Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
185
modern Moscow absorbs and expends its energy. Be prepared for strict “face control” at
the most popular spots, with jeans and athletic shoes inadmissible and men's attire
appraised as carefully—or more so—as women's. The earlier you go, the shorter the lines
and the more relaxed the door policy, but you're in for a long and possibly dull wait
before the real partying starts, well after midnight.
The hippest places rarely remain so for more than a few months, so listings get stale
fast. Check
eXile
newspaper (www.exile.ru) or
The Moscow Times
(www.themoscowtimes.
com) for the latest hot spots. Here are a few places that have stood the test of time.
Che
As in Guevara, of course. This self-proclaimed egalitarian nightspot has a relaxed
door policy and cheap drinks flowing all night to the beat of fairly mainstream club
music. Open daily 24 hours.
10/2 Nikolskaya Ulitsa.
&
495/621-7477.
www.clubche.ru. Metro:
Lubyanka.
Club XIII
Elegant and over-the-top as ever. Housed in an 18th-century mansion (the
name comes from its street address), it begs you to pose on the upper landing above the
carved staircase or on the columned balcony. There's a strict door policy after midnight.
Open Friday through Sunday from 11pm to 6am.
13 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa.
&
495-628-4747.
Metro: Chistiye Prudy.
Fabrique
This former workshop of Design University hosts fashion shows of Russian
designers and plenty of fashion-oriented parties. It's set up like an enormous loft with
concrete walls and good acoustics.
Kosmodamianskaya Naberezhnaya.
&
495/953-6576.
http://en.fabrique.ru/main. Metro: Novokuznetskaya.
Fasol
Thursday night is the only worthwhile time to visit, when a 1980s theme brings
an enthusiastic crowd of college students and plenty of professionals. The music is inter-
national hits from the era, most remixed for modern sound.
28 Prospekt Mira.
&
495/680-
2833.
No cover weekdays, 300 rubles Fri-Sat. http://fasol-club.ru. Metro: Prospekt Mira.
Gazgolder
Moscow's latest club hot spot is a former weapons factory, now converted
into several separate club spaces—and with military-level door control. Gazgolder and
Gazgallery are the most exclusive (no sneakers allowed) and specialize in electro music.
5 Nizhny Susalny Pereulok.
&
903/767-7832.
www.gazgolder.com.
Karma Bar
The basement attracts just about everyone, but its ever-fresh rotation of DJs
keeps it from being too mass-market. Salsa dancing takes place on Sunday nights. Open
Thursday through Sunday from 7pm to 6am.
3 Pushechnaya Ulitsa.
&
495/789-6901.
No cover
for women; cover 300 rubles for men Fri-Sat. www.karmabar.ru. Metro: Kuznetsky Most.
Modest Charm of the Bourgeoisie
(Skromnoye Oboyaniye Burzhuazi) This
compact hall is the favored “pre-party” spot of Moscow clubbers. It features lounge music
in a mellow atmosphere to get you in the mood before the real party-hopping begins. It's
open daily 24 hours.
24 Bolshaya Lubyanka.
&
495/623-0848.
www.bourjousia.ru. Metro:
Lubyanka.
Propaganda
The cafe tables quietly vanish around 11pm and the dance floor starts
throbbing within minutes to the beats of house, trance, and techno. The lines get long on
weekend nights, and the doormen seem fierce, but they don't care about how you're
dressed—they're just trying to control crowds. The place is popular with students, expats,
straights, gays, artists, and young capitalists. Try to get a table upstairs for a little more space
and a perfect people-watching angle. Open daily from noon to 6am.
7 Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky
Pereulok.
&
495/624-5732.
www.propagandamoscow.com. Metro: Lubyanka or Kitai-Gorod.
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