The Central Children’s Store on Lubyanka Moscow is the historic Detsky Mir building on Lubyanka Square, designed by the Soviet architect Alexey Dushkin and opened on 6 June 1957 as the largest children’s store in the USSR. After a long reconstruction it reopened on 31 March 2015 as a shopping mall for families, with an atrium, a Museum of Childhood and a rooftop observation deck.
It stands directly above Lubyanka Metro and is a convenient stop between Red Square and Kitay-Gorod. This guide explains how the building is organized, what the roof deck offers, how the museum differs from the shops, which entrances connect to the Metro, what free parts of a visit exist, how the atrium light show is described, and how to use the store as a rainy-day stop in the center.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Центральный детский магазин на Лубянке |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1957 |
| Architect(s) | Alexey Dushkin |
| Address | Teatralny Proezd 5/1, Moscow 109012 (Lubyanka Square) |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Lubyanka (Line 1, red, the store's entrances from the Metro station have been restored, so the walk is under a few minutes) Kuznetsky Most (Line 7, purple, about 5 to 10 minutes on foot (estimate)) |
| Opening hours | Listings give daily hours from 10:00 to 22:00 (some listings say 21:30), with the rooftop observation deck described as open about 10:00 to 21:30 or 22:00, and individual shops and cafes keep their own hours (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Entry to the store and atrium is free; the Museum of Childhood and the rooftop deck may have their own rules, so check the official site. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends, holidays and evenings are busiest, especially around the atrium show times. The rooftop deck is best in clear weather and at golden hour. The store works in any season and suits a rainy day; see the Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary. |
| Recommended duration | About 1 to 2 hours |
| Website | en.cdm-moscow.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The store, atrium, shops and cafes | Included in the standard ticket | Free to enter; you pay in individual shops and cafes. |
| The rooftop observation deck | Included in the standard ticket | Reached through the Museum of Childhood; check whether a ticket is required. |
| The Museum of Childhood | Separate ticket or institution | A separate institution inside the building with its own rules and prices. |
| Atrium shows and events | Included in the standard ticket | Free to watch according to a guide; check the times. |
| The Lubyanka Square buildings next door | Outside / not part of it | Government buildings that are not open to visitors; photography near them may be restricted. |
| Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin | Outside / not part of it | A short walk away; see the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin Walking Itinerary. |
Why Visit Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow?
The building is a Soviet landmark that still works as a family destination. It occupies an entire block between Lubyanka Square, Teatralny Proyezd and Rozhdestvenka and Pushechnaya streets, and it was the first shopping facility in the USSR to install escalators. The restoration recovered the entrance groups from the street and from Lubyanka Metro.
The roof is one of the better free views in the center, looking over Lubyanka Square, the Kremlin and Manezhnaya Square toward the Moscow State University main building, according to a guide. Inside, the central atrium is the historic space of the store, and a Museum of Childhood opened with the reopening. Entry to the building is free.
How Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow Is Laid Out
The store is one large building with a central atrium, with shops and services spread over several floors and a number of cafes and restaurants. Its entrances include the restored ones from Lubyanka Metro and from the street, and an additional entrance from Rozhdestvenka Street built during the renovation.
The Museum of Childhood is inside the building, and the observation deck is on the roof at the top, reached through the museum according to a guide. The atrium is the visual center, and a light show is described as being staged there at set times in the evening. Check the official site for the current floor plan, entrances and show times, since mall details change.
Highlights of Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Alexey Dushkin's building
The building was designed by the architect Alexey Dushkin, known for Metro stations, built between 1953 and 1957 and opened on 6 June 1957 as the main children's department store of the Soviet Union. It received regional heritage status in 2005. The restoration recovered the original entrance groups. Look at the long facade facing Lubyanka Square.
Tip: Look at the facade from the square before you go in.
The central atrium
The atrium is the historic main space of the store and the visual center of the mall, with shops on several levels around it. A three-dimensional light show is described as staged daily in the evening, at 18:00, 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00, according to one source. Check the show times on the official site before planning around them.
Tip: Stand on a middle level for the best view of the atrium.
The rooftop observation deck
An open observation deck on the roof offers a panorama of the historic center, among them Lubyanka Square, the Kremlin, Manezhnaya Square and the main building of Moscow State University. It is described as open daily, and the entrance is through the Museum of Childhood. Check whether a ticket is required and the current hours.
Tip: Go in the early evening for light on the Kremlin.
The Museum of Childhood
A Museum of Childhood opened with the mall in 2015 inside the building, and the roof deck is reached through it. It is a separate institution with its own ticket rules. Check the museum's current exhibitions and prices on the official site.
Tip: Plan the museum and the roof as one visit.
The shops and family services
The store has over a hundred shops, among them toys, clothing and children's services, with the figure given as 250 at the reopening and more than 140 in a later description. It is the main reason many Muscovites come. Check which shops are open, since the tenant list changes.
Tip: Visit on a weekday if you want to avoid weekend crowds.
The Lubyanka Square setting
The store stands on Lubyanka Square, with the Metro station below it, and the square is also known for the headquarters of the security service in the neighboring building. The square is a busy traffic junction. Check the pedestrian crossings and take photographs only of the store and open spaces.
Tip: Use the Metro entrance in the store to avoid crossing the traffic.
