Like a local: best spots in Moscow according to millennials

At first Moscow may seem like a concrete jungle only suited for money making and building a career and not for a harmonious life, full of empathy and basic human communication. But in fact there is place for all of this, only that one must know the road to these special locations, where it all can be found. A café for friends, a secret club, a co-working space, an extraordinary gift-shop, which was opened by people with good taste: without any limitations from our editor team, young residents of Moscow gave away their favorite spots, that make the city truly a nice place to live in.

“Obshee / Chastnoe”

Alexander, architect

A small space in the territory of Hlebozavod was initiated as a gift-shop with a modern twist. Its founders (designers Vasily and Lesia Volchok-Rusakovich) know that the kind of presents that can be found there not only will be counted in, but really bring joy. It is in fact something new. You can find a special gift for your loved ones, or pass by to pick up some pretty nick-nack, in case you got an improvised invitation to a party, or you can come on a big feast’s eve to buy presents for everybody right away. Notebooks, socks and lingerie with ironic prints, unusual jewelry, genuine leather accessories, Korean cosmetics, plants in handmade pots and other little things — all sorts of beautiful things can be found in this place. The place itself by the way is very nice — cozy room with big floor to ceiling windows, white marble counter and very lovely sales assistants. Each present can be wrapped accordingly to your needs for free.

Novodmitrovskaya st, 1 building 14 / instagram.com/commonprivate / vk.com/commonprivate / facebook.com/commonprivate/

Pinsa Maestrella

Emmy, photographer 

This pizza place on the corner of Pokrovka and Pokrovsky boulevard was opened by a couple from Verona. It combines elegance of a true Italian restaurant and immediacy of a fast-food. You can try pinsa here — a kind of focaccia from different sorts of flour. The selection is grate — from classic “Margarita” and “Parmigiana” to specialties, introduced by the chef. For example, the “Bolognese” recipe was made to capture the taste of a true Italian lasagna. Take a few boxes with pinsa and go towards the Hohlovskaya square, where the first archeological park with amphitheater emerged recently. They digged a fragment of the Bely wall of XI century. Large steps lead to the wall and it is amazingly cozy to seat on them and have and open air dinner. An ideal scenario for a summer eve in Moscow.

Pokrovka, 16 / facebook.com/pinsa.maestrello / instagram.com/pinsa.maestrello/

Nude. Coffee & Wine Bar

Sophia, SMM-manager

Nude bar situated in a 1930-s building near the Patriarch Ponds — is a small coffee shop and wine bar with a loft vibe, thoroughly picked selection of New and Old World’s wines in the list, good coffee and signature menu. Start your day with matcha cottage cheese paired with berries and caramel or an omelette with burrata and zucchini, at lunch try a set of pates, bruschetta with goat-cheese and figs, or a sandwich with roast beef or teriyaki chicken.

Spiridonovka, 24/1 / facebook.com/coffeeandwinebar / instagram.com/nude_cwb

Karaoke-bar Bowie

Julia, DJ

You won’t hear Russian songs in this karaoke-bar, what you will hear is The Stooges, Patty Smyth, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar. The quality of the backing tracks and the sound itself is so good, that you totally feel like a star once you take the mic in your hands. Add a proper interior with neon and leather couches and dimmed lights. The entrance is free, also you don’t need to pay to perform a song — you can sing as much as you want, just wait for your turn. There are cocktails, salads, starters and burgers in the menu. If your’re too shy, come during the week, when the bar is nearly empty. The spot is open from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m every day, except Monday.

Myasnitskaya st., 16 / instagram.com/bowiekaraoke / vk.com/bowiekaraoke / facebook.com/bowiekaraoke

Bar “Uspeh”

Masha, art-director 

Half a year after «Rabiza» was closed, the Olkhovskaya Street was literally invaded by punks. Bar “Uspeh” — new center of attraction for all the adherents of punk-culture — occupied one of the spaces, previously rented by the club. The concerts of the underground musical bands are first in order to visit — they play from garage punk to experimental jazz here. There are other options too — you can visit a comic festival, listen to a feminist movement in hardcore or come by a streetwear-brand collection presentation. The full program can be found on Instagram or on Facebook and VK. Anyways you can always find good craft beer and reasonably priced cocktails in the bar.

