French Cuisine Moscow
CARRE BLANC
Cuisine: FrenchAddress: Semyonovskaya street, 19/2
Nearest metro station: Novoslobodskaya
Telephone: (495) 258-4403
Working hours: 11.00-23.00
Additional service: business lunch, banquets, take away service
Average bill: £60-70
Credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, JSB, Master/Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa, Visa Electron
Chic and delicious, this restaurant is a perfect marriage of French cuisine in a Russian setting. Rather off the beaten track, it's an excellent choice for an evening splurge or a languorous summer brunch. The French chef earned his credentials at haute cuisine establishments elsewhere in town before branching out on his own and settling in this 18th-century mansion. The main dining hall is sparsely elegant, the adjoining piano/jazz bar has a sleek design, and the brassiere in back is an upscale version of laid-back, offering a menu similar to the one in the main hall but at discounted prices. Opt for the summer terrace when the weather is fine. The oysters and other seafood, flown in daily, are a house specialty, though if you come from a seaside hometown it might seem silly to order seafood in landlocked Moscow. Instead, try the foie gras with fennel or the traditional but excellent veal. The wine list is predictably good, as is the sommelier. Vladimir Putin did wonders for French-Russian relations when he stopped by here unannounced.
VANILLA
Cuisine: French, JapaneseAddress: Ostozhenka street, 1
Nearest metro station: Kropotkinskaya
Telephone: (495) 202-3341
Working hours: 12.00-0.00
Additional service: happy hours, WiFi, banquets, parking, take away service
Average bill: £40
Credit cards: American Express, Euro Card, Maestro, Master Card, Visa, Visa Electron
The restaurant is situated in the front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savoir in Ostozhenka Street and is decorated in the hi-tech style with some elements of the Eastern minimalism including comfortable sofas, soft lighting of candles burning in the evening. The menu is French and Japanese and tempts with avocado and spinach salad, beef seasoned in wine and light coffee dessert.
CAFE DES ARTISTES
Cuisine: FrenchAddress: Kamergersky pereulok, 5/6
Nearest metro station: Okhotny Ryad
Telephone: (495) 692-4042
Working hours: 11.00-1.00
Additional service:
Average bill: £35-40
Credit cards: American Express, Maestro, Master Card, Visa, Visa Electron
Running since the late 19th Century, this French restaurant holds onto the vestiges of a traditional dining experience. Its white linen table cloths, touch of art nouveau and finely crafted fittings give an air of sophistication that is offset by an otherwise casual atmosphere. These days the Cafe des Artistes is run by Swiss restaurateur Dolf Michel, who ensures the eatery lives up to its name both in its design and its menu. The varied selections on the menu aren’t cheap but are served with a flair and flavour to match their prices. Daytime meals are great value at around £10 for a starter, main course and dessert from an ever-changing business lunch menu.
ZEBRA SQUARE
Cuisine: French, MediterraneanAddress: Slavyanskaya Square, 2
Nearest metro station: Kitay-gorod
Telephone: (495) 974-3238
Working hours: 12.00-last dinner
Additional service: business lunch, banquets, free parking
Average bill: £30
Credit cards: American Express, Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa, Visa Electron
The Moscow 'Zebra Square' is the third creation by a French restaurateur Patrick Derderian. The well-known Frenchman has opened two same-name restaurants in Paris and Monte Carlo. The concept of all the restaurants is uniformed: paradoxical game of luxury, minimalism and unique Parisian glamour. The guests of the Zebra Square are actors and fashion people, famous representatives of show business and business elite. The restaurant has become a symbol of success and an ideal place for successful people who know what real comfort and haute culinary are like.
ZHAN-ZHAK
Cuisine: FrenchAddress: Nikitsky Bulvar, 12
Nearest metro station: Arbatskaya
Telephone: (495) 290-3886
Working hours: 24 hours
Additional service:
Average bill: £15
Credit cards: Diners Club, Eero Card, Maestro, MasterCard, Visa
A charming French cafe not far from the Arbat Street. Without a doubt breakfast is the best time to come here with good meals for only £3 or so. There are picture windows looking out onto Nikitsky Bulvar but the view is usually obscured by SUVs parked outside and the street isn’t all that special anyway. The interior is much more attractive, adorned with French pictures and artefacts. And the background music is delightful - the old French songs provide the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing breakfast. The rest of the day the food is still quite cheap although the menu options are limited. Zhan-Zhak also prides itself as a wine bar. The wine list is much bigger than the food menu and wine bottles are the cafe's major decoration. Good waiters and service. One of the few restaurants in Moscow that provide a bottle of water with your meal.
LE GATEAU
Cuisine: FrenchAddress: Tverskaya street, 23; Sadovaya-Samotechnaya street, 24/27; Paveletskaya Ploshchad, 2/1
Nearest metro station: Pushkinskaya; Tsvetnoy Bulvar; Paveletskaya
Telephone: (495) 937-5678; 725-6476; 937-0532
Working hours: 24 hours; 8.00-1.00; 8.00-1.00
Additional service: business lunch, banquets, take away service, parking
Average bill: £10
Credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Euro Card, Master Card, Visa
A chain of French cafes that serve affordable meals. The breakfasts and lunches are particularly good value. The dinners are rather cheap but not worth more than they cost. Beautiful interiors and relaxing atmosphere. The Tverskaya location has live music every night.
MAISONCAFE
Cuisine: FrenchAddress: Savvinskaya embankment, 12/8
Nearest metro station: Kievskaya
Telephone: (495) 246-3420
Working hours: 11.00-6.00
Additional service: business lunch, banquets, take away service, parking
Average bill: £30
Credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Euro Card, Master Card, Visa
An upper mid-range restaurant with river views from Savvinskaya Naberezhnaya. Have a French chef and a trendy design. In summer a lot of the restaurant is open to the fresh air. Good, inventive cuisine.