Moscow Nightlife
The nightlife scene in Moscow is wild and exciting. When venturing out of an evening, it is impossible to know where the night will take you, as the city has a varied range of bars and clubs to keep you going, some expensive and snazzy, many a little on the seedy side. It is your like or dislike of being in the latter that will make or break your Moscow nightlife experience, as you will undoubtedly find yourself in such an establishment at some point.
Hungry Duck in central Moscow is the city at its best/worst. This club has a free drinks policy for women up until 23:30, which might explain why it has the reputation for being one of the most outrageous establishments in Europe. The general ethos of the club appears to be to divest yourself of as many items as clothing as possible before heading home for the night so Geordies should feel amongst friends by the end of the evening.
A slightly classier club that won't break the bank can be found in the Khamovniki district. Keks is funky and is based in a converted textile factory. The place heaves with pretty young things on the weekend, with many taking to the large dance floor to the sound of cool tunes.
If you want to know where all the trendies are, head to Bar 30/7 on the Boulevard Ring. It's pricey and full of people admiring themselves but good despite all that. Arrive early on the weekend if you want to have a chance of grabbing a seat.
The new Jazztown club on Taganskaya has quickly cemented itself as the top place to go for blues and jazz fans in the city. This enormous club hosts both local and international acts most nights of the week and includes a restaurant, casino and dance floor, allowing you the rare opportunity to dance the night away to jazz sounds, rather than enjoying the music simply from a sedentary position.
For heavier live acts, head to Sixteen Tons on Presnensky. Both Russian and foreign bands play regularly at this joint, which is usually packed. The establishment also has an English-style pub downstairs that serves some unique brews.
For a more refined evening's entertainment there are a number of options for the discerning traveller. A night at the six-tier Bolshio Theatre is usually a wonderfully romantic experience, with both opera and ballet companies regularly putting on both Russian and foreign works. However, major renovations to the main theatre mean that it is currently closed until 2008, although the New Stage is putting on performances. Tickets should be purchased well in advance, or failing that, from one of the many touts on the day. Other options for evening amusements include a visit to the Kremlin when it is putting on one of its many concerts or a visit to the city's famous circus.
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Nightlife