Olkhovskaya st., 14 build.2 / instagram.com/bar.uspex / vk.com/bar.uspex / facebook.com/bar.uspex

Aptekarskiy Ogorod Botanical Garden

Lesya, clothing designer

It’s always nice here. Besides the fact that there are many different plants here, the territory itself is well-organized. There is a playground for children, a pond and some sleeping ledges. They often organize concerts and festivals here, and when they play electronic music here, the atmosphere reminds that of a European rave. If you post a photo and put the geotag, the official account of the place will surely reply you with a sincere thank you note or even follow you back. It’s cool.

Prospekt Mira, 26 build. 1 / hortus.ru / instagram.com/hortus_ru / facebook.com/aptekarsky.ogorod / vk.com/club58154167

“Hachapuri” café, “Lepim i varim”

Both spots can be found here, right near the Aptekarskiy Ogorod Botanical Garden. When you’re in “Hachapuri” it feels as if you’ve gone away from the town, because from one side the windows face the Aptekarskiy Ogorod Botanical Garden and from the other — tall trees and beautiful houses along the avenue. It’s like a soul kitchen where they prepare khachapuri, khinkali, chahohbili and dolma. 

Prospekt Mira, 26 build. 1 / hacha.ru/ru/prospekt-mira 

“Lepim I varim” — a good example of Russian cuisine with interesting interpretations. You can order pelmeni with any meat you like or red king crab and scallops and you can also buy “mimosa” (famous Russian salad) in a big jar — for just 130 rubles.

Prospekt Mira, 26 build. 1 lepimivarim.ru / instagram.com/lepimivarim / facebook.com/lepimivarim

Bar “Enthusiast”

Katya, blogger

During the day you can seat here alone with your laptop working in peace and in the evening — drink when there’s a bunch of people hanging around. It’s an ideal place: right in the center but not too crowded. Only friends and friends’ friends know about it, and you always keep coming back somehow. Because your friends or their friends arrange vinyl markets, amateur cinema festivals, movie nights. On the famous musicians’ birthdays and on other significant occasions live-concert sessions are usually organized.

Stoleshnikov lane, 7 build. 5 / instagram.com/enthusiastmoscow/

“Triumph” gallery

Vasya, clothing designer

One of my favorite galleries is situated right near the Red square, in the Ilyinka yard — “Triumph”. The owners work with young artists and change the exhibition quite often. The entrance is always free and there is a printed catalogue with descriptions issued for every exhibition. The atmosphere is always informal. Once we walked in right before New Year’s eve and there was a corporate evening going on at the moment apparently. The gallery workers were giving speeches and we were just walking by freely and looking at the paintings.

Ilyinka st., 3/8 build. 5 / facebook.com/triumphgallery

Fruits & Veges café

The space of the former bunker on the territory of “Artplay” is now occupied by a vegan-café Fruits & Veges with a tasty menu — the desserts deserve your special attention. Lunches are cheap, at the same time the portions are very big. There are vegetarian burgers and falafel of course in the menu. The workers are punks and hardcore adherents, which adds up to the atmosphere of the place. You can seat inside or outside — on a terrace surrounded by greenery.

Nizhnyaya Syromiatnicheskaya st., 10/12 / instagram.com/fruitsvegescafe

Co-working space in the “Books” pavilion, VDNKh

Nadia, journalist

In a beautiful empire style building of the book pavilion number 516 opened a co-working space — thanks to the initiative of the Ministry of culture. It’s cozy inside: two levels of a lightsome hall, with a gorgeous chandelier left here from the Stalin period and windows from floor to the ceiling, are well-divided for different book-zones. It’s a reading space, bookshop and a place for intellectual entertainment at the same time (lectures, movie nights and public talks are often organized, the program can be found on the website). Books (many of them, and the library is regularly updated), fast internet and water — absolutely for free. They make very good coffee and offer tasty desserts here, the only thing which isn’t even qualified to be a problem is that sometimes you should register for the events (always free) in advance.

Prospekt Mira, 119, pav. 516 / knigi516.ru

“Zvezda” cinema-hall 

Susanna, journalist

One of the few cinemas, where you can watch films in the original language. But that’s not even its biggest advantage — it’s all in the atmosphere of the place: with its tall ceilings decorated with fretwork, arches and unusual auditorium which reminds a restaurant. Just 18 tables with 60 comfortable armchairs around them. During the shows noiseless waiters take orders from visitors, only that with everything going on on the screen there’s usually no time left for food.

Zemlyanoy Val st., 18/22 / mos-kino.ru/cinema_1.html