Hunting Down Cool Summer Spots in Moscow
Where to go for ice cream this summer
Summer in Moscow calls for cooling down and treating yourself to ice cream. Vanilla, chocolate, in a cone or on a stick, Soviet-style or gelato — the choice is vast. Over 300 metres high or inside a giant fridge: here’s where to hunt down the most sought-after summer treat.
Moscow launches signature ice cream
Moscow’s tourist brand has taken a delicious new turn with the launch of its official ice cream, ‘Moskva’ (Moscow). The initiative marks the latest chapter in the city’s strategy of blending local traditions with memorable travel experiences — all under the campaign motto: ‘Moscow has impeccable taste.’
Fridge Pavilion
On a stroll through the city centre, you might stumble across some unusual art pavilions. This summer on Tverskoy Boulevard, look out for a giant red fridge — a part of the Summer in Moscow project. Inside, they sell ice cream in a variety of flavours, lemonades, and other refreshing drinks, as well as gingerbread and other sweet treats from Moscow producers.
Address: Tverskoy Boulevard
Ice Cream Factory in Muzeon
This summer, in the Muzeon Park of Arts, you'll find a whole ice cream factory. Not a real one — it's an art pavilion, a part of the Summer in Moscow project. Inside, of course, they sell ice cream: classic plombir, mango, praline. Try the candy-floss or a lemon custard flavour. You can have it in a waffle cone or a glass dish. The freezers also stock packaged ice cream: choc-ices, wafer cups, and various flavours in tubs.
The pavilion screens cartoons, and there's an open terrace outside. As well as ice cream, you can buy merchandise from Moscow producers: bags, ceramic souvenirs, books, and board games. Afterwards, you can cool off by the fountains. Water jets shoot up from the ground, so you'll have to dodge them.
Address: Krymskaya Embankment, 10к1
GUM Ice Cream
The signature ice cream in a waffle cup is a true gastronomic landmark — it's been sold here since 1954. The production facility is in the basement of GUM, and the ingredients are all natural — no colourings or preservatives. At first, they only made vanilla plombir and crème brûlée, but now you can try different flavours: cherry, pistachio, and chocolate chip. Several ice cream kiosks are dotted along the three arcades of GUM, so they're easy to find. Do try the vanilla plombir — a taste that dates back to the Soviet days.
Address: Red Square, 3
Cafe Vanilla Spatula
At Usachevsky Market, look out for unusual ice cream that's rolled into cylinders. They turn the preparation into a proper show — the milk mixture is poured onto a chilled surface, then stirred with a spatula and shaped into rolls. They use only natural milk, cream, and vanilla, with no artificial flavourings or colourings. Toppings include berries, fruit, and nuts. Flavours include Dubai chocolate, pecan caramel, Raf lavender-coffee, and rum-soaked raisin.
Address: Usachyova Street, 26
Cafe-Restaurant Chistaya Liniya
On Tverskaya Street you'll find the restaurant of the famous Russian ice cream brand. Here you can try desserts made with natural ingredients — for example, matcha plombir, French cheese, caramel popcorn, or Pavlova. For sorbets, choose blackcurrant or pomegranate. The choc-ices come in the classic three: dark, milk, or white chocolate. For crème brûlée lovers, they serve a set of three varieties: classic, pistachio, and mango. In addition to ice cream, there are salads, pasta, and unusual desserts shaped like spheres, bees, cherries, or acorns.
Address: Tverskaya Street, 5/6
Mini Ice Cream Factory at the Panorama360 Viewing Platform
You can also try Chistaya Liniya ice cream on the 89th floor of the Federation Tower – Vostok in Moscow City. At 327 metres high, you get a panoramic view of Moscow. What's more, you can watch the conveyor belt in action: the mixture being poured, frozen, and the finished cups of ice cream move along the line. At the factory, staff are on hand to give you a detailed tour of every production stage. Tastings are free, and you can help yourself as many times as you like – creamy plombir straight off the line.
Address: Presnenskaya Embankment, 12
Casa Leone
At this café, they make gelato using a unique recipe from one of the world's most acclaimed experts — the Italian maestro Sergio Dondoli, owner of the famous Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano. Casa Leone offers visitors around 80 flavours of gelato and sorbet. Thanks to the wide range of Russian produce, you can try flavours here that you won't even find in Italian gelaterias — for example, porcini mushroom, blueberry, or persimmon.
Beyond gelato, you can also order salads, soups, pasta, and pizza prepared following Roman, Neapolitan, and other regional recipes.
Address: Lubyanskіy Drive, 15с2
