Uzbekistan is Moscow’s most established Uzbek restaurant, occupying a historic building on Neglinnaya Street near the Boulevard Ring. What started in 1951 as the Uzbek Ministry of Trade’s cultural project was completely reimagined in 1997 by restaurateur Arkady Novikov, who enlisted palace restorers from Tashkent to transform the dining rooms into an ornate Eastern setting.
The restaurant seats 250 guests across multiple halls, each decorated with hand-carved details, stained glass, and traditional motifs. You enter through an exterior designed to evoke a Central Asian fortification, setting the tone for an immersive culinary experience focused on authentic regional cooking rather than Moscow adaptations.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Узбекистан |
|---|---|
| Address | Neglinnaya Street, 29, Moscow 127051 Google MapsApple MapsYandex Maps2GIS |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Teatralnaya (Line 2, 5–7 min walk north) Trubnaya (Line 7, 3–5 min walk) |
| Best time to visit | Lunch (12:00–15:00) is quieter and allows for unhurried meals; the kitchen is fresh and preparations like plov cook to order without long waits. Early dinner (17:00–19:00) offers a balance of availability and evening atmosphere. Late evening (after 21:00) attracts younger crowds and can be lively but noisier. Weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends. Special attention: plov and manti require advance ordering; if these are priorities, dine earlier rather than later when the kitchen may be clearing specific preparations. |
| Recommended duration | 1.5–2 hours |
| Cuisine | Uzbek, Arab, Pan-Asian, Azerbaijani |
| Reservations | Reservations recommended, especially for groups; walk-in seating available during off-peak hours. |
| Website | uzbek-rest.ru |
| Operating status confirmed | October 2026 |
Reservations and Ordering at Uzbekistan
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner hours and weekends. Groups of 6 or more should book 48 hours in advance. Same-day reservations may be accommodated during off-peak times (early lunch, mid-afternoon). Walk-ins are accepted subject to table availability; expect 20–40 minute waits during peak service.
Reserve via phone at +7 495 623-05-85 or +7 495 625-32-84, or through the official website at uzbek-rest.ru (Russian language). Online booking opens typically 30 days in advance. If a date does not yet appear as available online, call directly to check.
Delivery and takeaway are available; check the website or call for current menu options and delivery zones. The restaurant occupies the ground and upper floors of a historic building; main entrance is on Neglinnaya Street facing the Boulevard Ring.
Why Visit Uzbekistan?
Uzbekistan serves genuine plov (pilaf), lagman, samsa, and manty—dishes prepared according to regional methods rather than simplified for local tastes. The kitchen maintains traditional Uzbek techniques and sources ingredients that reflect authentic flavors. Beyond Uzbek specialties, the menu spans Arab, Azerbaijani, and pan-Asian cuisines, offering variety within one ornate setting. The theatrical interior and occasional live performances create atmosphere that extends beyond the food itself, making it a destination for both serious food exploration and special occasions.
Highlights of Uzbekistan
Plov (Pilaf)
Uzbekistan's signature dish and the restaurant's strongest point. The kitchen prepares plov using traditional methods with lamb, rice, carrots, and spices, served in generous portions. Unlike many Moscow interpretations, this version emphasizes the scattered grain texture and balanced spicing characteristic of Bukharan and Samarkand styles. Expect to wait 30–45 minutes for preparation to order, as proper plov is made fresh, not batch-cooked.
Tip: Order well in advance if dining during busy hours; the kitchen prepares plov in limited batches to maintain quality.
Samsa
Crispy fried pastries filled with spiced meat. Uzbekistan's version uses handmade dough and quality lamb or beef, baked until the exterior is golden. Unlike smaller appetizer-sized versions, these arrive as substantial main-course portions. The filling balances meat, onions, and warming spices without heaviness.
Tip: Try these hot, straight from the kitchen—they lose texture and appeal if left to cool.
Lagman
Hand-stretched wheat noodles served either in broth or stir-fried with lamb, peppers, and tomatoes. Uzbekistan offers several lagman variations; the Kovurma version (fried) is particularly popular. The noodles are made in-house and possess a distinctive chew that distinguishes proper lagman from standard pasta dishes.
Tip: Ask your server which lagman preparation is most traditional on the day of your visit—the kitchen rotates seasonal preparations.
