Moscow
Subway Directional Sign
Moscow's craft beer scene has been really coming alive the last couple of years (since 2015). Many great craft beer bars have opened. And by the crowds drinking beer in them, they will continue to keep opening. However, not yet caught on, are the brew pubs who brew their own beer. It doesn't seem like many of the craft beer bars have been able to navigate the taps system yet. I'm not sure what the reason is, but it takes forever to pour beer because it is so foamy. Keep an eye on the beer pour to make sure they are not pouring you a glass of warm leftover foam from previous pours. Many bars are open until 5 or 6 am, however, it is more common to close at 1 or 2 am.
The Moscow subway system has some of the most beautiful subway stations in the world, worth ornate mosaic designs and ornate architecture. Unfortunately, it can also be a little intimidating to navigate Moscow by subway, but if you use it enough, you should get accustomed to it reasonable quickly. Some of the stations are deep (and I mean deep) underground. They also served as fallout shelters during the Cold War. Taxis are also available and they are not too expensive. However, you do need to take precautions using taxis as they can charge whatever they want, or at least it seems that way, especially from the airports and train terminals. You can connect to each of the 3 major Moscow airports via the subway system and Aeroexpress trains. It's a convenient way to avoid long traffic delays. However, within the Metro system, there are a lot of stairs to navigate with your suitcases. If you are traveling with more than 1 suitcase, it may not be the option for you.
If you take the subway, make sure you have a combined Russian and English subway map. There is very little English in the subway stations as all the names are in Cyrillic. It's a good idea to study the map ahead of time so you know where you are going and where to get on and off. When you are at the trains, you will see signs with the subsequent station stop (in Russian) so you can pick the right direction you are headed. The transfer stations can be a little intimidating, even for world travelers who use subways often, like me. It's especially hard to find exits at transfer stations. There are very few signs indicating exits (Выход). Depending on which line you are on, you will need to follow the direction of another line before you will find an exit. There are more no exit (нет Выход) signs than exit signs. Connecting subway markings are either on the floor or overhead. Sometimes they are at the entrance of a staircase. Another drawback is that very few subway cars have electronic indicators showing which stations the subway has stopped and which direction it's headed. If you get on the wrong direction, it will be difficult to notice without the dual language subway map. You may need to exit the train and go the signage to verify where you are. You can not see which station you are at from inside the subway looking out. However, once you are familiar with the metro system and used it a little, it will be easier. And it is very inexpensive.
The Moscow subway system has some of the most beautiful subway stations in the world, worth ornate mosaic designs and ornate architecture. Unfortunately, it can also be a little intimidating to navigate Moscow by subway, but if you use it enough, you should get accustomed to it reasonable quickly. Some of the stations are deep (and I mean deep) underground. They also served as fallout shelters during the Cold War. Taxis are also available and they are not too expensive. However, you do need to take precautions using taxis as they can charge whatever they want, or at least it seems that way, especially from the airports and train terminals. You can connect to each of the 3 major Moscow airports via the subway system and Aeroexpress trains. It's a convenient way to avoid long traffic delays. However, within the Metro system, there are a lot of stairs to navigate with your suitcases. If you are traveling with more than 1 suitcase, it may not be the option for you.
If you take the subway, make sure you have a combined Russian and English subway map. There is very little English in the subway stations as all the names are in Cyrillic. It's a good idea to study the map ahead of time so you know where you are going and where to get on and off. When you are at the trains, you will see signs with the subsequent station stop (in Russian) so you can pick the right direction you are headed. The transfer stations can be a little intimidating, even for world travelers who use subways often, like me. It's especially hard to find exits at transfer stations. There are very few signs indicating exits (Выход). Depending on which line you are on, you will need to follow the direction of another line before you will find an exit. There are more no exit (нет Выход) signs than exit signs. Connecting subway markings are either on the floor or overhead. Sometimes they are at the entrance of a staircase. Another drawback is that very few subway cars have electronic indicators showing which stations the subway has stopped and which direction it's headed. If you get on the wrong direction, it will be difficult to notice without the dual language subway map. You may need to exit the train and go the signage to verify where you are. You can not see which station you are at from inside the subway looking out. However, once you are familiar with the metro system and used it a little, it will be easier. And it is very inexpensive.
