Varenichnaya No. 1 Moscow is a chain of cafes that brings the Soviet era into the menu, the interior and the manner of service, according to the brand’s own description. Its signature dishes are vareniki, the filled dumplings, sweet and savory, and pelmeni, served in several locations around the center.
One of the best-known locations is on Nikolskaya Street, a short walk from Red Square, with others on the Arbat, New Arbat and Tsvetnoy Boulevard. Hours, menus and prices differ by location, so check the official site, varenichnaya.ru, for the cafe you plan to use.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Вареничная №1 |
|---|---|
| Address | Nikolskaya Street 11-13, building 2, Moscow (one of the central locations; confirm on the official site) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Okhotny Ryad (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), Listed for the Nikolskaya location; the walking time was not verified) Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line (Line 3, dark blue), Listed for the Nikolskaya location; the walking time was not verified) Teatralnaya (Zamoskvoretskaya Line (Line 2, green), Listed for the Nikolskaya location; the walking time was not verified) |
| Opening hours | Typical hours are from about 10:00 to 23:00 or 00:00 daily, and vary by location; some locations open earlier for breakfast or close later at weekends.
(as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | No entry fee. An older listing gives an average bill in the moderate range (₽₽) per person and breakfasts from the budget level (₽); check the current menu for the location you choose. |
| Best time to visit | Typical hours run from about 10:00 to 23:00 or 00:00, and some cafes open earlier for breakfast, according to listings; exact hours vary by location. Crowd patterns were not verified. In summer, locations with a terrace add outdoor seating, according to an older listing for the Nikolskaya cafe. |
| Recommended duration | About 45 to 75 minutes |
| Cuisine | Russian and Soviet-style home cooking, with vareniki and pelmeni |
| Price level | €€ |
| Reservations | The brand has several cafes in the center, listed on the official site, varenichnaya.ru, with the exact address and hours of each. Typical central areas include Nikolskaya Street near Red Square, the Arbat and New Arbat, Tsvetnoy Boulevard and the Kievsky station square. Table booking is by phone from the location's page; walk-ins are the normal way in a cafe. Delivery and takeaway are listed for some locations; confirm for yours. |
| Website | varenichnaya.ru |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
Why Visit Varenichnaya No. 1?
The reasons are practical. Varenichnaya No. 1 gives a quick introduction to Russian home-style dumplings in central locations, so it works for a meal between sights, and an older listing gives an average bill in the moderate range (₽₽), lower than at the fine-dining places in the center.
The menu centers on vareniki and pelmeni, with soups and traditional Soviet-style desserts, according to the brand’s description, and special menus such as a lenten menu, a fitness menu and a children’s menu are listed for the Nikolskaya location. Some cafes serve breakfast from early morning, and the Nikolskaya cafe has a summer terrace, according to an older listing. Because it is a chain, the experience is consistent but not unique.
Highlights of Varenichnaya No. 1
The Soviet-era concept
The brand's description says that the cafes collected the best of the Soviet era in the menu, the interior and the attitude to guests. Expect a themed room rather than a modern one, with details from the period. The look differs between locations, since each was fitted to its building. The Nikolskaya cafe has a decorative fireplace and sofas, according to an older listing.
Tip: Look at the photos on the location's page to pick the interior you prefer.
Vareniki, sweet and savory
Vareniki are boiled dumplings of dough with a filling, and the brand is named after them. The menu offers both sweet and savory versions, according to the brand's description and guides. The name of the chain says the dish is the point of the visit. Fillings vary, so ask the waiter for what is on the menu that day.
Tip: Order one savory and one sweet portion to compare.
Pelmeni, soups and Soviet desserts
Alongside vareniki, the menu lists pelmeni, soups and traditional Soviet-style desserts, according to the brand's description. These are the dishes many Russians associate with home cooking. A home confectionery section and a cocktail and wine list are listed for the Nikolskaya cafe, according to an older listing.
Tip: Finish with a Soviet-style dessert and tea.
Breakfast and special menus
An older listing for the Nikolskaya location gives breakfasts from 08:00 to 12:00, priced from the budget level (₽), and lists a lenten menu, a fitness menu and a children's menu with children's chairs. These details may have changed, so confirm them with the location. Breakfast is a useful option before an early start in the center.
Tip: Check whether your chosen location serves breakfast.
Locations in the center
The brand lists cafes on Nikolskaya Street, on the Arbat and New Arbat, on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, on the Kievsky station square and on 2nd Brestskaya Street, among others, according to branch listings. An older description also names Tverskaya Street, Bolshaya Dmitrovka and VDNKh. Not all may be open now, so use the official list.
Tip: Choose the location nearest your route and check its hours.
Takeaway and delivery
Takeaway meals and food delivery are listed for some locations, including the Nikolskaya cafe in an older listing and the Kievsky station location in another. Whether a particular cafe offers them, and through which service, was not verified. Ask the cafe if you want food to take away.
Tip: Confirm takeaway with the location before you count on it.
What to Order
- Savory vareniki, the dumplings the brand is named after
- Sweet vareniki, offered alongside the savory ones
- Pelmeni, listed on the menu in the brand's description
- A soup from the menu, which the brand lists among its dishes
- A traditional Soviet-style dessert, as the brand describes
Atmosphere
The cafes are styled after the Soviet era in the menu, the interior and the attitude to guests, according to the brand. The Nikolskaya location has a decorative fireplace, sofas and a summer terrace, according to an older listing, so the mood is cozy rather than formal.
