ACCENTI

Accents' is what the name of this restaurant means, referring the distinctiveness of its sophisticated menu of new Italian cooking. The neoclassical menu is really faultless. Everything is measured and free of fanaticism. After a meat carpaccio move onto a soup of prawns and dried tomatoes, and we highly recommend the lasagne with cocoa and forest fruits for dessert. The menu is matched by the elegant interior of the three separate halls, with echoes of classical and ultra-modern Italy. Accenti's summer terrace, situated in a quiet embassy lane, is rightly considered one of the best in town.

Cuisine: Italian
Average bill: 3
Open hours: 12.00-23.00
Address: Kropotkinsky Per. 7
Metro: Park Kultury
Phone: (499) 246-1515
WWW: www.accenti.ru

BeefBar

As you can deduce from the menu, this is a meat restaurant. The Moscow Beef Bar is a joint project of Kirill Gusev's Restaurant Syndicate and the international Beef Bar group that has branches in Luxemburg, Nice and Monaco. The kitchen of the capital's branch is run by Italian Carlo Greku who not only fries meat to perfection but can also brilliantly cook other European dishes. The summer terrrace has a great view of the Moscow river.

Cuisine: Meat
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Preschistenskaya nab. 13, bldg. 1
Metro: Kropotkinskaya, Park Kultury
Phone: (495) 988-9308
WWW: www.beefbar.com

Bolshoi Restoran

A restaurant for special occasions from Arkady Novikov. A singularly luxurious and very expensive establishment. Exclusive classic interior, furniture from Ralph Lauren, original paintings on the walls, a grand piano that sounds in the evenings... all this should give you an idea. The menu from Frenchman Camelle Benamar is a composition on the theme of Russian, French and Italian cooking.

Cuisine: European
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Petrovka Ul. 3/6, bldg. 2
Metro: Kutnetsky Most, Okhotny Ryad
Phone: (495) 789-8652
WWW: www.novikovgroup.ru

Cafe Pushkin

Flagship restaurant of the famous Andrei Dellos and one of Moscow's cult restaurants, where you can feel the atmosphere of imperial Russia of the 19th century and try legendary dishes. The 'Chemist' hall on the first floor is a bit less expensive: in the 'Library' on the second and third floors a more expensive menu is in operation. There is also the 'Cellar' wine hall and a summer terrace on the roof. Refined aristrocratic setting, stunningly special treats on the menu, amazingly gallant service - cafe Pushkin will leave a lasting impression on you!

Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 4
Open hours: Chemist' - 24-h, 'Biblioteka' - 12.00-23.45
Address: Tverskoi Bulvar 26a
Metro: Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: (495) 739-0033
WWW: www.cafe-pushkin.ru

Carre Blanc

The French restaurant Carre Blanc, or White Square, combines culinary art with fine art, in that a copy of the Malevich work of the same name adorns the elegant interior of this spacious 19th century manor. The restaurant comprises a main hall with traditional high-class French cuisine, a special hall for banquets, and also a more budget-friendly bistro with traditional French dishes. The restaurant prides itself not only on its uncompromising quality but also impeccable service; food is served on square white plates.

Cuisine: French
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Seleznevskaya ul. 19/2
Metro: Novoslobodskaya
Phone: (495) 258-4403
WWW: www.carreblanc.ru

Chaika

This restaurant occupies the whole of a 2-storey manor and serves souped-up molecular dishes and cocktails. Aubergine pate with cheese foam, green asparagus soup with blue-cheese ice cream, pork brisket with buckwheat cream - every entry on the menu is an unusually successful artistic experiment. Cocktails are no less surprising but the breakfast menu is entirely traditional with its porridge and syrniki.

Cuisine: Molecular
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 10.00 - 24.00
Address: Marksistskaya ul. 7
Metro: Marksistskaya, Taganskaya
Phone: (495) 911-79-89/90
WWW: www.chaika-cafe.ru

Denis Simach¸v Bar

The bar named by designer Denis Simachev after himself was created as a place to dance and drink, and succeeds in this. Add to this sophisticated design a menu that has everyhting, cool DJs, beautiful people, and you understand why this place is so popular.

Cuisine: Bars
Average bill: 3
Open hours: 24 hr.
Address: Stoleshnikov Per. 12, bldg. 2
Metro: Okhotny Ryad
Phone: (495) 629 80 85
WWW: www.denissimachev.ru

El Gaucho

El Gaucho is a little corner of far-flung Argentina in Moscow. The branch at Paveletskaya has flamboyant decor, lively music and waiters in national costume, creating a distinctive atmosphere of the life off the beaten track of Argentine gaucho cowboys. The interior on Krasniye Voroty is more restrained and the one at Mayakovskaya is sophisticated and classical, but the main player in all branches is the meat. Esconced in one of the halls you can fill up on traditional dishes: Angus and Churasco steak, Caballero and Asado ribs, and enjoy the best Argentine wines.

