Place of birth:
Moscow, Russia

Occupation:
Hairstylist

I don’t leave the house without…
…Good intentions.

I’m currently reading:
‘To Have or to Be? The Nature of the Psyche’ by Erich Fromm.

Where do you currently reside in Moscow, and what’s your favourite discovery?

I’m fortunate enough to live and work in the heart of Moscow. The Borodinskiy Bridge over the Moskva River is my favourite discovery; I walk across it every day on my way to work and it’s a beautiful structure in itself. I love the contrast in architecture, it reveals the various historical periods and you can experience some fantastic views.

Talk us through your typical day.

I’m an early riser and prepare for the day with CrossFit activities to stay focused during my working hours. A healthy breakfast is also an inseparable part of my day and usually grab a bite at Café Pushkin (Boulevard Tverskoy, 26-А) or at Uilliam's (Malaya Bronnaya str. 20A). If I have time I usually stop-off at my favourite concept stores KM20 (Stoleshnikov lane 2/1,) or LEFORM (Povarskaya str. 35/28) to browse for new arrivals before arriving at my salon. I prefer to meet friends for dinner on most evenings and try to catch a late exhibition at GARAGE Museum (Krimsky Val 9, building 32).

Favourite places for lunch?

Scrocchiarella (Smolenskaya str.6) and Nude coffee & Wine Bar (Spiridonovka str. 24/1) in Moscow’s Arbat district. Bowl Room (Sytinskiy str.4) in the downtown district of Tverskaya is beautifully designed and serves casual food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Favourite places for an evening meal?

Moscow, like every metropolis, offers a bustling food scene, but there are only a handful of places that I frequently go to for great food and good vibes. Touché Wine and Kitchen (Rochdelskaya str. 15/22) is a cozy eatery with a great wine selection, Geraldine (Ostozhenka str. 27) serves-up French classics with a twist. Remy Kitchen Bakery (Malaya Bronnaya str.2) around the corner from Gorky’s House has an open kitchen and some of the best desserts in Moscow. Negodniki (Spiridonovka str. 26) is a quirky venue serving Mediterranean dishes.

Tell us your favourite green spaces in Moscow.

The Luzhniki Stadium park is vast and has all kinds of sports facilities. It’s also home to the National Stadium and overlooks the Moskva River. I also love Novodevichy Ponds Park.

If you could choose just one gallery or museum to visit, what would it be?

Hands down The Pushkin Museum!

Where do you go if you want to escape the city?

The best option for me has always been my family’s country house, which is 70 km away from the centre of Moscow. I love to spend my free time there, in natural surroundings, being cared for by my family.

Favourite city break?

Paris and Saint Petersburg. 

Favourite long-haul break?

The Maldives and Sri Lanka—mainly for surf spots. Surfing has become one of my greatest passions.

“Surfing has become one of my greatest passions”

What are your dream destinations?

The Caribbean Basin, South Africa, and Australia.  

If you had 24 hours in Moscow, what would you see?

Since Moscow is a very big city, I would start with a bus tour for the perfect introduction—it’s cheesy but sometimes there’s no better way! Next, I would visit the State Tretyakov Gallery to check out Russian masterpieces, the Pushkin Museum, and the Russian Impressionism Museum which is housed in the former Bolshevik chocolate factory.

For lunch, I would stop by Buro TSUM (Petrovka str. 2), a panoramic restaurant located on the top floor of the city’s signature department store—TsUM. In the evening, I’d attend the ballet ‘Spartacus’ on the historical stage of the Bolshoi Theatre and end the day with dinner at resto-club Pino (Malaya Bronnaya 21/13).

@igorkimyashov