BR> I often get asked advice by friends and colleagues on best places to see in Moscow. Here are some suggestions: MUSIC AND DANCE Moscow has many theatres and concert halls: Moscow State Conservatory The Moscow State Conservatory, named after Piotr Tchaikovsky, and frequently referred to as the "Tchaikovsky Conservatory", was founded on September 1, 1866, by Nikolay Rubinstein. It is one of the finest schools of music in the world and the small concert hall of the conservatory is my favourite place in the world for piano concerts. http://www.mosconsv.ru/english.phtml Bolshoi Theatre This theatre doesn't need introduction.... http://www.bolshoi.ru/ru/ CIRCUS Nikulin State Moscow Classical Circus As a child I loved going to the circus. Moscow circus (and this one in particular) have always been on the main Moscow attractions list. http://www.operaandballet.com/?theatre=240&page=catalog MUSEUMS Museum Guide This is a good place to check out various museums in Moscow http://www.city-guide.spb.ru/moscow/museums-e.htm The Kremlin This one is the obvious place to recommend, and I am very much recommending it http://www.kreml.ru/ New Tretyakov Gallery This gallery is one of the best modern art galleries in the world featuring the work by Chagall, Kandinsky, Malevich, Tatlin and other 20th-century artists. Outside the gallery there is a quirky sculpture park where sculptures of soviet leaders abandoned just after perestroika times have found new home. http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/ru/museum/branch/gtg_krimskiy_val Bulgakov house For those of you who have read Master and Margarita and other works by this wonderful writer, you might find it interesting to visit this museum. http://www.visitorline.com/address/20143 http://www.dombulgakova.ru Mayakovsky museum Whether you've ever heard of this Russian poet before or not, strongly recommend visiting this museum. It's a weird and wonderful place that will give you a glimpse of post revolutionary Russia http://www.museum.ru/majakovskiy/Expos1e.htm Maxim Gorky Literary Museum The museum, located in a building constructed by the architect D. Zhilyardi, is one of the best specimens of Russian art nouveau. The staircase inside the building is featured in many books about art nouveau, it really is absolutely stunning http://www.city-guide.spb.ru/moscow/museums-e.htm PARKS Gorkiy Park Another famous venue in Moscow. Those of you who like Soviet architecture would like the main entrance of the park. VDNKh Conceived as a cross between World Fair and Theme Park, with monuments to Soviet science, fountains, amusement-park rides and national pavilions for all the republics of the USSR, this place is really worth a visit. You wouldn't see anything like it anywhere else in the world. If you had little time in Moscow I would recommend seeing the Kremlin and VDNKh MOSCOW METRO Moscow metro is well known for the ornate design of many of its stations; a few stations are stunning examples of soviet art. My favourite stations are: Novoslobodskaya, Plostchad Revolyutzii, Kiyevskaya, Mayakovskaya, Belorusskaya, amongst other stations http://engl.mosmetro.ru RESTAURANTS Moscow has a great variety of restaurants these days; long gone are the days when there were only very few places to eat and the service was appalling. This is a really link with lots of good restaurants and bars in Moscow: http://moscowconcierge.ru/guide_e.html#razdel_1 Here are some of my favourite places too. Yum!! GORKI The restaurant acquired the "Red" party ideology aura but capitalistic luxury outshines all thinkable surviving leftovers of the Soviet era. Heavy velvet curtains, crystal, elegant moldings, heavy columns, intriguing menu and impressive wine list. Address: 3 1-ya Tverskaya-Yamskaya ul., Metro station: Mayakovskaya Tel 7 495 251 5626/775 2456 PUSHKIN Russian cuisine is slightly influenced by French. Centrally located and very much representing the best traditions of Russian dining (as it was in the XIX century) Address: 26a Tverskoy bulvar, Metro station: Pushkinskaya Tel +7 495 739 0033/629 94 11 CENTRAL HOUSE OF WRITERS 1889 Art Nouveau style, aristocratic aura, Soviet invasion and modern reality. Each room in the restaurant has its own unique atmosphere and design. The founder of the restaurant appreciates Russian-French balance in original recipes Address: 50 Povarskaya ul., Metro station: Barrikadnaya Tel +7 495 291 1515 SHINOK Expensive Ukrainian hut with real horses, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. The animals reside in a small yard located in the center of the restaurant (!). Address:, 2 Ulitsa 1905 goda, Metro station: Ulitsa 1905 goda Tel 7 495 255 0204/255 0888 UZBEKISTAN AND WHITE SUN OF A DESERT The interior idea is borrowed from the Soviet movie with the same name and decorations looks like the film setting. In the summertime peacocks wander around the green terrace. It is a known place for the best shashliks in the city. Address: 29/14 Neglinnaya ul., Metro station: Tsvetnoy bulvar Tel. 7 495 923 0585/924 6053 VOGUE CAFE Utterly fashionable place, good food too. Address: 7/9 Kuznetskiy Most, Metro station: Kuznetskiy Most Tel 7 495 623 1701 HOTELS This is a good link with a few hotels Here are some of my suggestions. Note that some hotels in this selections are still very much what I call "Soviet experience" type of hotel, so do not expect to see sophisticated service. But they are historical buildings and historical hotels, quirky, probably wouldn't be around for too long as they sadly will no doubt be replaced with something more contemporary and user friendly. Pekin Hotel ( "Soviet experience" type of hotel) Fantastic location, beautiful building, formerly known as a KGB hotel http://www.besthotelsrussia.com/hotel_Peking/moscow_hotels.html National Hotel Right next to the Kremlin, the beautiful National hotel to me is the symbol of what Russia used to be like before the Revolution www.besthotelsrussia.com/hotel_Le-Royal-Meridien-National/moscow_hotels.html Savoy hotel Great location http://www.besthotelsrussia.com/hotel_Savoy/moscow_hotels.html Ukraine hotel ( "Soviet experience" type of hotel) This hotel is one of the big "sisters" - beautiful towers that were built in 1950s ; location is good, just a short walk away from New Arbat and Old Arbat streets which are one of main attractions http://www.hotelukraina..ru/eng/comm.html Swisshotel Krasnye Holmy Not the best location (although still central) but it's one of the favourite hotels of business people visiting Moscow; it's one of the tallest buildings in the city, very modern and comfortable, has got great roof top bar and restaurant (although overpriced) with stunning views, so worth a visit for a drink pre or après an evening meal! http://www.besthotelsrussia.com/hotel_Swissotel-Krasnye-Holmy/moscow_hotels.html Cosmos hotel ( "Soviet experience" type of hotel) Perhaps not the best location but an interesting building for those who like 70s style. The name gives away the main theme of the building. http://www.besthotelsrussia.com/hotel_Cosmos/moscow_hotels.html
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