I just had this idea to prepare a map with my favorite (or other interesting) spots in Moscow. Living here for more than 3 years, I have covered a lot of ground and seen a lot, but as everybody else I developed certain favorite spots in the city which I frequently visit. May it be my hairdresser, my bakery, a lounge where I take visitors, acafe for business meetings, clubs and and and. What better way, than showing these items on a map so you can see where they are. Unfortunatly its an unsorted list, so you’ll have to scroll from top to bottom and read the comments, but let me assure you that its worth it. I will also extend the list now and then, so check the bottom for updates. The next thing I will do, is linking the spots back to articles I have written about this location in the past on my blog, but I need some more time for that.

So, here is my very personal Moscow guide with my favorite spots. All on a map, easy to use… Click on the image below or on the link to get a zoomable interactive map.

http://maps.yandex.ru/moscow?upoint=d403302f4cf8

Stops:

1. Patriarchy Pond
The area of Bulgakovs Master and Magerita. Always nice for a walk around the pond. Also check the Restaurant “Magarita” just near the pond. Good Russian Food for low budget and often live music (Jazz, Chanson, Russian). In the Winter you can go Ice Skating here.

2. My Haidresser & Blahnik
Not cheap, but good. SALON CAMILLE ALBANE.
A few houses further towards the pond you’ll find Moscows Manolo Blahnik Store. If you are not into high heels go further towards the pond and you’ll find a nice, but expensive store with handmade (modern) goods.

3. Cafe Donna Clara
Always nice for good cakes and coffee, but also good for some people watch on a Sunday afternoon, when the rich russian guys come in with their “bunnys” for an afternoon coffee. The cafe is styled like an old Berlin coffee house.

4. Synagoge
We took a left turn from Malaya Bronnaya at the restaurant with all the expensive cars and walk towards Pushkinskaya. There are plenty of nice buildings and we pass a Synagoge on the right.

5. Cozy Italian Restaurant
I don’trecall the name, but go into the cellar and check out this little romantic Italian restaurant. The food is fantastic and REAL Italian.

6. Cotton
This tent is upscale, but always good for people watch and you can get some fine Usbek food and cocktails for an OK price (not cheap, but OK).

7. Pushkin Cafe
This is considered Moscows best Restaurant and you’ll find the Moscow Upperclass (and the want to be’s) along with the wealthy business men and tourists dining here. The food is excellent, but very expensive. You should call and reserve a table before.

8. Garage
Still Moscows wildest after hour place, but with a strange face control. You never know, if you can make it in, no matter, which clothes you have or how sober (or drunk) you are. Its only good after 3 AM and on weekends people party until lunch time. Most of the girls are hookers, many of which come over from the Nightflight nightclub after it closes at 3 AM. Try offering the doorman a 1000 Rbl bribe, if you can’t get in. Sunday and Wednesday they have a R&B night. It’s good after midnight and full of rich kids and girls.

9. Maki Cafe
Elegant, modern, not too expensive and a good crowd. Always good for a meeting or a date.

10. Prime
Care for a quick (good) coffee and a bite, a la Starbucks, but better? Check out Prime. Its also a meeting point for the students and always good for people watch. Especially in summer.

11. FAQ Cafe
Free Wi-Fi access, mostly good and cheap food. This is where the new middle class kids are meeting. Especially the creative ones. Always full at night. A good place to meet people (not girls). Sometimes they have events like exhibitions or fashion shows.

12. Silvers
Probably the best Irish Pub in town. Good food for a good price. English speaking waitresses and always a good place to meet people. Most of them are Expats, though.

13. Coffeemania
Probably the nicest terrasse in Moscow. Best in summer, when you can sit outside. Good food for a reasonable price. Nice for people watch. Long wait for a table outside. Get a number and drink a beer inside and wait. Its worth the wait. Open 24h. Also good to take friends from out of town.

14. Jaques
Little french place, which is always packed to the limit. Still a good place for some french food and good wine. Very nice people. Creative types and Expats. Reasonable prices

15. Tsum
Its the equivalent to Macys in the US, but a little more expensive. Still worth having a look, especially in January and the End of August, when many items are on sale. You may find a bargain. A friend from London just found some Marc Jacobs shoes for $150, which would have cost double in London and would have been sold out the minute they’s arrived in the stores. Russian people seem to have a different taste :-)

16. Hotel Metropol and Cabaret
As you can see in my video section, don’t even bother to try to get into the Cabaret club, if you are not dressed right. Otherwise its hard, but not impossible. The question is, if its worth it.