Atmosphere
You come up from Lubyanka Metro straight into a large, warm hall with escalators and a high atrium where light plays across the upper floors. The sounds are music from shops, children’s voices, escalator hum and the clatter of cafe trays.
Visitors are families with children, office workers on a break and people heading to the roof deck, and the building is busiest at weekends and holidays. Evenings bring the light show to the atrium, and outside the busy square, the Metro and the traffic keep the heart of the city around you.
History of Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
The building of the main children’s department store in the Soviet Union was designed by the architect Alexey Dushkin and built between 1953 and 1957. Its public opening took place on 6 June 1957, under the name Detsky Mir, meaning Children’s World, and it became the largest children’s department store in the USSR and the first shopping facility to install escalators.
The name Detsky Mir later became a nationwide chain of children’s stores. In 2005 the building received the status of a regional cultural heritage site, and between 2006 and 2015, or in 2012 to 2015 according to another source, it was reconstructed.
The reopening ceremony took place on 31 March 2015, attended by the Moscow mayor, after about six years of renovation, and the building reopened as the Central Children’s Store on Lubyanka. The entrances from Lubyanka Metro were restored and an additional entrance from Rozhdestvenka Street was built. The Museum of Childhood and the observation deck opened with the mall. Dates should be checked against the store’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; sources differ on the renovation years.
Tickets and Booking for Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Entry. The store is free to enter and needs no booking, with entrances from Lubyanka Metro, from Teatralny Proezd and from Rozhdestvenka Street. The Museum of Childhood and the rooftop deck, which is reached through the museum, may have their own ticket rules, and no official ticket page was verified, so check the store’s site en.cdm-moscow.ru for current prices and times. Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ for ticketed attractions.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option, since shops set their own payment rules. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
1 hour
Enter from Lubyanka Metro, look at the atrium from a middle floor, take the museum route to the roof deck and come back down for a coffee.
2 hours
Add time in the shops and the Museum of Childhood, and arrive in the evening to catch the atrium light show.
Half day in the center
Combine the store with Red Square and Kitay-Gorod, following the Kitay-Gorod and Zaryadye Park Walking Itinerary.
How to Get to Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Take the Metro to Lubyanka (Line 1, red), and use the entrances from the station into the store, which were restored during the renovation. Kuznetsky Most (Line 7, purple) is about 5 to 10 minutes on foot. The store’s address is Teatralny Proezd 5/1.
- By taxi: ask for Teatralny Proezd 5/1, the Central Children’s Store.
- On foot: the store is a short walk from Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre.
- Orientation: the large building occupies the block facing Lubyanka Square.
Accessibility
The building has escalators and was reconstructed as a modern mall, but detailed accessibility facilities such as lifts to the roof deck were not verified on the official site, so check en.cdm-moscow.ru before you go.
Food Nearby
The store has numerous cafes and restaurants inside, and the streets toward Kuznetsky Most and Kitay-Gorod have many more; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a camera or phone for the roof view, cash in rubles and a light layer, since the roof is exposed.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
The rooftop deck
The Kremlin towers, Lubyanka Square and Manezhnaya Square in one panorama.
Best time: Golden hour.
The atrium from a middle floor
The central hall with levels of shops and light effects.
Best time: Evening, during the light show.
The facade on Lubyanka Square
The long Stalin-era facade with restored entrances.
Best time: Morning light.
The escalator hall
A historic escalator space with long lines of steps.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
Photography Rules
Photography inside the mall and on the roof deck is generally allowed for personal use; photographing the government buildings on Lubyanka Square may be restricted, so follow signs and staff instructions, and drones must not be flown near the square.
Family Suitability
Very suitable for families: the store is built around children's shopping, with the Museum of Childhood and cafes, escalators and lifts for strollers according to its modern design. It is crowded at weekends. Check the museum's age suitability.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Use the Metro entrance in the store to avoid crossing the busy Lubyanka Square.
- Go in the early evening for the roof view and the atrium show.
- Do not photograph the government buildings next door, since restrictions may apply.
- Check the roof deck's weather conditions, since it is open-air and wind can be strong.
- Visit on a weekday to avoid queues for the museum and the roof.
- Combine the store with Red Square and Kitay-Gorod, which are both close.
Explore Nearby Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Sights near Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
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Bolshoi Theatre Moscow – about 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 3–4 hours for a performance; about 1 hour for a guided tourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Archaeologyabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Metro stations near Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Kuznetsky Most Metro Stationabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Lubyanka Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Teatralnaya Metro Stationabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Tkemaliabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
SAVVAabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metropol Restaurantabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Varenichnaya No. 1about 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Kadril Karaoke Clubabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Papa's Barabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Hotel Savoy Moscowabout 100 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ararat Park Hotel Moscowabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskayaabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Circle of Light Festival in Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Moscowabout 650 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Related guides
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FAQ: Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow
Is it the same as Detsky Mir?
Yes. It is the original Detsky Mir building, reopened under the name Central Children's Store on Lubyanka.
Who designed it?
Alexey Dushkin, the architect known for Metro stations.
Is there a roof viewpoint?
Yes, an open deck reached through the Museum of Childhood; check ticket rules.
Which Metro station is closest?
Lubyanka, with entrances into the store.
When did it reopen?
On 31 March 2015, after a long renovation.
Is it only for children?
No. It is a mall with a roof deck and an atrium that adults also visit.
Is it open daily?
Listings give daily hours; see the opening hours.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
See also: things to do with kids.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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