adapted from the ararat*park
hyatt's list, ever so helpfully provided by the concierge. that said,
it's almost as if someone was bribed by arkady*novikov because so many
of his projects feature on the list. we particularly enjoyed cafe
pushkin and the bolshoi restaurant, and a cheat tip for bars is the park
hyatt bar was much nicer than the famous o2 bar at the ritz carlton. o2
bar only worth visiting during day light and good weather (neither of
which we had!) so you can legitimately peer over the kremlin walls.
otherwise, the park hyatt conservatory bar is quite and calming.
Restaurants
Russian
Pushkin Café Tverskoy Bulvar,
26
Guidebook favourite with pre-revoluntionary style décor. Open 24h
with a few levels so wasn’t too difficult to get a table for 2 on Saturday
night. Only takes booking before 830pm. Pharmacy for casual catch ups, Library
for privacy and the Fireplace for celebrations and the Cellar and Summer
Terrace for grand dinners. The beef stroganoff was the best we’ve ever had, and
I tried Russian vodka for the first time. Smooth and silky, probably meant to
be sipped when its £7/shot.
Bolshoi Restaurant Petrovska, 6/3
Be sure to enter from the correct entrance, as I accidentally barged
into the government building next door and was only deterred by the imposing
metal detector at the main door. Bolshoi is the latest project by Russian
Arkady Novikov. An exclusive collection of modern art by Dietrich Klinge,
Isabelle Munios, Georgy Puzenkov, Juan Hernandez Piguan, Pierre Soulages and
Anthony Taliesse adorns the space. There’s a 10% discount if you show the
Bolshoi theatre ticket on the night of the performance.
Oblomov 1st Monetchikovsky
per. 5
Formerly a 19th century noble villa, with interior design
reflecting Russian aesthetic i.e. iron chests, paintings in gilded frames etc.
Have the Russian favourites smoked fish
and cutlets po-russki and be prepared to pay a premium.
Modern
Galereya Petrovka 27
Lavishly decorated restaurant serving trendy mixed European / Asian
cuisine. Also an events space hosting modern arts exhibitions, concerts and
parties. Serves breakfast and lunch too, and accepts reservations before 10pm.
GQ Bar Baltchug, 5
Also by Arkady Novikov, GQ Bar is a restaurant, karaoke and bar in
1500 sq meters. Serves traditional Russian food with a modern twist.
Italian
Cantinetta Antinori Denezhny Pereulok 20
Located near the Old Arbat Street (tourist pedestrian street).
Another project by Arkady Novikov, in collaboration with the Tuscan family
Antinori. Restaurant is in a manor designed in Tuscan style. The ground floor
is dark toned with oak ceiling and antique furniture while the first floor
boasts an impressive fireplace.
Mario Klimashkina 17
One of the best summer terraces in town and widely regarded as one
of the best Italian restaurants in Moscow. The veal and lamb is delivered from
Italy while the seafood comes from France.
Il Forno Neglinnaya, 8/10
New restaurant with wood-fire oven dedicated to pizza. Also serves
breakfast.
Seafood
La Maree Petrovka, 28/2
Unique restaurant-boutique in minimalist surroundings, serves
seafood and Mediterranean haute cuisine.
Market Sadovaya—Samotechnaya 18
“Open market” restaurant with choice of 36 different vegetables and
25 different seafood and have them cooked in any style. Wide selection of
wines. Interior looks like small seaside restaurant.
Japanese
Seiji Komsomolskiy Prospect, 5/2
Japanese haute cuisine
Nobu Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, 20
Needs no introduction. Fusion Japanese with South American
influence. If you’re feeling indulgent, the cheaper omakase is a wonderful
selection of popoular Nobu favourites and a very filling meal. The more
expensive omakase is designed for Nobu regulars who are familiar with the usual
fare and offers a more seasonal menu. Lunch menu available. Reservations
recommended.
Yoko Soimonovsky proezd 5
Yet another Arkady Novikov restaurant. Fish and seafood delivered
twice weekly from the Tokyo auctions, and has a view of Christ the Saviour
cathedral.
Chinese
Turandot Tverskoy Boulevard, 26/5
Kitsch factor with waiters dressed as 18th century French
aristocrats. Baroque restaurant with 13 halls, serving Asian and European
cuisine.
