Metropol

You may not be able to take your eyes off the swimming pool-size stained-glass ceiling of the Metropol restaurant long enough to savor the excellent cuisine. That's probably the only drawback, if you can call it that, of the chief restaurant in the top-end Hotel Metropol. This historic spot is a great choice if you're looking for a splurge on a meal while you're in Moscow. The Art Nouveau motifs on the ceiling are a rousing culmination of the hotel's other design features. The menu is strong on seafood and Russian specialties such as boiled eggs stuffed with caviar, smoked Baltic salmon, and sterlet (sturgeon) stew. The veal with bananas, pine nuts, and cranberries is hardly traditional but is remarkably good. The hall is so large it can feel cavernous if it's empty, but evenings are usually lively with visiting executives, successful Russians, and well-to-do tourists.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.