What to see in Moscow?

No matter where you fly to the capital from — from Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg or from Sochi, Moscow will definitely pleasantly surprise you. We guarantee great impressions!

Where to eat and drink

Gastro-tours are a sacred thing. If you've already visited all the best places in your hometown, check out our list of Moscow establishments with the most diverse menu. And yes, we haven't forgotten about cocktails either.

Nitka Tea House at the Voznesensky Center

A cozy tea house at the cultural center is a great place not only for those who understand pu-erh and sencha teas. Others will be told what's what and helped to choose a drink. Besides tea, try a spicy plum tea raf and steppe tea — a salty drink with clarified butter. You can, of course, take it with you, but it's much more pleasant to sit in the hall by the samovar and drink from a glass with an ornate glass holder.

Bolshaya Ordynka St., 46, bldg. 3. Daily: 10:00–22:00

ANTIPA Cafe-Refectory

The refectory aspect of this cafe is only evident from its location in a church courtyard; otherwise, it feels like one of the typical specialty coffee shops. The menu features all sorts of (good!) coffee and pastries. In summer, tables are set up outside, and you can also lounge on the lawn right there. Once a week, films are shown and discussed inside — nothing religious at all. The cafe also sells its own merchandise: hoodies, tableware, candles — all very stylish.

Kolymazhny Lane, 8/4, bldg. 7. Daily: 9:00–21:00

Dr. Zhivago

Russian and Soviet cuisine with a view of the Kremlin. Proper Olivier salad with crayfish tails, crucian carp in sour cream, green shchi with marbled beef — prepare to dine like a wealthy landowner or a successful party functionary from the 1950s.

Mokhovaya St., 15/1, bldg. 1, (Hotel National, 1st floor). 24/7

Sixty

A restaurant on the 62nd floor of the Federation Tower in “City” — true Moscow luxury. City views, open windows in summer, fresh seafood on the menu (average dish price 1,000 rubles) — we believe it's a great place to propose to your beloved.

Presnenskaya Embankment, 12, Federation Tower West Business Center, 62nd floor. Sun–Fri: 12:00–00:00, Sat: 12:00–2:00

Gorynych

The name is no coincidence: everything here is about fire — baking, frying, smoking are in full swing. There are briskets, steaks, wood-fired pizza, and outstanding house-made bread (you can buy a loaf to go). The wine selection is larger than in many wine bars — both by the glass and by the bottle. Breakfast at Gorynych is a Moscow classic, with everything from syrniki to borscht, suitable for any mood, perhaps only lacking pickle brine. A glass of sparkling wine is always served with breakfast.

Rozhdestvensky Blvd., 1. Sun–Wed: 8:00–24:00, Thu–Sat: 8:00–2:00

Abu Gosh

The only “hummusia” in Moscow: hummus is served in many places, but here it has been elevated to a concept. Other Middle Eastern dishes haven't been forgotten either — the menu has many words unfamiliar to a newcomer, so don't hesitate to ask the waiter what mutafaya, shakhara, and ballouria are. The project has two locations: a tiny cafe on Sivtsev Vrazhek and a larger house on Trubnaya.

Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane, 42, bldg. 5; Trubnaya St., 27, bldg. 2. Mon: 11:00–23:00, Tue–Sun: 9:00–23:00

Eggsellent

A few years ago, two friends who worked in the food industry decided to prepare egg-based breakfasts on weekends at a friendly coffee shop. The breakfasts were traditionally a sell-out, and now the girls have their own cafe with a lively queue: it moves quickly, and in bad weather, they bring out blankets and tea. You can have breakfast whenever you wake up: they operate from 8:00 to 18:00. Local sandwiches and potato pancakes are also great for lunch.

Bolshaya Sadovaya St., 5, bldg. 1. Daily: 8:00–18:00

Eva

A renowned restaurant serving modern Greek cuisine. It makes sense to go for meze, order many different ones, and taste them with company. And be sure to try the local Greek salad — incredibly expensive, but absolutely legendary. Book a table in advance.