Cuisine: Meat
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Sadovaya-Triumphalnaya ul. 4
Metro: Mayakovskaya
Phone: (495) 699-7974
WWW: www.elgaucho.ru

El Parador

Restaurant with a rather severe 'masculine' interior and excellently-prepared Spanish dishes. Excellent steaks are cooked on a brazier. Splendid Spanish wine can be ordered by the glass.

Cuisine: Spanish
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Tverskaya Ul. 12/2 (entrance on Kozytsky Per.)
Metro: Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: (495) 629-3671
WWW: www.Elparador.ru  

Godunov

A unique restaurant located in the former refectory of Zaikonospassky monastery, founded at the start of the 17th century. Yellow, red and green halls are done like Boyar chambers with skilful paintings on the walls and arched ceilings. The menu is compiled of time-honoured Russian dishes, for which the recipes were collected from ancient culinary books. Some entries had to be modified since their ingredients simply don't exist any more. In the evening there are performances from a Russian ensemble and Romany.

Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Teatralnaya Ploshchad 5/1
Metro: Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii
Phone: (495) 698-4490/80
WWW: www.godunov.net

In the dark

Created by an eye doctor as a franchise of the famous restaurant Dans Le Noir. Guests take part in an experiment: to eat in total darkness. Visitors are led to a hall where not even the tiniest ray of light penetrates (they ask you to leave telephones and watches in the safe by the door) and offered several varieties of set menu dinners, which are served by blind waiters. Guests are not told what they ate until they are led back into the light. Visiting this restaurant is a unique experience.

Cuisine: European
Average bill: 3
Open hours: Mon-Fri 18.00-24.00, Sat-Sun 15.00-24.00
Address: Oktyabrskaya ul. 2/4
Metro: Novoslobodskaya, Ploshchad Suvorova
Phone: (495) 688-3396
WWW: www.v-temnote.ru

Kapri

Go on a culinary journey round Italy with Kapri, a classic long-lived upmarket restaurant. The interior is quality and dear with a grand piano, Limoges china, silver service, landscape paintings of the island of Kapri and an abundance of fresh flowers. Kapri is a restaurant for gourmands with traditional ideas about taste and good food.

Cuisine: Italian
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Academica Sakharova Prospect 7
Metro: Turgenevskaya
Phone: (495) 607-5253
WWW: www.restokapri.ru

La Maree

Fish-lovers will undoubtedly love and come to value the fish boutique ‘La Maree’ on the corner of Strasnoi Bulvar and Petrovka. The variety of the fish menu defies belief: about 100 sorts of fish and seafood, and that is not counting the many other Mediterranean delicacies, which is an absolute record among the capital’s fish restaurants. It is a joyous sight to behold this collection of such top quality and sophisticated products. As well as classic cooking methods – grilled, steamed and baked in sea salt – at La Maree you can also try dishes cooked in the Spanish manner, ‡ la plancha, that does not lose any nutrition value or taste. Guests of the restaurant can also compose their own dish of whatever seafood they choose. As the main supplier of fish and seafood to Moscow restaurants, La Maree imports fresh fish of excellent quality from every continent, every day.

Cuisine: Fish
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Petrovka ul. 28
Metro: Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: (495) 694-0930
WWW: www.lamaree.ru

Michaels

Fashionable place with signature Italian and European cooking. Peaceful interior that is conducive to relaxation; tasty, good quality food; and the open kitchen lets you observe the secrets of food preparation.

Cuisine: Italian
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00- 01.00, Fri-Sat 12.00-03.00
Address: Tverskoi Bulvar 7
Metro: Arbatskaya, Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya
Phone: (495) 690-3737, (495) 788-0600
WWW: www.michaels-restaurant.ru

Nespresso

The boutique-bar Nespresso on Petrovka is oriented at the most refined of coffee connoisseurs. You can try out a whole collection from the coffee brand Grand Cru, coffee machines, aromatic coffee, coffee cocktails and of course captivating coffee-based desserts. The 2-floored space of this boutique-bar is ideally suited for coffee-tasting with its cosy minimalism, cream coloured walls and dark brown furniture.

Cuisine: Coffeeshop
Average bill: 3
Open hours: 10.00-22.00, Fri-Sat 10.00-23.00
Address: Petrovka Ul. 15
Metro: Kuznetsky Most, Okhotny Ryad
Phone: (495) 641-2655/6
WWW: www.nespresso-bar.ru

Pivo-vodi

The interior of this establishment was left by its predecessor, Gradus Bar. The menu is solid and beer-heavy but there are gems such as home-made goat sausages. The beer range is not massive but is very exclusive: as well as the usual traditional beers there are some that are hard to get hold of in the capital such as Kulmbacher pils, Schneider Weisse and Litovel Premium pils.

Cuisine: Beer
Average bill: 2
Open hours: 12.00-24.00, Thur-Sun 12.00-06.00
Address: Sretenka ul. 26, bldg. 1
Metro: Sukharevskaya
Phone: (495) 607-1491
WWW: www.pivovodi.com

Pushkin Confectioners

This is not really a coffee shop, but if you want to gladden your soul with good coffee and dreamy desserts then this is the place. The cakeshop attached the legendary cafe Pushkin is truly enchanting: the interior is unusually romantic and the dessert cabinets will really drive you mad; you want to taste everything!

