In the past decade, Moscow has blossomed into a culinary capital. Foodies will be thrilled by the plethora of dining options, from old-fashioned haute russe to contemporary fusion.

Sample the cuisine of the tsars at Café Pushkin (Tverskoy bulvar 26a, +7 495 229 5590). The exquisite 19th-century building offers a different setting on each floor, including a richly decorated library and a sunny rooftop café. For more modern fare, try slick, stylish Pavilion (Bolshoy Patriarshy pereulok 7, +7 495 203 5110), which fuses Russian classics with contemporary and international influences.

At Tiflis (ulitsa Ostozhenka 32, +7 495 290 2897), where the airy balconies and interior courtyards recall a Georgian mansion, the spicy Caucasian cuisine is complemented by the house red from the restauranteur’s Georgian vineyard.

To wine and dine your colleagues American-style, try Goodman Steakhouse (Novinsky bulvar 31, +7 495 981 4941), a classic steakhouse done up in dark leather and polished wood.

Among the many slick, expensive but worthy restaurants to appear recently is Vanil (1/9 Ostozhenka Street, +7 495 202 3341). If you can get past the rather odd combination of fusion-Asian and traditional-Italian, the food is surprisingly good. The sushi ("crudo"?) was fresh and the venison was absolutely delicious. The sophisticated space also featured a DJ. How many restaurant trends can you jam into one space? That's dining in Moscow!

For a much less challenging dining experience, try Barashka (20/1 Ul. Petrovka, +7 495 200 4714). Featuring the meaty, hearty cuisine of Azerbajian, this restaurant some how manages to feel both traditional and modern at the same time.