Golden Apple, known in Russian as Zolotoe Yabloko, is a Russian beauty store chain founded in 1996, and this guide to Golden Apple Moscow explains what a visitor can find in its stores. The company was founded by two classmates, Ivan Kuzovlev and Maxim Panyak, and has its Russian headquarters in Yekaterinburg; it announced its first Moscow stores in 2016.
The stores are described as beauty supermarkets: large halls divided into departments for perfume, decorative cosmetics, Asian skincare, hair care, pharmacy brands and organic products. Most Moscow stores are inside shopping centers, such as Afimall City in Moscow City and Metropolis on Leningradskoye Highway. The sections below cover the range, hours, payment and practical tips for travelers.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Золотое Яблоко |
|---|---|
| Address | Afimall City, Presnenskaya Embankment 2, Moscow City, Moscow (one of several Moscow stores; check the official site for others) |
| District | Presnensky |
| Metro | Delovoy Tsentr (formerly listed as Moscow-City) (Line 4, light blue, about 3 minutes' walk, according to a mall guide; the exit and the line were not verified) |
| Opening hours | Stores are mostly in shopping centers and follow mall hours; for example, the store in Afimall City is listed as open from 10:00 to 22:00 and the store at Metropolis from 10:00 to 23:00, but hours vary by location, so check the store page on the official site (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Best time to visit | Weekday afternoons are usually calmer than evenings and weekends, and the stores keep mall hours, so check the closing time before you go. |
| Recommended duration | 20–45 minutes |
| Website | goldapple.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
Why Visit Golden Apple?
Golden Apple is the easiest place in Moscow to see a wide range of Russian and imported beauty products in one visit: the stores have thematic departments, so a visitor can move from perfume corners to Korean and Japanese skincare to professional hair care. The company states that it offers more than 5,000 brands, of which about 200 are exclusive, including a private label.
It is useful for gifts and for replacing toiletries, and several stores are in central shopping centers. The brand range changes, and not every international brand is available, so check the shelves rather than relying on a list. Signs are mostly in Russian, and staff may speak little English.
Highlights of Golden Apple
Asian skincare department
The stores have a department for Japanese and Korean cosmetics with brands such as Missha, Mizon and Holika Holika. Look for the Asian section signs. Check the ingredients on the label with a translation app.
Tip: Use a translation app on the labels to check ingredients.
Perfume corners
Perfume is sold in brand corners and in a selective niche section, according to a mall guide. Look for the testers on the counters. Check whether the item is a gift set or a single bottle.
Tip: Ask for a tester before buying a perfume.
Exclusive and private-label products
The company says that about 200 of its brands are sold exclusively in its stores, and it sells a private label named FOR ME. Check the shelf labels for the brand name.
Tip: Compare the exclusive items with products you already know.
Pharmacy cosmetics and hair care
The stores have departments for pharmacy brands such as Vichy and La Roche-Posay and for professional hair care. Check the department signs near the entrance.
Tip: Buy sunscreen and basic skincare here instead of a pharmacy chain if you want a wider choice.
Gift cards and gift sets
Store listings mention gift sets and a gift certificate service, which suit presents. Check the validity of a gift card with staff.
Tip: Ask whether a gift card can be used in any store of the chain.
The app and online store
The chain's app and website offer home delivery in Russia with a wide range, but they are in Russian and normally need a Russian phone number. Check whether you can use them before relying on delivery.
Tip: Plan to shop in the store rather than ordering online.
Atmosphere
A Golden Apple store is a large, brightly lit hall with brand counters, glass shelves of perfume bottles and long rows of skincare in neat colors. The sounds are shopping center music, the clack of tester bottles and staff in uniform helping customers at the counters.
Weekday afternoons are calm, while weekends and sale periods draw crowds of young shoppers, and the signs and labels are in Russian.
History of Golden Apple
Golden Apple was founded in 1996 in Russia by two classmates, Ivan Kuzovlev and Maxim Panyak, and its first store was a small cosmetics shop. The company has its Russian headquarters in Yekaterinburg, and in 2016 it announced the opening of its first three stores in Moscow.
The chain grew into one of the largest beauty retailers in Russia and later expanded to neighboring countries and, according to company profiles, to the Gulf states. The company says it offers more than 5,000 brands, including about 200 exclusive ones and the private label FOR ME. Its website and app sell cosmetics, perfumes and household goods with delivery.
The current number of stores should be checked on the official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Booking for Golden Apple
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; store listings mention card payment, but this applies to cards accepted in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Checkout and bags. Stores have staffed tills; self-checkout was not verified. Bags are usually sold at the till.
Finding stores. The official site goldapple.ru lists stores and hours; stores are mostly in shopping centers, for example Afimall City and Metropolis.
How to Get to Golden Apple
Golden Apple has stores across Moscow, so there is no single route. A central example is the store in Afimall City in Moscow City, on Presnenskaya Embankment 2, about 3 minutes’ walk from the Metro station of the business district, according to a mall guide.
- By Metro: check the store page on the official site for the nearest station.
- By taxi: use the mall’s address from the official site.
Accessibility
Accessibility varies by store; stores in shopping centers generally have lifts and step-free routes, but this was not verified for individual stores, so check the details or ask staff.
Food Nearby
Shopping centers that host Golden Apple stores have food courts and cafes; the exact venues were not verified.
What to Bring
Bring cash in rubles, a translation app for the labels and a list of products or brands you want.
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 a short stop with older children; the stores are large and busy at weekends, and stroller access was not verified for individual stores.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the brand you want on the shelf, since the range changes and some international brands may not be available.
- Use the Asian skincare department to compare Korean and Japanese products.
- Ask for a tester before buying perfume.
- Carry cash in rubles in case a card is declined.
- Combine the visit with a meal in the shopping center.
- Take photos of the label if you want to check ingredients with a translation app later.
Where to Find Golden Apple in Moscow
Golden Apple 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: Golden Apple
What is Golden Apple?
A Russian beauty store chain founded in 1996 and based in Yekaterinburg.
Where are the stores in Moscow?
Mostly in shopping centers, such as Afimall City and Metropolis.
What are its hours?
They follow mall hours; two Moscow stores are listed as open from 10:00 to 22:00 or 23:00.
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.
Are international brands sold?
Many are listed, but the range changes, so check the shelves.
Can I order online as a tourist?
Usually this needs a Russian phone number, so it is difficult.
Do staff speak English?
Not reliably; a translation app helps.
Where do I find a store?
On the official site goldapple.ru.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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About this guide: AI assistance and accuracy
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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See also: Rive Gauche cosmetics shops.
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