Winter Warmers: Five Favorites for Festive Moscow Drinks

By The Moscow Times

Dec. 7, 2015

Scandinavia

Simple and stylish

Scandinavia shrugs at the at the ostentation of its neighboring Moscow eateries, offering low-key yet classy decor with a menu to match. Warm yourself up with some authentic glentwein as you relax in the modern, airy interior. Or perhaps opt for the grЪg, another firm crowd-pleaser. With its heady aroma of rum, cinnamon and lemon, it's like Christmas in a cup.

+ 7 (495) 937 5630
scandinavia.ru
7 Maly Palashevsky Pereulok. Metro Tverskaya

VDNKh Food Court

Sotheby's

Embrace your inner Slavophile

You may not have noticed, but Russians take their honey pretty seriously. Winter calls for ***sbiten***, a traditional drink made from honey and spices. Popular from the Middle Ages until the 19th century when tea became the beverage du jour, you can still find sbiten in traditional cafes and park vendors across Russia. Treat yourself to a cup from a steaming samovar and travel back in time.

vdnh.ru
VDNKh pavilions 64-66, 119 Prospekt Mira
Metro VDNKh

NOOR Bar

Trendy crowd, delightful drinks

Mixologists donning white coats perform cocktail wizardry at NOOR. You might have to fight your way through a crowd of arty types to get to the bar, but it will be worth it for one of the expertly made concoctions. The drinks menu features classics like hot eggnog and heart-warming apple toddies, alongside more adventurous offerings like the low rider, a tequila-based cocktail with bitters and creme de cacao. A prime location and buzzing atmosphere.

+7 (903) 136 7686
noorbar.com
23 Tverskaya Ulitsa. Metro Tverskaya

The Sad

The Sad

Classy, with a price tag to match

It's not at all doom and gloom here, we promise. "Sad" actually means garden, a nod to the trailing ivy, pot plants and indoor trees that populate the dining room. And a swanky garden it is, too! Cozy up and order one of the inventive winter specials. Caribbean punch, an Irish apple strudel cocktail or a potent maple syrup julep should help ward off the winter chill.

+7 (495) 783 8109
en.ginza.ru
4 Yakimanskaya Naberezhnaya. Metro Polyanka

Cuba Libre

Fun, flirty and very affordable

Although it's dubious whether anything other than the name of this place is legitimately Cuban, Cuba Libre is easy-going enough that you don't really care. The lively atmosphere makes this a great venue for knocking back a couple of cocktails before continuing the night elsewhere. The mint glentwein and hot honey gold, a cocktail made from drambuie, honey and cinnamon, go down a treat with the bar's regular crowd of students.

+7 (495) 692 0214
barcubalibre.ru
4 Kuznetsky Most. Metro Kuznetsky Most

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