Bolshaya Gruzinskaya St., 69. Daily: 9:00–00:00

Syur

A maximally informal bar in a garage with a very Moscow spirit. Worn interior, a small menu with pleasant prices, dog owners and cyclists hanging out at the entrance, stopping for kombucha. This is the place to go when you're feeling lazy and just want to chill with a beer.

Bolshoy Tryokhsvyatitelsky Lane, 2/1, bldg. 8. Sun–Thu: 11:00–23:00, Fri–Sat: 11:00–00:00

White Rabbit

Expensive, beautiful, delicious. According to many critics, it's Moscow's best restaurant, or at least the most renowned. Chef Vladimir Mukhin constantly experiments with ingredients and reinterprets Russian cuisine: Sakhalin shrimp and Murmansk sea urchins, Kamchatka crab aspic, beef ribs glazed with kvass. If your budget allows, it's a must-visit.

Smolenskaya Sq., 3, 16th floor. Daily: 12:00–00:00

Bambule

One of Kitay-Gorod's trendiest spots, where a cheerful crowd with glasses always gathers in summer. The atmosphere is relaxed and a bit Berlin-esque. Grab a bottle of pet-nat and carpaccio as a snack, and if you're hungry, there's a large menu with more substantial dishes. Bonus: every day from 8:00 to 16:00, breakfasts are prepared by the Eggsellent team, Moscow's main breakfast stars. They know how to start the day beautifully, offering a glass of rosé and a mandarin aperol with breakfast.

Solyanka St., 1/2. Sun–Thu: 8:00–00:00, Fri–Sat: 8:00–6:00

Intelligentsia Wine Bar

Red lamps, antique furniture, Soviet mosaics on the walls — an ideal atmosphere for a secluded evening with wine. In summer, they host parties and markets in the courtyard. They know how to have fun here, but a quiet corner can always be found too.

Aleksandra Solzhenitsyna St., 17, bldg. 1. Sat–Thu: 12:00–00:00, Fri: 12:00–2:00

Where to walk and what to see

After lunch, a walk is urgently needed to burn off calories! We tell you about interesting locations in the city.

Northern River Station

A monument from the 1930s and an example of Stalinist Empire style, which was given new life in 2020. The pompous decor was restored: mosaics, frescoes, chandeliers, and marble. Inside the building is the “Volga-Volga” restaurant, and nearby is a charming park. In winter, an ice rink operates. From the station, you can take a boat trip along the Moskva River or embark on a Volga cruise.

Leningradskoye Hwy., 51

Gulag History Museum

Mass Stalinist repressions are an unpopular and often suppressed topic in Russian history, not widely discussed publicly. At the Gulag History Museum, you can delve into the subject through archives, artifacts, and personal testimonies. In one of the halls, you can even search a virtual database for relatives among the repressed.

1st Samotechny Lane, 9, bldg. 1. Tue–Sun: 12:00–21:00, Monday and the last Friday of the month are days off

Artists' Village

A stone's throw from Volokolamskoye Highway, amidst “Stalinist” buildings and five-story blocks, wooden dacha houses suddenly appear. This is the Artists' Village — a miraculously preserved district from Soviet times, where distinguished artists were allocated homes. The street names here are fitting: Vrubel, Levitan, Surikov. The entire village is like a peculiar teleport to one-story Russia, a couple of stations from the ring road. After a walk through the village, be sure to visit the “Progress” bar nearby to eat Vietnamese noodles and drink beer using a magnetic card.

Vrubel St., 8. “Progress” Bar: Volokolamskoye Hwy., 1, bldg. 1. Daily: 11:00–00:00

Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center

One of Moscow's best museums. The permanent exhibition is a detailed history of the Jewish people and culture. No dusty display cases with boring exhibits; everything is told through video, audio, and tactile experiences. The museum also calls itself the Center for the Avant-Garde: the museum building is the former Bakhmetevsky Garage, an important architectural monument of constructivism. The theme of the avant-garde is actively supported, and thematic exhibitions are constantly held. Keep an eye on the tour schedule.

