Moscow Shopping

  1. ABC's of Taste

    The ABC's of Taste is a Russian chain of deluxe markets, selling premium quality (mostly imported) goods.

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  2. Actor Gallery

    This three-storey shopping centre is at the hub of one of Moscow's busiest shopping streets. Stores are upscale but not exclusive - Ecco, Levi's, Swatch and the like. Many of these same types of stores line Tverskaya ulitsa.

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  3. Alpindustry

    This sports store stocks a wide variety of basic camping equipment and outdoors wear.

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  4. Alpine World

    The most centrally located sports store, with climbing boots and footwear for a wide range of activities, including skis, skates and snowboards. Western brands are well represented.

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  5. Anglia British Bookshop

    One of Moscow's oldest English-language bookstores is now in a new convenient location off of Tverskaya ulitsa, it carries the capital's best selection of books in English, including contemporary literature and reference books. If you are not up for Anna Karenina in Russian, this is also a good place to pick up your English translation. Sponsors a used-book sale on Sunday afternoons.

    It also some antique Lonely Planet guides.

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  6. Arbat Prestige

    This fast growing line of cosmetics boutiques is the indisputable leader in the Russian market. Large, bright stores carry the company's top-quality line of cosmetics and perfumes. This branch is one of 16 outlets around the city.

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  7. Art Point

    This small boutique features creative clothing designed by two local models. Mostly casual wear includes t-shirts, skirts, sweaters, scarves, handbags and watches, all with an innovative twist.

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  8. Art Stalls

    Many artists set up their stalls on Krymsky Val opposite the entrance to Gorky Park, particularly on Saturday and Sunday. Unlike at Izmailovsky Park, this is more arts than crafts.

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  9. Atrium

    This slick new shopping arcade is three stories of useful shops, including clothing and accessories, sporting goods, toys and luggage. It is one of Moscow's more practical places to shop as it is not as exclusive as some of the more centrally located shopping malls. The mall contains a large Arbat Prestige store (a cosmetics boutique), a massive children's play centre and plenty of places to eat.

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  10. Banya On Presnya

    Lacking the old-fashioned decadent atmosphere of Sanduny. Nonetheless, this new, clean, efficient place provides a first-rate banya experience.

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  11. Biblio-Globus

    Moscow's favourite bookshop is huge, with lots of reference and souvenir books on language, art and history, and a good selection of maps and travel guides. This place is usually packed, not only with books but also with people.

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  12. Big Star

    Denim, denim and more denim. This place carries new and used jeans in all colours, plus shorts, skirts and t-shirts.

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  13. Bolshoi Theatre Store

    This little boutique carries dance costumes and equipment. Fun souvenirs include masks, boas and costume jewellery, or an old-fashioned Bolshoi Theatre T-shirt.

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  14. Bookberry

    A slick new chain that includes not only an enormous bookstore, but also a café, a la Barnes & Noble. Bookberry undoubtedly carries the city's best selection of guidebooks and maps, not to mention a host of magazines, reference books and foreign language literature.

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  15. Central House of Artists

    This huge building attached to the New Tretyakov contains studios and galleries, as well as an exhibition space that houses rotating shows. Work is mostly contemporary, but includes photography, sculpture and painting.

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  16. Central Supermarket

    The most convenient and reasonable places to stock up on foodstuffs. You can grab a cart and peruse the aisles just like at home. Products available are Russian and imported - it's still expensive, but not prohibitively so.

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  17. Chapurin Couture

    This boutique features clothing designed by renowned Moscow fashion designer, Igor Chapurin. Chapurin is somewhat of a fashion celebrity - not just in Russia, but also in Europe - for his collections, which always feature prominently at 'Fashion Week' in Moscow.

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  18. Confael Chocolate

    This upmarket boutique and cafe is choc-full of mouth-watering chocolates in every shape and size imaginable. Besides the boxes of truffles and chocolate-covered cherries, Confael also stocks themed chocolates related to holidays, hobbies and national events. Sample the goods in the attached cafe.

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  19. Detsky Mir

    This mammoth store - `Children's World' in English - was the premier toy store during Soviet times. Now Detsky Mir has a mix of imported and Russian-produced toys, along with well-stocked sporting goods and house wares departments (and other toys for adults).

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  20. Gertsev Gallery

    This innovative gallery showcases modern painting and sculpture by Russian and Western artists. With an additional location in Atlanta, Georgia, it is an attempt to create links between Russian and American artists.

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  21. Gorbushka Market

    This famous electrical goods and pirate DVD market may be worth a visit if DVDs are your thing. It's a former TV factory that now houses an immense number of shops selling every conceivable type of technology at knock-down prices.

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  22. Guelman Gallery

    Since the early 1990s, the Guelman Gallery has been working with young creative talents to showcase groundbreaking art and to push the boundaries of artistic acceptance in post-Soviet Russia. Besides exhibits at the gallery itself, Guelman often organises exhibits at the Central House of Artists (attached to the New Tretyakov) and other venues around the city.

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  23. GUM

    Drop into GUM to see the showpiece Soviet shopping centre turned designer mall for the new rich, with its stunning glass roof and centrepiece fountains.

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  24. GUM (Gosudarstvenny Univermag)

    On the eastern side of Red Square, the GUM (Gosudarstvenny Univermag) has made the transition to a market economy in fine form: the 19th-century building is a sight in itself. It's often called a 'department store', but that's a misnomer as it's really a huge collection of individual, upscale shops spread over several floors.

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  25. Gus-Khrustalny Factory Store

    Since the glass production factory was founded in 1756, the town of Gus-Khrustalny has been known for its high quality and widely varied glassware. This factory store carries an excellent selection of beautiful and reasonably priced glassware and crystal. The specialty is coloured glass.

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