Mendeleev Bar
Mendeleev Bar is hidden behind the facade of a fake Chinese restaurant called Lucky Noodles at Petrovka Street 20/1. The concept commits to the bit: you walk into what appears to be a small, slightly run-down Chinese takeaway, approach the counter, and ask for the bar. A staff member leads you through the kitchen and into a dimly lit cocktail bar that seats roughly 50 people. The interior is all dark wood, leather seating, and soft amber lighting that creates an instant sense of arrival. The cocktail menu runs about 40 drinks deep, split between house originals and reinterpreted classics. The bar team has won multiple Russian bartending competitions, and the consistency shows in every glass. A small food menu of Asian-fusion snacks complements the drinks. Weekend nights fill the bar to capacity by 23:00, and the no-reservation crowd forms a small line in the fake restaurant upstairs. The bar has appeared on multiple international best-bar lists, giving it recognition that extends well beyond Moscow.
What to Expect
You enter through a Chinese restaurant that looks genuinely unremarkable. The transition through the kitchen into the bar space hits with a sense of discovery that doesn't get old even on repeat visits. The bar itself is warm, dark, and intimate, with the clink of ice and murmur of conversation providing the soundtrack.
Intimate, warm, and slightly conspiratorial. The hidden entrance sets a tone that the interior maintains perfectly.
Jazz, soul, and downtempo at low volume. The music is background support, not the focus. The bar is about conversation and drinking.
Smart casual. The speakeasy concept doesn't demand suits, but the intimate setting rewards dressing well. Most guests wear dark colors and clean silhouettes.
Cocktail enthusiasts, couples on a date, anyone who appreciates theatrical bar concepts executed with genuine quality
Cards and cash accepted. The bill arrives on a small tray, old-school style.
Price Range
Cocktails 800-1,400 RUB, beer 400-500 RUB, snacks 400-700 RUB
Cocktails ~$8-14/~7-12 EUR, beer ~$4-5/~3.50-4.50 EUR, snacks ~$4-7/~3.50-6 EUR
Hours
19:00-03:00 Sun-Thu, 19:00-05:00 Fri-Sat
Insider Tip
Make a reservation through their Instagram or Telegram for Friday and Saturday nights; walk-ins face a 30-60 minute wait after 23:00. The bartenders excel at off-menu drinks, so describe your flavor preferences and let them create something. Sit at the bar counter rather than a table to get the full experience and conversation with the team.
Full Review
Mendeleev Bar gets the speakeasy formula right where many copycat bars worldwide get it wrong. The hidden entrance isn't just an Instagram moment; it genuinely changes how you feel walking into the space. After the fluorescent lighting and laminated menus of Lucky Noodles upstairs, the dim amber glow and leather seats of the bar below feel like a reward.
The cocktails justify the hype. Each drink arrives looking precise and tasting considered. I tried a house original built on Russian birch-tar-infused vodka that sounds challenging but drank smooth and slightly smoky. A classic Negroni was textbook perfect. The consistency across the menu suggests a bar team that practices relentlessly rather than relying on recipes alone.
The space itself works for groups up to about four. Beyond that, you'll be splitting across tables and losing the intimate quality that makes the bar special. The bar counter seats eight, and those are the best spots in the house. You can watch the bartenders work, ask questions about techniques and ingredients, and get drinks faster than the table service.
Compared to Noor Bar on Tverskaya, Mendeleev offers better cocktails in a more interesting setting at slightly lower prices. Against El Copitas in Saint Petersburg, it's a fair fight, as both are world-class cocktail bars, but Mendeleev wins on atmosphere and theatricality while El Copitas wins on raw bartending creativity.
The main downside is accessibility. The bar is small, reservations are essential on weekends, and the concept doesn't work well for spontaneous large groups. Plan ahead and keep your party intimate.
The Neighborhood
Petrovka Street runs parallel to Tverskaya, connecting the Boulevard Ring to the center. The area around the bar is mixed commercial and residential, quiet at street level but hiding several other bars and restaurants in courtyards and basements. Stoleshnikov Lane and its venues are a 3-minute walk south.
Getting There
From Tverskaya metro (green line), walk east on any cross street to reach Petrovka. The bar is at number 20/1, marked only by the Lucky Noodles sign. From Kuznetsky Most metro (purple line), it's a 5-minute walk north along Petrovka.
Address
Petrovka Street 20/1
Other Venues in Tverskaya
Propaganda
Moscow's longest-running underground club, open since 1997. Known for quality electronic music bookings and a no-pretense door policy. One of the few elite-level clubs that values music over money.
Simachev Bar
Fashion-forward bar and boutique hybrid on Stoleshnikov Lane. Attracts Moscow's creative crowd with strong cocktails and an eclectic playlist. No formal dress code but expect a stylish crowd.
Noor Bar
Upscale cocktail bar with Middle Eastern design touches. Extensive cocktail menu with house-made ingredients. Quiet enough for conversation early, busier after midnight.
Bar Klava
Neighborhood cocktail bar just off Tverskaya with a loyal local following. Relaxed atmosphere, fair prices by Moscow standards, and bartenders who know their craft.
Solyanka
Multi-room club and cultural space near the Boulevard Ring. Hosts electronic music nights, art exhibitions, and themed parties. Cover varies by event, typically 500-1,500 RUB.