Obraztsova St., 11, bldg. 1A. Sun–Thu: 12:00–22:00 (ticket office until 21:00); Sat: 18:00–23:00 (ticket office until 22:00); Friday and Jewish holidays — days off

Peredelkino

The famous writers' town, where Pasternak, Chukovsky, and Okudzhava lived, has recently been modernized, and now people come not only to walk along its dacha streets. Peredelkino has had writers' museums for many years, and in 2020, the renovated Peredelkino House of Creativity opened — now it's a creative residence with a library, co-working space, restaurant, and a forest terrace. The House hosts lectures and meetings with first-tier writers, and you can also take tours of the village. Even without any cultural activities, it's very pleasant to wander through the quiet lanes and then sit on the veranda with tea and buns.

Pogodina St., 4, bldg. 2, DSK “Michurinets” village. Tue–Sun: 12:00–21:00, Monday — day off. Cafe open daily: 9:00–21:00

Narkomfin Building

An experimental residential building from the avant-garde era — instead of apartments, there were multi-level “cells,” and most household chores and entertainment were meant to be carried out in common spaces: dining rooms, kitchens, gymnasiums. Architect Ginzburg and engineer Prokhorov used experimental materials and devised unusual technologies — all typical of the avant-garde. Apartments are now being sold in the building, and new residents have already moved in, but you can still take a tour and see how ideal urban housing was envisioned in the 1920s.

Novinsky Blvd., 25, bldg. 1

MMOMA — Moscow Museum of Modern Art

A gallery with its main building on Petrovka and several other branches in the city. The main theme is Russian and Soviet art of the XX–XXI centuries: from Malevich to Kabakov and Bartenev. Temporary exhibitions feature both young Russian artists and prominent foreign ones. You don't need to be an expert in contemporary art to enjoy the museum: everything will be explained on the tours.

Petrovka St., 25. Tue–Sun: 12:00–21:00, Monday — day off

Khlebozavod No. 9

Another constructivist bread factory transformed into a public space. Now, the territory features lofts, cafes, and shops of popular local brands: SHU, KRAKATAU, P.Y.E, and a couple of dozen more. Among all Moscow's public clusters, this one is perhaps the most vibrant.

Novodmitrovskaya St., 1. 24/7

Zotov Space

The view of this building is like Moscow in miniature: a compact constructivist bread factory surrounded by three 44-story high-rises. Zotov Bread Factory No. 5 was an innovative solution of the 1930s: inside it had a circular conveyor that automated baking. The factory operated from 1931 to 2006, and in 2018, it began to be restored to transform into the “Zotov” cultural center. Many details of the original layout and finish have been preserved. Currently, the space hosts exhibitions, lectures, and tours about constructivism.

Khodynskaya St., 2, bldg. 1. Tue–Sun: 11:00–22:00

Let's go to the theater

For those who cannot imagine any trip without cultural recreation at the theater, we tell you about the best theaters in Moscow.

Bolshoi Theatre

For those who love to listen — operas “Boris Godunov,” “Carmen,” “The Queen of Spades.” For those who love to watch — ballets “Anna Karenina” by John Neumeier, “Don Quixote,” and, of course, the classic “Swan Lake.” Tickets should be purchased in advance, otherwise you'll have to buy them on “Avito” for many thousands of rubles. Tickets for “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker” are sold only on specific days at the theater box office with a passport — keep an eye on the sales schedule on the performance page.

A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre

The theater with Moscow's most star-studded troupe. Here you can see Igor Vernik, Konstantin Khabensky, Anna Chipovskaya, and Paulina Andreeva with your own eyes. Our top picks: “Seryozha” by Dmitry Krymov and “19.14” by Alexander Molochnikov.

Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theatre

A classical yet contemporary theater. The repertoire's headliner is “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” a light and joyful Shakespeare. We also recommend “The Seagull” and the play “Mozart 'Don Juan'. Dress Rehearsal.” Both feature Evgeny Tsyganov.

Praktika Theatre

A stylish, trendy, youth-oriented theater working with contemporary texts. An absolute must-see is “Chapaev and Void,” a psychedelic piece based on Pelevin.

Theatre of Nations

Here you'll find Robert Lepage's “The Master and Margarita,” Robert Wilson's “Pushkin's Fairy Tales” (catch Evgeny Mironov in the cast), and the premiere of “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. The Theatre of Nations is a favorite spot for Moscow's high society, so don't hesitate to flaunt your gold and furs here.

