Mitzva Bar
Mitzva Bar occupies a street-level space at Pokrovka Street 2/1, right at the beginning of the Kitay-Gorod bar strip where it meets the Boulevard Ring. The interior draws on Israeli and Middle Eastern design: blue-and-white tile work, warm wood accents, and a bar stacked with bottles of arak, raki, and lesser-known spirits from the Eastern Mediterranean. The room holds about 60 people and gets social fast. The menu covers both food and drink with equal attention: hummus, falafel, shakshuka, and grilled meats share space with a cocktail list built around arak, pomegranate, and citrus. The drinks are bold and flavorful rather than subtle. On weekend nights, the music gets turned up and the bar transitions from restaurant-bar to party venue, with people dancing between the tables by midnight. The Israeli theme is genuine rather than decorative, with Hebrew on the menu and staff who've spent time in Tel Aviv.
What to Expect
Walking in, you catch the smell of grilled meat and spices before anything else. The blue-and-white tiles and warm wood create an immediate Mediterranean atmosphere. The noise level is moderate early and loud later, driven by conversation, laughter, and music.
Warm, social, and increasingly party-like as the night progresses. The combination of good food, strong drinks, and crowd energy makes it a natural gathering point.
Israeli pop, Middle Eastern beats, and Mediterranean-influenced dance music. Gets progressively louder and more party-oriented as the night goes on.
Casual. The atmosphere is relaxed and social. Clean casual works perfectly.
Groups wanting food and drinks in one spot, anyone curious about Israeli bar culture, social nights with a lively crowd
Cards and cash accepted. Splitting bills between large groups works smoothly.
Price Range
Cocktails 500-800 RUB, beer 300-400 RUB, hummus plate 400 RUB, main courses 600-1,000 RUB
Cocktails ~$5-8/~4.50-7 EUR, beer ~$3-4/~2.50-3.50 EUR, mains ~$6-10/~5.50-9 EUR
Hours
12:00-00:00 Mon-Wed, 12:00-02:00 Thu-Sat, 12:00-23:00 Sun
Insider Tip
Order the hummus; it's made fresh and it's some of the best in Moscow. The arak-based cocktails are the house specialty and worth trying even if you've never had arak before. Arrive before 21:00 on weekends if you want to eat first and drink after, because the food service gets overwhelmed once the bar crowd arrives.
Full Review
Mitzva Bar does something uncommon on the Kitay-Gorod strip: it makes food as important as drinks. Most bars in the area serve token bar snacks and point you elsewhere for a real meal. Mitzva delivers a full Middle Eastern kitchen that could stand alone as a restaurant, then wraps it in a bar atmosphere that builds through the evening.
The hummus is the benchmark. Made fresh, served warm, drizzled with olive oil and served with hot pita. It's one of those dishes that becomes the standard by which you judge every other hummus you eat afterward. The falafel and shakshuka are similarly good. Eating a proper meal here before transitioning to cocktails is the smart play.
The cocktail menu leans into its theme. Arak-based drinks dominate, with pomegranate, citrus, and herb modifiers that create bold, aromatic cocktails. If you've never tried arak (an anise-flavored spirit common across the Middle East), this is a good introduction. The bartenders know how to balance its strong flavor. Standard cocktails are available but miss the point of being here.
The crowd is one of Kitay-Gorod's most diverse. Young professionals, international visitors, Russian-Israeli community members, and neighborhood regulars mix in a way that feels natural. The communal energy builds as the evening progresses, and by midnight on weekends, people are standing and dancing between the tables.
Compared to other Kitay-Gorod options, Mitzva is louder, more food-oriented, and more party-friendly than the cocktail bars. It's the best choice for groups of four or more who want to eat well and drink well in the same place. For quiet cocktail appreciation, look to Underdog or Chaynaya Vysota instead.
The Neighborhood
At the southwestern end of Pokrovka, right where the street begins at the Boulevard Ring. The rest of Kitay-Gorod's bar strip extends northeast from here. Chistye Prudy park and its cafes are across the boulevard.
Getting There
Chistye Prudy metro (red line) is literally across the boulevard, a 2-minute walk. Kitay-Gorod metro (orange and purple lines) is about 5 minutes southwest. The bar sits at the corner of Pokrovka and Chistoprudny Boulevard.
Address
Pokrovka Street 2/1
Other Venues in Kitay-Gorod
Enthusiast Bar
Popular craft beer bar on Pokrovka with rotating taps and a young crowd. No pretension, just good beer and conversation. One of the area's most consistently busy spots.
Craft Re:Public
Spacious craft beer hall near Maroseyka with over 20 taps. Pub food menu, communal tables, and a friendly atmosphere that draws both locals and expats.
Chaynaya Vysota
Tea house by day, cocktail lounge by night. Occupies a converted apartment with mismatched furniture and a literary atmosphere. Good for quiet drinks and conversation.
Underdog Bar
Basement cocktail bar with exposed brick and a speakeasy feel. Strong, creative cocktails at reasonable Moscow prices. Gets crowded on weekends after midnight.
Denis Simachev Shop & Bar
Designer concept space combining fashion retail with a late-night bar. Hosts DJ sets and themed nights. The crowd skews fashionable and international.