HSE University at Pokrovka (Pokrovsky Bulvar) is one of the most modern university complexes in Moscow and Russia, where three colossal atriums unite various historic buildings into a single space. It’s a complex for research, conferences, studies, and student life, and it is open to the city.
Take a 3D tour of the new building
13 buildings, integrated into a single complex for up to 3,500 students
Atrium area of 2000 m2
Library open 24/7
Cultural centre with a capacity of up to 900 people
Two large conference rooms
Three student cafes and a large cafeteria
Accessible environment, comfortable conditions for visually and hearing impaired people
Comfortable workplaces for staff
Navigator App for HSE University on Pokrovka
Map of the Building
Move your cursor over different buildings to view what facilities are or will be located there.
History of Pokrovka
Wealthy heirs, secret society members, future engineers, and military servicemen – these are the figures that comprise the centuries-long history of the buildings of HSE University’s new Pokrovka complex.
News
From 'Chistye Prudy' metro station
Exit 1
Distance: 1.5 km
Let’s start with the easiest option: you can walk to the building
Time: 18 minutes
Walk down the boulevard past one of the ponds of Chistye Prudy, then cross Pokrovka. Walk past Khokhlovskaya Ploshchad and go along Pokrovsky Bulvar. The HSE building is on the left.
By tram
Time: 12 minutes
The tram stop for Vorontsovo Pole is right at the metro exit: you can choose any of the three tram routes:
Tram 39 goes to Universitet metro station
Tram А goes to Oktyabrskaya metro station
Tram 3 goes to Chertanovskaya metro station. Bus 3Н follows the same route.
By bicycle
Time: 5 minutes
There are bike paths on both sides of the Boulevard Ring. ‘Velobike’ rental is located near the metro station: take a bike and ride down the boulevard. You can return the bike at one of the three rental points on Pokrovsky Boulevard: the most convenient one is near Vorontsovo Pole Street.
Please, remember about the rules of the road and be sure to check the bike before you rent it.
From Kitay-Gorod metro station
Exit 8
Distance: 960 m
On foot
Time: 12 minutes
The main rule of survival in Kitay-Gorod is to find the right way out. Please note that you need exit 8.
After the underground passage, turn right: you need to walk to Solyanka, and then turn right again. Keep on walking along the road. Before the Church of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary in Kulishki, next to the Monument to Victims of the Terrorist Attack in Beslan, you need to turn onto Podkolokolny Pereulok. Walk along the lane to the famous Khitrovskaya Ploshchad, then to the house with sculptures — the former dormitory of the Military Academy — and to Vorontsovo Pole Street. The HSE building is on the left.
By bicycle
Time: 5 minutes
A bike rental is located opposite exit 10. You can return the bike at the point near Pokrovsky Boulevard. The way to HSE building goes up a hill, so be sure to take your energy levels into consideration.
From Kurskaya metro station
Exit 6
Distance: 920 m
On foot
Time: 11 minutes
If it’s hard for you to orient yourself in Kurskaya station, take the exit to Chkalovskaya metro station: the exit from the ring line and the light green one (i.e., Chkalovskaya’s) have the same number. After leaving the metro, cross the street: use the underground passage to Vorontsovo Pole. You need to go up the road and then walk along the street. The HSE building is on the right.
From Novokuznetskaya metro station
Exit 1
Distance: 1.9 km
By tram
Time: 13 minutes
The tram stop for Novokuznetskaya metro station is on the left to the exit. You need the tram that goes in the direction of Chistye Prudy. Choose any tram route: 39, A or 3 (Bus 3Н follows the last route). You need to go to the stop Vorontsovo Pole. Get off the tram and cross the road: the HSE building will be in front of you.
If you fancy a walk
Time: 23 minutes
This route is not the fastest, but definitely the most beautiful. Exit Novokuznetskaya metro station and turn left. Walk straight ahead to Bolshoy Ustinsky Bridge. Go to the bridge and admire Zaryadye Park with its white bridge, the Kremlin to the left and the beautiful Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building to the right.
Now take a left from the bridge to go around Ustyinsky Square. Cross Yauzskaya street and go to Yauzsky boulevard. After 5 minutes up the Boulevard you will see the HSE building.
By bicycle
Time: 9 minutes
The rental point is to the right of the metro. You can return the bike at the rental at Pokrovsky Bulvar. You’ll need to cross the bridge and go up a slight hill on the boulevard, so be prepared for a slight workout.
Cafés and restaurants
Nothing against HSE University cafeterias, but for the sake of variety:
Stumari Khinkali
A cozy Georgian café with ethnic cuisine and music. The menu offers khachapuri (cheese pies), chakhokhbili (chicken with herbs), matsoni (fermented milk product), wines and other delicacies. Second cup of coffee is free.
Average bill: 700 RUB; menu of the day from 350 RUB.
- Address: 4 Tessinsky Pereulok, Building 2
- Open 10:10 am – 11:30 pm
Red Brick café
A mansion reconstructed into a loft with hearty lunch specials and dinners. They broadcast sports games, too.
