Azbuka Vkusa is a Moscow supermarket chain founded in 1997 that positions itself as a gourmet grocer, and this guide to Azbuka Vkusa Moscow explains what a visitor can buy there and how to find a store. The chain’s first store opened in Moscow, and most stores are in Moscow and its region, with some in Saint Petersburg.
It runs full supermarkets, small AB Daily mini markets, wine shops and, at one time, a bistro. Prices are higher than at mass-market chains, and the range leans toward prepared food, bakery and imported products. The sections below cover typical formats, what to look for, hours, payment, and the practical details that matter to travelers who do not speak Russian.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Азбука Вкуса |
|---|---|
| Address | Trubnaya Square 2, Moscow (one of many stores; check the official site or app for others) |
| Metro | Trubnaya (Line 10, lime, a short walk from Trubnaya Square; the walking time was not verified) |
| Opening hours | Many central stores are listed as open 24 hours, for example those on Trubnaya Square and Arbat Street, but not all stores are, and one central listing shows a store closed overnight, so hours vary by location; check the store page on the official site or app (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Best time to visit | Early morning and mid-afternoon are usually calmer than the lunch hour and the weekday evening, when office workers and residents shop. The stores open around the clock are quiet at night. |
| Recommended duration | 15–30 minutes for a shopping stop |
| Website | av.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
Why Visit Azbuka Vkusa?
For a visitor, Azbuka Vkusa is a place to buy a quick, good meal or picnic supplies in central Moscow: the supermarkets offer cooked food for takeaway, sushi, freshly baked bread, eco products and a wide choice of wine and spirits, according to the company profile. The chain’s central stores include several that are listed as open 24 hours.
It also serves as a gentler introduction to Russian groceries than a mass-market discounter, with a larger selection of international products and a higher level of service than the mid-range chains, according to an expat guide. Prices are higher than at Pyaterochka or Perekrestok, so it suits small purchases, gifts and ready meals rather than a weekly shop.
Highlights of Azbuka Vkusa
Ready meals and takeaway food
The supermarkets sell cooked food for takeaway, including business lunches and sushi, produced in the company's own factory-kitchen, which was certified to an international food safety standard in 2015. Look for the cold counters near the entrance. Check the labels, which are in Russian.
Tip: Use a translation app on the labels to identify ingredients.
Fresh bread and pastries
Freshly baked bread and confectionery are made by the chain's own bakery production, which was also covered by the food safety certification. Look for the bakery shelves, which are usually near the entrance. Check the packaging date.
Tip: Buy bread in the morning for the freshest selection.
Wine and spirits
The chain began with a focus on high-quality food and alcohol and has also run separate wine shops. Look for the wine aisle and ask staff for help in simple English. Alcohol sales are restricted by law at certain hours, so check the store's notices.
Tip: Carry your passport or another ID in case it is requested.
AB Daily mini markets
The AB Daily format is a smaller convenience store of the same brand, with a short range of groceries and ready food close to homes and offices. Check the official site or app for the nearest one.
Tip: Use the mini markets for water and snacks near your hotel.
Eco and farm products
Store listings mention organic and farm products among the features, and the chain sells eco products according to its profile. Look for the dedicated shelves. Check the origin on the label.
Tip: Compare prices with the mass-market chains before filling a basket.
Late and 24-hour stores
Several central stores, such as those on Trubnaya Square and Arbat Street, are listed as open 24 hours, while others close at night. Check the store page on the official site or app before relying on late hours.
Tip: Confirm the hours of the specific store before a late-night trip.
Atmosphere
The supermarkets are bright and orderly, with wide aisles, cold counters of cooked food and displays of bread and cheese. Central stores can be busy with office workers at lunch and with residents in the evening, and the stores open around the clock are quiet at night.
Signs and labels are mostly in Russian, and staff may speak little English, so a translation app is useful.
History of Azbuka Vkusa
Azbuka Vkusa opened its first store in Moscow in 1997 and grew steadily, to about 90 stores in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and their suburbs by 2015. As of January 2020, the chain included 102 supermarkets, 57 AB Daily mini markets, 3 wine shops and one bistro restaurant.
In 2015 the company certified its factory-kitchen in Moscow to an international food safety standard and later extended the certification to its bakery and confectionery production.
The current number of stores and formats should be checked on the official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Booking for Azbuka Vkusa
Payment. Cash in rubles is the most reliable way to pay. Whether foreign Visa or Mastercard cards work could not be verified and should not be assumed; Russian Mir cards and mobile payments are used by locals, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Checkout and bags. Most stores have staffed tills; self-checkout availability was not verified. Bags are usually sold at the till.
Finding stores. The official site av.ru lists stores and hours; central stores include those on Trubnaya Square, Arbat Street and Yakimanka Street.
How to Get to Azbuka Vkusa
Azbuka Vkusa has many stores across Moscow, so there is no single route. Central examples are the stores on Trubnaya Square, near the lime-line Trubnaya station, and on Arbat Street.
- By Metro: check the store page on the official site for the nearest station.
- By taxi: use the store address from the official site.
Accessibility
Accessibility varies by store; step-free entrances and lifts were not verified for individual stores, so check the store details or ask staff.
Food Nearby
The chain's own cooked food and bakery counters are the main option inside the stores; around Trubnaya Square and Arbat Street there are many cafes and restaurants, and the exact venues were not verified.
What to Bring
Bring cash in rubles, a reusable bag and a translation app for the labels.
Photography Rules
Rules for photography in stores were not verified; it is polite to ask staff before photographing shelves or customers.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families for a short stop, with ready meals and bakery items that are easy to eat on the go; stores are generally stroller-friendly, though this was not verified for individual stores.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the store page on the official site before a late-night trip, since not every store is open 24 hours.
- Use the ready-meal counters for a quick lunch instead of a restaurant.
- Compare prices with a mass-market chain such as Pyaterochka or Perekrestok for staples.
- Look for the AB Daily mini markets near your hotel for water and snacks.
- Use a translation app on packaging, since labels are mostly in Russian.
- Buy wine or spirits earlier in the evening, since alcohol sales are restricted at night.
Where to Find Azbuka Vkusa in Moscow
Azbuka Vkusa has branches across the city, so there is no single address to list. To find the closest one, search on Yandex Maps or Google Maps from your hotel or metro station.
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FAQ: Azbuka Vkusa
What is Azbuka Vkusa?
A Moscow supermarket chain founded in 1997 that specializes in higher-quality food and alcohol.
Is it expensive?
It is pricier than mass-market chains such as Perekrestok, according to an expat guide.
Are stores open 24 hours?
Several central stores are listed as open 24 hours, but not all; check the official site.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
This could not be verified and should not be assumed; carry cash in rubles, and check your country's sanctions rules.
What can I buy for a picnic?
Ready meals, sushi, fresh bread, cheese and drinks are the typical choices.
What are AB Daily stores?
Smaller convenience stores of the same brand.
Where can I find a store?
On the official site av.ru, which lists stores and hours.
Is there a wine shop?
The chain has run separate wine shops, and supermarkets have wine and spirits aisles.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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This guide is created with the help of AI and is based on official sources where available. Mistakes can still happen. Opening hours, prices, rules and other details are given to the best of our knowledge as of the date shown and can change without notice. It offers general recommendations only, not professional, legal or travel advice. Please confirm important details with the official source before you travel; you are responsible for your own plans and decisions.
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