Moscow nightlife is booming! Check out these 9 distinctive bars which offer something for every taste.
Second Breath (Второе дыхание)
In Soviet times there were no bars in Moscow, at least not as we know them today; there were only ‘rumochnayas’ – small pubs with no seating arrangements and no waiters but only a counter with a minimal set of drinks, mainly vodka and beer. When the Soviet Union collapsed, most rumochnayas disappeared, but ‘Second Breath’ endured.
Today it’s still the place where local retirees, mill workers and cheerful students rub shoulders, and enjoy vodka for 1 rouble a gram. The interior is simple and unpretentious: bare walls, ten high iron tables, a small bar counter and ashtrays made of used beer cans.
The guests here are very friendly and it’s not unheard of to be offered free drinks by some of the merrier patrons.
Where: Pyatnitsky Pereulok, 8/10 (Пятницкий пер., 8/10)
Tel: +7 495 953 2217
Nearest station: Новокузнецкая (Новокузнецкая)
Luch Bar (Бар «Луч»)
Located on the first floor of a former electric bulb factory, Luch Bar is a loft with extremely high ceilings, a 30-metre long bar counter, contemporary art and Pan-Asian cuisine.
Though the huge windows let in gleaming daylight, it is much more fun to come here at night, order a few Singapore Slings and catch a glimpse of the diverse clientele partying after work.
Launched by the artist Yevgeny Mitta, special attention has been given to the the interior: old brick walls painted in white and dark-coloured furniture serve as a perfect background for paintings, pictures, sculptures, and installations by modern artists.
Where: Bolshaya Pirogovskaya, 27/1 (Большая Пироговская, 27/1)
Tel: +7 495 287 0022
Nearest station: Frunzenskaya (Фрунзенская)
Veranda 32.05 (Веранда 32.05)
Nestled in the Hermitage Garden, Veranda 32.05 has a spacious interior with large windows and furniture painted in pastel colours. The menu is a mix of European and Russian cuisine: you can choose between filling soups, simple salads and sandwiches, spring rolls and grilled dorado.
During summertime you can sit on the open veranda and enjoy a cocktaill, a home-made lemonade or a glass of white wine. At nights there are lively DJ-parties where everyone gathers on the dance floor.
Where: Karetnyy Ryad, 3, bld. 6 (Каретный Ряд, 3, стр.6)
Tel: +7 905 703 3205
Nearest station: Pushkinskaya (Пушкинская)
Mercedes Bar
Located on the 31st floor of the former hotel Ukraine – now called the Radisson Royal Hotel – the Mercedes Bar boasts great views of Moscow’s city centre.
The bar is a joint venture with the car brand Mercedes Benz: posters of Mercedes classics adorn the walls in an Art Deco interior with floor to ceiling windows; there’s even a car model on display. All cocktails are named after Mercedes Benz car models and just as the cars themselves, they are rather pricey.
The cuisine is a mix of Japanese dishes and traditional Italian desserts.
Where: Kutuzovskiy Prospekt, 2/1, bldg. 1 (Кутузовский проспект, 2/1, стр. 1)
Tel: +7 495 229 8309
Nearest station: Kievskaya (Киевская)
Kvartira 44 (Квартира 44)
The two-storey restaurant and bar, Kvartira 44, comes equipped with a wonderful backyard patio, a laid-back atmosphere and a jolly crowd. The name translates to Apartment 44 and with its mismatched furniture and personal memorabilia, this bar feels like you’re visiting your neighbour’s place. The cuisine is predominantly European and the menu offers classic cocktails at affordable prices.
Occasionally you can attend theme parties here, like the Great Gatsby parties, with people dressed in 1920s style outfits, drinking champagne and dancing to live jazz music.
Where: Malaya Yakimanka, 24/8 (Малая Якиманка, 24/8)
Tel: +7 499 238 8234
Nearest station: Polyanka (Полянка)
Time Out Bar
Situated on the 13th floor of the Stalinist-styled Peking Hotel, the Time Out Bar offers great views of the city centre in relaxed surroundings.
If you come here during the morning, you can enjoy a bowl of porridge and a cup of green tea, while watching the city wake up. The cocktails on offer are based on the time of the day: from champagne-based ‘breakfast’ drinks to ‘5 o’clock tea’ cocktails infused with green tea or earl grey tea and rum-based ‘sundowning time’ drinks mixed with colourful fruit syrups.
Where: Bolshaya Sadovaya, 5/1 (Большая Садовая, 5/1)
Tel: +7 495 229 0180
Nearest station: Mayakovskaya (Маяковская)
Read more: 10 places to visit in the Russian capital
All Your Friends (Все Твои Друзья)
Сraft beer is booming in Moscow and the All Your Friends bar specialises only in Russian craft beer and a few rare European beers and ciders.
Opened by a group of friends, who used to play in a band together, this no-frills bar lies hidden behind a gift shop. The beer menu changes on a weekly basis to match recent developments – a good reason to return often and check what’s new.
Grab one of the barrels used as seats, try a genuine Russian craft beer, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. During summertime you can sit outside on the sidewalk and chat until the early morning hours.
Where: Malyy Gnezdnikovskiy Pereulok, 12/27 (Малый Гнездниковский пер., 12/27)
Tel: +7 925 562 8990
Nearest station: Pushnikskaya (Пушкинская)
Mayak (Маяк)
Mayak is the regular hangout spot for actors, artists, journalists and writers. Everyone is welcome at Mayak, but you’ll quickly realise that everyone knows each other here.
Except when professional musicians pass by for a drink and play some tunes on the piano, there is no background music – only the lively chatter of the jolly guests. The menu predominantly consists of a diverse offering of wines and spirits, but you can also order salads, soups and pasta dishes.
Where: Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 19 (Большая Никитская, 19)
Tel: +7 495 691 7449
Nearest station: Arbatskaya (Арбатская)
Denis Simachev Shop & Bar
Denis Simachev is a fashion designer who became popular at the beginning of the 2000s thanks to his T-shirts featuring a picture of the smiling Russian president surrounded by embroidered flowers.
Simachev still designs clothes, but the bar he opened in 2006 is a far more successful enterprise. Here, within an 18th century setting, bartenders mix watermelon shots and DJs throw the best parties for Moscow’s upper class.
The place is tiny and easily overcrowded, but this only adds to the lively atmosphere.
Where: Stoleshnikov Pereulok, 12/2 (Столешников переулок, 12/2)
Tel: +7 495 629 8085
Nearest station: Teatralnaya (Театральная)
