The communists probably would have called it "decadent," but the global media is using words like "exciting," "vibrant," and just plain "hot." They are, of course, talking about Moscow's nightlife, which of late is being hailed as the best on the planet. In a recent article about the subject, Time Magazine referred to Moscow as "a city without limits."

That is not to say that every club in Moscow is like "Up and Down," where cash-happy New Russians polish off $700 bottles of champagne like water. There are plenty of less expensive, less conspicuous places where Muscovites like to hang out at night. For a detailed listing of what's happening at clubs and hotspots, check with the English-language newspapers.