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The best food in Moscow

Food in Moscow is neither an easy nor a cheap subject, this is why you will struggle to find a restaurant matching your tastes. The Russian cuisine is heavily influenced by the Georgian and Ukrainian, with the flavors of dishes being rather heavy but plenty tasty. In the Russian menu you will find many soups, as the Russians main concern is to eat something that will warm them up in the cold winter days. Apart from vegetables, beef is very high in preference, which in fact is even included in salads, pasta and more.

Do not leave Moscow without having tried some of the more traditional dishes, such as the fluffy Pirozhki, the beloved Beef Stroganoff, the rich Pelmeni (Dumplings) with many kinds of stuffing and origins from Georgia, the Russian Khinkali pizza boats, the world-renowned Borscht soup (beet, beef and sour sauce) and the well-known Russian salad, or Olivier Salad, as is its real name (boiled potatoes, carrot, peas, mayonnaise and meat). Another well-known dish is the Solyanka soup, which is made with many kinds of meat, fish or mushrooms, sour cream and vegetables.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, ask for Syrniki, namely local pancakes with cheesy cream, traditional Morozhenoe ice-cream or the (Turkish originated) Chak-Chak crunchy bites. Also buy Vatrushka, sweet buns with cottage cheese and jam filling. And as for accompanying as well as finishing off your meal, drink lots of Vodka… Russia’s national drink is being consumed before every meal, in order to warm the Russians’ insides and start the appetite. In fact, in some restaurants it is cheaper than bottled water! In the city there must be tens, if not hundreds, of vodka labels, and you simply must try as many as you can… Finally, the red juice you will see on many tables, is the well-known Mors, a cold drink made with slightly spicy berries and sugar!

At the 15,000(!) restaurants that exist in Moscow you will find dishes at high prices, as for a complete two-person meal you will need to pay 50 to 80€, without wine! For something more economical, you can try street food that you will mostly find inside or outside metro stations. The most popular fast-food options are hot dogs (sasiski), pizza, crepes, stuffed potatoes (Kroshka Kartoshka) and more.

Fast Tips: a) At many restaurants you must make reservations, especially on weekends. b) Take some Vodka with you! Prices of famous brands are up to three times lower! c) With a tip of around 400RUB (at the start of the meal) you will enjoy a much more favorable service by the waiters.

The best restaurants in Moscow

Mari Vanna

The Mari Vanna restaurant is one of the best options to try traditional Russian cuisine! It is housed in a very unique space, which resembles something halfway a house and an old bistro! It has a library, comfortable chairs and special decorative elements, while the concept is supported by the staff. The dishes at Mari Vanna are exquisite both in taste and quality, with small touches of today. Finally, prices are totally in line with the quality of products served. Must Eat.

We suggest you to try: the exceptional Beef Stroganoff and the Olivier salad!
Cost: €€-€€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋

Saperavi Cafe

The Saperavi Café chain has its origins in Georgia and include two shops in Moscow. Their basic characteristic is that they treat Georgian cuisine with respect, showing special emphasis to detail. All dishes are rich in quantity and taste, made with ingredients of excellent quality. The specialty of Saperavi Café is none other than the Khachapuri, something like a pizza boat, with cheese, or tomato or spinach, butter and egg on top. The spaces are ideal for you to relax and enjoy a high-quality and economical meal.

Mini Tip: Reservation is required in order to find a table!

We suggest you to try: the juicy Khachapuri
Cost: €-€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋

Christmas Market Moscow

During Christmas in Moscow many outdoor markets are set up, which host events, concerts, games and of course a lot of food! The food stands are the ones who monopolize the visitors’ interest, as they form lines to try street food delicacies at a low cost! And to warm up, what better than a glass (or more) of Christmas drink, namely the well-known Glühwein.

We suggest you to try: pitta with double sausage, garlic sauce and melted cheese!
Cost: €-€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋

Korchma Taras Bulba

Korchma Taras Bulba owns 14 restaurants in Moscow! Every store has a unique folklore version, which makes the visitor swiftly get in the mood. The cuisine is mainly Russian, and portions are satisfactory in size and reasonable in price. The Korchma Taras Bulba stores are hangouts for the locals, this is why most waiters do not speak English, yet they are willing to attend to you in every way.

We suggest you to try: the Mors drink, made with berries!
Cost: €€-€€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋

Khinkali Point

Khinkali Point is, as its name suggests, a spot where you can try the traditional Georgian snack Khinkali (Russian Dumplings). The most popular are the Khinkali with cheese, lamb and potato. A major advantage of the shop is that the dough is kneaded at the spot, then gets filled and thrown in the pot. This way you have the chance to enjoy an economical, fresh and totally filling meal in the small, but pretty modern space of Khinkali Point.

We suggest you to try: the Khinkali with melted potato!
Cost: €-€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋

LavkaLavka Restaurant

If you are looking for high-quality food in Moscow, then LavkaLavka Restaurant is the place for you! The restaurant is housed in an industrial-style space, which is especially large. The dishes are made with ingredients derived from collaborating farms, with quantities, however, being limited. Service is excellent and prices are well over the city’s average.

Mini Tip: If you choose to visit LavkaLavka Restaurant in the weekend, you must have made reservations.

We suggest you to try: their tasty burgers!
Cost: €€€€
Total score: 😋😋😋

Food at the Danilovsky Market

The covered Danilovsky Market hosts plenty of options for food, including flavors from the Italian, Russian, Indian, Moroccan, Israeli and Vietnamese cuisine. The shop that stands out is the Vietnamese, which serves amazing soups, rich in quantity and taste, while it also offers very good sandwiches. Prices are pretty low and service is very quick (limited English-speaking skills). You can sit at the tables in front of the shop or on the balcony for greater comfort.

We suggest you to try: the soup with veal slices, sprouts and noodles!
Cost: €-€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋

Pelmeni da Borshi

Pelmeni da Borshi, or Moscow’s hidden gem. The shop is housed in the basement of Arbat 10 Street, in a beautifully decorated space, which gives off a sense of an era past. At Pelmeni da Borshi you will find traditional dishes in very reasonable prices, considering their size as well as quality. The polite and quick service comes to ideally complete the whole experience and make it one of the best options for food in Moscow.

We suggest you to try: the traditional Russian ravioli (Pelmeni)!
Cost: €€-€€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋

Breakfast

Grabli Food Bar

The breakfast heaven of Moscow is none other than Grabli Food Bar. The shop is located in the city center and apart from an amazing space, it also has tens of sweet and savory options for breakfast. Pancakes, biscuits, pastries and tarts are only a few of the options you will find in Grabli’s big food bar. Prices are reasonable and the quality of the products is very good.

Fast tip: Coffees, although they are machine-made, are (relatively) good.

We suggest you to try: the incredible stuffed potato with bacon, cheese and parsley!
Cost: €€-€€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋

Breakfast Cafe

The Breakfast Café will quickly become your favorite morning ritual! The noteworthy café is housed in a beautifully decorated space and serves pancakes, wonderful cakes, biscuits and filling bruschetta. The staff is polite and will attend to you quickly. Also, it is worth mentioning that at the Breakfast Café everything is prepared on the spot, so they are all fresh and of high quality.

We suggest you to try: the amazing chocolate and blueberries pancakes!
Cost: €€-€€€
Total score: 😋😋😋😋😋


The texts depict objectively and honestly everything that we saw and encountered during our stay, at the specific time period that we visited them. Travelen holds no responsibility for any possible changes regarding prices, decorations, service, change of management or anything else that you might find different during your visit. It is also worth mentioning that our review/opinion pertains ONLY to shops that we have visited.