5 locally owned hotspots in Moscow to check out

Around four years ago, the coffee craze hit Moscow and it hasn’t slowed down since. More small businesses continue to open across the city, promoting the wonders of high-quality brews. Bloom-n-Brew offers a perfect blend of sleek white design, a relaxed ambience and a well-thought-out menu. The recommended breakfast staple is its syrniki (fried cheese pancakes), which you can enjoy accompanied by the usual coffee classics or more novel recipes, such as an espresso tonic (made with espresso, tonic water and thyme).

In recent years Moscow has embraced food market culture in a big way, with the largest addition to its food hall family having arrived earlier this year. Housed within the striking red-brick interior of the defunct Miusskiy tram park, Depo is always busy, loud and bursting with delicious smells and bright colours. Over 70 stalls offer food from all over the world – whether you’re looking for Hawaiian poke from Soul in the Bowl, intriguing reinventions of the eponymous comfort dish from Mac & Cheese or steaming Georgian khachapuri (cheesefilled bread) from Ojakhuri and Tsomi. Come for the food but stay for the wine and live music.

From world-renowned galleries such as the Tretyakov Gallery and Garage Museum to small hole-in-the-wall spots, Moscow has a lot to offer any art enthusiast. But CUBE gallery aims to be much more than just another one on the list. Located within the swanky Ritz-Carlton hotel on the main street in Moscow, Tverskaya, this recently opened institution unites various forces of the art world under one roof. It prides itself on presenting diverse exhibitions, most recently hosting a showcase on punk comics.

Since opening its doors at the end of 2018, Dom Kultur has been an event space known for its versatility. During the day, it’s a café that hosts occasional flea markets and themed brunches from local brands and other lifestyle institutions. Come nighttime, the lights are dimmed, the tables are put away and you’ll witness partygoers streaming in. The music here is as varied as it gets, from jazz to modern beats by cutting-edge musicians from Yekaterinburg, such as LOVANDA: and Friend’s Jacuzzi. Consult the venue’s social media pages to get an idea of upcoming events.

Named after famous Soviet engineer Georgy Marsakov and located within an old bread factory, the Marsakov department store is situated in the heart of the Hlebozavod area. The cylindrical building straight from the 20th-century Soviet era is a work of art itself, and it serves as a perfect hub for modern independent local designers and international brands such as Rains from Denmark and JNBY from China. A short stroll from here will bring you to yet another culture-meets-fashion powerhouse, the Flacon design factory, which also hosts all kinds of festivals.

Singapore Airlines flies to Moscow five times a week. To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com

SEE ALSO: The best locally owned establishments in Wellington

This article was originally published in the September 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine