Escaping the Heat: Catch Everything In Moscow

by Alexandra Mansilla

Escaping the Heat: Catch Everything In Moscow

17 Jul 2024

It is over 40 degrees outside, and this heat will stick around for a few months. You are probably tired of the office, apartment, or coworking space and craving real wind instead of air conditioning. Need a getaway? Check out our guides for London, Amsterdam, and Tbilisi. Now, it is time to focus on Moscow. It has also been hot there, but temps are dropping; expect around 20 degrees in late July–August.

How to Get There

Fly comfortably from Dubai with Emirates. Direct flights take about 5.5 hours, and a one-way ticket costs around 1 500 AED.

Where to Stay

Moscow has plenty of great hotels with comfortable rooms and excellent service, but the Metropol stands out for a few reasons. First, it is located in the heart of Moscow. Second, it offers top-notch service. Third, it is the first hotel in Russia to introduce a prepaid bank card system allowing foreign guests to make cashless payments in Russia.

This feature is convenient for tourists unfamiliar with the local payment system. How to get the card? It is very simple. Upon receipt of a reservation from an international guest, a hotel employee will contact the guest to discuss the possibility of issuing them a free bank card for making payments using the Russian national payment system. If the guest wishes to have the card issued in advance, it will be waiting for them at the front desk upon arrival. Alternatively, cards can be issued during check-in. The guest simply needs to fill out a short agreement form and activate the card.

The guest can deposit funds into the account before travelling or after receiving the card at the hotel. A standard bank transfer from the guest’s bank account in their home country will be required to top up the card. That is it! Now you can pay cashless in restaurants and cafes, stores, shopping malls, beauty salons, museums, theatres, etc.

Source: metropol-moscow.ru

Museums to Visit

First, Pushkin Museum and Tretyakov Gallery. Both are packed with amazing art collections. The Pushkin Museum showcases a wide range of European art, including masterpieces by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rembrandt. The Tretyakov Gallery is the go-to place for Russian art, featuring works from icons like Repin, Rublev, and Kandinsky. It is best to visit on weekdays to avoid the crowds.

Then, GES-2 House of Culture, the former power station that was turned cultural hub by the V–A–C Foundation hosts exhibitions, performances, concerts, workshops, and more. It’s a massive space filled with creativity, and entry is free with online registration.

GES-2. Source: ges-2.org

Of course, you should visit Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. This place offers everything from architectural tours to film screenings and even kids' workshops. Plus, there is a cool bookstore on the ground floor where you can spend hours.

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. Source: garagemca.org

A must-see for architecture buffs is the Narkomfin Building. Booking a tour is a great way to explore this iconic Soviet-era building.

Photo: Sofia Ermakova

Next stop is Khudozhestvenny Cinema, one of the oldest cinemas in the world, opened in 1909. Renovated in 2020, it is now a vibrant public space. Keep an eye on the facade display: it will often change!

We highly recommend the "Moscow Through the Eyes of an Engineer" excursions (the website doesn't have English version, so you have to click "Translate to English" button). You will get fascinating insights about different areas of Moscow. You can explore various neighbourhoods (including the intriguing outskirts), visit mansions, and discover things about the city you won't find online. It is a great way to see a different side of Moscow.

Photo: Mike Kononov

Where to Eat

Björn

Russia's first Zero Waste restaurant, awarded Bib Gourmand and a Green Star by MICHELIN Guide Moscow 2022. They serve amazing Scandinavian dishes — so, come here to try smørrebrød or fish soup. Björn also hosts wild dinners in nature, offering a unique outdoor dining experience.

Pinch

A trendy neo-bistro near Patriarch's Ponds, with an innovative menu by Italian chef Luigi Magni. It is all about creative dishes and fresh ingredients.

Ugolek

Known for its rustic charm and dishes cooked in antique cast-iron ovens. The restaurant is also recognised with a Bib Gourmand by Michelin.

Severyane

A mix of Scandinavian, Russian, and European cuisines in a cozy, mysterious setting.

Rynok & Obshchepit

Head here for the best shakshuka in town.

Dom Kultur

"Dom" means House in Russian, and "kultur" means cultures. Their food is all about comfort — simple, homemade, and delicious, but never boring. Every weekend, they host brunches with different local communities, making it a great spot to meet new people and enjoy good food.

Instagram: @dom.kultur

Sangre Fresca

Enjoy Mexican cuisine with a super friendly staff who will happily explain all the menu items in detail.

Remy Kitchen Bakery

Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. At the Depo location, you can watch bread being baked in their open kitchen. The Malaya Bronnaya spot has an amazing terrace, great for summer evenings.

Mushrooms

As you might guess, mushrooms are the star here. This place is Michelin-recommended for 2022.

Usachevsky Market

A huge market with tons of restaurants and delicious farm products to buy.

Yauza Place

Named after its location, this venue transforms throughout the day: a veranda for lunch, a full restaurant in the evening, and a dance and cocktail spot at night. And sometimes it can be a market where you can buy clothes from local designers.

Instagram: @remykitchenbakery

And What About Russian Cuisine?

Savva, Beluga, and White Rabbit (each with one Michelin star in the MICHELIN Guide Moscow 2022) are the spots to hit if you are craving something like caviar or okroshka. Okroshka is a cold soup made with kvass or kefir (the debate never ends!), mixed with cucumbers, veggies, herbs, and meat.

Instagram: @belugamoscow

Where to Have Coffee

Save these spots: Aeroplan, Toto, Mates, ABC Coffee, 2046 (a gorgeous green cafe!), YCP (great for coworking), Bloom-n-Brew, and Surf Coffee (a local favourite).

Instagram: @2046.moscow

Where to Go Shopping

For luxury brands, hit up the obvious spots — GUM and TSUM. For local brands, head to Tsvetnoy or Pokrovka 7/9. If you are into streetwear, Peak Moscow is the place to go.

by Alexandra Mansilla