Studio of Theatrical Art

A win-win option for an evening: this is a traditional classical theater, yet stylish, cozy, and vibrant. We recommend the local hit “Moscow – Petushki,” “The Reserve” based on Dovlatov, and — for the strong-spirited — the ten-hour “One Day in Macondo”: a performance based on “One Hundred Years of Solitude” with intermissions and a Latin American-style dinner.

Vnutri Space

Chamber, niche, arthouse — perhaps this is an exhaustive description of this theater. Don't miss “Where have you been so long, dude?” with Roza Khayrullina and “The Blue Rice Dog” by director Zhenya Berkovich.

Okolo Theatre

A complex and mysterious theater for advanced audiences. Nothing is explained directly here, but it definitely touches the soul. Watch: “The Man from Podolsk,” “Three Sisters,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “School for Fools.”

For a stylish cinema experience

Movie lovers, we remember you. Catch our top Moscow cinemas.

Illuzion

Cinema like theater: film classics in Empire-style interiors.

Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, 1/15 (Stalinist skyscraper)

Domzhur

A chamber hall in the House of Journalists. All screenings are in their original language.

Nikitsky Blvd., 8A

GUM Cinema Hall

Red velvet armchairs + luxury shopping and iconic ice cream in a cone on the ground floor.

Red Sq., 3

Khudozhestvenny

A magnificently restored cinema from 1909 with a bar and restaurant.

Arbatskaya Sq., 14, bldg. 1

KARO 11 Oktyabr

Premieres on the big screen and the special “KARO.Art” program.

Novy Arbat St., 24

Ready-made routes in Moscow

We share four of the most interesting and delicious routes, personally tested by us.

Route 1: Red Square — Zamoskvorechye

The most “central” route — through Red Square, Balchug, and Zamoskvorechye. A bit of old Moscow architecture, a bit of modern art, and plenty of breaks to enjoy a drink in pleasant interiors.

• Red Square and breakfast at Dr. Zhivago

Let's start with a classic! Even if you've been to Moscow fifteen times, checking in at Red Square is a routine gesture. Every winter, GUM hosts an ice rink and a New Year's fair with kalachi, carousels, and mulled wine. Before your tourist route, it's ideal to have breakfast at “Dr. Zhivago” — a Russian cuisine restaurant in the “National” hotel. The description sounds intimidatingly premium, but the prices there are quite reasonable. The breakfast menu includes potato pancakes with pike caviar, omelet with buckwheat and porcini mushrooms, sweet bird cherry dumplings, and a couple of dozen other dishes. In addition to the wine list, the restaurant has a kvass menu — they meticulously maintain the concept.

Mokhovaya St., 15 bldg. 1 (Hotel National, 1st floor). 24/7

• Zaryadye

Next up is another must-see for any tourist: Zaryadye. If possible, come on weekdays or early on weekends to take photos on the floating bridge without other people in the frame. The best angle is from the embankment below: from there, you can clearly see how the bridge hangs over the river. Zaryadye has several exhibition spaces, an underground orangery, and an ice cave with real snow, where the temperature is below zero in any weather. The exhibitions are mostly multimedia and interactive. You can feel like you're aboard the Vostok-1 spacecraft in the exhibition dedicated to Gagarin, virtually fly over Moscow, and view animals from all over Russia on a panoramic screen. There's a combo ticket for most spaces, but some will need to be paid for separately. Purchase tickets on Kupi.com for a specific visit time in advance on the park's website.

Varvarka St., 6, bldg. 1. Daily, 24/7

• Balchug and lunch at Blau

Cross the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge, and you'll reach Balchug Island (this is an unofficial name: surprisingly, it has no official name). Not far away is Blau — a modern Turkish cuisine cafe; stop there for lunch. You can have a Turkish breakfast with menemen (a Turkish version of shakshuka), mercimek soup, and baklava with kaymak. Wines from Germany and Austria are responsible for the European side of Istanbul on the menu.

