http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3954 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3954 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3953 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3953 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3951 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3951 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3937 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3937 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3918
There are surly bartenders who will only answer shouts of 'Dyevushka!' (“girl!”), a happy hour before 6pm and decent American food. The real draw card for the expat community is on Sunday, when the place is packed with prostitutes and prospective expat clients.

If it's culture you're looking for, you've come to the wrong place, but it's open all night and you're guaranteed some sort of a spectacle at some point. In spite of everything, it's difficult not to have a good time here.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3918 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3916 There are sometimes queues, but then it's a perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals who love this place.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3916 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3906
You can just point and say “Da” if you don't speak the lingo, as the ladies in the stand will treat you like an idiot even if your Russian is perfect. Wash it down with a Baltika, Nevskoye or Zolotnaya Bochka beer. Beer is considered a non-alcoholic drink, although drinking vodka on the street may get you in trouble.

Find yourself a bench on ul Tverskaya, Alexandrovsky Sad, one of the beautiful bulvars, or Red Square itself (when the young guards let you). Sit on top of the bench rather than the seat, and watch the pink-clad Russian ladies and wannabe gangsters/movie stars/oligarchs wander past. Drinks and a meal, Moscow style.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3906 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3898
Be warned though, the place is smoke-filled and its strongest point is its location.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3898 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3891
The place is relaxing, none of the modern Russian pomp and forced chic. TV with endless reels of fashion walks is, alas, on all the time (muted), but concentrate on beer and you'll be fine.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3891 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3956
You can explore the station and then head up the street to Yolki Polki, one of a chain of restaurants serving decent Russian food at cheap prices (not an easy thing to find in Moscow). Their generous portion of borsht is delicious.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3956 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3941
Suzy Wong serves excellent cocktails and sushi in a New York-style setting, (11 Ulitsa Tiumra Frunze, nearest metro: Park Kultury).

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is open 24 hours and has great breakfasts and pizzas, (24 Ulitsa Bolshaya Lubyanka nearest metro: Lubyanka).

My favourite - Ugni is also open 24 hours and serves excellent steamed fish, borsch and good value wine, (8 Malaya Sucharevskaya Ploschad, nearest metro: Sukharevskaya).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3941 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3923
Some local brands of Russian vodka, such as Russky Standard have a very special taste infused by rye and other natural ingredients.

Caviar is also a very special Russian treat: try it with black bread and butter.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3923 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3912
Otherwise you can look at the people entering and leaving the metro. There’s live music in the evenings and important football events are televised.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3912 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3855
Not many people know about it, although I have seen Russian pop stars hanging out there.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3855 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24