MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Moscow is emerging as one of the world's most prominent capitals and it's no surprise. Considering the booming art, fashion, and food scenes, and the stun-you-to-silence architecture, Moscow is easily one of the most exciting cities to visit now. It's huge and there's lots to see, but there's definitely something for everyone - from cultural and historical sites, beautiful cathedrals, and Stalinist architecture, to modern art galleries, luxury shopping, and world-famous restaurants. Any preconceptions of this once tattered city will soon be forgotten.
TO STAY
METROPOL HOTEL: Just around the corner from Red Square (where you'll find the Kremlin) and Theatre Square (where you'll find the famous Bolshoi), Metropol Hotel is ideally situated between two of the city's most popular sites. The hotel is also within walking distance to some of the busiest and liveliest streets, including Tverskaya Street and Tverskoy Boulevard, as well as the GUM shopping mall. Unlike many of Moscow's luxury hotels, Metropol still carries undertones of Soviet influence (in the best possible way). Combined with its original Art Nouveau design and modest luxury, the hotel creates a unique experience of what 20th century Moscow probably looked and felt like (which is far more interesting than a characterless five-star hotel that could be easily placed in any other city). One of the hotel's best highlights is breakfast at the Metropol Hall; picture this: a marble fountain in the middle of a grand hall, a beautiful stained-glass ceiling, and live music on the harp or piano.
Moscow is huge, so choosing the best area for your plans/interests is quite important. For your first time in Moscow, staying somewhere near or around Red Square will make it a lot easier to explore and become familiar with the city. You'll be in the centre of action and within walking distance to most of the places you'll want to see.
PLACES TO VISIT
RED SQUARE: This is the best place to start on your first visit to Moscow. Essentially a historic hub of some of the city's most important sites: the Kremlin (closed Thursdays), Lenin's Mausoleum (open only Tuesdays to Thursdays & Saturdays from 10 am - 1 pm), and the iconic Saint Basil Cathedral (open daily). Visiting all three is easily a half or full day's worth of sightseeing, depending on the crowds.
GUM: Whether or not you actually want to shop, Russia's biggest department store and one of Europe's most impressive shopping centres is unmissable. Three floors lined with designer boutiques as well as restaurants and cafés, GUM will easily entertain you for a few hours. Look out for the gorgeous food hall downstairs, which is a gourmet world of its own. If you're looking for culinary souvenirs to take home, this is the best place for it.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL: If you visit only one cathedral in Moscow, this should be it. Set along the Moskva River and within walking distance from the Kremlin, it's hard to miss even from a distance. With its all-white exterior and grand, golden domes, this Orthodox cathedral beautifully juts out from the city's landscape. The interior is totally enchanting and perhaps even more wonderful than Saint Basil's.
THE SEVEN SISTERS: This is a group of sky-scrapers designed in the famous Stalinist style of architecture and spread across Moscow, jutting out from the cityscape like seven giant sisters. The buildings are easy to discern from the rest, characterised by their rigid and symmetrical compositions and Brutalist concrete facades. Just strolling around the city you'll easily spot a few of them. The Moscow State University, Hotel Ukraina (now the Radisson Blu), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are worth seeking out.
SPARROW HILLS: Moscow is huge, and exploring it on foot is pretty exhausting. Which is why Sparrow Hills is a great shortcut to the entire city without having to walk for miles and miles. On the right bank of Moskva River where the Moscow State University stands, it's the highest observation deck with a sweeping panorama of the city - also a great place to point out the Seven Sisters.
METRO STATIONS: There's no doubt you've heard of Moscow's renowned metro stations; and if you haven't, you should know that they're amongst the most beautiful stations in the world. So much that they've become tourist attractions as much as they are public transport. Not all metro stations are special, but those that are all have unique designs - from grand chandeliers to stained glass to intricate ceilings. Stalin once imagined them to be the "People's Palaces". Check out the full list of stations here, but the most notable 3 are: Komsomolskaya Central Line (#1 on the list), Novoslobodskaya, and Teatralnaya. Avoid peak hours because it gets really busy down there.
PUSHKIN FINE ARTS MUSEUM: As the largest European art museum in Moscow, this is your go-to for classic masterpieces. There are four different galleries to visit, but perhaps the most interesting is the 19th and 20th Century Gallery - featuring a large collection of Monet, Gaugin, Picasso, Renoir, and the likes. The museum sits between the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ Our Saviour.
MODERN ART: There are plenty of places in Moscow to get a fix for modern art. The Moscow Museum of Modern Art is an obvious choice. Also worth checking out is the K35 Gallery, the Lumiere Brothers Centre for Photography, and RuArts Gallery (the venue itself is pretty cool).
