Haute cuisine is a French expression that literally translates as “high cooking”, and it refers to the fancy food of “high level” establishments, gourmet restaurants and luxury hotels. In this case we are not talking about the hight of the chef’s creations, but rather about the physical height at which the restaurant is situated.
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As they mention in their own website, with a refreshing bit of honesty “The Sixty restaurant is unique primarily because of its location” and I fully concur with this analysys. The restaurant is situated at the 60th (hence the name), but also 62nd floor of the Federation Tower skyscraper in Moscow’s in Moscow City. By the way, Moscow City is actually a neighborhood (an ultra-modern one) in Moscow, not just a quirky name by which to call the Russian capital!
Sixty operates both as a restaurant and as a cafè. That is one of the greatest features of the place and a truly fantastic opportunity not to miss if you want to enjoy one of Moscow’s most spectacular views on a budget! You can actually go to this establishment pretty much at any time during opening hours and, provided it is not already full, you can then just enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea, if you are feeling very Russian or very British) and no one will even raise an eyebrow because you are not raking up a substancial bill. I honestly don’t remember the exact price but at around 120-150 Rubles (2,5 Euros, give or take) a coffee with THIS view is actually cheaper than in most fancier places at ground level in Moscow!
If you are feeling fancy you can even splurge on either a sherbet or an ice-cream. They both go for 200 Rubles (less than 3 Euros, about 3,25 USD). From their website you can see the full restaurant and wine menus (minus the coffees, for some reason). They do offer a spectacular selection of wines and spirits (especially wiskies!) from around the world, but the prices do start to get steep.
The best time to visit, I believe, it is just before sunset, so you can enjoy the sky turning orange, then pink and the the famed blue hour (or twilight), that is one of the best moments in the day when to take pictures. During winter sunset happens pretty much in the middle of the afternoon, a great time to stop for a coffee, with the added benefit that the restaurant is usually not crowded at all and you are sure to get both a great table and the maximun freedom to walk around the room and take pictures (or just enjoy the fantastic view!) from the the windows in all directions. There are actually two large rooms, separated from an atrium and in one of those in the summer months (weather permitting) all the windows open (at waist level) offering you an unobstructed view of the city below without any reflection in the glass panels, and a feeling much akin to that of actually flying over Moscow!
The decor is modern and a bit extravagant. If feels “luxurious”, but definitely not stuffy. I would say that it gets really really close to being flamboyant, but pulls it off. I personally really like the arabesque chandeliers of one of the two main rooms, which I feel contribute to the “flying carpet effect”. Dress code is casual most of the times. Only on week-end nights they ask you to be a bit more formal, or at least smart casual and jeans are not welcome. There is a plethora of waiters and staff (something I’ve noticed almost everywhere in Russia. No doubt it is connected to a much lower labour cost, also thanks to a very low taxation). All waiters wear a white t-shirt and a tie, but no jacket (some have a black apron, a nice touch).
Would you like to discover the best places where to eat, see the sight, shop and learn about Russian culture with an English (and Italian, Spanish, French) speaking guide (me)? If so, do get in touch and we’ll organize a tailor-made unforgettable experience for you to enjoy Moscow and/or any other Russian City!
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