Eating out - online guide for Russia

The best restaurants in Moscow to try

"The house is noted for its pies, not for its interior."

Whilst on a city break of Moscow, one can experience many international dining tables. With hundreds of restaurants, cafes and clubs there is something to satisfy everyone's taste, from traditional Russian food, to the finest of European wines, to the delicacies of the Far East. Some of our favourite places across the board include:

Cafe Pushkin is considered by many Muscovites to be the best restaurant in Russia, where they serve Russian cuisine of the highest standards. Cafe Pushkin is loved by the Russian dining elite, that don’t mind the extra expense to experience the supreme dining atmosphere, of exquisite delicacies and the authentic aristocratic style décor. Cafe Pushkin is also very popular for its ground floor dining space, which is open 24 hours a day. So amazingly even at 4am, you can find a place to have fine cuisine and mingle with the late night crowd. If the Pushkin is out of your budget, then we’d recommend Durdin restaurant that features Russian cuisine & its own local beer. The prices are very reasonable and they don’t cut corners on quality either. It’s slightly away from the city centre, but this is a short price to pay for a wonderful holiday evening. Other excellent restaurants respected for their Russian cuisine and worth visiting during a weekend break in Moscow, are Yolki Palki for its moderate prices and large portions of traditional dishes. CDL in Moscow is known for its authentic Russian food and beautiful interior. Historically, the Freemasons used to dine here, but now a wide variety of city break clients enjoy the 19th century surroundings.

Lovers of French cuisine will be delighted with the choice in this capital. We’d firstly recommend the Carre Blanc situated in a classical mansion, which offers the most romantic getaway settings. The restaurant is beautifully furnished and more modern then evening. In summer we highly recommend reserving the outside terrace tables, to add further romance to your holiday. The head chef has made some evolutionary French dishes that will impress the harshest food critique. Another refined establishment specializing in French cuisine is Mon Plaisir that is widely accepted in Moscow’s dining scene for producing masterpieces of high culinary art. On entering Mon Plaisir, Russia city break guests will feel the atmosphere of aristocracy that one would have felt in the 18th century. Mon Plaisir is a space for quite romantic dining or cheerful groups. There is even a room with Karaoke, live music and a dance floor. A menu that has been highly praised by Moscow gourmets is Restaurant Villa that concentrates on Mediterranean & classical French cuisine. The dishes are perfectly crafted, with passion, experience and perfect flavoring. The restaurant is described as luxury dining and will be a real treat on a holiday in Moscow.

At the China Dream restaurant you will enjoy, elegance & glamour and receive a VIP type service. The luxurious rooms are beautifully designed, with all the oriental trimmings & done very tastefully and not over the top. For evening, you might just forget you are in Russia, as you’ll be transported to ancient China and feast like an Imperial Emperor. Sounds of an ancient gong create peculiar atmosphere and the dainty little bridge across the pond invites you to an interesting gastronomic trip. The ‘China Dream’ is without a doubt a premier place to dine on a city break holiday in Russia. It’s culinary diversity has no rivals. The Golden Dragon Restaurant specializes in dishes of Chinese and Japanese cuisines and has many dining halls to choose. The Druzhba is another respected Chinese restaurant, for its authentic & well spiced dishes and comfortable surroundings. An interesting Chinese restaurant is Djonka (name of a Chinese boat) for its interesting interior design and is very suitable for family holidays, company parties and romantic meetings. The traditional dishes are very nice and the sushi bar is excellent. Djonka promises to take its clients on an unforgettable gastronomy voyage. For a unique blend of Thai, Japanese and Chinese cuisine, then we can suggest to try ‘Hiro’. The restaurant has been designed to perfection, a lovely mixture of modern & traditional influences that create the perfect romantic setting. The preparation of traditional oriental dishes is an art that has been developed to perfection at Hiro. Anybody who dines here will discover the exotic side to cuisine.

If you’re searching for a top class Italian restaurant, then Mario’s is ranked one of the best in the capital. Using ingredients flown in twice a week from Italy they create consistently wonderful pasta dishes. The restaurant also has one of the best and most discreet summer gardens in town, favoured by many Russian celebrities. Reservations are essential, as are a jacket and tie. An exquisite Italian restaurant that has both a romantic & relaxing atmosphere is the lovely Bellagio. After spending a day amongst the fast pace of Moscow’s city life, Bellagio will be a calming oasis, that will transport you away from bustle of Moscow’s busy urban streets. This attractive restaurant fills the air with tantalizing aromas that immerses its guests and puts them in the mood for fine wine & food. Antonio Rizzi, the legendary Chef of the restaurant, has created a matchless collection of Italian dishes with especially charming desserts. Bellagio is highly recommended during a weekend break in Moscow. To experience exquisite tones of Italian haute cuisine, then Bellagio will be a fine choice. For more Italian & Mediterranean flavorings try the delightful ‘Cheese’ restaurant. This establishment has two very distinct dinning rooms, both unique from each other but equally appropriate in their own way. The bottom floor, is in suit with the restaurant name. The interior has been designed, as if you are actually dinning inside a large piece of cheese. The room is a painted yellow, the ceilings, walls and columns have holes like in cheese and the floor is decorated in yellow mosaics. The restaurant is lively and a lot of fun and will be like nowhere else you have ever dined on any other vacation. On the second floor is the ‘Red Wine’ room that is a blend of nobility and intimacy. The interior is luxurious & cozy and would be a perfect romantic getaway to choose on a short break of Moscow. The food is divine, the wine list spans all across Italy and the service is immaculate. Patio pizza, is an airy place to find pizza bliss, this cheerful restaurant has a huge back room with glass ceiling and walls, so the sun pours in all day. The original is a stone's throw from the Pushkin Museum, and more are popping up around town. Tables are comfortably spaced and the rooms are always filled with a pleasantly bustling crowd.

