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Karma Bar
A worldly mix of Asian food, Latin music and Russian fun. Thursday nights usually feature live music, while the other nights are for DJs and dancing (free lessons Friday to Saturday from - ). Add to the mix happy hours and hookah pipes, and you've got one of Moscow's top expat clubs.
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Keks
A fashionable place that won't bust the budget, Keks was converted from a former textile factory, and now features black and white photos, comfy armchairs, decent food and a balcony ideal for watching the activity on the dance floor. The best dance floor viewing is on Friday and Saturday nights, when DJs spin cool music and young folks turn out in droves.
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Kitaysky Lyotchik Dzhao-Da
If you're looking for a place where you can fill your stomach before shaking your hips, zoom into Kitaysky Lyotchik Dzhao-Da (Chinese Pilot). This little club is in a basement close by Kitai Gorod metro and is one of the best club/restaurants around. Live bands and DJs from around Europe and Russia play all sorts of music.
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Kremlin Palace Of Congresses
The Bolshoi does not have a monopoly on ballet in Moscow. Leading dancers also appear with the Kremlin Ballet and the Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre, both of which perform here. The Bolshoi is magical, but seeing a show inside the Kremlin is something special too. The repertoire is similarly classical.
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Kult
Kult is a hang-out for arty types, complete with a big screen showing avant-garde films and a gallery featuring local artists. DJs spin all kinds of music, with an emphasis on bossa nova. Board games, hookah pipes and cool vibes make this one of Moscow's most chilled locations. Beware: just because it's bohemian doesn't mean you don't have to look good.
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Lenkom Theatre
It's not the most glamourous theatre, but it's widely considered the strongest acting troupe in the country. Flashy productions and lots of musicals keep non-Russian speakers entertained. The attached restaurant, Tram, is popular amongst theatre buffs and is a fun spot for a post-performance bite-to-eat.
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Leto (Summer)
One of three seasonal-themed clubs that change location and concept every few months to ensure that they'll always be fresh and trendy. They also seem to get more exclusive with every incarnation.
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Maly Theatre
`Maly' means small, meaning smaller than the big Bolshoi across the street. This elegant theatre was founded in 1824. Performances feature mainly 19th-century works by Ostrovsky and the like, many of which were premiered here.
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Monks & Nuns
In case you can't tell by the waitstaff looking mildly embarrassed in their habits and cassocks, this `beer cellar' aims to re-create a medieval monastery. Don't let the monastic atmosphere derail you from indulging in the huge choice of Trappist ales and beers.
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Moscow Children's Musical Theatre
Founded by theatre legend Natalya Sats, this was the country's first children's theatre in 1965. Sats, apparently, was the inspiration for Prokofiev's famous rendition of Peter and the Wolf , which is still among the best and most popular performances at the children's theatre. All performances are highly entertaining and educational, as actors appear in costume before the show and talk with the children.
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Moscow International House Of Music
A graceful, glass, modern building, this new venue opened in 2003. It has three halls, including Svetlanov Hall, which holds the largest organ in Russia. Needless to say, organ concerts held here are impressive. This is the usual venue for performances of the National Philharmonic of Russia, a privately financed and highly lauded classical music organisation. Founded in 1991, the symphony is directed and conducted by the esteemed Vladimir Spivakov.
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Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory
The country's largest music school and has two venues: the Great Hall (Bolshoy Zal) and the Small Hall (Maly Zal). Every four years, hundreds of musicians gather at the Conservatoire to compete for the titles of top pianist, singer, cellist and violinist at the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition. The next competition will be held in summer 2010.
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Museum Cinema
This artsy cinema house is a favourite of film buffs and intellectual types for its selection of alternative films, including old classics and lesser-known contemporary films. Frequent festivals feature both Russian and foreign films, usually in the original language with Russian subtitles. Kino Centre, in the same building, shows more mainstream fare, usually with subtitles.
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Nescafe Imax Cinema
Moscow's first IMAX theatre is just inside the MKAD ring. The theatre surrounds spectators with fantastic three-dimensional images of sharks, butterflies, astronauts, dinosaurs or whatever the subject of the day. The advantage here is that it does not really matter what language the movie is in, as the dialogue is not really the point. A free shuttle runs from Rechnoy Vokzal metro station.
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New Ballet
If you can't stand to see another Swan Lake, the New Ballet performs innovative, contemporary dance. This performance art, called `plastic ballet', incorporates elements of classic and modern dance, as well as pantomime and drama. The theatre is tiny, providing an up-close look at original, cutting-edge choreography.
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New Opera
The theatre company was founded in 1991 by Mayor Luzhkov and artistic director Evgeny Kolobov. Maestro Kolobov himself stated `we do not pretend to be innovators in this beautiful and complicated genre of opera.' As such the New Opera stages the old classics, and does it well. The gorgeous, modern opera house set amidst the lovely Hermitage Gardens.
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Night Flight
This continues to be one of Moscow's most popular spots for business travellers on expense accounts, despite - or because of - its dubious reputation. Indeed, it's hard to miss the crowds of working women hanging around this club. Nonetheless, the restaurant continues to receive rave reviews, thanks to Swedish ingredients and chefs. And the dance floor is always hopping. No cover charge for restaurant guests.
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Nikulin Circus On Tsvetnoy Bulvar
Founded in 1880, this smaller circus is named for the beloved actor and clown, Yuri Nikulin, who performed at the clown studio here for many years. Unlike a traditional circus, Nikulin shows centre around a given theme, adding some cohesion to the show. But the gist is still the same, with plenty of trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and performing animals.
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Obraztsov Puppet Theatre & Museum
Russia's largest puppet theatre runs colourful Russian folk tales and adapted classical plays. Kids can get up-close and personal with the incredible puppets at the museum, which holds a collection of over 3000 puppets.
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Olimpiisky Sports Complex
Moscow offers a great variety of gigs and concerts, and is an increasingly popular stop-off on European tours for big international acts. The main big gig venues are the Olimpiisky Sports Complex and the Kremlin Palace.
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Osen (Fall)
One of three seasonal-themed clubs that change location and concept every few months to ensure that they'll always be fresh and trendy. They also seem to get more exclusive with every incarnation.
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Penthouse No. 1
Located in the picturesque Hermitage Garden, Penthouse prides itself on its beautiful clientele and eclectic visual displays.
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Proekt OGI
Proekt OGI is a vaguely hippy, but definitely hip place, for student types; enter through the unmarked door in the corner of the courtyard and descend into the underground - literally and figuratively. Live music plays most nights.
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Propaganda
Propaganda is a long-time favourite club that looks straight from the warehouse district, with exposed brick walls and pipe ceilings. By day, it's a cafe with a popular business lunch; but at night they clear the dance floor, let the beautiful people in and let the DJ do his stuff. This is a gay-friendly place, especially on Sunday nights.
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Pushkin Drama Theatre
This 18th-century theatre sits in the heart of romantic Tverskoy bulvar. The strategy of artistic director Roman Kozak is to attract established directors to the large stage, while using the small stage to showcase young, up-and-coming names. The result is a diverse repertoire.