Because it is a chain with several cafes, the look varies by location, from a quiet room on a side street to a busier cafe on the Arbat. Guests are a mix of tourists and local office workers, according to the type of locations, and the menu includes a children’s section, so families are common. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, and some cafes stay open late.
History of Varenichnaya No. 1
Varenichnaya No. 1 is a chain of cafes. An older brand description says that the first Varenichnaya opened in 2013, and that the network then had 16 cafes in well-known places of the city, on Tverskaya Street and Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, the Old and New Arbat and at VDNKh.
The idea of the chain is to gather the best of the Soviet era in the menu, the interior and the manner of welcoming guests, with vareniki and pelmeni at the center of the menu. Branch listings today show cafes at Nikolskaya Street, Arbat Street, Novy Arbat Street, Tsvetnoy Boulevard, the Kievsky station square and 2nd Brestskaya Street, though the list may have changed.
The detailed history of the brand, its owners and any rebranding was not found in the sources read, so this section is short.
Reservations and Ordering at Varenichnaya No. 1
No booking is usually needed in a cafe of this type; walk-ins are the normal way in. If you want to reserve, use the contact details on the location’s page on the official site, varenichnaya.ru, since each cafe has its own phone and hours. Delivery and takeaway are listed for some locations, but which ones and through which services was not verified.
- Payment: listings say that cards are accepted, but foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry rubles and ask how a visitor can pay.
- Locations: the list changes, so check the site for the current addresses.
Check the current rules and hours on the official site.
Find and Order: Varenichnaya No. 1
How to Get to Varenichnaya No. 1
The Nikolskaya location is at Nikolskaya Street 11-13, building 2, in the pedestrian area between Red Square and Teatralnaya Square. An older listing names the Okhotny Ryad, Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Teatralnaya metro stations as the nearest; the walking times were not verified. Other locations are on the Arbat, New Arbat, Tsvetnoy Boulevard and at the Kievsky station, so check the address of the one you choose.
- Metro: Okhotny Ryad, Ploshchad Revolyutsii or Teatralnaya for the Nikolskaya cafe; Arbatskaya and Smolenskaya for the Arbat cafe.
- On foot: from Red Square, walk along Nikolskaya Street away from the square.
Accessibility
No accessibility information was found for the brand or its locations. Each cafe is in a different building, so ask the location about steps and the entrance before you go.
Food Nearby
Stolovaya 57 in GUM, a self-service canteen on Red Square, has its own article on this site and is a short walk from the Nikolskaya cafe. The Nikolskaya and Arbat areas have many other cafes and restaurants. 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 cafe.
Photography Rules
No photography rules were found. The Soviet-style interior is part of the appeal, so ask the staff before you photograph the room or other guests, and avoid flash.
Family Suitability
The Nikolskaya cafe lists a children's menu and children's chairs in an older listing, and dumplings suit children, so the brand is family-friendly. Stroller access depends on the location and was not verified, so ask before you go.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Hours and addresses differ by location, so use the official site's location list rather than a single address.
- The brand is also written Varenichnaya №1; use either spelling when you search a map.
- An older listing gave Friday and Saturday hours to 05:00 for the Nikolskaya cafe; check whether that still applies if you want a very late meal.
- The Nikolskaya cafe is a short walk from GUM, so it pairs well with a visit to Red Square, as the Red Square guide of this site explains.
- If you prefer a cafeteria, Stolovaya 57 on Red Square works differently, as the canteen guide of this site explains.
- Ask whether vareniki fillings are available on the day, since the choice may change.
Make an Outing of Your Visit to Varenichnaya No. 1
Varenichnaya No. 1 is within walking distance of places that pair well with a meal. A simple way to build the outing:
Before or after your meal
Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
GUM Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Archaeologyabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Time needed: plan about 4.5–6.5 hours for the whole outing, including the meal (roughly 1–1.5 hours), the places above and the walking between them.
Explore Nearby Varenichnaya No. 1
Metro stations near Varenichnaya No. 1
Okhotny Ryad Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Stationabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Varenichnaya No. 1
Stolovaya 57about 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
SAVVAabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metropol Restaurantabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kappo Hiroki Arakawaabout 300 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Varenichnaya No. 1
Papa's Barabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kadril Karaoke Clubabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Varenichnaya No. 1
Hotel Metropol Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Four Seasons Hotel Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskayaabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Varenichnaya No. 1
Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festivalabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
National Unity Day in Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
- GUM Moscow: Hours, History and What to See Inside
Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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.
How to order food in a Russian canteen (stolovaya): Steps and DishesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties: One-Day RouteMain 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.
Browse more: More in Tverskoy · All Chains and Fast Food · All Restaurants
FAQ: Varenichnaya No. 1
What is Varenichnaya No. 1?
A chain of Soviet-themed cafes serving vareniki, pelmeni, soups and desserts.
What are vareniki?
Boiled dumplings with a filling, sweet or savory.
Where are the cafes?
At several central locations, including Nikolskaya Street, the Arbat, New Arbat and Tsvetnoy Boulevard; check the official list.
How much does a meal cost?
An older listing gives an average bill in the moderate range (₽₽) per person; check the current menu.
Is breakfast served?
An older listing gives breakfasts from 08:00 to 12:00 at the Nikolskaya location; confirm.
Do I need to book?
Not usually; walk in, or call the location from the official site.
Is it good for children?
An older listing mentions a children's menu and children's chairs at the Nikolskaya cafe.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign cards are reported not to work in Russia; carry rubles and ask.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026.
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