Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
291
4
THE GAY & LESBIAN NIGHTLIFE SCENE
The gay scene in Petersburg, as elsewhere in Russia, really emerged only over the past
decade after Soviet-era laws against homosexuality were scrapped. Now the city's gay club
scene is like its counterparts in any major metropolis: fickle. Today's hot spot may be too
mainstream—or may have gone straight—by next season. Many of the city's top dance
clubs have gay nights, and nearly all clubs are gay-friendly. See www.gay.ru/english for
up-to-date listings.
Mono
Essentially a two-room apartment, Mono serves as a decent gay venue, with
transvestite shows and dance music.
4 Kolomenskaya Ulitsa.
&
812/710-2016.
Cover up to 100
rubles for men; up to 200 rubles for women. Men only Mon; women accepted Sat only accom-
panied by 2 men. Metro: Mayakovskaya.
Sinners
(Greshniki) Four floors of an old mansion host one of the city's best mixed
party spots. Sometimes it's gay-dominant, sometimes simply gay-friendly, but it's always
good for dancing. Paint and brushes are often available for body art.
28/1 Canal Griboye-
dova.
&
812/570-4291.
Cover 100 rubles men; 400 rubles women. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt.
Tri El
(Three Ls) Petersburg's—and perhaps Russia's—first lesbian club, this hip and
friendly place is slowly opening up to a broader public. Its cozy lounge and inexpensive
bar draw in visitors as much as its lesbian strip shows and transvestite performances.
45
Pyataya Sovietskaya Ulitsa.
&
812/710-2016.
Cover 65-165 rubles. Women only Sat-Wed. Metro:
Ploshchad Vosstaniya.
16
5
MORE ENTERTAINMENT
BILLIARDS
See “More Entertainment” in chapter 9 for a description of Russian
piramida
vs. English
billiards and American pool.
Ambassador
A good source of cheap beer and pool near the upscale Astoria
and Angleterre hotels.
31 Ulitsa Kuibisheva.
&
812/232-8506.
Tables 50-100 rubles per
hour depending on the time of day (before 6pm is cheapest). Metro: Nevsky Prospekt or
Sadovaya.
Panda and Kartathena
This nightspot houses a casino favored by Petersburg's
nouveau riche, as well as billiards and pool tables. No informal dress is allowed, but if
you want an atmospheric way to shoot some balls, come here.
26 Griboyedov Canal.
&
812/312-8896.
Tables 170 rubles per hr. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt.
BOWLING
To prepare for the trendy disco atmosphere of most Russian bowling alleys, see “More
Entertainment” in chapter 9.
Akvatoria
An uninspiring gray office building well beyond the center houses this
entertainment complex on the ground floor. Daily noon to 6am.
61 Vyborgskaya Naber-
ezhnya.
&
812/245-2030.
Lanes 450 rubles per hr. and up. Metro: Vyborgskaya.
