Belgrade's sweetest: Moskva Shnit

A guide for the best desserts in Belgrade

It doesn’t have to be a holiday so that you can guilt free treat yourself with something nice, decadent and extravagant. Why wouldn’t you chose crème de la crème, the best out of it all. I am talking about a dessert with a great reputation for many decades. The one that you will surely remember afterwards, not just by the taste, but also by the overall experience in the place where you will try it out. Continuing our journey of the Belgrade’s sweetest, a guide for the best desserts in the city, we are stopping at the very center, at the top of the Balkanska Street, where you will enjoy the taste of fruit and cream and all in an early 20th century atmosphere. I am talking about Moskva Shnit cake in the Hotel Moskva.

Moskva Shnit (Moscow Cake) is a fruit and crème cake made in the Belgrade Hotel Moskva. For the last 40 years, it is a recognizable and protected trademark of this hotel and Belgrade. Anica Dzepina, former pastry chef of the hotel came up with this authentic recipe back in 1974. The main ingredients of the cake remained the same – almonds, pineapple and cherries. Light, bright and elegant cake is decorated in such a way that you almost feel shameful to try it and ruin it. The huge popularity of this dessert does not decrease for the past four decades. Hotel Moskva offers more than 300 different cakes, but Moskva Shnit is by far the most ordered one. Many famous names have been publicly praising this cake and always ordering at least 20 kg of such. I kept that in mind when I was thinking which cake to get for my father’s birthday. Knowing that he is a huge sweets’ fan, just like I am, (genetics), I decided to take a walk to the Hotel Moskva and experience it for myself.

After walking up and reaching top of the Balkanska street, at the Terazije square, I stopped for a second to look around the wonderful view of the oldest hotel in Serbia. People were rushing around, with a smile on their face, hiding from the persistent sun. I opened the huge door of Hotel Moskva and entered the pastry café where decades ago people like Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Alfred Hitchcock, Woody Allen, Alain Delon, Frank Sinatra, Samuel Beckett and many, many other used to drink their coffee and eat all the delicacies offered. Light piano music, extremely tall windows, walls and red drapes, elegantly dressed people and calming atmosphere made me feel as if I had traveled several decades back.

Smiley staff patiently listened to all my special requests as to how to decorate the cake for my father’s birthday. After all, I knew that with Moskva Shnit I could not make a mistake. While waiting for my order to be ready, I was sort of enchanted and seduced to sit down for a coffee and a small piece of cake for myself. Well, it was not small at all, despite my kind request to the waiter. But, in the style of Edith Piaf, I regretted nothing. I must say that even coffee was redundant with the light, creamy and fruity texture of Moskva Shnit. For that time, it did not seem like a wait at all, as I have genuinely enjoyed the overall experience. The cake for my father was ready, which almost made me feel disappointed that I had to leave. But I knew I would be back and that he would get a great birthday treat. How about you? Would you like to try it out?

Balkanska Ulica

72 BALKANSKA, 11276, Jakovo, Belgrade county, Beograd, Serbia

Hotel Moskva

Terazije 20, Beograd, Serbia

Terazije Square Belgrade

Terazije 26, Beograd, Serbia