Support The Moscow Times!

7 Places to Pick Up a Souvenir Your Relatives Might Actually Like

Radical Chic

Brusnika 

Sweaters for the adventurous 

Brusnika is a brand-boutique for daring fashionistas. Designers use natural materials, including fur, wool, and even feathers to gives off a confident cool. These sweaters are are costly – the embellished knit sweater runs for 11,800 rubles ($210) and a cropped lambswool cardigan for 7,300 rubles ($130) – but the collection frequently goes on sale. 

Click-Boutique 

Russian brands for local teens 

Click-Boutique stocks clothing and accessories for every budget. The Kolesnikov collection of light-hearted metal cat rings is only 350 rubles ($6). For a more substantial gift, go for funky silver earrings in animal shapes by Snifferson for 2,990 ($53) rubles or the Lokus line of leather backpack-purses for 9,990 rubles ($178), perfect for a chic teenage look. 

Moskva Bookstore 

Coffee table books for higher minds 

One of the city’s largest bookstores, Moskva features a wide array of coffee table books, many of which are in English. Themes include architecture, ballet, painting and design from all over the world. Prices are reasonable for high quality photographic printing. Check out “Kandinsky and the Harmony of Silence” for 3123 rubles ($55), and “Russian Elegance. Country and City Fashion” for 774 rubles ($14). 

Dymov-Keramika 

Contemporary pottery from medieval Suzdal 

Pottery is the millennials’ version of your grandmother’s porcelain collection. DymovKeramika creates contemporary place settings for Moscow’s trendy restaurants, such as the spider collection tea cup for 1,080 rubles ($19), a black-baked salad bowl for 1,940 rubles ($34). Dymov-Keramika holds workshops for those who want to make their own, and they have a café on site. 

Tea-Coffee Shop on Myasnitskaya 

Sweet treats for afternoon tea 

Nestled in the building where tea importers Perlov and Sons hawked their wares in 1893, the Tea Shop on Myasnitskaya offers the widest selection of cookies, Russian soufflé, gingerbreads and chocolate-coated waffles, all packed in beautiful boxes for around 500 rubles ($8). Alternatively, choose a simple black tea and pair it with a jar of honey or fruit preserves for 800 rubles ($14). 

Radical Chic 

Wearable works of art 

Radical Chic offers inimitable silk print scarves. Designs include whimsical foxes and wolves, romantic cityscapes, and luscious floral palettes. Pocket-handkerchiefs run for 2,680 rubles ($47), medium square scarves go for 9,360 ($166) rubles, and large shawls cost 14,380 ($256) rubles. 

Imperial Porcelain No. 15 

Treasures from Russian history 

The Imperial Porcelain Factory opened in 1744 and, to this day, Russians rich and poor collect replicas of their historic teacup and saucer sets. The gold-plated Cobalt Tulip set (two cups, two saucers, a teapot, and a sugar pot) will set you back around 28,000 rubles ($500), but you can also purchase a single teacup for 3,325 rubles ($59). The factory also produces “agitation porcelain” designed by early Soviet artists, including a teacup and saucer by the potter S. V. Chekhonin for 931 rubles ($16), and a three-piece geometric tea set by Kazimir Malevich for 237,500 rubles ($4,228).

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more