Sadovnicheskaya Embankment, 7. Daily: 10:00–23:00

• GES-2

Next, through Repinsky Square, to the GES-2 House of Culture — an urban space opened in 2021 in a restored early 20th-century power station. Back then, the station supplied electricity to city trams and later to the Kremlin. Now, this giant building hosts contemporary art exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, theatrical performances, and master classes. The building itself is interesting, and its transparent facade overlooks the canal.

Bolotnaya Embankment, 15. Daily: 11:00–22:00

• Dictatura

Walk around the island along the embankment and visit Dictatura bar. In summer, you can sit by the open windows with a view of the water. The bar positions itself as a “ginoteria” — a place specializing in gin, and cocktails include unusual ingredients like birch cordial and coniferous bitters. There's a large food menu: the focus is on Pan-Asian cuisine, but burgers and dumplings are also available. Caution: they don't skimp on alcohol in the cocktails!

Bersenevskaya Embankment, 6, bldg. 2. Mon–Thu: 12:00–1:00, Sat: 16:00–2:00, Sun: 16:00–1:00

• Mitzva bar

Next, cross Balchug Street to Pyatnitskaya Street — we suggest another drink. At the very beginning of Pyatnitskaya, in the courtyard behind the “Bjorn” restaurant, you'll find the basement establishment Mitzva bar (you get it: bar mitzvah, the pun hints at the cuisine's specifics). Meze, hummus, falafel — it works as both a snack and dinner. Inside, it's dark and somewhat gloomy, with a stained-glass window featuring a Masonic eye covering an entire wall, and Kabbalistic symbols on the ceiling. It's not serious, just a concept. There's no cocktail menu: the bartender will ask what flavors and drinks you like and mix something custom (they say bartenders keep over 200 variations in mind). They don't sell beer, and there's very little wine, so if those are your drinks, it's better to go to the next bar.

Pyatnitskaya St., 3/4, bldg. 1. Sun–Thu: 18:00–3:00, Fri–Sat: 18:00–5:00

• Architecture of Pyatnitskaya

At the corner of Pyatnitskaya and Vodootvodny Canal stands the house of P.A. Smirnov (not to be confused with Smirnov's house on Tverskaya!) — a 19th-century wine and vodka magnate. A sign with his name (“Supplier to His Imperial Majesty”) still hangs here, and Smirnoff vodka grew precisely from his enterprise.

Walk to the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist in Bor. Pay attention to the bell tower, which forms the panorama of the central part of Pyatnitskaya Street. The bell tower was deliberately built at some distance from the church so that the church, hidden in Chernigovsky Lane, would be easier to spot when entering and leaving the city center.

House No. 13 on Pyatnitskaya Street, faced with green tiles, belonged to the wealthy fur seller Galperin. Furs were sold here even in Soviet times. The building was designed by Shekhtel himself in the Art Nouveau style — the architect chose strict and laconic forms. Particularly noteworthy is the dark green glazed tile — Shekhtel's “emerald.”

At the corner with Klimentovsky Lane, which leads to Tretyakovskaya metro station, you will see Klimentovskaya Church — the largest in Zamoskvorechye. A church stood on this site as early as the 17th century, and the existing building was completed in 1762. Grab some pirozhki at the refectory.

Continue along Pyatnitskaya, before turning onto Stary Tolmachevsky Lane, you will see the lilac mansion of merchant Korobkov (sometimes called Korobkova's mansion — merchants traditionally registered houses in their wives' names). The building was designed by the famous architect Kekushev, who used lions as his signature mark. Between the windows, you can spot sculptures of griffins with lion faces, and on the dome, on its four sides, are lion masks.

House No. 64 is the pompous Rekk mansion, another “house with lions.” This vibrant decor — stucco and lion sculptures — was added by architect Sherwood in 1897. Merchant Yakov Rekk and his family lived here before the revolution. If your coffee in a cup has run out, stop by the “Aeroplan” coffee shop — a minimalist place with quality specialty coffee.

• Richter

Primarily a hotel, but also a restaurant, library, and exhibition center. You can drop in to browse art magazines, and in summer, sit with a glass of cold white wine on the veranda in the courtyard, where film screenings are sometimes held.

