Insider Bar

This “secret bar” used to be located in a basement on Orlikov Lane, but its owners really wanted to move closer to the city center and had a new concept in mind. In the beginning of 2021, these changes finally took place: the bar was moved to the second floor of a mansion on Sretenka and the cocktail list was rethought. Insider Bar has taken 13th place in the expert rating The World's 50 Best Bars.

The bar has a real mixing laboratory with various machines and devices for preparing ingredients: for example, kombucha is made here, and alcohol is infused with fruits and herbs. They are then made into premixes and sent to the bar station, where the bartenders perform the finishing touches and bring the cocktails to perfection.

There is no traditional menu. To view the beverage menu, you must scan a QR code with your smartphone. Each drink is unique and surprising in its own way. You should start with light alcohol cocktails, like the Strawberry Sundae with strawberries and ice cream. The Modernism is a totally transparent drink with an unusual taste, and the Umami Mary includes shiitake mushrooms. Even the classic cocktails include a touch of uniqueness: for example, they use a home made vermouth to make martinis. There are also some interesting non-alcoholic drinks: the alcohol is removed from the Boulevardier using a special vaporizer.

The bar is open three days a week, and reservations fill up very quickly, so it is advisable to plan a visit in advance. There is also a dress code — guests are asked to wear casual, smart casual, or cocktail clothes — and they only accept payment by card.

Photo: Insider Bar