prices are not extortionate.
Cuisine: Fish
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Pravdy ul. 21
Metro: Belorusskaya, Dinamo
Phone: +7 (495) 739–8249
www.portomaltese.ru
Praga
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| Restaurant “Praga”, room “Arbat”. |
This cafe follows practically all the unwritten rules of fashionable eclectic Moscow restaurants — an expensive interior in chocolate tones, sophisticated designer accessories and a bar made of onyx. Floor to ceiling windows provide excellent lighting and a pleasant view. And the menu is compiled to please everyone, with sushi, pasta and home-made cutlets.
Cuisine: International
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: By order
Address: Arbat Ul. 2/1
Metro: Arbatskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 690–6171
www.ast-group.ru/praga
Pushkin Confectioners
This is not really a coffee shop, but if you want to gladden your soul with good coffee and dreamy desserts then this is the place. The cakeshop attached the legendary cafe Pushkin is truly enchanting: the interior is unusually romantic and the dessert cabinets will really drive you mad; you want to taste everything!
Cuisine: Coffeeshop
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 11.00–24.00
Address: Tverskoi Bulvar 26/5
Metro: Tverskaya, Pushkinskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 604–4280
Razgulyai
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| Restaurant “Rybny Bazar”. |
This restaurant is named after a square that no longer exists, where there were many eating houses as far back as the 17th century. The church of the Bogoyavlensky Sobor is next door, where Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was christened. And the detached house next door is connected with the name of Peter the First’s lover Anna Mons. In the restaurant’s rooms that are full of gzhel pottery and khokhloma lacquered wood, they serve Russian food but with a very strong European accent.
Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Spartakovsky ul. 11
Metro: Baumanskaya, Komsomolskaya
Phone: +7 (499) 267–7613
Rybny Bazar
This restaurant is famous for running periodic price-damping campaigns such as offering any oyster on the menu for 96 rubles. But it is not just the prices that attract gourmands but rather the huge choice of fresh exotic fish and seafood. There is a special flambe-menu from the chef — these dishes are not only delicious but make a great impression when served.
Cuisine: Fish
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
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| Restaurant “Rytsarsky Club”. |
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Trekhprudny per. 10/2
Metro: Pushkinskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 650–5444, 699–2951
www.rbazar.ru
Rytsarsky Club
The only restaurant on the viewing platform on Vorobyovy Gory. Situated under the big ski-jump, it looks out on arresting views of Moscow. There are several halls: mechants’ formal hall, a hall like in a knight’s castle, a winter garden and summer veranda. The food is average quality and overpriced but remembers, you pay for the view and the atmosphere.
Cuisine: European
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Kosygina Ul. 28
Metro: Vorobyovy Gory, Leninsky Prospect
Phone: +7 (495) 930–0726
www.rytclub.ru
Sanduny
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| Boyar ring — the specialty of the restaurant “Sanduny”. |
Restaurant working in the famous old Sandunovsky bathhouses. It was closed in Soviet times but reopened not long ago. Russian, Elizabethan and Eastern halls, all three presented in 19th century Imperial style. Guests can enjoy Russian, Uzbek and (for some reason) Chinese cuisine. The restaurant specialises in running wedding and other banquets.
Cuisine: International
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 10.00–23.00
Address: Neglinnaya Ul. 14, bldg. 4
Metro: Kuznetsky Most
Phone: +7 (495) 628–4479, 628–6733
www.resto-sanduny.ru
Scandinavia
This restaurant offers Swedish and Russian dishes in a very expat-friendly atmosphere (the telephone was even answered in English). We recommend paying attention to the glorious burgers and steaks, and also the unusual dishes of dhilt salmon fillet and venison soup. There is a separate cafe and beer garden in summer where special events are held.
Cuisine: Scandinavian
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| Restaurant “Scandinavian”. |
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: M. Palashevsky per. 7
Metro: Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 937–5630
www.scandinavia.ru
Staraya Ploshchad (old square)
Sophisticated Russian and European restaurant right in the heart of the city. It has two halls, both elegant and comfortable. As well as traditional classics on the menu, there are also intriguing entries such as elk steak with cowberry sauce and baked wild-boar ribs with honey sauce. Prices are appropriate, not too inflated.
Raiffeisenbank bonuses: yes
Cuisine: European
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 10.00–23.00
Address: B. Chekassky per. 8/6, bldg. 1
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| Restaurant “Syrnaya Dyrka”. |
Metro: Kitai-Gorod, Lubyanka, Ploshchad Revolyutsii
Phone: +7 (495) 698–4688, 698–4738
Syrnaya Dyrka
Restaurants are on a cheese theme. The ‘French cheese hole’ on Pokrovka focuses on French, Italian and German cooking while the ‘Swiss cheese hole’ on Dmitrovka focuses on French and swiss cooking. The menu contains more than 28 different types of cheese and also pies, fondue and other dishes.