Cuisine: Coffeeshop
Average bill: 2
Open hours: 11.00-24.00
Address: Tverskoi Bulvar 26/5
Metro: Tverskaya, Pushkinskaya, Chekhovskaya
Phone: (495) 604-4280

Shafran

Lebanese restaurant not far from Patriarch’s Ponds with a minimalistic interior, large panoramic windows and interesting accessories. You can relax on cushioned divans while enjoying your mezze or kebabs; the food here is excellent!

Cuisine: Lebanese
Average bill: 3
Open hours: 10.00-24.00
Address: Spiridonievsky Per. 12, bldg. 9
Metro: Pushkinskaya
Phone: (495) 737-9500
WWW: www.restoran-shafran.ru  

Sky Lounge

The restaurant Sky Lounge is one of the best panoramic restaurants in Moscow, situated on the 22nd floor of the Academy of Science building on Vorobyovy Gory. From the terrace the arresting view of Moscow river, the university, the centre of town and Gorky park spreads out. Sky Lounge is an ideal place both for romantic dates and business negotiations. Original European, signature and Japanese cooking, an atmosphere of peace and calm, lounge music, comfortable bar and cocktail zones. Moscow’s best DJs play in the evenings. Sky Lounge is a paradise of visual and taste sensations. .

Cuisine: International
Average bill: 4
Open hours: Sun-Thur 13.00-24.00, Fri-Sat 13.00-1.00
Address: Leninsky Prospect 32A
Metro: Leninsky Prospect
Phone: (495) 938-5775, (495) 781-5775
WWW: www.skylounge.ru

STARLITE DINER

In the shady depths of the garden Aquarium on Mayakovskaya you find yourself in the original atmosphere of a 50s-60s American diner, where the juke box plays retro music and the walls are decorated with pictures from Time/Life and adverts from bygone years. Comfy red sofas, staff who are friendly and attentive in the American style and big portions of juicy burgers, steaks, favorite desserts and many other dishes ensure you will return again and again. Don’t forget that Starlite serves the best breakfasts in town and, most importantly, you can call in any time because the restaurant is open round the clock! The Starlite on Mayakovskaya is not the only one in Moscow – there are 3 other identical restaurants at metros Oktyabrskaya and Universitet and on Bolotnaya Ploshchad.

Cuisine: American
Average bill: 2
Open hours: 24 hr.
Address: Bolotnaya Ploshchad 16/5
Metro: Tretyakovskaya
Phone: 951-5838
WWW: ttp://www.starlite.ru

Syem Pyatnits

In this restaurant you find yourself in the atmosphere of a well-to-do house. The surroundings are as domestic as can be: beds with pyramids of pillows, books, gramophones, Singer sewing machines; old photographs on the walls and a mirror in a massive frame. Good cooking with a wide choice of dishes, long wine list and sophisticated desserts.

Cuisine: Russian
Average bill: 4
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Vorontsovskaya ul. 6
Metro: Taganskaya
Phone: (495) 912-1218
WWW: www.7friday.ru

Tapa de Comida

This is one of the first tapas bars to open in Moscow. The first floor is a real tapas bar and the second and third are excellent lunch halls. The menu is distinguished by its variety of light snacks and rich assortment of wine. A big screen shows sports matches; in summer the veranda is open.

Cuisine: Spanish
Average bill: 3
Open hours: 12.00-12.00
Address: Trubnaya Ul. 20/2, bldg. 3
Metro: Tsvetnoi Bulvar
Phone: (495) 608-2007
WWW: www.tapadecomida.ru

Uley catering

Uley catering is the first Russian company working in the premium segment. During its 8 years of existence it has managed to occupy a special place on the market of catering services. Its specialists have an exclusive approach to every order, realizing clients’ every wish, even the most unusual. Even the most refined gourmand will not remain indifferent to the rich assortment of dishes in various culinary traditions, the original animated stations and broad wine list.

Cuisine: Catering
Average bill: 4
Address: Olimpisky Prospect 5, bldg. 1
Metro: Prospect Mira
Phone: (495) 795-7575
WWW: http://www.uley.ru

Zolotoi Ostap

The light, natural and easy atmosphere in one of the most noticeable fish restaurants in Moscow is created not only by the tactile waiters but by the peaceful interior in maritime style. The impressive assortment of fresh fish, langoustines, lobsters and other gifts from the Mediterranean sea and the Pacific and Indian Oceans is refreshed 3-4 times a week.

Cuisine: Fish
Average bill: 3
Open hours: 12.00-24.00
Address: Shmitovsky proezd 3, bldg. 1
Metro: Ulitsa 1905 Goda
Phone: (499) 259-4795/2570
WWW: www.porto-maltese.ru