Where to go in Moscow tonight

A faux-19th-century aristocratic mansion with library and pharmacy rooms serving refined Russian classics — Moscow's most famous showpiece, open around the clock at weekends.

Tip: Book online and ask for the Library room, the most requested hall; the rooftop terrace opens in summer.

Kremlin-facing grand café in the Hotel National doing playful Soviet-and-Russian comfort classics around the clock — packed from breakfast through late-night pelmeni.

Tip: Reserve well ahead online — walk-ins face long waits at peak times and the phone line is hard to get through.

Open since 1951 and now run by Novikov's team, this palatial Uzbek hall dazzles with painted ceilings, fountains, a dedicated plov master and belly dancing.

Tip: Great for group celebrations, but the music is loud and some dishes slow — go with a crowd and plenty of time.

A cosy 'grandma's apartment' near Patriarch's Ponds, full of vintage clutter, where Russian home cooking, house infusions and warm service make everyone feel like family.

Tip: Book ahead — it's small and tightly packed, and tables go fast in the evening.

A long-loved Georgian favourite whose flagship now sits on Tverskaya; generous khachapuri, juicy khinkali and fair prices keep it busy.

Tip: Go off-peak or book — service slows when it fills up; the weekday business lunch is the best deal.

A theatrical Georgian feasting hall on Novy Arbat with carpets, clay jugs and nightly live music, where khinkali, shashlik and Georgian wine flow at celebrations.

Tip: A 10% service charge is added automatically, and the music is loud — ask for a table away from the stage to talk.

A Soviet-apartment-style café on the Arbat serving vareniki, pelmeni and homely Russian staples at gentle prices — an easy, nostalgic stop between sightseeing walks.

Tip: Portions can be small for the price — order a mix of vareniki to share.

A basement Soviet-throwback café on Sretenka serving hand-made chebureki with crisp crusts and juicy fillings, plus draft beer and house infusions to a Soviet soundtrack.

Tip: No need to book, but seating is tight and there can be a short wait at lunch — come mid-afternoon.

A Soviet-style self-service canteen inside GUM on Red Square, dishing up borscht, pelmeni, herring under a fur coat and kartoshka cake — touristy, but a rite of passage.

Tip: No reservations — expect a queue at lunchtime, but it moves quickly.

A huge food mall in a restored 19th-century tram depot near Belorusskaya, with around 120 counters from Ossetian pies to hand-pulled noodles, plus late-opening bars at weekends.

Tip: Very crowded on weekend evenings — come on a weekday or early; Friday and Saturday it's open until 02:00.

Moscow's showpiece farmers' market under a Soviet modernist dome, where produce stalls ring a lively food court of pho, dolma, tagine and smokehouse counters.

Tip: Closes at 21:00, so treat it as a lunch or early-dinner stop; take the metro to Tulskaya.

A buzzing food hall on Rozhdestvensky Boulevard with 60-plus counters, a produce market downstairs, and Thursday-to-Saturday DJs and live music that turn dinner into a party.

Tip: Best for groups — everyone picks their own counter; open until midnight Thursday to Saturday.