«Moscow is a place where history meets the future, the energy is powerful.» So says Natasha Turovnikova, a.k.a. Natasha Tee, blogger on nt-themuse.blogspot. She’s the tour guide for our visit of the city, which starting on October 12th will also be hosting Coats!, Max Mara’s major travelling exhibition.

BORNTO SHOP
The picturesque Izmailovo market is a delightful place for cute souvenirs with, Kuznetskiy Most 20, the best address for fun fashion items, and Moskva Moscow Books the ultimate for classic Russian novels. The perfect spot to spend an evening during the short northern summer, this large bookstore is located at Tverskaya Ulitsa, #8 (subway stop: Pushkinskaya/Tverskaya). Open 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Tel: 629-6483. Website: www.moscowbooks.ru

WHAT TO SEE
A trip to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, which houses the world’s largest art collection (www.museum.ru/gmii/defengl.htm), is an absolute must. From there it’s on to The Tretyakov Gallery, with its stunning array of Russian masters, from Kandinsky, Chagall and Malevic, all the way to contemporary artists (www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/).

The State Diamond Fund Museum in the Kremlin Armory features a rare collection of Russian crown jewels, fabulous gemstones and pearls – including the Imperial Crown once belonging to Catherine the Great and the Orlov diamond (weighing nearly 190 carats). Visits, complete with guide, are exclusively booked in advance.

Then for some genuine relaxation the place to go is Sanduni Banya, the old Russian steam baths in a spectacular building dating back to 1806. Tradition calls for the separation of men and women, a birch branch beating, dry sauna, cold pools and massages. Saduni Banya is located in the Petrovsky District at Kuznetsky Most ul Neglinnaya 14, Str 3-7. Another great location in Moscow is the Vernadsky Geological Museum, an amazing collection in a wonderful example of architecture at Mokhovaya Ulitsa 11.

Other ways to enjoy the capital range from a cruise along the Moscova River on a hot day to admire the Kremlin from the water, to a weekend stroll through the downtown pedestrian zones to get a special feel for the city.

WHERE TO STAY
For unmistakablemodern luxury there’s the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow (4 Neglinnaya Street, www.moscow.park.hyatt.com) close to both the Red Square and the Bolshoi Theater. By contrast, for classic 5-star elegance there’s the Balchug Kempinski, a landmark hotel in the Zamoskvorechye District (or “beyond the Moscova River”) offering a marvelous view of the city. (Balchug Kempinski, Ul. Balchug 1, baltschug@kempinski.com)

FOOD DIRECTORY
The legendary Puskin Café, surely one of the best restaurants in town, has a coffee shop on the first floor open 24 hours a day. But the real highlight here is the bookstore where poetry, politics,

love and passion come alive as if right out of a novel. For an exciting Old World mix of atmosphere, décor and cuisine, head to Café Pushkin, Tverskoi Boulevard 26 A. Another fine option is the European style Bosco Café located inside the 19th century GUM department store overlooking Red Square, right by the Max Mara and Max & Co. boutiques. No less appealing offering a superb view of Christ the Savior Cathedral, is the Bar Strelka on Bolotny island, located in a former sweet factory now part of the Strelka Institute for Media, Design and Architecture. Lastly, the Denis Simachev store complete with bistrot and lounge is a nice place to enjoy dinner and a drink in the very heart of town (www.denissimachev.com).