certain city clubs make it clear that Moscow is a city for big spenders. But you don't have to be one to have a good time sampling Moscow’s bars and clubs. A more bohemian crowd gathers at many that offer live concerts by local bands, and demand from a rapidly growing middle class has ensured the emergence of dozens of stylish yet affordable clubs.

Face control (or a velvet-rope mentality) is common at most high-end clubs. Most clubs don't get busy until between midnight and 2 am. Live music is popular, and some larger clubs put on shows by famous foreign DJs and musicians. At some of the high-end places, there's a fee to be seated at a table.

No other part of Moscow's clubbing scene is more subject to closings than the tiny gay circuit, so these listings are far from definitive. A good way to keep up with the scene is by checking www.gay.ru, which has regular updates in English. Gay clubbers should exercise caution when entering and leaving clubs, as random homophobic attacks have been reported in recent years.

The Moscow Times (www.themoscowtimes.com), The Moscow News (themoscownews.com), and Element (www.elementmoscow.ru), available for free at hotels, bars, and restaurants, publish up-to-date calendars of events in English.

Foreigners make easy crime targets: take special precautions at night. You're safest venturing out with other people. Don’t drive under any circumstances after drinking; Russia has a zero-tolerance drunk-driving law, and traffic police can and do stop cars at will.