The Razgulay is a legendary restaurant in Moscow. It is situated in the centre of Moscow in the old German quarter, in an old Moscow mansion, built for Count Alexey Ivanovich Musin-Pushkin, next to the Cathedral in Yelokhovo. The square which the restaurant is located next to, got its name of Razgulay in 18th century due to the public houses located here. At that time, this place was the tzar road which Empress Anna Ioannovna took for Rubzovo-Pokrovskoe, Izmaylovo, Lefortovo.
At the same time the nobility and rich merchants who were building luxurious palaces and stone houses started to settle down here. Many historical events and famous names are connected to this square. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was baptized in the church of the Epiphany Cathedral. A building in the neighborhood – an old two-storey house, which has been saved up to now, is connected with the name of Anna Mons, the mistress of Peter the Great. The sun clock was also situated here, the city’s watchmakers synchronized their watches against it. First shops, public houses, including a tzar kruzhalo – the pub, well-known all over Moscow where successful merchants came to share news, appeared in the square.
Nowadays, the modern Razgulay restaurant, standing on the place of the former merchant house, within restored walls of the mansion, where the minster had been placed, keeps carefully the traditions of Moscow restaurants. Due to rich historical past, the Razgulay succeeded in keeping unique zest and re-creating the atmosphere of the merchant Muscovia of the 18th century. Russian folk crafts – Khokhloma wood articles, Gzhel, birchbark items – are revealed in the interiors. Traditions are represented not in the interior only, but in the menu. Okroshka and borsch with garlic donuts, original Razgulay meat and sturgeon cooked in the minster manner, finest pies and pancakes with various fillings, fried porkling and baked hand of mutton – the classical treats for an easy Russian feast. What a party without traditional Russian drinks? Except for old Russian vodka Spotykatch of Ivan the Terrible’s times, in the restaurant there is kvas, medovuha, sbiten, the latter is made on the base of an old recipe in the Razgulay only. Every night live Gypsy music appeals lots of not only those who love good food but those who love to dance themselves to exhaustion, but you can also dance to heart-stirring songs of the Russian folk company. Everything is on a Russian scale, with Russian spirit and Russian hospitality! We shall celebrate in freedom!