Cuisine: European
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Pokrovsky Bul. 6/20
Metro: Chistiye Prudy
Phone: +7 (495) 917–1676
www.sdyrka.ru
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| Beer restaurant “Tinkoff”. |
Tinkoff
Large 2-storey restaurant with industrial design. A lift goes between the two floors. Their own microbrewery sits behind a glass barrier, you can observe the process. There is a new collection of house beers every season. The huge menu has something for every occasion and there is even a sushi bar with a menu compiled by a chef from Japan. At weekends there are concerts, including world-famous groups.
Cuisine: Beer
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 8.30.00–2.00
Address: Protochny per. 11
Metro: Smolenskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 777–3300
www.tinkoff.ru
Turandot
A restaurant palace and no less! Construction took over 6 years. Every detail was planned and there are works of art everywhere: comparisons to the Hermitage would not be out of place. No other restaurant in Moscow can compete with Turandot for interior beauty and perfection. The menu has excellent Asian and European dishes.
Cuisine: Chinese
Average bill: More then 3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
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| Vinoteca Dissident. |
Address: Tverskoi Bulvar 26/5
Metro: Tverskaya, Pushkinskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 739–0011
www.turandotpalace.ru
Vinoteca Dissident
There are more than 200 wines of offer at Dissident by the glass or by the bottle. The food is European with an accent on Italian and French cooking; lots of cheese and starters to reflect the taste of the wine. It is worth coming here also to gaze upon the fantastic panorama of the former KGB building, now FSB, on Lubyanskaya Ploshchad.
Cuisine: Wine restaurants
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 11.00–24.00
Address: Nikolskaya Ul. 25, 5th floor of shopping centre Nautilus
Metro: Lyubyanka
Phone: +7 (499) 929–5848, 929-5849
www.dissident.msk.ru
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| Restaurant “Volga-Volga”. |
Volga-Volga
This restaurant has been conducting its story since 1939, situated in a building of the Northern river port in a park on the banks of the river Moscow. The solemn interior is an example of Stalinist empire style. In warm weather the rotonda is open, grown over with vines, there is a fountain in the centre and tables are situated around it. They serve dishes from European and Russian cuisine. There are aquariums with sturgeons swimming that can be caught and cooked for you. It is worth a visit to feel the unique ‘Soviet aristocratic’ atmosphere.
Raiffeisenbank bonuses: yes
Cuisine: European
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Leningradskoye shosse 51
Metro: Rechnoi Vokzal
Phone: +7 (495) 627–5262
www.volga-volga.info
Volkonsky
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| Cafe-bakery “Volkonsky”. |
One of those miraculous places that restores your faith in the potential of Moscow restaurants. Cafe-bakery with probably the best baking in Moscow, excellent salads and delicious main dishes at wholly accessible prices. Great atmosphere and cosy rooms with jars of jam, honey and the like along the walls.
Cuisine: Cafe-bakery
Average bill: Up to 1500 rubles
Open hours: 08.00–23.00, Fri-Sat 8.00–1.00
Address: Maroseika ul. 4/2, bldg. 1 , B. Sadovaya Ul. 2/46, Sretenka Ul. 27/29Phone: +7 (495) 721–1442, 258–5440
www.wolkonsky.com
Wall Street Bar
This bar was opened for a serious clientele: businessmen and stockbrokers who value comfort, good drinks and good music. The interior is rather severe and substantial and the lower floor has cigar and karaoke rooms. The bar list has a good selection of cocktails but the menu is not the most original: European-Japanese mix, there is even pizza. DJs on Friday and Saturday.
Cuisine: Bars
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00 to last guest
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| Fish restaurant “Zolotoi Ostap”. |
Address: Volkhonka Ul. 9, bldg. 1
Metro: Kropotninskaya
Phone: +7 (495) 916–5731
www.wallstbar.com
Zolotoi Ostap
The light, natural and easy atmosphere in one of the most noticeable fish restaurants in Moscow is created not only by the tactile waiters but by the peaceful interior in maritime style. The impressive assortment of fresh fish, langoustines, lobsters and other gifts from the Mediterranean sea and the Pacific and Indian Oceans is refreshed 3–4 times a week.
Cuisine: Fish
Average bill: 1500–3000 rubles
Open hours: 12.00–24.00
Address: Shmitovsky proezd 3, bldg. 1
Metro: Ulitsa 1905 Goda
Phone: +7 (499) 259–4795, 259–2570
www.porto-maltese.ru
Geo location
55.751946,37.618217