Average bill: 1,500 RUB
- Address: 10 Khokhlovsky Pereulok, Building 6
- Open 08:00 am – 11:00 pm
Microbe
A café that turns into a club at night. ‘We make our own pasta, roast our coffee onsite, and toil over our own bread’, the founders say. Three times a week, you can catch live jazz, rock, soul, funk, or indie bands here.
Average bill: 900 RUB; lunch specials start at 280 RUB; breakfasts start at 200 RUB.
- Address: 6/20 Pokrovsky Bulvar, Building 1
- Open noon – 5:00 am
Imagine Café
A nice café with affordable prices and hip concerts. You can catch performances by musicians from Russia, England, the US, and Europe.
Average bill: 700 RUB; lunch specials start at 350 RUB (with complimentary coffee).
- Address: 16/16 Pokrovka Ulitsa, Building 1
- Open 11:30 am – 5:00 am
Dom16
In addition to food, Dom16 offers exhibitions, wine tasting events, and parties. Guests can make the most of the veranda in spring and summer. Dom16 features European cuisine, including tartares, seviche, carpaccio, crab pastries, and pasta dishes.
Average bill: 1500 RUB
- Address: 16/18 Pokrovsky Bulvar, Building 4–4a
- Open 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
Staraya Gruziya (Old Georgia)
Staraya Gruziya is a Georgian restaurant located in one of Moscow’s oldest districts, next to Pokrovsky and Yauzsky boulevards.
Average bill: 1500 RUB
- Address: 16/2 Podkolokolny Pereulok, Building 1
- Open 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Around Pokrovka
Pokrovka is located in the historical centre of Moscow. The map shows places where you can go for a walk after school or work.
Study areas
If you want a change of scenery, all meeting rooms are occupied, or you need to have a top-secret conversation:
Dostoevsky Library
An all-time favourite among HSE students. A contemporary space hosting lectures on literature and art, movie screenings, and meet-the-artist sessions. The place has high-speed internet and cozy soft chairs and can be used as a free co-working area.
- Address: 23 Chistoprudny Bulvar, Building 1
- Open Tue-Sat, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Impact Hub Moscow
An international educational centre for beginning social entrepreneurs and a venue for working and events. The loft has all you need: a spacious hall, a coffee area, and a meeting room. Its bookshelves offer many useful books on marketing, technology, public speaking, etc.
- Price: 500 RUB (includes one workday in the group work (‘coworking’) area and two hours in the meeting room).
- Address: 7-9 Khokhlovsky Pereulok, Building 2, Entrance 3
- Open Mon-Fri, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Gnezdo Time Café
The price includes unlimited tea, coffee, and cookies, as well as milk, honey, spices, syrups, jam, and toast.
- Price: 3.49 RUB/min
- Address: 8 Lyalin Pereulok, Building 2
- Open 24h
Gardens and parks
If you need to get some air, get your thoughts together, and spend some time with nature:
Chistiye Prudy
In the summer, this place is great for feeding the swans and looking at the pond, and in the winter, you can ice-skate here (the rink is two times cheaper than the one at Gorky Park). Also nearby is the last stop of tram No. 39, one of the city’s most interesting tram routes.
If your Russian is good enough, try downloading the audio guide ‘Moscow’s Oldest Tram Lines’ by IZI Travel. Part of this route is along Pokrovsky Bulvar. You can start on Chistiye Prudy, make several changes and get to Belorusskaya, getting to know the history of Moscow trams and the life behind it.
- Address: Chistoprudny Bulvar
Milyutinsky Garden
A quiet place where writer Anton Chekhov, as well as artists Konstantin Korovin and Valentin Serov used to spend their leisure time. There is also a historic lodge that belonged to philanthropist Savva Morozov, where the artist Isaak Levitan spent the last days of his life.
- Address: 10 Pokrovsky Bulvar
Morozovsky Garden
A small cozy garden with beautiful chestnut trees.
- Address: 1 Bolshoy Tryokhsvyatitelsky Pereulok
Khitrovka
One of Moscow’s most interesting historical districts, formerly notorious among Muscovites, yet also shrouded in romance. This place was a favourite among thieves and artists, escaped convicts and writers. This district features a Fedor Osterman mansion, the famous Flat-Iron house, St. Peter’s and Paul’s Cathedral, Church of All Saints na Kulichkakh, and the nearby Beslan Victims Memorial.
This free IZI Travel audio guide (in Russian) can help you visit all of Khitrovka’s points of interest.
- Address: Khitrovskaya Ploshchad
Museums, galleries and other curiosities
If you are looking for ideas for where to go after class or work:
Museum of Unique Dolls
The collection includes over 6,000 antique dolls, crafted before the beginning of the 20th century. The exposition features ‘old young ladies’ from France, Germany, England, the Netherlands, and Japan. You can see what our grandmas played with, and learn a lot about the history of costume and everyday life. The museum collaborates with students and researchers in the field of history of culture and costume, as well as doll therapy.
- Address: 13 Pokrovsky Bulvar, Building 2
- Open 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre
If you are crazy about India and everything related to this wonderful country, check out this Indian Embassy cultural centre. It hosts regular concerts of folklore dance and music, Indian culture days, workshops, as well as Hindi and yoga courses.
- Address: 9 Vorontsovo Pole, Building 2
- Temporarily closed