FOOD & DINING
*Ginza Project is a modern and trendy restaurant group with several places around Moscow. Also a go-to search engine if you're looking for dining options.*
CAFÉ PUSHKIN: Traditional Russian cuisine in a classic-aristocratic atmosphere. Breakfast to dinner. Tverskoy Blvd near historic centre.
Located on the famous Tverskoy Boulevard in what was once a Baroque mansion, Café Pushkin is a legendary must-do in Moscow. Explore a diverse menu of traditional staples in the splendid atmosphere of an old mansion, adorned with dark wood panels, French windows, and waiters in 18th-century dress to complete the experience of dining like Russian nobility. The restaurant has two main halls: the Pharmacy Hall downstairs is a little more casual and welcomes walk-ins after 8, whereas the Library Hall upstairs is more formal and requires reservations (they're also very strict with dress code). It's worth visiting twice because both breakfast and lunch/dinner are excellent. For breakfast, their blinis and cottage cheese syrniki are not to be missed; and the croissant here is an underrated highlight. For lunch or dinner, their traditional Beef Stroganoff is delicious. Skip dessert here and head to their patisserie next door instead.
PATISSERIE PUSHKIN: Elegant Russian and French patisserie. Best Honey Cake in Moscow. Tverskoy Blvd near historic centre.
Right next door to Café Pushkin is its elegant sister-patisserie, serving traditional Russian desserts and French pastries in a Ladurée-style atmosphere. If you're looking for the best Honey Cake in Moscow, this is it. Order a slice of the Prague Torte as well (because it's a chocolate lover's dream) and a pot of their traditional Ivan Tea freshly brewed at your table. A lovely place to stop for an afternoon break or a post-dinner dessert fix.
WHITE RABBIT: Michelin star dining - modernised Russian cuisine in a spectacular space; near Arbat District.
There's no doubt you've heard of the culinary revolution headed by White Rabbit and head chef Vladimir Mukhin, who's really transformed the world's perception of Russian cuisine with his innovative approach to tradition and creative twists on old recipes. Set in a glass-encased roof with panoramic views of the city and a subtle but quirky Alice In Wonderland theme, White Rabbit is an entertaining dining experience. Every single dish brought to the table met if not exceeded our expectations. The menu is seasonal, but I recommend trying at least one or two dishes from every section. For dessert, Vladimir's twist on the Honey Cake (as seen on Chef's Table) is a must. Keep an eye out for Chef Vladimir; he often steps out around the restaurant and, if you're lucky enough, might even serve one of his dishes at your table. Reservations required.
BUONO: Upscale Italian dining with a view; near Arbat District.
Located at one of the famous Seven Sisters skyscrapers (Hotel Ukraina, now the Radisson Blu), dining at Buono is a memorable experience in all aspects and one of the best in Moscow. The restaurant is encased by huge windows with sweeping views of the city, bathed in natural sunlight at lunch and moody lights at dinner. The interior design pays close attention to detail with colourful Italian plates and beautiful decor pieces along the window sills. The menu is a diverse selection of Italian dishes from different regions - from pizza and pasta, to hearty meat dishes and seafood. The cream tagliatelle with truffle is a chef speciality and an excellent choice. Also worth trying: the pink tomato salad with avocado, any of their pizzas, and the veal Milanese. Book a table in advance. Before or after your meal, ask directions to the rooftop for a full panorama.
GRAND CAFÉ DR ZHIVAGO: Sophisticated Russian cuisine in an upscale atmosphere. On Tverskaya Street near Red Square.
A short walk from Red Square at Hotel National, Grand Café Dr Zhivago is a safe lunch or dinner option in the area if you're unsure where to go. A sleek white-and-red themed restaurant space overlooking Tverskaya Street; the atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated, but not overly fussy. The menu offers a large variety of Russian cuisine and a few European dishes. The service is a little slow but the food is decent and the overall experience isn't terrible. It's usually pretty busy but they welcome walk-ins as well.
TRAVELING TIPS
1. For your first visit to Moscow, the most ideal place to stay would be somewhere near or around the Red Square. There's lots to see and do in that area, with many of Moscow's main streets branching into one another. This is probably where you'll be spending most of your time and it's also pretty easy to get around.
2. Moscow is a huge city, so exploring it by foot can be a little tricky. Map out the places you want to visit and categorise them by area or district if you want to avoid jumping from one side to the other.
3. Try to avoid hailing taxis because their metre-prices are insanely expensive. Download the Yandex App (which is the Russian version of Uber) and you'll save yourself almost half the cost of a city cab.
4. The metro system in Moscow is worth trying out, if only to experience how fast and efficient it is. If you want to visit the famous stations just to admire, avoid going at peak hours. They can get extremely busy and there's little patience for tourists standing in the middle of it all to take pictures!
5. Visit the Red Square at least twice. Once in the morning and the other at night, just after sunset. It's wonderful.