Mr. Lee Kuznetskiy Most, 7
Inspired by Shanghainese restaurants and serves Chinese, Malaysian,
Thai and Singaporean dishes. Wooden pagoda in the centre was bought by Arkady
Novikov (AGAIN!) in Singapore for his personal collection.
Middle Eastern
Barashka Na Arbate Noviy Arbat, 21/1 / Barashka Na Petrovke Petrovka, 20/1
Identical restaurants with cosy atmosphere and delicious home-made
Azerbaijian cuisine adapted for European palate.
White Sun of the Desert Neglinnaya, 29
Named after the Soviet-era film, and decorate with antique weapons
and musical instruments. Uzbek, Chinese and Arabic cuisine. If your scruples
allow, try the kazy (horse meat sausage that’s smoked then boiled), lamb kebabs
and lagman.
Suliko Bolshaya Polyanka, 42
Suliko means “soul” in Georgian, an apt name for the restaurant.
Serves fine Georgian wines, generous portions of Georgian food and Georgian
songs.
Night Clubs and Bars
Pacha Moscow Nikolskaya, 10
Spacious dance floors, Pop Art interior and celebrities invited
every weekend to see and be seen. The
international Pacha team from Ibiza designed the club and it boasts a state of
the art light and sound system unique in Moscow. 30 VIP lounges and can
accommodate more than 900 guests.
Rolling Stones Bolotnaya Nab. 3
Rolling Stone Bar & Tattoo allows breath-taking views from the
panoramic windows, while the face control screens the audience to create an
atmosphere “full of fun”. Dancing is allowed on the bar, bartenders drink with
the customers and the atmosphere becomes friendlier as the night wears on and
the drinks get stronger.
Premier Lounge Mantulinskaya, 5/1
VIP night club with beautiful models, lines of black limos and
strict face control. Has a “Fountain of light” and VIP lounges with discreet
access. Plays house remixes of all-time dance hits.
Solyanka Solyanka, 11
Solyanka means “stew” and is in an 18th century
merchant’s mansion with tall windows and antique ceilings. Starts at 11pm
Thursday to Sunday and the main dinign room is transformed into a
dramatically-lit dance floor.
Soho Rooms Savvinskaya nab, 12
One of the fanciest night clubs in Moscow, with investments high
according to even Moscow standards. Dance floor is referred to as the Disco
Room.
Luch Bolshaya Pirogovskaya, 27/1
One of Moscow’s hippest clubs. High ceilings of the former factory
create an exhibition space for modern art objects. Alleged serves the finest
mojitos in Moscow.
Strelka Bolotnaya Naberzhnaya, 9
Best bar in Moscow. Located at Krasny Oktyabr, a trendy area home to
Moscow’s new architecture, design firms and media companies.
Manon 1905 str. 2
Swanky bar in a popular restaurant. Place where people go to see and
be seen. Locals go there to warm up before a club night. Manon’s bar manager is
creative and makes a pretty, tasty and fast impression. I think they’re
referring to their drinks.
Museums
Kremlin Museums
Citadel of the Tsars, HQ of the Soviet Union and now residence of
the Russian President. A symbol of power of the State. The highlights are the
State Armory Chamber, Diamond Treasury and cathedrals from 15th -17th
century.
State Tretyakov Gallery Lavrushinsky pereulok,
10-12
Russian art that traces development of Russian culture from 11th
to 20th century. Largest and finest collection of Russian art in the
world.
New Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val
Annex of main Tretyakov Gallery, devoted to Russian art from 1900s
to present day. Exhibits of Socialist Realism and reflect cultural
straightjacket imposed by Stalin in the 1930s.
Pushkin Museum of Fine
Arts Volkhonka,
12
Excellent collection of French Impressionist and post-Impressionist
paintings. Some of the most famous paintings were hidden for ideological
reasons during the Soviet Era, by Russian-born artists Vasily Kandinsky and
Marc Chagall.
Moscow Museum of Modern
Arts Petrovka,
25
1500 works by foreign and Russian masters of all major 20th
century art trends and styles. Based on Zurab Tseretli’s private collection.
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