Moscow Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Moscow

  The Red Square by Night

Much like the city as a whole, which is held by Russians to be ‘without limits’, Moscow’s nightlife is wildly unpredictable. As a backpacker venturing out on an evening, it’s impossible to know quite where the night will take you.

Moscow's nightlife is also highly-charged. From the newly rich flashing their cash in seriously expensive and snazzy clubs to the more humble citizens in downright seedy bars, everyone seems to be slaking their thirst as only Muscovites know how.

Clubs tend to be on the pricey side - and full of people admiring themselves. Some of the more recent additions have melded great international music with the less sophisticated pop fare for which the city used to be known.

Moscow’s bouncers are famous for exercising what’s known as ‘face control’, a rigorous screening of people trying to get into their clubs. The best advice to get past would be to dress up a little more than usual.

Many travelers are slightly disconcerted by the extent to which lap-dancing clubs are considered acceptable. A number of mainstream clubs that you’d never have thought to be strip joints even offer private suites for those with the money and the inclination.

For a budget alternative, join the throngs of people in Moscow just hanging out in the street, ordering drinks from scruffy kiosks. Recently, however, the Russian parliament has clamped down, claiming the practice is ’harming the morals and behavior of our youth.’

The epicenter of the city’s nightlife is to the north of Beliy Gorod. Getting off at the Metro stop of Pushkinskaya, on and around Tverskaya ulitsa there are some great places which range from the painfully hip to the relaxed and studenty.

More clubs and bars that won't necessarily break the bank can be found in the Khamovniki district. Down to the southwest of the city, the prices are often cheaper than in the center and it heaves with young people having a good time on the weekends.

A night out in Moscow can be rather disorientating. All the ‘rules’ of going out in other cities no longer seem to apply in Moscow. But giving into it, and letting yourself be swept along by all the excitement, can be a very exhilarating experience in itself.

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