Pyatnitskaya St., 42. Daily: 9:00–00:00

• Yumbaker

To end the day — giant macarons! With unusual flavors: in winter, they bake coniferous with cedar praline, lingonberry with cayenne pepper; in summer — mango-basil. Classic berry, chocolate, and cream flavors are on the menu year-round.

Pyatnitskaya St., 66, bldg. 1. Daily: 9:00–21:00

Route 2: A leisurely route from bourgeois Patriki to quiet Presnya

• Nude

Start your day with breakfast at Nude — this is where the residents of Patriarch Ponds themselves go in the mornings. The cafe has only a few tables, so it makes sense to come closer to opening time. The best choices are ricotta casserole and matcha cottage cheese with berries. In the evening, you can return to Nude for wine if you want an unpretentious atmosphere.

Spiridonovka St., 24/1. Mon–Fri: 9:00–23:00, Sat–Sun: 10:00–23:00

Grab coffee to go, walk around the pond and through the nearby lanes between Bolshaya Sadovaya and Tverskoy Boulevard. In the morning, it's usually quiet here, restaurants aren't yet filled with guests, and only sleepy locals head to the bakery. By evening, Patriki becomes noisy, lively, and festive.

• Museum of Russian Impressionism

Via Tverskaya or Brestskaya streets (Brestskaya will be cozier), head towards “Belorusskaya” to the Museum of Russian Impressionism. Korovin, Serov, Grabar are permanently exhibited here, and thematic visiting exhibitions are regularly assembled.

Leningradsky Ave., 15, bldg. 11. Fri–Tue: 11:00–20:00, Wed–Thu: 12:00–21:00.

Walk along Gruzinsky Val and Malaya Gruzinskaya to the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — a Gothic red-brick behemoth from the early 20th century. The cathedral hosts organ and string concerts, mostly in the evenings.

Which other restaurants in Patriki are worth visiting:

• Grace Bistro

Floor-to-ceiling windows, nude furniture, plenty of seafood and quality meat on the menu. If you have to choose one place in Patriki, this is it.

Spiridonovka St., 25/20, bldg. 1. Mon–Fri: 8:00–23:00, Sat–Sun: 11:00–23:00

• Moscow — Delhi

An atmospheric place with Indian cuisine. No meat or alcohol, and no menu: breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served as sets. It's not so much a restaurant as an experience.

Ermolaevsky Lane, 7. Tue–Sun: 12:00–22:00, break from 17:00 to 18:00

• Tilda

A small cafe with outstanding cuisine and a good wine selection. Table reservation is a must.

Sytinsky Dead End, 5. Sun–Thu: 10:00–00:00, Fri–Sat: 10:00–1:00

• Alma

After the museum, you can have lunch at the minimalist gastropub Alma. In summer, they open a small, charming veranda with garlands of yellow lanterns.

Stolyarny Lane, 3, bldg. 13. Wed–Thu, Sun: 12:00–23:00, Fri–Sat: 12:00–00:00, Monday and Tuesday — days off

• Krasnaya Presnya Park and Krasnogvardeyskiye Ponds

After lunch — to the park. There are two pleasant ones nearby: Krasnaya Presnya and Krasnogvardeyskiye Ponds. From the latter, you can see the “City” skyscrapers — it's just like New York.

• By boat on the river

From the park, you can go to the embankment, cross the bridge, and take a river boat that will sail through the entire city.

Route 3: Syromyatniki — Taganka: through creative clusters that emerged on the site of industrial facilities, to the bars of Kitay-Gorod and Taganka.

• Art clusters: Artplay, Arma, and Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art

The route starts from Kurskaya metro station. Exit to Artplay — a space that emerged on the site of the Soviet “Manometer” factory. Its workshops now house offices of design studios and architectural bureaus, showrooms, and several private educational projects, such as the British Higher School of Art and Design. The territory features intricate graffiti and art objects, and the Center for Digital Art constantly hosts multimedia exhibitions based on the works of famous artists — from Leonardo da Vinci to Salvador Dalí. Projections of paintings are displayed not only on walls but also on the floor and ceiling — such exhibitions are usually called “living canvases.”

