Where Muscovites Grill: Enjoying a Cozy BBQ in the Capital

Barbecue Time in Moscow

For many Muscovites, getting together around a mangal (charcoal grill) is one of the most relaxed ways to see friends and family. It combines unhurried conversation with simple, hearty food, and offers a welcome break from the city’s fast pace.

How locals enjoy it

Outdoor meals here are often a full-day affair. People bring marinated shashlik, sausages, vegetables, lavash or black bread, and plenty of tea or mors. Someone takes charge of the coals, others set the table, and children drift between the food and nearby play areas.

Weekends from late spring to early autumn, parks and forest belts around Moscow fill with small groups: colleagues celebrating the end of a project, families marking a birthday, or friends just catching up after the workweek.

Why Moscow works well for BBQ

Moscow’s green zones and riverbanks offer a good mix of nature and city comfort. Many official picnic spots provide:

• Grill areas or fire pits (where open fire is allowed)
• Benches and picnic tables
• Playgrounds for children
• Sports pitches for volleyball or basketball
• Parking, bicycle stands, and nearby fuel stations
• Water, waste baskets, and sometimes a pharmacy or small beach area

To plan a relaxed outing, you can use our website to find legal barbecue spots and filter by amenities such as restrooms, playgrounds, tables, and fire pits—so you arrive prepared and can focus on the people, not the logistics.