Manti (Dumplings)
Large steamed dumplings filled with spiced meat and onions, served with a dollop of sour cream and sometimes broth. These are delicate preparations requiring careful cooking, and the restaurant's version reflects the labor involved—portions are generous and flavorful. The wrapper-to-filling ratio is generous compared to smaller, rushed versions.
Tip: Manti requires time to cook properly (20–30 minutes); factor this into your ordering if you are time-pressed.
Decorated Interior Halls
The restaurant contains multiple dining spaces, each themed around different historical or regional inspirations. Walls feature intricate carved relief work, stained glass windows, brass fixtures, and hand-selected furnishings sourced or commissioned from Tashkent during the 1997 renovation. The Shaherzada hall is particularly ornate. The overall effect is theatrical rather than minimalist—expect opulence and density of detail.
Tip: Request specific hall placement when reserving if you prefer quieter or more intimate seating; different halls have different acoustics and crowd atmospheres.
Eastern Sweets (Dastarkhan Confections)
The dessert menu emphasizes traditional Uzbek and Eastern confections: baklava, gozinaki (walnut brittle), mazurka (layered nut cake), bird's milk cake, and various honeyed pastries. These are handmade in-house. They arrive as generous portions—one dessert often feeds two people comfortably.
Tip: Desserts pair well with Uzbek black tea; order a pot if you plan to linger and explore the sweet menu.
Uzbek Bread (Non)
The restaurant bakes traditional non (flatbread) in a clay oven. This bread is denser and more flavorful than standard Russian bread, with a slight char on the crust and a tender crumb. It arrives warm with most meals and is essential to the dining experience—use it to wrap meat, mop up sauces, and balance rich flavors.
Tip: Ask for extra non if you are sharing dishes; it is the backbone of proper Uzbek dining.
What to Order
- Plov (Pilaf) – the house specialty, prepared to order with lamb, carrots, and traditional Uzbek spicing
- Samsa – crispy fried pastry filled with seasoned meat, substantial and flavorful
- Lagman Kovurma – hand-stretched noodles stir-fried with lamb, peppers, and tomatoes
- Manti – steamed dumplings filled with spiced meat, served with sour cream
- Shashlik – grilled meat skewers, often lamb or beef with onions and peppers
- Dastarkhan Sweets – baklava, gozinaki, or mazurka with black tea
Atmosphere
The restaurant feels more like stepping into a theatrical set than entering a casual dining space. Ornate carved panels, warm ochre and amber tones, stained glass details, and carefully chosen lighting create an immersive Eastern palace atmosphere. The scale is intimate in some halls, cavernous in others. During evening hours, occasional live performances (traditionally belly dancing) occur; confirm current entertainment when reserving. The crowd includes business diners at lunch, tourists and families in early evening, and younger Muscovites later at night. Noise levels can be considerable when full, particularly in main halls; quieter corners exist but must be requested.
History of Uzbekistan
The building’s documented history extends to the late 19th century, when it housed a tavern famous among Moscow society. Later it became a French café, then converted to a Soviet-era officer’s cafeteria. In 1951, the ministry of trade of the Uzbek SSR established the Uzbekistan restaurant here—a prestige project designed to showcase Uzbek culture and cuisine during the Soviet period. The restaurant operated through the Soviet decades as one of Moscow’s few venues for Central Asian food.
In 1997, restaurateur Arkady Novikov and partners Igor Kofman and Vladimir Lisavetsky acquired the restaurant and initiated a complete restoration. Novikov contracted palace restorers from Tashkent to redesign the interiors, drawing inspiration from 200-year-old Uzbek architectural and decorative patterns. They installed handmade furniture, imported chandeliers, and commissioned carved panels and tilework. The renovation preserved the building’s historic bones while reimagining its interior as a showcase for Uzbek craftsmanship. Novikov reopened the restaurant in 1999 as a flagship project, making it one of Moscow’s most immediately recognizable destination restaurants.
The restaurant maintains its Soviet-era reputation for serious Uzbek cooking while operating under private management. It has remained relatively stable in ownership and menu direction, avoiding the rapid turnover common in Moscow dining. The Novikov Group continues to oversee operations, and the kitchen has retained long-serving chefs who understand the technical requirements of plov, lagman, and other labor-intensive dishes.
