A Hidden Gem on Arbat: Viking-Themed Craft Bar Review

I stumbled upon this place on Arbat by accident, and it's crazy it took me so long to discover it. This spot's been a staple in the area for years.

You can easily get here from Smolenskaya or Arbatskaya, and it's a great excuse to take a stroll along Arbat. It's just a 5-minute walk from Smolenskaya, perfect for a Saturday afternoon.

The bar is hard to miss - it's right on the main street, on the left-hand side as you head from Smolenskaya. The sign is pretty eye-catching, so you won't be able to avoid it.

When you first walk in, there's a lot to take in. The bar has three floors, which is impressive considering its size. We visited the bottom floor, the basement level. There are three rooms on this level, each with its own unique decor.

The decor is a mix of brickwork and stylized elements - not just Viking, but even Egyptian mythology here and there. It's a great way to create a cozy atmosphere without being too overwhelming.

The vibe was pretty cool, considering it was a Saturday. The floor wasn't too loud, which was a big plus - the room was spacious, and there weren't too many tables.

They were playing classic rock - Metallica, AC/DC, Kiss, Rolling Stones, Motley Crue, and the like. It's always great to see a bar that knows how to create a lively atmosphere without being too overwhelming.

The Wi-Fi on the lower floor was sketchy, but the waitress told us about the free Wi-Fi, which was a lifesaver. It's always frustrating when you're trying to stay connected, but the Wi-Fi just isn't cooperating.

We checked out the other floors, and this was the top one:

And this was the main, first floor, where the entrance is - in my opinion, the coziest:

Checking out the view from the window on Arbat:

The main downside of this bar is the bill. Despite having a lot of options not available on the taps, you can only check the bill at the bar. If you booked a table for a large group, the bill is the only option for you. So, I wouldn't recommend coming with a group of more than 7 people, just to avoid the hassle of trying to figure out the bill. At least they didn't charge a service fee, which is a plus, since many bars now charge a 10% markup for serving large groups. And in some places, you even have to pay a deposit just to book a table...

The beer prices are pretty reasonable:

What's interesting is that the menu is different on each floor, but you can only order through the waiters, who'll bring you the dish from any of the three floors. The menu only lists the options available on the taps, but they also have a ton of canned and bottled craft beer that you'll need to ask the waiters about.

I was told by our server that I could just take a bottle to the bar and she'd add it to the bill.

They've got a range of drinks, from beer to cocktails, hard liquor, and soft drinks like lemonade.

The appetizer menu is pretty extensive.

This is just a small part of the menu - I didn't feel like taking a photo of everything. They've got meat dishes, soups, and salads on offer. To be honest, the prices for the appetizers aren't the cheapest.As a decent option, I went for the meat pies for 450:

The most unusual thing about this bar is the bathrooms. Everyone knows that the women's bathroom usually has a longer queue than the men's. But here, they've got a full-on separate men's bathroom (Boys only) and a single unisex cubicle for M/J:

So, at least that's how things are on the ground floor.On the first floor, things are a bit better: there are two M/J cubicles and one men's:

And yet, it's still a pretty weird logic. Nevertheless, I'd recommend this bar. At least for small groups. They've got a big selection of drinks, and the prices aren't too steep. The atmosphere is cozy overall.