Lepim i Varim Moscow is a small fast-casual chain that serves pelmeni, the Russian meat dumplings; the name translates as we shape and boil, according to a Washington Post guide. It has dozens of locations in central Moscow, and the original is in the Tverskoy district.
The menu offers about a dozen kinds of pelmeni, with fillings from a pork and beef mix and potato and onion to prawns and Kamchatka crab. It is a quick, inexpensive stop in an expensive part of the city. Locations, hours and prices change, so check the nearest branch before you go.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Лепим и варим |
|---|---|
| Address | Stoleshnikov Lane 9/1, Moscow 107031 (one of the central locations; confirm on the brand's site) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Teatralnaya (Zamoskvoretskaya Line (Line 2, green), A station in the Stoleshnikov Lane area, to be confirmed; the walking time was not verified) Kuznetsky Most (Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line (Line 7, purple), A station in the Stoleshnikov Lane area, to be confirmed; the walking time was not verified) |
| Opening hours | Typically from about 10:00 to 23:00 daily at the central listing; hours vary by location.
(as of October 2026 – check the brand's site) |
| Admission | No entry fee. Current prices in RUB were not found; a 2021 newspaper guide calls the chain a good place to save money in an expensive area, so check the menu at the location. |
| Best time to visit | The central listing shows hours from 10:00 to 23:00, and hours vary by location. Lunch is likely to be the busiest time, though crowd patterns were not verified. Because the locations are small, a visit before or after the lunch hour may be quieter. |
| Recommended duration | About 30 to 45 minutes |
| Cuisine | Pelmeni, Russian dumplings, in a fast-casual format |
| Price level | € |
| Reservations | A fast-casual chain, so walk-in is the normal way; booking was not verified. The chain has many locations in central Moscow, typically small shops and cafes, so look up the nearest one on a map service or the brand's own site, which was not identified. A Washington Post guide says there are dozens in the center, including near Bolshoy Kislovsky Lane, under ten minutes from Red Square. Delivery was not verified. |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
Why Visit Lepim i Varim?
The reasons are practical. Lepim i Varim is a quick way to try pelmeni, a staple of Russian home cooking, in the center. A Washington Post guide calls the original branch in Tverskoy a good place to save money, since the neighborhood is notoriously expensive.
The choice of fillings is wide, with about a dozen varieties, including a pork and beef mix, potatoes and onions, and even prawns and Kamchatka crab, according to the same guide. Because it is a chain with dozens of locations, one is usually near your route. The format is fast-casual, so it suits a short meal between sights rather than a long dinner.
Highlights of Lepim i Varim
The concept: shaped and boiled
The name means we shape and boil, and the chain is a small fast-casual operation built around pelmeni, according to a Washington Post guide. Pelmeni are small dumplings with a meat or other filling, boiled and served with sauce or broth. The format is simple, so the choice is mostly about the filling and the sauce.
Tip: Look at the menu board first and pick one or two fillings.
A dozen kinds of pelmeni
The same guide says the pelmeni come in a dozen varieties, with fillings from a mix of pork and beef, potatoes and onions to prawns and Kamchatka crab. A vegetarian option exists in the form of the potato and onion filling. The menu may have changed since that guide, so check the current choice.
Tip: Try one classic meat filling and one unusual one.
The original in Tverskoy
The original Lepim i Varim is in the Tverskoy district, the heart of the center, according to the Washington Post. A Trip.com listing shows a central location at Stoleshnikov Lane 9/1, open 10:00 to 23:00. The district is notoriously expensive, so a pelmeni shop is a cheaper stop than a restaurant there.
Tip: Check which branch is nearest before you walk.
The biggest branch at Aptekarsky Ogorod
The biggest branch is at the entrance to Aptekarsky Ogorod, the Apothecary Garden, the oldest botanical garden in Russia, according to the Washington Post, listed near Prospekt Mira. It makes a stop on a walk in the garden. Confirm that the branch is still open before you plan around it.
Tip: Combine the branch with a walk in the garden if you are at Prospekt Mira.
Dozens of central locations
A Washington Post guide says there are dozens of locations in central Moscow, including one in Bolshoy Kislovsky Lane, less than ten minutes from Red Square. The count dates from 2021, so use a map service or the brand's own site for the current list.
Tip: Search the brand name on a map service to find the nearest shop.
What to Order
- Pelmeni with a pork and beef filling, listed by the Washington Post guide
- Pelmeni with potatoes and onions, a meat-free option named in the same guide
- Pelmeni with prawns, listed among the fillings
- Pelmeni with Kamchatka crab, named in the same guide
Atmosphere
Lepim i Varim is a fast-casual place, with a short menu built around dumplings and a quick turnover, according to a Washington Post guide. The locations are small shops and cafes rather than large dining rooms, so expect a few tables and a counter.
The chain draws a mix of office workers, shoppers and tourists in the center, and the lunch hour is the busiest, though crowd patterns were not verified. Locations differ in size, with the one at Aptekarsky Ogorod described as the biggest.
History of Lepim i Varim
Lepim i Varim is a small fast-casual chain of pelmeni cafes, according to a Washington Post local’s guide. The original branch is in the Tverskoy district, and the biggest is at the entrance to Aptekarsky Ogorod, the oldest botanical garden in Russia.
