Don Giulio Pasticceria
Authentic Italian restaurant and bakery
The lovely aroma of rosemary and fresh foccacia immediately engulf you as you enter this eatery. With its rustic interior and Pavarotti soundtrack you might easily fancy yourself in Italy rather than Moscow. The traditional menu offers a range of salads, risotto and fresh pasta (all priced at 350 rubles) and a selection of pastries for those with a sweet tooth. There's also a lovely deli selling cured meats, cheeses, and homemade ready meals.
+7 (495) 624 5652
facebook.com/DonGiulioPasticceria
27 Ulitsa Pokrovka, Bldg.1. Metro Chistiye Prudy
Cafe Kopernik
Come for breakfast, stay for lunch
Fancy a lie-in on the weekend but love to breakfast out? This French-style cafe located just off Muzeon Arts Park serves a delicious all-day breakfast in a mint green interior. Classics like omelets, pancakes and oatmeal are priced between 150 and 300 rubles. The lunch menu also warrants attention, with yummy sandwiches and casseroles on offer. The perfect spot to kickstart the day.
+ 7 (985) 099 8899
facebook.com/kopernikcafe
22 Ulitsa Bolshaya Yakimanka. Metro Oktyabrskaya
Pita and Suvlaki
A taste of Greece
An ugly building near Tsvetnoi Bulvar houses a treasure trove of Greek food. The Pita and Suvlaki café flies in feta cheese and Kalamata olives which make their Greek salad, one of the simplest dishes on offer, their most delicious. Other must-tries are the chargrilled eggplant, suvlaki (Greek kebab) and classic dolma. On a date? Take it easy on their tzatziki sauce, very tasty but very garlicky.
+ 7 (499) 993 9859
facebook.com/pitasuvlaki
1/15 Sadovaya-Samotechnaya Ulitsa. Metro Tsvetnoi Bulvar
Porosello
Cheerful gastrobar with a snug interior
Just a stone's throw from the Kitai-Gorod metro station, Porosello offers brunch by day and drinks by night — the perfect place to curl up and relax in a cozy plaid armchair. A tasty array of soups, steaks and pasta feature on the menu. Ask the bartender to make you a gin and tonic or choose from a modest selection of craft beers and wine by the glass. Exposed filament light bulbs and industrial-chic bar stools add to the ambience.
+ 7 (495) 623 5969
facebook.com/Cafeporosello
25 Lubyansky Proezd, Bldg. 2. Metro Kitai-Gorod