Restaurants in Moscow

You would struggle to find a more ostentatious address than One Red Square, but refreshingly, the restaurant at the State Historical Museum is not a 'elitny' hang out for the rich and famous. Instead, One Red Square offers a trip back in time through Russian cuisine, at prices that won't bankrupt ordinary travellers. For something truly extravagant, check out the themed historical dinners, using menus that were actually served to the tsars.

Close to Pushkin Square, this elegant Moscow café offers the chance to dine out in 19th-century style as if the 1917 revolution never happened. The Pushkin's food and service are impeccable, with delicious and beautifully presented Russian-French dishes that have prices to match. The ground floor is decorated in the style of an old pharmacy complete with apothecary's bottles and scales. The more exclusive second floor is set in a handsome library, and there are grand views from the rooftop summer terrace. In contrast to the à la carte choices on the menu, the set biznis lanch is a relative bargain here.

Vogue Café is certainly the place to be seen by fellow elitny (elite) in Moscow, and 'face control' is predictably strict, but it's undeniably an elegant and sophisticated place to dine. In keeping with Muscovites' obsession with haute couture, walls are adorned with fashion photography from the archives of British and Russian Vogue. The menu mixes classic and contemporary dishes, offering a genuine fusion of global ingredients and ideas. Advance bookings are essential.

It is hard to miss the life-sized model of a Friesian cow on Arbat Street, marking the place to eat tasty Russian food at cheap prices in cheerful surroundings. All the classics are here: from borshch to shashlik and salads. For visitors, the best thing about the Moo-Moo concept is the cafeteria counter where you can point to any dish that might appeal, even if you don't know its name in Russian. There are several other branches throughout Moscow.