2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: Best restaurants in Moscow

So you're in Moscow and googling "places to eat" with a little bit of  anxious feeling about making the wrong choice. I'm here to help. Follow the list below and you will dine in style enjoying the best of the best in the Russia's capital.

Let’s start from Russian cuisine? I mean, whenever I travel I always look for something authentic, you know, so at least if I meet someone from Peru I can say that I’ve been to Peru and ALSO loved their sea bream ceviche. Helps to keep the small talk, basically.

Newly opened, trendy hotspots with Russian cuisine

Gorynych grill, bakery and bar

Address: Rozhdestvensky Blvd, 1

Opened in February, this is one of the newest restaurants in Moscow where you can try Russian cuisine. However, you will need to specifically ask for it because their menu has all sorts and types of food, starting from pizza, crafted bread on leaven to meat, fish and vegetables.

The interior brings the idea of fire to the absolute:  a wood-burning stove located right by the entrance, firebirds, the wooden furniture and a three-tonne Texan smoker with a rotating stone in the open kitchen. Meat, fish and seafood are cooked in it or roasted on a grill which creates a full range of mouth-watering flavors.

The wine list will not disappoint either:  there are classical and fashionable wines to match your meal but if you’re more of  a cocktail lover than you should definitely try some Russian twist. The bartender adds specific ingredients like Russian walnut jam or northern berries.

And here’s a bonus: a gorgeous panoramic view of Moscow.

Berezka City

Address: Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya, 8

Opened in the end of 2017 this restaurant is still one of the trendiest choices for those who want to taste the Russian cuisine. Berezka is located on the first two floors of the business center tower in Moscow-City. The eclectic interior creates the feeling of the industrial loft and modern art. Apart of fine dining you can also enjoy themed karaoke parties (on a weekend), guest DJs and musical bands performances.

Their extensive menu offers the wide ranging choice of traditional Russian and Uzbek dishes: tatar kazy, bruschetta with salmon, smoked eel with unagi for starters, soup from sorrel and lagman with young lamb for lunch and for the main course you can try traditional shurpa, plov or veal tongues with bulgur. Everything is cooked on the open fire - “mangal” (Russian version of BBQ) that makes every dish even more special.

At the bar, besides the usual suspects, there are some of Russia-inspired mixes, like Fusion Moscow (American whiskey and fresh raspberries) or non-alcoholic Silky Sling from fresh watermelon and blackberry.

Bonus: a summer terrace to enjoy Moscow in the sun

Syrovarnya (cheese-eater’s paradise)

Address: Kutuzovsky Ave, 12



This restaurant is a solid response to the banned cheese imports from the EU in retaliation for Western sanctions. This restaurant serves hearty, homey meals, most of which contain cheese produced right here – in a micro-creamery that you see first thing after coming inside.  

If you choose to come here, I suggest you start from local cheese tasting. The menu offers a Russian version of mozzarella ($4), burrata ($4.5), ricotta ($1.7), stracciatella ($1.7) and kachotta ($1.9). The majority of dishes are simple with a rustic style, served on painted terra-cotta plates and wooden boards. The homemade cheese and other products from the local farmers can be bought in a shop at the restaurant - just ask!

The dishes on Syrovarnya's menu are complemented by the artfully rustic interior. Sited in the remains of a former brewery, Syrovarnya has embraced industrial-chic to create an absolutely gorgeous dining experience; candles are set into exposed concrete pillars, pipes and old brew tanks gleam overhead, and the playlist is bass-heavy and a little Gothic.

Magadan

Address: Kutuzovsky Avenue 12



The Magadan is the Russian seafood restaurant that doubles as a nightclub. If you are looking for a place to start the night, don't mind Russian pop (why not to check it out?) and like elegant style then this is for you. Avoid if you're more into electronic music and visit their sister restaurant Valenok instead.

The menu includes fish and seafood, which are brought from Magadan, Murmansk and other fishing regions of Russia. For a beer snack you can safely take, for example, herring from the Sea of Okhotsk on toast, assorted Magadan shrimps on ice or baked in the oven, Sakhalin scallops, or even just a large seafood plateau. For a main course I would recommend a branded Magadan ear with fish balls or to take a large fish sage if you’re a group of 4 or more.

And of course you this is the place to try Russian caviar. The Caviar bar offers halibut, whitefish, sockeye salmon, salmon and pike types of caviar that is served with Russian traditional pancakes and a sour cream. Oh, we Russians do love our sour cream!

Not newly opened, but truly Russian and traditional restaurants

Cafe Pushkin

Address: Tverskoy Boulevard, 26А



Ok, so this is the place that I suggest to every person who is visiting Moscow for the first time. Cafe Pushkin is one of the most elegant, posh, expensive and high quality restaurants and foreigners absolutely love it.

The interior does not just look like it is from the 19th century, it really is. Things get wonderfully eccentric in the bathroom, with its bold floral wallpaper and piped-in sound from an instructional video about ballet dancing.
The food is not just Russian cuisine, it is masterfully crafted and super delicious recreation of ancient Russian recipes. You will have an opportunity to try all classics you can expect such as caviar, pelmeni (Russian version of beef or pork dumplings), rack of lamb, smoked herring and blini (Russian pancakes), ukha (Russian fish soup) paired with an impressive vodka menu (no surprise!).

Grand-Café Dr.Zhivago

Address: Mokhovaya St, 15/1

I personally love Dr Zhivago and took here my English friend Liz last winter. This place is simple, modern, stylish and the perfect choice for those who just want to try Russian cuisine, tick the box and move on back to their favourite Italian or French restaurants.

The interior is all about the Russian theme, the white hall of the restaurant welcomes guests with artwork by Malevich, Dainek and other talented Russian artists. The two main colors are white and red that represents the spirit of Soviet kitsch: a mosaic on the ceiling and a chandelier in the shape of a Kremlin star.

Everything you find in the menu is made using the only local products, even the olive oil is replaced by pumpkin and linseed oils. There are dedicated sections for a wide choice of Russian cereals, stuffed pancakes, dumplings, pies, caviar, salted and pickled vegetables. I recommend not to skip the meat platters either: from smoked stellate sturgeon, muxun, salted venison, to fat and dried duck - all of those are mocked, smoked and dried in Zhivago’s kitchen.

Russian cuisine with a panoramic view of Moscow

Ruski

Address: First Krasnogvardeyskiy Proyezd, 21

But of course I should also mention this highest-located restaurant in Europe. Forget the Shard in London! This restaurant not only offers delicious Russian cuisine, but also offers a stunning view of Moscow from the 85th floor.

This place really stands out with its cocktail menu: you can try something really unique that is based on traditional Russian infusions and liqueurs, served in all sorts of glass and china. Don’t forget to sample some homemade infused vodka. The vodkas here are divided into two categories: cordials and so-called “marinated vodkas”. The former are less strong and sweeter (try rosehip or black currant), while the latter are 80-proof with flavors like porcini mushrooms, buckwheat or ginger with strawberry.

Ruski combines carefully researched traditional Russian food with contemporary Russian cuisine. Unique dishes of the oven menu are able to impress the most sophisticated guests. I recommend you try pork ribs in sour cream, Guriev porridge, or varenets (dumplings) with blueberries.