How to Get to Uzbekistan
By Metro: The nearest station is Trubnaya (Line 7 / red line), approximately 3–5 minutes’ walk south. Exit and walk south down Neglinnaya Street; the restaurant entrance is on your left. An alternative is Teatralnaya (Line 2 / dark red line) or nearby Okhotny Ryad (Line 1 / red line), both 5–7 minutes north; from either, descend into the metro tunnel and follow signs to Neglinnaya Street, then walk south.
Walking from Red Square: From Teatralnaya Square (near the Bolshoi Theatre), walk north along Neglinnaya Street for approximately 7 minutes. The restaurant is on the left side of the street, recognizable by its fortress-like exterior.
By taxi or car: Provide the driver with the address Neglinnaya Street, 29. On-site parking is limited; street parking near the Boulevard Ring is available but can be competitive during peak hours.
Accessibility
The restaurant occupies a historic building with multiple levels accessed by stairs. Ground-floor seating is available but limited; upper-floor halls are not accessible via lift. Wheelchair accessibility is limited. Contact the restaurant directly at the phone numbers above to discuss specific accessibility needs; they may accommodate mobility-impaired guests in ground-floor areas if advance notice is given. Assistance animals are permitted.
Food Nearby
Neglinnaya Street and the Boulevard Ring area contain numerous restaurants and cafes. Near the Teatralnaya metro station (north of Uzbekistan) are casual Soviet-style canteens and fast-casual chains. Petrovka Street, one block east, has additional dining options. For coffee or snacks, small cafes dot the surrounding area. Most nearby venues are simpler and less formal than Uzbekistan; if seeking similar Central Asian dining, this restaurant is the primary destination in the immediate neighborhood.
What to Bring
Bring an appetite—portions are generous and Eastern hospitality assumes abundant sharing. Comfortable shoes are useful if exploring the surrounding Boulevard Ring area before or after. No special items are required for the restaurant itself. Camera and phone are permitted for personal photography; tripods, drones, and commercial photography require advance permission.
Photography Rules
Personal photography is permitted in dining areas. Flash is not prohibited but is considered discourteous to other diners; photograph with available light when possible. Tripods, drones, and commercial or media photography require permission from management. Request this permission directly from your server or call ahead.
Family Suitability
Uzbekistan is family-friendly, particularly during lunch and early dinner hours. Children are welcome; high chairs and children's portions are available. The ornate interior fascinates children, though very young diners may find noise levels challenging during full service. Stroller access is limited due to stairs; ground-floor seating with stroller placement can be arranged with advance notice. The menu includes mild, child-friendly options (chicken shashlik, flatbread, mild samsa). Families dining before 20:00 experience a calmer atmosphere than later evening service.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Order plov 30–45 minutes in advance when possible, or order it at the start of your meal and begin with appetizers and soups while it cooks. Asking the server about plov wait time prevents disappointment.
- Request a specific dining hall by name when reserving if you have preferences for atmosphere—the Shaherzada hall is the most ornate, while quieter sections offer more intimate dining.
- The exterior fortress-like facade can be confusing; confirm you have the correct entrance if this is your first visit. The restaurant occupies the building at street level and upper floors.
- Bread (non) and tea are foundational to Uzbek dining culture; don't skip them even if you feel full. They aid digestion and complete the meal ritually as well as culinarily.
- Weekday lunch (before 14:00) offers the fastest service and fullest kitchen; if you are time-pressed, this is the optimal window.
- The Russian-language menu on the website and in-house is more detailed than English translations; ask your server to explain unfamiliar dishes, as English descriptions sometimes omit important preparation details.
Make an Outing of Your Visit to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is within walking distance of places that pair well with a meal. A simple way to build the outing:
Before or after your meal
Vysokopetrovsky Monastery Moscow – about 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours (if doing the overview tour and/or the belltower mini-tour)6 min on foot from Trubnaya metro, Open daily 10:00–19:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Modern Art – about 400 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hours per venue6 min on foot from Trubnaya metro, Open daily 12:00–21:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines Moscow – about 500 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hours5 min on foot from Kuznetsky Most metro, Open daily 11:00–21:00, indoorsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Time needed: plan about 6–9 hours for the whole outing, including the meal (roughly 1–1.5 hours), the places above and the walking between them.
