Ex Libris

«Ex Libris» operates on the grounds of the Turgenev Library in Bobrov Lane, near Chistye Prudy, Turgenevskaya, and Sretensky Bulvar metro stations. It's the only full-fledged café at a library in Moscow, and the place is genuinely historic: part of the building has survived since the 17th century. Guests can dine in the Bar Hall, with an architectural wall from the same period, look into the Round Hall, home to a museum of Soviet porcelain, go down to the atmospheric Concert Basement beneath old vaults, or settle on the summer terrace in the library's green courtyard — where in summer people also play table tennis and listen to open-air concerts. The menu features European and Russian cuisine: a full meal of soup, main course, and dessert, traditional dishes, and fresh pizza from an Italian stone oven. Baristas make coffee, milkshakes, and tea. The average check is 1,000–3,000 ₽, and the café is open daily from 11:00 to 23:00. The place has been operating since 2009 and preserves the atmosphere of the old building. Concerts and parties are held in the Concert Basement, and for banquets and private events you can contact the café's team directly.