At the time of that guide, the chain had dozens of locations in central Moscow, including one in Bolshoy Kislovsky Lane, and it also has branches abroad, which are outside this article.
The opening year, the founders and any later changes were not found in the sources read, so this section is short.
Reservations and Ordering at Lepim i Varim
Lepim i Varim is a fast-casual chain, so walk-in is the normal way and booking was not verified. The locations are small cafes, and the nearest one is easiest to find on a map service; the brand’s own site was not identified, so the location list could not be checked. A Trip.com listing shows one central location at Stoleshnikov Lane 9/1 open 10:00 to 23:00; hours differ elsewhere.
- Payment: not verified; foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry rubles and ask how a visitor can pay.
- Delivery: not verified.
Check the current rules and the location list on the brand’s own site.
Find and Order: Lepim i Varim
How to Get to Lepim i Varim
The central location listed by Trip.com is at Stoleshnikov Lane 9/1, between Petrovka Street and Tverskaya Street. The nearest metro stations were not verified; Teatralnaya and Kuznetsky Most are in the area, so check the walking time on a map. The branch at Aptekarsky Ogorod is on Prospekt Mira, listed by the Washington Post near the Prospekt Mira metro station.
- Metro: check the station nearest the branch you choose on a map service.
- Taxi: give the branch address; the taxi apps guide of this site explains how to book.
Accessibility
No accessibility information was found for the chain. Each location is in a different building, so ask the branch about steps and the entrance before you go.
Food Nearby
The Stoleshnikov Lane area has many cafes and restaurants, and Stolovaya 57 in GUM, a self-service canteen, has its own article on this site. Varenichnaya No. 1 is another dumpling chain with a Soviet theme and has its own article. Check hours before you go.
What to Bring
Rubles in cash, since foreign cards are reported not to work, and an appetite for dumplings. No dress code applies to a fast-casual cafe.
Photography Rules
No photography rules were found. Ask the staff before you photograph the kitchen or other guests, and avoid blocking the queue.
Family Suitability
Pelmeni suit children, and the fast-casual format is easy with a family. The brand's policy on children, high chairs and strollers was not found, and locations are small, so ask the branch before you go.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- The name is also written Lepim I Varim, so try both spellings when you search a map service.
- The count of locations comes from a 2021 guide, so look at a current map before you plan a route around a branch.
- The branch at Aptekarsky Ogorod is described as the biggest, so it is the one to choose if you want a seat.
- The original is in Tverskoy, a district where restaurants are notoriously expensive, so a dumpling stop saves money.
- A vegetarian filling of potatoes and onions is named in the guide; ask the staff what is on the menu.
- For a sit-down Russian meal with similar dishes, Varenichnaya No. 1 and Oblomov have their own articles on this site.
Make an Outing of Your Visit to Lepim i Varim
Lepim i Varim is within walking distance of places that pair well with a meal. A simple way to build the outing:
Before or after your meal
Chekhov Moscow Art Theatreabout 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bolshoi Theatre Moscow – about 400 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 Soviet Arcade Machines Moscowabout 400 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Time needed: plan about 8.5–11 hours for the whole outing, including the meal (roughly 1–1.5 hours), the places above and the walking between them.
Explore Nearby Lepim i Varim
Metro stations near Lepim i Varim
Kuznetsky Most Metro Stationabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Prospekt Mira Metro Stationabout 2.4 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Lepim i Varim
Stolovaya 57about 1.0 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tehnikumabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
La Maréeabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Twins Gardenabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Lepim i Varim
Mendeleev Bar & Musicabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Let's Rock Barabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Lepim i Varim
Rus Teatralnaya Hostelabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Petrovka Loft Mini Hotelabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Central Hostel Red Squareabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Lepim i Varim
Circle of Light Festival in Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Tea Party Festivalabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Red Square Moscow: What to See and Which Sights Cost ExtraMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
- Bolshoi Theatre Moscow: Tickets, Tours and What to Expect
Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Fasol: Franchise Convenience Stores in Moscow, Hours and PaymentMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ruki Vverh! Bar – Tverskaya: 90s Karaoke Club on Tverskaya StreetMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Molodezh Nightclub: 24-Hour Bar and Club by MendeleyevskayaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Tverskoy · All Chains and Fast Food · All Restaurants
FAQ: Lepim i Varim
What does Lepim i Varim mean?
We shape and boil, according to a Washington Post guide.
What do they serve?
Pelmeni, Russian dumplings, in about a dozen fillings, plus a few small dishes.
How many locations are there?
Dozens in central Moscow according to a 2021 guide; check a map for the current list.
Where is the biggest branch?
At the entrance to Aptekarsky Ogorod on Prospekt Mira, according to the same guide.
Is it expensive?
A Washington Post guide calls it a good place to save money in Tverskoy; check current prices.
Do I need to book?
No; it is fast-casual, so walk in.
Are there vegetarian options?
A potato and onion filling is named in a guide; ask the staff.
Can I pay by card?
Foreign cards are reported not to work in Russia; carry rubles and ask.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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