(Updated Mar 02 2008)

Its not easy to define the top 10 bars and there will be a lot of changes here. I am evaluating the bars by atmosphere, audience, drink prices and of course girls…

1. Dennis Simachev’s Bar
This is the new weekday hangout of Moscow’s rich and famous, although the designer Dennis Simachev is trying to associate himself with subcultures and especially hip hop. The bar is very small and that’s why there its always packed and hard to get into (apart from a strict face control). I like the wild mix of the interior with some Manga elements and other cool stuff, like a jet seat. Music is House to Funk to Hip Hop and the partly (very) gayish crowd is friendly. Good (creative) mix of people and not the typical posh Russian fat VIP with his bunnies. Again, best weekday hangout. Come early for dinner and stay for the party. You’ll probably look at your watch (which shows a few minutes before midnight), check the few people at the bar and call me an idiot. Wait a little longer. At 12:30 the place is full, alive and rocking until early morning.

2. Suzy Wong
Probably the best lounge in town. In my opinion the best downbeat music in town. Large menu of excellently mixed cocktails for fair prices. Food is so and so and the portions too small. Crowd very mixed, from creative to investment banker. Always a nice place to start the party night or to meet friends and guests for a chat.

Note: You better go check this one soon. Its supposed to be closed. The complete block will be torn down (what a pitty!!!) and replaced by a business center. This is what I hate about Moscow. Suzy Wongs staff seem to know that as well. They used to have an outstanding service and were nice, but in my last visits they showed to have lost a lot of this. They also seemed to become Expat haters, including the manager of the place. What a pitty. If you have to go, go with grace and leave a good impression and not a foul taste.

3. GQ Bar
Probably Moscow’s most trendy bar at the time being. Hangout of the rich. Not my cup of tea, but its worth seeing it, at least for the people watch.

4. Bar Seven
This small bar/club is not easy to find. It seems to be the favorite hangout of the investment-banker types, which pulls a lot of nice girls into the bar. Expensive drinks and VERY shitty music.

5. Bar 30/7 (CLOSED!!!) I am looking for a replacement for this slot. Any suggestions?
This used to be Moscow’s best bar for a long time and it still has some of its glamour, even though it’s now mainly occupied by Expats, Russian middle class and expensive whores. But, don’t mix the whore with the normal girls, you might as well find some Russian middle class girl there. Excellent drinks, moderate face control. Slightly expensive.

6. Tundra (Too Drunk To Fuck) (temp closed… they are working on re-opening it)
Tundra was empty in the first months, but its starting to compete with the nearby Bar 30/7. Although the interior of Tundra is nicer, the crowd can still not make up to 30/7. Tundra’s face control is too strict for a place like that. The drinks are expensive, but strong and very well worth the money. At the end you might end up Too Drunk To Fuck, which is the real name of this bar.

7. The Real McCoy
RMC is a classic among Moscow’s bars. Its one of the few places where you can go alone and easily make friends in a heartbeat. They have excellent food for OK prices. Live music nights and Thu-Sat the place is packed and sweaty after midnight. Most amazingly there are plenty of easy going girls, but you won’t find a single whore there. The crowd is a mix of (mostly) Expats and young Russians. Real Mc Coy is famous for its huge Mojitos and Long Island Ice Teas, as well as the uni-sex toilet, where you can often see boys and girls sharing a cabin together. I wonder what they do there?

8. Swissotel City Space Bar & Lounge
Not the cheapest bar in town and if you make as much $ as I make, don’t even think about ordering food. Still, this bar has the best view and atmosphere from all above Moscow places. It can easily compete (and win) with Red Bar, Sky Lounge, Sky Bar and the alike. Check this place for a sunset cocktail with your date. Its really nice.

9. Tema
The famous Exile magazine compares this place to what Boarhouse used to be, before it was invaded by hundreds of hobby prostitutes. I would compare it to Real Mc Coy and its a good alternative, if you are at Propaganda, Krisis or elsewhere around the corner. Nice people, easy to make new friends and easy to get in touch with local, mostly sub-urban, girls.

10. Kitaisky Lyotchik
“Chinese Pilot” is a student and alternative people hangout. They have good food and drinks for a very good price. Its easy to make friends. If you are a foreigner, you may be forced to drink a a few vodkas with the people from your neighbor table. Very often they have live concerts (rock, ska, punk, jazz). In the summer they have a small, but cozy backyard, where you can sit outside. Not posh, not stylish, just friendly and cozy.

Want to know about the Moscow Top 10 Clubs?
http://www.moscow-blog.com/moscow-top-10-clubs/

So, here are some inside views of Moscows best clubs and bars: