6 Israeli restaurants in Moscow
Have lunch on a synagogue rooftop, breakfast in a museum or visit a speakeasy in the evening? Here is what awaits food lovers!
1 ‘Dizengof/99’
Pokrovsky Boulevard, 8, building. 1
Cafés from this chain can be found in both Moscow and St. Petersburg; they are loved not so much for their elegant interiors as for their extensive menus featuring various types of hummus, falafel and more. The establishment is also famous for special sets served only in the evenings or on weekends – such as latkes with sour cream or ramen with matzah balls and pastrami. You can also "build-your-own" breakfast all day long (assembling exactly what you like) and you can even bring your pet dog along – they get a treat and a dog bed!
2 ‘Saviv’
Petrovka Street., 30/7
The restaurant’s name cleverly combines the name of the brand chef’s daughter, Sara, with the city of Tel Aviv. Thanks to its "smart comfort food" concept, the menu offers a diverse blend of Israeli, Italian and Greek cuisines. Offerings include a quartet of dips – hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara and taramasalata – as well as a preserved lemon salad, lamb dolma and beef matzah lasagna. And the signature dessert – ‘babbamisu’, a fusion of tiramisu and chocolate babka – is worth a trip from the other side of town!
3 ‘Mitzva’
1 Pyatnitskaya Street., Building. 1
The ‘Mitzva’ bar is tucked away in an inconspicuous archway on Pyatnitskaya Street behind an unmarked door; inside, you are greeted by a slightly Gothic-style basement featuring a stained-glass window depicting the All-Seeing Eye. The menu ranges from shakshuka with tahini and aromatic homemade challah, chicken broth and falafel-stuffed pita to sharing platters of meze and date cake served with ice cream – which is made in-house using homemade ‘peysakhovka’ (Passover spirit) infused with raisins and dried apricots.
4 ‘Jerusalem’
6 Bolshaya Bronnaya Street., Building. 3
A restaurant located on the top floor of the synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya Street. It serves kosher cuisine, blending Israeli and Caucasian culinary traditions. Falafel and chopped herring (forshmak) share the menu with shashlik and minced meat kebab, while traditional shakshuka sits alongside other favorites. A bonus: during the warmer months, you can grab a table on the veranda, which offers views of the surrounding buildings and the lanes of old Moscow.
5 ‘Lehaim’
10 Bolshoy Spasoglinishchevsky Lane, Building. 3
A restaurant serving Israeli, Middle Eastern, and signature cuisine, located within the Moscow Choral Synagogue. You can combine a bit of history – this is the city's oldest Jewish religious building – with a culinary outing. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, ranging from hummus and bean stew (lobio) to crispy red mullet and Ashkenazi-style stuffed cabbage rolls.
6 ‘Rishon’
11 Obraztsova Street., Building. 1A
The café is located within the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center. Its menu will be especially appreciated by those who prefer fish to meat; carp patties and mullet stewed in tomato sauce share the menu with teriyaki salmon served with tahini and pumpkin!