17. FSB (Ex KGB) Headquaters
Some say this is the real control center of Russia (not Kremlin).

18. 7 Lounge
A trendy and hip lounge, only busy during the weekends. Hard to get in, for the rich and famous. Too expensive.

19. Che Club
Cuban Style with very nice South American waiters. You are more than welcome, if you speak spanish. There is always some party, every day of the week, but the later the night the more drunken expats and ugly hookers, you’ll find. Good latin food, great drinks, good prices. Better for after work drinks.

20. Propaganda
Probaly one of the best known clubs in Moscow. Easy to get in, as long as you are not drunk, with underaged girls or you wear a suit (or look to fancy). Thursdays used to be the best night in the city. Still good music, but too many Turkish and Italians and cheap girls now. Sunday is gay night.

30. Tema
Restaurant and bar, which us a good alternative to the Real Mc Coy. Same crowd. Expats, Russian lower middle class, on the weekend bridge & tunnel (sub-urbs). Good to meet people and girls

31. Kitaisky Lyochik
Cool bar with old Russian plane parts. Cheap drinks and food. Hangout for students. Always good to meet people, but prepare to drink some vodkas with them. Live Music, from Rock, Punk to Ska.

32. Kult
Shitty food and bad watery cocktails. Still a good hangout. Excellent Music. Students and creative people. They show movies sometimes.
Cafe in the Pond
Uff, forgot the name. Its a summer location. Very good food and drinks. Super romantic and just right for a perfect summer date. But, pricey and you need to reserve a table.

33. Krisis Kanda
A new rock club owned by the Propaganda people. Good bar, nice people. Students and a few Expats. Live music and Rock. Sometimes Jazz.

34. 35mm Cinema
Here they show always good and mostly independent movies. Very often with the original soundtrack (french, english, german).

35. Real Mc Coy
Good for after work drinks and food. Very packed and in times hard to get in the weekends (THU-SAT). Sundays live music. Good place to meet people. Many Expats. Many girls, no hookers.

36. Schokoladniza
Nice Coffeehouse. Good for people watch after you visited the Zoo.

37. Usbek Restaurant
The owners of the restaurant in Park Kulturi opened another nice and cozy restaurant here. Good for people watch. Rich and upper middle class. Mostly Russian.

38. Correas
Very nice and cozy restaurant. Its very small and you need to reserve a table. Prices are OK, as long as you don’t get winde. Perfect for a dinner with a friend or a data. Probably one of the best Pizzas in town also for delivery and takeout.

39. Coffeemania
Check this Coffeemania on a weekday morning (10 AM). You’d be surprised how full it is. Great for people watch, while you zip your Cocos-Latte

40. Mix Club
Known as a place for druggies it is also the best after hour club, if you are looking for good music instead of picking up girls. Not easy to get in, but I never got refused, no matter how drunk I have been. Good after 3 AM. The place has occasional drug police raids and the (undercover) cops are checking people when they leave the club, so better have your papers clean and nothing illegal with you.

41. Suzy Wong & Keks
Although too much crowded these days, still 2 of the best Lounges in Moscow. Always good for going with friends or a data. Reserve a table before. Suzy Wong is more for the new Russian upper middle class. Keks is more creative.

42. Park Kulturi aka Gorki Park
Nice for a walk in the summer. You can also rent boats and float on the ponds. Better stay away from the rides. They are 2nd or 3rd hand imported from Germany and from the 80’s. In Winter time the paths are flooded and you can actually ice skate throughout the complete park. Don’t go on the weekend or holidays. You are in for a long wait to get in, to rent skates and get a locker for your stuff. Good on weekday nights and open until 10 PM. There is also a ice disco.

43. Usbek Restaurant in Park Kulturi
Good place for the summer. You can sit outside at the river. Smoke a waterpipe, drink some traditional tea and eat middle asian food.

44. Sushi
Here you can get good SuShi. The Service is plainly bad, but the food good and cheap. Check out the basement, where they show (recent DVD) movies, while you eat.

45. Riverside
This park was just renovated for the application of the Olympics and its very nice to walk along the riverside. You can also rollerblade or bike here.

46. Monastary and Pond
Its alwways nice to tak a walk around this pond on a Sunday afternoon. If you come before 7 PM, go up to the cemetary and check the monastry

more to come.

Thanks to Yandex.ru for the map.