Explore Nearby Uzbekistan
Metro stations near Uzbekistan
Teatralnaya Metro Stationabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Trubnaya Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Uzbekistan
Gorynych – about 300 m away (~4 min walk)6 min on foot from Trubnaya metro, Open daily 10:00–00:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
La Marée – about 350 m away (~5 min walk)6 min on foot from Trubnaya metro, Open daily 12:00–00:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Butcher Steak House – about 350 m away (~5 min walk)4 min on foot from Trubnaya metro, Open daily 12:00–00:00, indoorsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Jagannath – about 450 m away (~7 min walk)5 min on foot from Kuznetsky Most metro, Open daily 09:00–23:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Uzbekistan
Mendeleev Bar & Music – about 250 m away (~4 min walk)9 min on foot from Chekhovskaya metroMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kadril Karaoke Club – about 600 m away (~10 min walk)3 min on foot from Kuznetsky Most metroMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Uzbekistan
Circle of Light Festival in Moscowabout 650 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Tea Party Festivalabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Uzbekistan
Is this restaurant authentic Uzbek food or Moscow adaptation?
Uzbekistan serves genuinely prepared Uzbek dishes, not simplified Moscow versions. The kitchen uses traditional techniques—plov is cooked to order in large quantities, lagman noodles are hand-stretched, and spicing reflects regional recipes. Visitors born in Uzbekistan have confirmed its authenticity. This authenticity is its primary distinction from other Central Asian restaurants in Moscow.
How long does plov take to prepare?
Plov requires 30–45 minutes from order to table because it is made fresh, not batch-prepared. This wait is normal and necessary for quality. Order plov at the start of your meal and enjoy appetizers, soups, or bread while it cooks. If you are pressed for time, ask the server if any prepared plov is currently available, though freshly cooked is always preferable.
Is it possible to dine here without a reservation?
Yes, walk-ins are accepted subject to table availability. Expect 20–40 minute waits during peak times (dinner, weekends). For guaranteed seating or groups of 6+, reservations are essential. Call +7 495 623-05-85 if you prefer certainty. Early lunch (before 13:00) typically accommodates walk-ins with minimal wait.
What is the price level for a typical meal?
A typical main course ranges from moderate to moderately upscale pricing for Moscow dining. A meal with one main dish, bread, and tea costs moderate; sharing multiple mains and desserts increases the bill. Lunch is generally less expensive than dinner. Budget accordingly, as generous portions and sharing culture mean one main per person is often sufficient.
Are there vegetarian options?
The menu includes vegetarian salads, soups, and some sides. Lagman is available with vegetarian fillings; some pilafs can be prepared without meat upon request. However, the restaurant's signature dishes (plov, samsa, manti, shashlik) center on meat. Vegetarian diners should discuss options with the server at reservation or upon arrival.
What language is spoken by staff?
Russian is primary. English is spoken by some staff, particularly those handling reservations and guest services, but fluency varies. Menus are available in Russian and English. Bringing a translation app or phrase book helps with detailed menu discussion. Russian hospitality culture is inclusive; communication barriers are generally navigable.
Can you host a private event or large group?
Yes. The restaurant has dedicated banquet space and can accommodate groups up to 130 seated or 260 standing. Private dining halls are available. Contact management at +7 495 623-05-85 or uzbek-rest.ru to discuss group menus, pricing, and arrangements. Advance booking is essential—typically 1–2 weeks minimum for large groups.
Is the interior decoration historically accurate or theatrical?
The 1997 renovation drew inspiration from Uzbek architectural and decorative traditions but is not a faithful reproduction of a specific historical structure. It is theatrical—a showcase of Uzbek craftsmanship and aesthetic principles designed to create immersive atmosphere rather than documentary accuracy. The craftsmen were sourced from Tashkent, and many details are handmade, but the overall effect is designed entertainment.
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Distances are straight-line, from OpenStreetMap data.
Local Dishes to Try Here
Manti (Манты)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Plov (Плов)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Samsa (Самса)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Shashlik (Шашлык)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Looking for more on this? Khachapuri, Sochi: How to Make Georgian Cheese Bread at Home (Russia Vibes)
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