Where to go in Moscow tonight

The basement bar that kick-started Moscow's cocktail scene, where pioneer Slava Lankin's infusion-driven drinks meet a proper bistro kitchen.

Tip: Enter through the courtyard into the basement; closed Sundays and Mondays, and waits can be long when busy.

A Jewish-themed cocktail bar mixing mysticism, inventive high-tech drinks and modern Israeli food, regularly named among Moscow's best — with English-speaking staff.

Tip: Reserve via the bar's Telegram bot or website, especially for weekend evenings.

A warm basement bar steeped in Soviet-cartoon nostalgia, loved for witty cocktails, bartenders who mix off-menu on request and a hearty kitchen serving until late.

Tip: Right by Tsvetnoy Bulvar metro and open until 3am; if you want a classic, just describe it to the bartender.

A nostalgic, affordable revival of an '80s Soviet shashlik joint, with charcoal-grilled skewers, retro snacks and house infusions, open until 5am at weekends.

Tip: Order at the counter; it's small and cramped at peak hours, so it works best as an early bite or a very late last stop.

A moody, boudoir-style French bistro-bar near Belorusskaya with an emerald cocktail bar, pastry-inspired drinks and unpretentious classics like escargots and onion soup.

Tip: Weekends get loud and packed; book a table in the quieter dining room for a date.

A bright loft-style gastro bar near Kuznetsky Most with near-perfect scores for creative house infusions, quirky cocktails and a bistro menu far better than typical bar food.

Tip: Opens at 16:00 daily — a strong place to start the evening with dinner before moving on.

An art-deco gastro bar on the Boulevard Ring where a serious wine list and signature cocktails sit alongside tartares, grill dishes and late-night cheese and charcuterie.

Tip: The kitchen serves until about 1am at weekends, making it a good late-dinner spot; book via the website.

A cheerful basement craft-beer pub off Tverskaya with 20-plus rotating taps from Russia, Europe and the US, fair prices and hearty burgers and wings to soak it up.

Tip: Come for the beer first — reviewers rate the drinks well above the food, which can be uneven.

The Belgian brasserie where we held our first Dinner & Drinks: a lamp-lit brick room, close to 600 Belgian beers and hearty dishes from Belgium's east that suit a long shared table.

Tip: Book ahead for a group, especially at weekends.