Moscow Travel Answers

As for banya, I am an expert ;-))) - the most wellknown is Sanduny (in Sandunovsky lane in the center). It definately has privat room section. See here - http://www.sanduny.ru/index_e.htm Weather in Moscow is cold now, and September is a start of "banya" season, so better to book in advance. I could also give you an info about family nudist banya (a la German), but it is closed till mid september.

Sometimes one can get the tickets on the performance day but usually it happens when the show has been on for quite some time, if it's a premiere than tickets should be bought much in advance.... Tell me which day you wanna go and I might book/buy the tickets for you thru internet.... no any firm promises though :))) but worth a try! :))

The circus at the Nicoli circus has been running for about 5 months now (together with time) and it shouldn't be a problem getting tickets. Even if you can't get them at the ticket office, there are always scallpers selling them at inflated prices. You can also buy them at curcus ticket kiosks in some of the metro underpasses. Neil, Izmylovskaya is indeed open all days of the week, although it is MUCH smaller on weekdays and not nearly as great a selecion. Due to the lack of competition, the prices aren';t much better on the weekdays than they are at Arbat, however, the quality is still usually better. Weekends are deffinatly better, and even if it is raining cats and dogs, the booths will be full, and in fact, the prices may be better due to a lack of clientel. If you reserve a private banya/sauna, anyone can go. In fact typically, when you call to reserve they will ask you if you want them to arrange for women to join you if you are a man or men if you are a woman ("paid" services).

Thanks for the info everyone! I'll drop you a note Lalique :-)

I see you are fond of pizza. Try "Da Chicco" near metro Profsoyuznaya. :-) Good Luck

Lonely Planet has a Cicco Pizza near the Teatralnaya metro, is it the same pizza? I had it marked as a potential place :-)

Cicco Pizza, according to LP, is on Kamergersky per 5/7, not exactly next to the metro but I think close enough to walk. I've got Patio Pizza as a possible choice as well, specifically the one over by the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum on Volkhonka. Should I pass on Pizza Express since it's origin is in London and they do unspeakably horrible things to pizza there? ;-)

Once again you've given me wonderful advice on Moscow Neil! Thanks much! The Sbarro's here in Chicago are pretty nasty, big greasy slices of pizza with too much dough, perhaps it is not part of that chain? The pizza obsession is my husband's, I'd much rather be eating Russian food. Any recommendations for a good place to try beef stroganoff or pirozhki ( I assume these are similar to Polish pierogi)? Oh and is the ice cream still made with like 100% fat content? When we were there in 1989 I remember how good and decadent tasting the ice cream was.

Sbarro is indeed the samer chain of doughyy tasteless pizza found al over the US. ick And m y Patio Pizza experience isn't much better than Neil's. Stick with the Russian food. Moo Moo is pretty good, as is Elki Polki (although the one on Tverskaya isn't russian, but Mongolian) is as well and you can get traditional Russian food in either place. Best Advice, when it comes to resteraunts and any specific advice like opening and closing times or costs, ditch the Lonely Planet for Russia. It is sadly outdated. It hasn't been updated in about three years and most of the restaraunts and bars contained inside no longer exist. Further, many of the basic travel suggestions are no longer relevant either. You would be much better served by looking through the member pages here and putting together your own guide.

Hi all, It is a discovery for me as well, Neil, but there is a Cicco-Pizza in Kamergersky-) see search here: menu.ru/?action=search&type=... www.menu.ru is rather reliable source ;-) As I can understand it is the same owner as Da Cicco on Profsoyuznaya, but has pizza hall only. Big Da Cicco is a "Trattoria" it has several halls, one is with pizza menu. General menu in trattoria is expensive -30-$50 per person, but it is considered to be the best italian cuisine in Moscow. But I agree with Neil - being in Russia try Russian cuisine or good cuisine from Caucasia.

Dabs, Pavel is right, there is Cicco Pizza on Kamergersky, it's closer to the end of the street on your left hand side, if you go from Tverskaya street.

Neil, By the way, there is no more Oranzhevyi Galstuk. Can you tell me when the last time you were on Kamergersky? :))))))))

Yes, Lalique 's right. There is a new Pizza restaurant on the left side of Kamergersky... Prices are too high for such kind of food (but like always in a new-opened place)... I didn't really like the food and service there and would not recommend it as a proper place.

Seems like the general consensus is to avoid pizza in Moscow but I know I will end up eating it at least once. Pavel, menu.ru appears to only be in Cyrillic. Is there another good site that is in English? I've put a bunch of restaurant tips in my custom guide and will print them out before I leave. :-) I have several Russian places marked as places to try including Moo-Moo, Yolki-Palki, Kitezh and Samovar (from LP). And a couple of Georgian restaurants-Genatsvale (from rec. on VT), Guriya (from LP), or Dioskuriya (also LP) And Ukranian-Korchma (VT), Taras Bulba (LP), Shinook (LP) Any of these I should avoid?

Look here: moscow-hotels-russia.com/res... but this is rather short list. You can add "Shesh-Besh" with Azerbajan cuisine to your list.

>>>I have several Russian places marked as places to try including Moo-Moo, Yolki-Palki, Kitezh and Samovar (from LP). Moo-moo and Yolki-Palki are good just for a start or quick snack, IMHO. Much better place is Kitezh, really good cousine (u may have a look at my Restaurant tips), don't know enything about Samovar thought... >>>And a couple of Georgian restaurants-Genatsvale (from rec. on VT), Guriya (from LP), or Dioskuriya (also LP) Genatsvale is nice and rather cheap. >>>And Ukranian-Korchma (VT), Taras Bulba (LP), Shinook (LP) Korchma is more or less the same chaine as Yolki Palki but Ukranian, so I wouldn't concentrate on it a lot, however Shinok is great both in food and interior. If you find Shinok, then in the same building you'll see some other restaurants: my adice is to visit Bochka (Russian cousine), it's one of the best.

It happened so that yesterday I walk along Kamergrsky lane ;-) and of course remembered about our discussion. I think it is one of the most restaurant places in M. - 1 or 2 ber building! There were 2 pizzerias - one in front of other, but there no any name (just Pizzeria sign).

We are off in a couple of hours for the very long flight to Moscow, 8 hours to Frankfurt and 3 more to Moscow. Thanks for all the help! I have packed my umbrella and waterproof coat :-(

We are back from our very short trip to Russia and had a fabulous time! We enjoyed the circus and had great seats (thanks Lalique!), didn't make it to the banya, had great inexpensive food at Moo-Moo and stayed at the very nice Arbat Hotel (thanks Neilmcg for the recommendation). We took a look at Cicco Pizza and decided to pass on it as it looked not so appetizing and headed down the street to Elki Palki instead (good but not as tasty as Moo Moo). We did try a slice at the food court at the big underground mall so I can say I've had Russian pizza :-) The flea market was great, we ended up spending most of the day there and bought back lots of souvenirs and gifts. And we had a delightful dinner at Seven Fridays with Lalique and Anya, it was great meeting both of you! Red Square was still closed but we visited the Kremlin and Armoury, needed a lot more time than we had for our visit. Amazing stuff! Anyway, thanks for all your help!