Stop At: Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
Greet your private local guide in the lobby of your hotel at about 10am and embark upon your epicurean exploration of the city. Combine the cultural delights and delectable bites as you walk down one of the oldest Moscow streets - Volhonka Street - and pass by iconic landmarks like Christ the Savior Cathedral and Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.
Stop At: Gogolevskiy Boulevard
10.30am Venture inside the Chocolate boutique and immerse yourself in the wonderful and sweet world of chocolate. Indulge in the set of 5 complimentary chocolate samples accompanied with a cup of artisan tea or coffee. Variety of unique sweets’ fillings is really impressive: honey with lemon, cherry with liqueur and nutmeg, herbal balm Jagermeister with fresh tea leaves, fragrant cinnamon with soft raisins, pistachio with fresh mint leaves, anis with lime juice, wafer crumbs and almond oil, high-mountainous honey with Sicilian apricots, Cuban rum with cream. Should we continue? As you savor your treats, stock up on chocolate souvenirs as they are so yummy and pretty.
Stop At: New Arbat (Novy Arbat)
11.30am Your next chocolate sensation awaits you at the Konfael – Russian chocolate boutique founded in 2001. You will sample a collection of chocolate samples and can get more chocolate gifts here as Konfael is a chocolate icon in Russia. Imagine: fountain of chocolate, chocolate pyramids, monuments, books, cards and more. Nibble on the gourmet chocolate samples and realize why the brand gets the the highest awards at the chocolate exhibitions. The recipes use exotic ingredients and unique technologies that have no analogues in the world and are protected by more than 30 patents.
Stop At: Bolshaya Nikitskaya street (ulitsa)
12.30pm Next, make your way to Coffee Bean coffee shop. Sip a rich and indulgent mocha, cacao or hot chocolate for refreshing aftertaste with some fresh cookie or marshmallow and enjoy a lively chat with your friendly local guide. Finish your tour here at Coffee Bean at about 1pm.
Stop At: Museum of Russian Chocolate History
If you book a 4-hour tour, continue to the Museum of Chocolate (availability on demand).
1pm-2pm Your final stop takes you to the Museum of History of Chocolate. Be surprised with a chocolate variety, hear exciting and intriguing legends about cocoa-beans in ancient Mexico and sample a drink based on the recipes of the ancient Aztecs. Learn about history of chocolate in Europe. And of course, do not miss your chance to try hot chocolate by recipe of renowned French philosopher Diderot.
Step back in time admiring packages and wraps of chocolate bars and sweets made in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union and sample two timeless tastes of Old Russia. Uncover the secrets of production of the world known sweets like “Alenka”, “Belochka” and “Gulliver” and marvel at the chocolatier creating unique handmade candy in front of your eyes. Conclude your sweet excursion with a chocolate-making workshop. Finish the tour at the Chocolate Museum.