1516 Pub & Brewery
Having been to the 1516 Brewing Company in Vienna, this seemed like a logical place to start. The thinking was that this was part of the Vienna 1516 family. I was disappointed to find out that it was just a similar name or knockoff bar. Whichever, the beer was still good and above average. The beer is brewed on-site but the selection was somewhat limited. The beer list was reasonable (about 8 beers) but they were out of nearly half of them. They also carry an assortment of bottle beer, mostly from Europe. I went in the middle of a Sunday afternoon and the place was dead. Just a few people in the restaurant. The bartender didn't speak English and with no one else to talk with, I only stayed for a quick 2 beers and left. Location: Abelmanovskaya St, 4a Nearest Metro: Proletarskaya Station (Line 7) Updated June '15
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1516 Pub
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Craft rePUBlic
This craft bar has a good selection of European craft beer on tap (25) and a large selection of bottled beer from around the world, more than 125. Close proximity to the Kremlin and Red Square and within the first traffic ring around Moscow. Lively place and packed on a Sunday afternoon. Patrons spilled out onto the sidewalk in front of the pub. Friendly atmosphere and easy to engage with others in conversation. WiFi is only available by logging in with a code sent to your mobile phone, so without a local phone number, you don't have access to internet. They also recently stopped letting people run a tab while drinking, even if you are sitting at the bar, so it's slightly inconvenient to pay by credit card for every glass. Location: Malyy Gnezdnikovskiy pereulok 9, стр. 7 Nearest Metro: Puskinskaya Station (Line 9) or Tverskaya Station (Line 2) or Chekhovskaya Station (Line 7) Updated Jul '16 |
Craft Republic Tap List
Best Craft Bar in 2015
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ВСЕ ТВОИ ДРУЗЬЯ (All Your Friends)
Across the street from Craft Republic and equally as busy. A smaller bar with less seating (6 bar chairs and about 10 chairs at tables) and a smaller selection of European tap beer (15 taps) but they are good ones. This place stayed busy well into the evening and night. The second time I went here, one and a half years later, I came away with a different impression. It was less crowded inside because it was so damn hot. No air conditioning. They are now serving a lot more Russian beer, which isn't a bad thing, but I think they are falling behind all the new craft bars opening with much better selections and more taps. Their bottle collection has also dwindled, perhaps with declining business. It's no longer a destination bar, but merely a decent local craft beer bar. They also switched to pay per beer rather than allowing you to run a tab. It seems too many people were skipping out on the bills. Location: Malyy Gnezdnikovskiy pereulok 12 Nearest Metro: Puskinskaya Station (Line 9) or Tverskaya Station (Line 2) or Chekhovskaya Station (Line 7) Updated Jul '16 |
All Your Friends
ВСЕ ТВОИ ДРУЗЬЯ
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Бавариус (Bavarius)
Bavarius is a German style restaurant with a nice selection of German draft beer available. Very little English spoken by the wait staff when I was there but sill a good atmosphere for some German food and beer. Interior is typical German decor. Location: Sadovaya-Triumfalnaya ul., 2/30с1 Nearest Metro: Mayakovskaya Station (Line 2) Updated Dec '14
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Bavarius
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Бирмаркет (Beer Market)
I heard about this place from a person I met at Craft Republic. He wrote out the directions on a map, but it was still very hard to find. I walked around a large area of blocks before I finally noticed it down an alley. Along the way, I stopped at an Apple Store, where they did some searching in Russian, but no luck. I also stopped at an American restaurant around the corner, but they didn't know either. It was as I was leaving that restaurant that I noticed a bunch of people congregating down the side alley. So I checked it out and it was Beer Market. Small but very crowded full of locals. You won't find many tourists here but if you track it down, it's worth it. There are 24 taps here and a very large selection of craft beer in bottles - 200+. It's not a large place and usually is quite busy and difficult to find a table. There are a few benches to sit and it seems more people prefer to stand outside. Plastic glasses are given if you choose to go outside. Bar is for ordering only - to chairs. Cash only. It wasn't a very sociable place for foreigners and it seems to be very local and in their little cliques. Location: Страстной бул., 4, стр. 2 Nearest Metro: Chekhovskaya Station (Line 7) or Tverskaya Station (Line 2) or Puskinskaya Station (Line 9) Updated Jul '16 |
Beer Market
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Столовая Столичная (Metro Diner)
Neat railway-themed 'diner'. Billed as selling it's owned craft beer, but in reality, the few types of 'their own" beer they are brewed by a large commercial brewery in Russia. Average, at best. They do have some sort of live music, but I was not there when it was playing. Location: Sadovaya-Triumfalnaya ul., 10/13 Nearest Metro: Mayakovskaya Station (Line 2) Updated Dec '14 |
Metro Diner
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Главпивторг (Glavpivtorq)
Great Russian-style upscale restaurant with a very elegant classic design. It is the old Soviet-era Ministry of Transport building. The food was very good and so was the beer. They have their own branded beer and unfortunately, I couldn't find out with certainty if they brew it themselves or if it is brewed for them, however, it is at least locally brewed. Give it a try, because it is very good, otherwise, they have a nice selection of good international beer. Live music. Location: Bolshaya Lubyanka, 5 Nearest Metro: Kuznetskiy Most Station (Line 7) Updated Dec '14
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Red Caramel @ Glavpivtorq
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Pilsner Urquell
One of 5 Pilsner Urquell Restaurants in Moscow which are part of the Czech chain of restaurants. Nanobrewery that brews the "true pilsner" style Pilsner Urquell. There are only 5 beers on draft total - the Pilsner Urquell, 3 varieties of Velkopopovicky Kozel (light, dark and unfiltered) and the 5th is a 'cut' which is half of light and half of dark. For some reason, they charge more for the cut beer. The food menus offers a good variety of Czech-style cuisine. Very unique interior style and design with the bar shaped like a large copper brewing vat. Location: 1-ya Tverskaya Yamskaya ul. Nearest Metro: Mayakovskaya Station (Line 2) Updated Dec '14 |
Kozel Světlý @ Pilsner Urquell
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HopHead Craft Beer Pub
HopHead opened in early 2015 and may be the best craft beer bar in Moscow. They have about 44 draft beers and an impressive collection of 300+ bottles from all around the world, including certain vintage beers. The draft beer is divided into two categories - 1 category has about 23 of their own branded beer (not brewed on site) and 21 international beers that are more or less typical of any bar in Europe. The bottles are from Russia and the rest of the world. This is a large, roomy bar with 2 floors and live music a few nights per week. The upstairs mezzanine overlooks the band area and has tables, hookah smoking and no bar. Only negative is that the live music is extremely loud. Their own beer is brewed in St. Petersburg. I believe it's from a commercial brewery that brews one of their brands under the HopHead name, but I wasn't able to get a clear answer from the bartender. But it was good. Location: ul. Fridrikha Engelsa, 20, стр. 1 Nearest Metro: Baumanskaya Station (Line 3) Updated Jul '16 |
HopHead Craft Beer Bar
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