Artplay flows into Winzavod — a center for contemporary art located in the buildings of a 19th-century wine factory. The territory features several galleries with contemporary art and showrooms. You can buy artists' works in the small shops right there, and also choose clothes or jewelry from Russian designers. Most galleries are closed on Mondays, and some also on Sundays, so it's better to come on other days.

Every weekend, there are tours of Winzavod — with them, it will be easier to understand contemporary art and what's what. Through Winzavod, you'll reach Arma, where you should pay attention to the architecture. This is a former 19th-century gas factory, and the most interesting features on its territory are four gasholders (structures where gas was stored) in the shape of cylinders. Currently, the buildings house offices and shops.

• Mission Bar and Bauman Garden

Via Kazakova Street, exit onto Staraya Basmannaya to the vegan Mission bar. Here you'll find incredibly delicious burgers with meat substitutes (which you can't distinguish from beef) and dozens of types of beer on tap and in bottles.

Spartakovskaya St., 3, bldg. 3. Mon–Thu: 13:00–00:00, Fri: 13:00–2:00, Sat: 12:00–2:00, Sun: 12:00–00:00

Then walk along Staraya Basmannaya to Bauman Garden. In winter, a small cozy ice rink operates in the garden, and in summer, the greatest pleasure is to lie on the grass under the apple trees in the far part of the park. Check out the DIG record store — even if you don't plan to buy anything, you can just chat with the sellers about music; they're always happy.

• Pokrovka, Chistye Prudy, Boulevards

Staraya Basmannaya continues as Pokrovka. This is one of Moscow's oldest streets, with many interesting buildings — from 18th-century estates to residential buildings in the constructivist style. One of the most famous is house No. 22/1, bldg. 1, the bright blue Apraksin Palace in Baroque style. If you turn from Pokrovka onto Chaplygina Street, and then onto Mashkova Street, you will see the extravagant “Egg House.” This building is just over 20 years old, it is called a vivid example of the “Luzhkov style” and many criticize it for its tastelessness.

Walk to the intersection of Pokrovka with the boulevards — here you can grab pizza at Maestrello (there's often a queue) or pop into the friendly “Sentyabr” bar for a glass. Stroll around the ponds — in summer, catamaran rentals operate here, and in winter, a spontaneous ice rink forms.

• Khokhlovka and a bit of Mexico

Now delve into the wilds of lively Kitay-Gorod (before that, you can pop into the Mexican bar Veladora for a quick mezcal). Wander through the lanes of Khokhlovka: in Podkolokolny, you'll see Moscow's oldest residential building, inhabited since the 17th century (No. 11/11, bldg. 1), and the cozy “Hyperion” bookstore. You definitely won't miss the “Syur” garage bar and the “Arenda” space next door. “Arenda” has preserved the interior of the Soviet research institute that was here before, and now they prepare excellent pasta. Check out the popular restaurant-club Blanc and try to understand why it's so hyped.

Where else to go in Khokhlovka:

• Arenda

Bolshoy Tryokhsvyatitelsky Lane, 2/1, bldg. 5. Weekdays: 12:00–23:00, Weekends: 12:00–00:00

• Blanc

Khokhlovsky Lane, 7 9, bldg. 5. Sun–Thu: 9:00–00:00, Fri–Sat: 9:00–3:00+

• Syur

Bolshoy Tryokhsvyatitelsky Lane, 2/1, bldg. 8. Sun–Thu: 11:00–23:00, Fri–Sat: 11:00–00:00

• Sentyabr

Pokrovka St., 20/1, bldg. 1. Sun–Thu: 16:00–00:00, Fri–Sat: 16:00–2:00

• Veladora

Pokrovka St., 2/1, bldg. 7. Sun–Wed: 18:00–2:00, Thu–Sat: 18:00–5:00

• Taganka

We head to Yauza Place: here, on the site of Major General Nikolai Khitrovo's carriage sheds, after whom Khitrovka is named, a restaurant and White Studios spaces have opened, and parties buzz in the courtyard all summer long. Directly across the bridge will be the legendary and recently restored “Illuzion” cinema with a luxurious lobby and halls that have retained their chic since the 1960s. In addition to new releases, “Illuzion” screens film classics — if you're in the mood, stay for a Wong Kar-wai or Tarkovsky screening.

