On Ao To, which every summer is the most fashionable and noisy place in the capital, there are now no more crowds of tourists and camera-wielding bloggers. Restaurants and cafes that attracted the attention of many Moscow residents began to close one after another since autumn. In total, Patricks lost 16 restaurants by the end of that year. There are several reasons: rising rents, taxes, staff shortages and the growing popularity of other locations in the city.
According to research by the Commonwealth Partnership, the vacancy rate on streets near Patriarch's Ponds is 11% – a figure comparable to the crisis year of 2020, when 18 restaurants closed. Furthermore, closed facilities are not night-time facilities; Most of them have been operating in this place for more than ten years. For example, Naked on Spiridonovka Street, 1/24, was open for 11 years and closed at the end of October. Gutai Asian Restaurant on Malaya Bronnaya, 1/26 was also open for ten years. That's where bloggers most often shoot their videos. The list goes on.
But if some establishments completely leave the market, others simply move to other locations, where there is no less demand among Muscovites and guests of the city. For example: restaurant 0.75 Let's move to the 20th floor of the Azimut hotel on Smolenskaya. And another restaurant, “Mari Vanna,” which has been operating on Patriki for 17 years, will also move in February from Malaya Bronnaya, 20, to Trekhprudny Lane. The move is due to expansion – he is renting a large three-storey mansion next to the successful Butler restaurant. The restaurant's general director, Anastasia Danilova, commented: “We have been in this market for eight years and know how to respond in times of crisis. We should not say how bad things are, but simply adapt to new conditions.”
Judging by social media, Luzhniki, which was originally known as Moscow's Courchevel, has become a new fashion spot with music, dancing and sparkling wine.
Meanwhile, clothing stores are opening in vacant land in Patriki. According to CMWP analysts, 380-420 cafes and restaurants will close in Moscow by 2026. This figure is 10% higher than in 2025, when 381 catering establishments ceased operations in the city. For comparison: in 2024, 312 cafes and restaurants close in Moscow.
Where do young people gather now? Luzhniki, specifically the Raquette Bistro restaurant, has become a new fashionable place with music, dancing and sparkling wine in winter. On Saturdays they organize paid parties at the skating rink (3,000 rubles). This place is modestly called – Moscow Courchevel.
Direct speech
Igor Bukharov, President of the Russian Federation of Restaurants and Hotels:
– In the context of almost 23 thousand different restaurants and cafes operating in Moscow today, the closure of 300 establishments is not a tragedy but a common occurrence in trade – some leave, others come. In Patriki we see the opening of stores instead of restaurants and more and more Russian designers appear. Perhaps there will be small cafes; By the way, they are currently at the peak of their popularity. Small establishments offer small cakes or croissants and some coffees. Surprisingly, Muscovites are satisfied with this. Everything in restaurants is now expensive, and menu prices don't come from nowhere: taxes have increased, fines have increased, and food prices are getting more expensive. Add to that the lack of personnel in the industry… It is also affected by the fact that Muscovites save money on going to restaurants. Without consumer culture, the habit of meeting friends at cafes every evening, for many people, if they do not cook for themselves, it is easier and cheaper to order ready-made food from the store.