Palazzo Ducale feels like an old imperial palace and is the ideal retreat from Moscow’s busy urban streets. A couple of hours in this fine dining restaurant and you’ll feel like you’re in a Russian Venice. The restaurant might be expensive, but there are not a lot of places that can match its imperial atmosphere. Every detail has been thought about, from the hand made napkins to the gentle Italian music in the background. This is a city break dream dining experience, if you can budget for it, then treat yourselves, go on you’re on holiday after all. We also recommend Dorian Gray an excellent Italian restaurant and an up-market Italian called La Cipolla D'oro. Both have well established names and are worth fining during a weekend break in Moscow. Fidelio has an exquisite homelike atmosphere, with intricately dimmed light walls, soft cream cloths and white furniture; it is an oasis of calm and tranquility. True food connoisseurs will love this restaurant, for innovative dishes and traditional favourites. Vegetarians will find an excellent selection on the menu aswell. Vegetarian travelers will not need to panic. Our first Vegetarian port of call would be ‘Jagannat Express’ restaurant, one of the first to spring up in the capital. Here you can enjoy many healthy vegetarian Indian, Chinese, and Japanese options at reasonable prices. Next to mention, is the vegetarian cafe Avocado on the Chistoprudny Boulevard, a most picturesque place. There are many world dishes to try, ranging from traditional to fusion, all exquisite and extremely tasteful. The drinks menu only has a selection of soft drinks, none alcoholic beer and cocktails based on fresh juice. Another fantastic feature to Avocado restaurant, is its no smoking policy. This vegetarian cafe has a light harmonious atmosphere and presents a calming & healthy dining option.

One of the best beer restaurants is Tinkoff and is a recommended place to go for large groups, stag weekends, sports tours abroad and corporate functions. There on site microbrewery produces excellent tasting beer, in fact beer lovers can appreciate 8 grades of non-filtered beer, from dark ‘Mellow Autumn’ with its smoked taste, up to light ‘Weissbier’ which is preferred by ladies. It’s a great place for a party night as there’s live music from international bands and the atmosphere is generally very lively. Azteca is a fantastic Mexican restaurant and is one of the most popular in Moscow. The Mexican menu offers traditional favorites and the well stocked bar serves pretty much any drink. The walls are covered in a bright Aztec motif, and the staff's mood matches the festive costumes. To feel like a Arabic King or Queen, then enjoy an evening at Uzbekistan. On Neglinnaya Street, exists one of Moscow’s oldest restaurants, open since the 1950s and has the most exquisite décor one could possibly wish for. It looks like a Sultan’s paradise, with large sofas, silky drapes, ancient vases, hand made carpets and many eastern intricacies. Luxury is simply everywhere and we urge our clients to see for themselves. Not only should you come for the spectacular scenery and food, but come and enjoy the bewitching oriental beauties that perform traditional belly dances. Whereas many restaurants in Moscow seem to have gone for glitz, the owners of Scandinavia have opted for cozy and comforting. This is one of the most serene dining rooms in the city, with a décor that reflects a Swedish country manor. Scandinavia's balcony and summer beer garden are the most tranquil and popular places for summer outdoor dining in town. A special, cheaper summer menu for the café provides plenty of choices for those on a tighter budget. Scandinavia is in a great location, located just off Pushkin Square, one of Moscow's key junctions. A sushi revolution has taken place in the Russian capital with a plethora of restaurants serving sushi appearing in the matter of a few months. Yakitoria has proved the most reliable for cheap, good quality sushi. At Yakitoria the service is quick, the ingredients fresh, and the menu comprehensive. Popular among the after-rave set, Bochka is another of Moscow’s numerous open-around-the-clock restaurants. Opposite the Mezhdunarodnaya Hotel, it attracts its fair share of New Russians and businesspeople. If you're brave, turn up on Friday, when a giant spit is assembled for the roasting of wild game, including bulls and goats. If that doesn't appeal, the salads are worth a try. Open 24 hours daily, breakfast is served from 5 to 11 AM.