• Yauza Place

Podkolokolny Lane, 16, bldg. 4. Sun–Thu: 12:00–00:00, Fri–Sat: 12:00–2:00

• Illuzion

Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, 1/15

• Intelligentsia Wine Bar

The last stop on this long day's schedule is the “Intelligentsia” bar. Time for a substantial dinner and to choose a wine from a large list to match your dish.

Aleksandra Solzhenitsyna St., 17, bldg. 1. Sat–Thu: 12:00–00:00, Fri: 12:00–2:00

Route 4: Muzeon — Vorobyovy Gory

An ideal route for summer, especially with a bicycle.

• New Tretyakov Gallery

The first point of the route is the gallery where those very exhibitions of Serov, Aivazovsky, and others took place: hundred-meter queues for them were in all media. So this branch of the Tretyakov Gallery is famous for its high-profile events. The permanent exhibition is also interesting: it features “Bathing of a Red Horse,” Chagall's “Over the Town,” and “Black Square” — the entire panorama of 20th-century art. You can follow the schedule of temporary exhibitions on the gallery's website.

Krymsky Val St., 10. Sun, Tue, Wed: 10:00–18:00 (ticket offices and entrance until 17:00), Thu–Sat: 10:00–21:00 (ticket offices and entrance until 20:00), Monday — day off

• Pinball Museum

Next, we suggest visiting another museum, but of a completely different format. Here, enthusiasts have gathered a collection of pinball machines — an American pastime you might have seen in 1980s movies. The most important thing about the museum is that you can play all the machines; there are over 50 of them: themed after “The X-Files,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Simpsons.”

Krymsky Bridge, Gate No. 6 from Krymskaya Embankment. Mon–Fri: 16:00–23:00, Sat–Sun and holidays: 12:00–23:00

• Muzeon and Gorky Park

Stroll through Muzeon, look at the somewhat strange sculptures like dozens of Lenin busts and Vera Mukhina's work commemorating the Korean War. Turn towards Gorky Park — you can get stuck here for a long time. First, have lunch, for example, at the cafe at the “Garage” museum. Exhibitions are temporarily not held there, but the cafe still operates, as does its wonderful veranda. Breakfasts are served all day, and there's a children's menu. The museum also has a nice book and souvenir shop: lots of interesting things for children, and souvenirs are created by local brands specifically for “Garage.”

Krymsky Val St., 9, bldg. 32. Daily: 11:00–22:00

In summer, you can rent a catamaran on Bolshoy Golitsynsky Pond or sit with wine at the 8 Oz cafe; in winter, a large ice rink operates in the park. For dessert, go to “Chaynaya Vysota”: they sell unusual ice cream based on tea, pine cones, and berries, and over 30 types of tea itself. Take it with you and sit on the embankment! After Andreevsky Bridge, Gorky Park transitions into Neskuchny Garden — compared to the park, it's almost a forest. It's calmer, quieter, and less crowded here. For coffee, you can visit the “Domik v Sadu” cafe.

• Mineralogy Museum

Agreed, at first glance it might seem boring. But in reality, this intimate museum is definitely worth your attention. Classic interior, massive chandeliers, and stucco with colorful natural crystals and meteorite fragments.

Leninsky Ave., 18, bldg. 2. Wed–Sun: 11:00–18:00

• Viewpoints

Walk along Pushkinskaya Embankment under Andreevsky Bridge, and you'll immediately enter the territory of Vorobyovy Gory. First, turn towards the Russian Academy of Sciences building with the “golden brains” on the roof: there's a great observation deck there. By the Andreevsky Ponds, there will be another viewpoint, from which you can see the entire river, “Moscow City,” and “Luzhniki” on the opposite bank. Walk along the forest paths.

• Cable car

The last and obligatory point of the tourist program on this route in Moscow is to ride the cable car across the Moskva River to Luzhniki.

For those planning where to go for the weekend, we recommend reading our super guide. We wish you great impressions in the capital and, of course, on other trips!