The best bars and cafés Moscow (Москва)

One of our favourite spots in the Gorki park, which is set up in the summer months with its multiple petanque courts, its deckchairs scattered on the surrounding lawn, its garden tables and its open wooden bar-kitchen. You can drink beers and mojitos, eat kebabs on the go, listen to the DJs who are often on the program. And of course, you can come and play the game of "cochonnet" (provided with its balls). A place where it is good to let the summer evenings go by.

The concept of anticoffee was born in Moscow in 2010 with the Ziferblat chain and has been developing rapidly from all over the world. This concept is simple: the drinks are free and you only pay for the time you spend on site, the first hour being fixed and the rest of the time counted by the minute. In exchange for a modest price, you can enjoy a quiet and pleasant space (with sofas) to work or rest, access to wifi, bookcrossing area, board games, piano, printer and baristas at your service.

It's an institution in the city. Hidden in an inner courtyard, this independent coffee shop opened on the initiative of coffeeaficionados and has been a revolution in Moscow's coffee culture. Its signature drink is roasted locally according to secret recipes and brewed using V60 and Aeropress techniques (you order your coffee tightly, and black). In a creative and relaxed atmosphere, you can also pick from its cakes (or its selection of wines) while listening to the owners' vinyl collection. A must on your to-do list !

We love this bar, which should be a must on your visit to the capital. It's a clandestine bar (perfectly legal, don't worry), set up in a disused bunker and whose entrance is not indicated from the street. Once you have ventured down a flight of stairs, you arrive at a set of subdued lights where the industrial aesthetic of the military complex is harmoniously preserved. It is here that we have found the best cocktails in Moscow, with or without alcohol. Finally, their DJ sets are monstrous.

Ah the Rock'n'Roll Bar... On weekends, during the week, at any time of the night, we go there, we go back. Many theme nights, always very rock, grungy decor, friendly clientele and staff, affordable prices. Excellent pop/rock music that never fails to make customers wiggle their hips in front of the bar (no real dance floor but lots of space). And you can order food all night long. Unless you are already very drunk, you will have no trouble getting past the (free) entrance.

One of Moscow's most popular coffees. So popular that many have been opened on its model in Moscow and other cities in Russia. But the Coffee Bean of Pokrovka is certainly the most pleasant with its lovely tree terrace. Ideal for a coffee break and pastry after relaxing long in the beautiful Quartier Prudy district. Do not miss chocolate foam, it is excellent.

A modern café, always crowded with strong music, but for coffee lovers, who as everyone knows is not the lighthouse drink of the Russians, so rarely find good. Enjoy delicious cappuccino with different scents, nuts, caramel, chocolate, strawberry, raspberry, or even banana. Hot drinks are at 199 R. You can find Crisp house at all corners of the street.

Entering this café not far from the Belorusskaya metro station, you feel as if you are entering the holy of holies of a design album or a life-size catalogue. Rest assured, rather than intimidating, this commitment to the light blue decor provides a highly convivial (and very instagramable) setting in which one quickly feels at ease. It's even better when you taste the superb coffees, teas, traditional drinks and cakes, crumbles or even the triangular sandwiches freshly prepared with a masterful hand by the staff.

On the road to the Propaganda club where you can go dancing at the end of the evening is the Pirogi café-club which is worth a stop. Cult in the 2010's, when conferences on social topics were held, it continues to offer a rich program that is now exclusively musical. Very popular at weekends, this establishment is particularly inexpensive, whether for a drink or a bite to eat a piece of their speciality Russian savoury pie. The Russian cuisine is simple but very good value for money and the atmosphere is good.

Initially opened just off Red Square, the bar recently moved to New Arbat for an even bigger and cozier space, with a large, contemporary wooded area organized around a massive island bar. Among the founders is Ilya Lagutenko, singer and leader of the legendary Russian rock band Mumiy Troll. The stage at the back of the room frequently hosts concerts. There is also a large cocktail list, reasonably priced for the location (from 490 RUB for cocktails).

A victim of its own success, the Pain et Vin bar-restaurant launched a chain that now has two other establishments in the capital. As a result, prices have gone up and portions have gone down in the kitchen on their Portuguese-inspired dishes. Fortunately, we recommend you go there instead for their wide range of good Portuguese, Russian and other wines, as well as their selection of craft beers. The setting is pleasant, relaxed and designer. However, the prices have also been revised upwards in this area.

To enjoy an evening in a festive atmosphere with live concerts and delicious cocktails, it's this way. Strategically nestled between the MKhAT and Bolshoi Theatres, the Hidden Bar is a multi-faceted venue. At first glance the decoration reminds one of a classic English pub, until one discovers the cocktail menu! At the beginning of the evening, you can attend a concert, then the place quickly turns into a nightclub with a DJ until 6 o'clock in the morning. Moreover, most of the waiters speak English.

Denis Simachev is a designer-stylist who recently opened his first boutique-restaurant-bar in one of Moscow's upmarket districts. It is one of those trendy places that attract a select clientele. The place in any case is worth the detour and surprises with its rooms equipped with washbasins and flushing toilets! You can visit the shop on the ^first floor, but you'll soon come back to the bar: T-shirts cost twice the average salary in Russia.

Located on the ground floor of the Gogol house-museum, this small café has won over tourists and locals alike. Opened and run by a passionate Italian couple, this is the place in Moscow where you can taste the true flavours of Italian coffee, from 7 different types of coffee. The reputation of the place was formed mainly thanks to the kindness and attentions of the barist-owners, so don't hesitate to come and chat! Finally, their pastries and croissants are also very good. Be careful, the place is very small.

Dom Kultur is the name of this cluster, where you can also find a bar, THE trendiest hair salon in the capital, and the brasserie on the first floor we're talking about. You'll find cuisine by chef Sergey Rakhmanin, good vodkas and great cocktails by Daria Solovieva. Go there to eat as well as to take a break at the end of the day in the bar, or even dance the night away on Fridays and Saturdays.

Every weekend there are brunches from various local urban culture leaders (MMOMA).

600 m ² on six floors in the heart of Moscow with Internet space, a restaurant, games room (billiards, Uno, etc.), shisha, short it is also a place to warm up, a place of "pre-party".

Defacto, Defaqto is a typical Moscow multifunctional bar where you can have lunch during the day, a drink in the evening, enjoy a live concert from 10pm and then stay dancing until dawn. It has several rooms with different atmospheres for those who want to get a head start or are behind schedule. The strength of this place is that the cocktails and food are excellent, with very pleasant staff and bartenders, all for rather reasonable prices for the city centre.