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Shesh-Besh in Zamoskvorechie
Following the newest trend in restaurants - rhyming names - Shesh-Besh is a chain offering hearty Azeri fare. The thick soup is easily a meal in itself, as is the extensive salad bar. The place is not overly atmospheric - this the TGI Friday's of Azeri cuisine - but the food is still spicy and prices are affordable.
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Shesh-Besh in Zayauzie
Following the newest trend in restaurants - rhyming names - Shesh-Besh is a chain offering hearty Azeri fare. The thick soup is easily a meal in itself, as is the extensive salad bar. The place is not overly atmospheric - this the TGI Friday's of Azeri cuisine - but the food is still spicy and prices are affordable.
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Shield & Sword
In an all-too-appropriate location opposite the former Lubyanka prison, this novelty place is also known as the `KGB bar'. You can't miss it, with the emblem of the former security service hanging prominently in the windows. Inside, the Soviet paraphernalia continues: the centrepiece in the dining room is a replica of the Felix Dzerzhinsky statue that once graced Lubyanka Square.
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Shokoladnitsa in Arbat District
Chic Shokoladnitsa serves decent coffee and breakfasts.
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Shokolodnitsa in Kuznetsky Most
Those with a sweet tooth will not be able to resist this place for coffee and desserts. Popular amongst night owls.
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Shokolodnitsa in Zamoskvorechie
Those with a sweet tooth will not be able to resist this place for coffee and desserts. Popular amongst night owls.
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Silk
Not too expensive, but still stylish, Silk is popular for authentic Chinese fare. Connoisseurs credit fresh ingredients and bold spices, not to mention the chefs hired straight from China. `Bamboo Fire' comes highly recommended for those with a tough tongue.
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Simple Pleasures
The chef is American, but the menu is wide-ranging, including dishes from Italy, Spain and the American South. The common denominators are fresh ingredients and simple cooking techniques, an ideal match for this comfortable, uncluttered space.
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Sindibad's
The previous entirely Lebanese and Arabic menu here has been adapted to Muscovite taste and now includes sturgeon and pikeperch. However, you can still enjoy the excellent hummus, baba ganoush and pitta, among other Levantine specialities, in a cosy, convivial setting. Bookings advised on weekends.
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Sirena
Restaurant emperor Arkady Novikov strikes again, this time serving the freshest of seafood in a seafaring setting. The decor features large fish tanks, filled with colourful fish, peacefully swimming to and fro. The fish on the plates are not so happy, but they are equally lovely - prepared to perfection. The chef incorporates plenty of fresh, seasonal vegetables, calling on Asian and Mediterranean influences to provide a delectable seafood experiences.
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Soup
This aptly named restaurant takes the most appetising element of Russian food to new heights, offering 12 hot and six cold varieties on any given day. The atmosphere is loungey: dim lights, modern furniture and DJs spinning house music from .
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Starbucks at Renaissance Hotel
As of June 2005, the Starbucks of Moscow is actually... Starbucks. The first branch has opened in the basement of the Renaissance Hotel with, undoubtedly, more to come. One might ask, what took so long? And the answer - not surprisingly - is legal issues. Apparently, the global giant is battling it out with a local company (also registered as Starbucks) in a dispute over trademark rights.
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Starlite Diner in Mayakovskaya
A well-deserved favourite - expats come to this surreal American diner for a taste of home. Food and service are great, and the breakfasts are authentic and wonderfully calorific. There's now a second branch to the south by the Oktyabrskaya metro station, although it's not nearly as nice - stuck on a traffic island without the outdoor seating of the original.
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Starlite Diner in Zamoskvorechie
Classic diner decor makes this a long-time favourite of Moscow expats. The extensive brunch menu includes all kinds of omelettes, French toast and fresh squeezed juice. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with burgers and milkshakes, any time of day or night.
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Sushi Vesla
Sushi is all the rage in Moscow these days. To get in on the ground floor, head to this hip Japanese cafe. Dishes are colour-coded to specify price; at the end of the meal the server clears the empty plates and uses them to calculate the bill.
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Tandoor
The interior features colourful carpets and exotic sculptures, creating an enticing atmosphere. Food is authentic, spicy and delicious, with lots of vegetarian options.
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Taras Bulba in Zamoskvorechie
Servers dress up in traditional embroidered outfits and Ukrainian tapestries and wood floors provide a homey atmosphere. There's no salad bar, but specialties like pork stuffed with vegetables and spicy smoked beef are tender and tasty.
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Taras Bulba on Ul Petrova
Servers dress up in traditional embroidered outfits and Ukrainian tapestries and wood floors provide a homey atmosphere. There's no salad bar, but specialties like pork stuffed with vegetables and spicy smoked beef are tender and tasty.
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Tent
Step into this tent-like structure, and step inside a Bedouin camp, right here on the shores of Chistye Prudy. Lounge on comfy cushions and feast on grilled meats, a la 1001 Nights . This place is surprisingly democratic (in terms of prices and face control), but still manages to retain its super cool status. Open in season, approximately May to September.
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The Real McCoy
The main features of this `bootlegger's bar' are walls plastered in old newspapers and a dining room crowded with ex-pats. The menu is not too memorable, except it includes BBQ ribs to seafood curry and everything in between. Nonetheless, this is a popular spot for drinking, especially the two-for-one happy hour specials ( - daily).
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Tibet
On one of the trendiest streets in Moscow, this place will whisk you away to Lhasa. The Dalai Lama surveys the cosy basement, which is otherwise decorated with traditional arts and crafts. Tibetan food comes in ample portions for reasonable prices, with loads of options for vegetarians.
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Tiflis
Moscow is the best place outside the Caucasus to sample the rich, spicy cuisine of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. And Tiflis is the best place in Moscow. The name comes from the Russian word for the Georgian capital, Tblisi, and when you enter this restaurant, you might think you are there.
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TsDL (Central House of Writers)
The acronym stands for Tsentralny Dom Literatov, or Central House of Writers, which is the historic building housing this fancy restaurant. A glittery chandelier above, plush carpets under foot and rich oak panelling all around create a sumptuous setting for an old-fashioned Russian feast.
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Vanilla
It's hard to say which is more grandiose: the glitzy interior of this ultra-fancy establishment; or the Christ the Saviour Cathedral across the street. Actually the views of the cathedral through the restaurant's picture windows are a perfect complement to the crystal chandelier and giant gold-framed mirror in the dining room. The modern Asian menu features sushi and other seafood dishes - all prepared with delightful innovations. Service is top-notch.
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Vapiano
Crispy, thin-crust pizzas and `zillions' of kinds of homemade pasta are ample reward for any diner making the trek out to Vapiano. This place is stylish, but not snobby; comfortable, but not crass. The highlight of the interior is the open kitchen, where patrons can watch the pasta being made. The atmosphere is enhanced by stressed wood furniture, subdued colours, and jar upon jar of uncooked pasta.
