Zamoskvorechye District, Moscow: Things to Do, Restaurants and Hotels

Zamoskvorechye is the old merchants' quarter across the Moskva River from the Kremlin. It is a district of Pyatnitskaya and Bolshaya Ordynka streets, baroque churches and quiet lanes, with the Tretyakov Gallery at its edge. It suits a slow walk more than a checklist.

The list on this page shows what we cover here: a literary museum, a jazz club, restaurants, three hotels at very different levels, a major railway terminal and the metro stations around it. Use the text below to decide where to base yourself and how to spend half a day. Opening hours change, so check the venue before you go.

Choose by what you want to do

Choose a walk if you want the character of the district. The streets and squares are public and can be walked at any time, and half a day is a realistic allowance. Pyatnitskaya Street is livelier in the evening, and dry days in spring, summer and autumn are best.

Choose the Sergey Yesenin Museum if you like small memorial houses. It is in the house where the poet lived and was registered, and allows about an hour to an hour and a half. Listings disagree on days and hours, and Monday is reported closed, so confirm first.

Choose Esse Jazz Club for an evening. It has a daily concert program, a bar and European cuisine, and evenings are the best time. Check the schedule for the artist and start time.

Choose where to stay

Choose Ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushina for a practical base. It is a three-star hotel of about 190 rooms, around 600 meters from Paveletskaya metro station and the Aeroexpress to Domodedovo, and its front desk and bar are open around the clock.

Choose Swissotel Krasnye Holmy for height and views. It is a 34-floor five-star hotel on the river, about 450 meters from Paveletskaya, with rooms that look over the Moscow skyline.

Choose Hotel Baltschug Kempinski for the Kremlin outlook. It is a five-star hotel with 227 rooms and suites behind an old facade on the south bank, with views of the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral. Check-in and check-out times in the listings differ, so confirm them with the hotel.

Eating, trains and getting around

For dinner, Bjorn on Pyatnitskaya Street serves New Nordic food with regional products and a zero-waste approach, at an upscale level (₽₽₽). El Gaucho is an Argentine steakhouse on Zatsepsky Val at the top price level (₽₽₽₽), with a second branch elsewhere in the city. Both are open daily from late morning or midday.

For trains, Paveletsky Railway Terminal serves trains toward Voronezh, Volgograd and the south, suburban lines and the Aeroexpress to Domodedovo. It is busiest at rush hours, so avoid them with luggage. Serpukhovskaya Metro Station has grey and white vaults and a passage to Dobryninskaya. Verny supermarkets include 24-hour stores, useful at night.

Frequently asked questions

What is Zamoskvorechye known for?

It is the old merchants' quarter south of the Kremlin, across the Moskva River, with Pyatnitskaya and Bolshaya Ordynka streets, baroque churches and quiet lanes. The Tretyakov Gallery lies at its edge.

How long do I need in Zamoskvorechye?

Half a day is enough for a walk with a museum stop and a meal. Add an evening if you want a concert at Esse Jazz Club.

Which metro stations serve the district?

Novokuznetskaya, Tretyakovskaya and Polyanka serve the walking area, and Paveletskaya has two stations on different lines. Serpukhovskaya and Dobryninskaya lie in the south of the district.

Is there a hotel near the Aeroexpress?

Ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushina is about 600 meters from Paveletskaya metro station and the Aeroexpress to Domodedovo. Swissotel Krasnye Holmy is about 450 meters from the station.

Which hotel has Kremlin views?

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski stands on the south bank and has views across the river of the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral.

Is the Yesenin Museum big?

No, it is a small memorial museum, and about an hour to an hour and a half is enough. Listings conflict on opening days, so check the official site before you go.