Moscow Nightlife

Set beneath a geometric glass canopy, the rooftop bar at the absurdly ostentatious Ritz Carlton Moscow is an established stop for high fliers. The drinks list is spectacular, particularly when it comes to wine, champagne and prestige vodkas, and the sleek outdoor terrace offers remarkable views. The glamour isn’t cheap, so bring a well-stocked wallet.

Moscow’s first proper gastropub, Delicatessen is tucked away and hard to find, but well worth seeking out for its cosy atmosphere, cosmopolitan food menu and stellar cocktail list. Its line of fruit liqueurs are particularly tempting, though at Moscow prices, a long boozy evening can prove an expensive proposition.

The house bar at the Peking Hotel is perched up on the rooftop, so you get the same stunning Moscow views associated with swanky establishments like the Ritz-Carlton’s O2 Lounge, but without the bankrupting drink prices. There’s an extensive cocktail menu, with some imaginative creations, and DJs add a suitably upbeat vibe.

Rising from the rooftop of the former Red October chocolate factory, Gipsy is a hangout for the hip and happening, rather than the rich, so getting past face control is as much about style and attitude as the size of your wallet. Inside, it’s all urban and mismatched, with a quirky style that matches the eclectic DJ line up.

This bare brick Moscow institution has been around for years and is one of the city's great survivors. It serves as a café by day and a warehouse club by night, and it provides a loud and boisterous beano for people in the party mood. Face control on the door may need some persuading to let you in, though.

Housed above an English-themed pub that brews its own beer, this popular music hall hosts many visiting bands as well as homegrown rock talent. There's a long list of homemade beers too, from lagers to stouts, and a decent menu of Russian food, plus an eclectic line-up of guitar acts through the week.

This leading concert venue and Moscow institution also remains Russia's most famous music school. Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitry Shostakovich have both premiered work here, while Pyotr Tchaikovsky taught here, though the great composer died before public concerts started in 1898. Expect a regular programme of concerts, recitals and competitions from the cream of Russian musical talent.

Home to Russia’s State Symphony Orchestra, this concert hall hosts a full programme of symphony and chamber concerts in addition to special festivals and performances of Russian national dance, organ and choral music. Naturally, the music of Tchaikovsky is a speciality here but the works of other Russian classical composers feature prominently too.

Perhaps the world's most famous dance company, the Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Company perform at this elegant 19th-century theatre daily from September to June, with matinees at weekends. Formed in 1773, the company took up residence on Teatralnaya ploshchad in 1824. The theatre itself is a striking neo-classical building, renowned for its size and acoustic qualities.