Around the Hotels

Location 1, with Location 2 on the right

The Izmailovo hotel complex consists of 5 large hotels that were originally built as the athletes village for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.


This page is intended to give you a quick overview of some of the places you can eat in and shop at.  By no means is it exhaustive, by should give you a head start.

Bear in mind there each hotel has a number of places to eat and shop.  Check at the "Eating in the hotels" section on the Where to Stay page.


Location 1 - Small shops
A series of small shops right in the square in between all the hotels. Some are open 24 hrs, good if you need to grab something quickly.

Location 2 - Italian Restaurant



Location 2 - Italian Restaurant, entry is on the front left

In the middle of the square surrounded by the hotel buildings is a 2-3 storey building with an Olympic mural around the top section. On the ground floor you'll find an Italian restaurant.

We ate here several times.  Always enjoyed the meals. Menu is in English and Russian, and the staff are patient with you as you order. The Pizza here is great.

Location 3 - Small shops, Subway, Middle Eastern Restaurant

Location 3

Standing in front of location 2, turn to your right and walk 100 meters. On your right, in front of the Beta hotel is a single storey line of shops/restaurants. Here you will another small supermarket/deli, kebab shop, a pharmacy, Subway and a Middle Eastern restaurant.

The Subway is as you'd know it back home. The staff spoke some English, and you easily point at what you want.

The Middle Eastern restaurant doesn't have English menus and the staff didn't speak any, however they were friendly. Several of the carers went back, on more than one occasion.

Location 4 - Shopping Centre, incl Burger King

Burger King!

If you keep on walking past location 3, you will cross a road and enter into location 4. At the time I was here, the bulk of this shopping centre was being refurbished.  Inside was another supermarket/deli and the Burger King.

The menu in Burger King is numbered and some of the staff spoke English, making it very easy.

Around the outside of this building (i.e. the entry to the shop is outside) are a few more eateries and supermarket/deli style shops.

Of note is a larger pharmacy (look for the green illuminated cross) - head around the outside of the building to the left hand side when facing as shown.

Location 5 - Deli & Takeaway

Location 5 - you can enter on several sides

One of my favourites.  Head to your left from Location 4 and cross the road.  Its sits in front of the Metro station.

They sell all sorts in here.  Its a blend of a supermarket, deli, takeaway shop.  Nice and clean.  Ordering the hot or pre-made food can be difficult as the language barrier is a challenge, however if you're happy to make a mistake it can be worth it.  Its quick and easy, and when you're tired at the end of the day this can be a great option.

Its one long building split into 2 sections.  The kebabs here are pretty good, although you may want to go easy on the garlic sauce!

Inside - kebab and hot food section

Inside - supermarket goods

Location 6 - Shopping Centre, incl Supermarket & KFC
If you head downstairs (don't head up the stairs as you enter the main entrance, but use the side door) you will find a large supermarket at the back of the complex. You have to pass several small shops in the passageway before coming to it.


Location 6

The supermarket is quite large (relatively speaking, the largest we found). It will contain all your basic needs.

The remainder of the shopping complex contains several shops, predominately clothing stores.

On the very top floor (3rd floor) there are several eateries, including KFC. If you ask if they speak English as you begin to order they will often have 1-2 members of staff that do and that makes it a little easier.

Location 7 - Izmailovo Markets
One of the highlights of your visit and the easiest tourism that you can undertake during your stay is to visit the markets.

You might find 1 or 2 dolls!

Head north past the Gamma-Delta hotel.  You will see the Izmailovo Kremlin ahead of you as you walk.  Once you reach the road to the north of the Gamma-Delta, you can either continue straight up the ramp into the Kremlin, or turn right and walk down the road.  Either way you'll end up in the markets.  It is easiest to follow the road.

In terms of when to go, you can go any day of the week.  Saturdays and Sundays are peak trading. The regular stall holders on these days appeared to offer higher prices.  However there are many more stall open on these 2 days.  Additionally there were people selling a myriad of second hand goods (and some junk) as well as original art.

Throughout the week it is very quiet.  If you want tourist type goods (dolls, hats, etc), we found the traders much more negotiable to make a sale on these days.  However you won't have all the choice or the experience of the weekend.

Market entrance - the road on the left with the flags is where you approach from

Markets

The exception to this appeared to be Wednesday.  One stallholder informed us it was wholesale day, where the stallholders sell to each other.  Prices started much lower that day (50%).


Location 8 - Japanese

The market felt very safe (don't be blasé), and it was one of the few places where English is easily understood.  Expect to bargain and haggle like any other market - its all part of the fun!

Location 8 - Japanese Restaurant
From in front of the Metro station or the Deli at Location 5, cross over the road to find this Japanese restaurant.

Excellent food and lovely restaurant to sit in. The menu is all in Russian, but has pictures for every meal. Using a phone app always help to decipher exactly what type of meat or fish is in the dish. The menu is traditionally Japanese, with a few western side dishes, but don't expect burgers and chips if you eat here. If you like sushi and Asian style food, I really recommend this one.


Map around the hotel complex.  Refer to numbers in descriptions above