Moscow Night Life

[shakespear]

What kind of music is played.  The common dance.  Hours of operation; etc..   

Music - often in discos and dance clubs its what I call European Techno Crap.     Otherwise, its the European and US top 100 music with lots of classic oldies mixed in.

Hours of operation - people get started late and don't finish until early.  Most clubs open the doors at 9pm and close at 6am.  There is a definite "pre-party", "party" and "post-party" hierarchy.  Voodoo Lounge (Sredny Tishinsky pereulok 5/7 253-2323) has always been a popular pre-party stop.   

Best Places to Go Weeknights:

Monday and Tuesday;  PaPa's Place (see previous post)

Wednesday and Thursday:  The Real McCoy, Kudrinskaya Pl 1, 255-4144

[shakespear]

Please reveal all you know rather than blowing smoke here. 

I'll reveal what I choose to reveal  and won't be intimidated by a Chihuahua wearing oversized glasses to do otherwise   

Do you stand by your story? 

Since every word is 100% truth, absolutely!   

[shakespear]

Night life in Moscow, or St. Pete for that matter ... 

I'll have to admit, my experience on this topic in Peter is rather limited.  Personally I've only been to Magrib and Tribunal.  However I have a good friend and fellow-partyer named Chuck Rogers who married a lady in Peter and runs and excellent apartment rental business there.  If you are looking for an apartment in Peter, it's the best place to look  www.oksanas.net

Anyway, on that webpage, Chuck has highlighted all the top clubs in Peter which should answer all your questions in this regard.  Here is a link to that page -

http://www.oksanas.net/night%20clubs.htm

FYI, usual disclaimers about no financial interest in this company applies

[OlgaH]

Good point Olga...

The practice seems to be open and accepted in the FSU.  
KenC

I would not say that it is open and accepted. Probably there are not so much complaints about it from students' side and some students (usually females) take the initiative and voluntarily offer their "help with dilemma" or an "affair" or what ever.  

[Sculpto]

Ricardo..

Moscow is pretty much anything goes.. whatever style of music and fashion you want is available and at pretty high quality.  A lot of clubs are open 24/7.  The do not have to be places where you need a multi million dollar bank account to get in.  If you know where to look there is a rather large backlash against the feis control crowd.  Not surprising that average people aren't so into the so called elitni and have their own often very cool venues.  Chisty Prudy is a good place to start.. there are flyers all over the place.. its not hard to find your way around.  Certain metro stations, especially ones along the ring line where many lines converge, also seemed to have an abundance of flyers and people obviously waiting to meet up with groups of friends, especially on weekend nights.  Park Kultury station and Paveletskaya were the two I passed through several times and there was always a scene inside the metro station.  I am sure there are others with the same vibe. I would suppose it would be pretty easy to locate cool spots that way also.  But, for that matter.. almost every place I got off the metro there was some sort of nightlife close to the metro station..  If you like to party there are few places on the planet more suitable.  Oh, the girls are hot and pretty friendly too. 

This might sound odd.. but.. every time I went to the grocery store after 10 pm on a weekend I got invited by a small group of people in the neighborhood that were obviously organizing some kind of intimate house party.  Average Muscovites don't have a lot of free time and many can not afford to go to nightclubs, so, they organize little parties with their friends in their flats.  Booze leads to....

I did not like Arbat which I found to be far too touristy and with a lot of scammerish lowlifes.. but there are tons of overpriced hipster clubs in that area, often with stupid feis control.

The area around the Kuznetsky Most metro station seemed to be pretty hoppin at night but I didn't go into any places, but seemed to be a lot of small venues and karaoke places.  Great area to "cruise" ladies during the day.  Tons of hotties out shopping and surprisingly receptive to random advances from a "lost" foreigner. 

If you want high culture.. we attended an excellent opera performance on a weeknight at the conservatory for less than $10 a ticket.  I believe there are many other venues also.  Tons of theater options as well.  Art scene is pretty hoppin too, but, you will have to check locally to see whats up at any given time. 

The idea that "all the world is a stage" really applies to Moscow.  It reminds me a lot of New York but with more edge and chaos though not as original. 

I haven't been to Piter, but, what I have heard is it is a bit more low key and more artsy.

[Sculpto]

Shake.. the places you mention are generic expat spots with practically no character at all.  Moscow has so much to offer its incredible and its obvious from your obsession with the hooker fantasy you have created in your mind and your boring choices for other night time entertainment that you are clearly no expert on Moscow at night.  But hey.. whatever floats your boat.

[kievstar]

Does anybody know about this club in Moscow - Krysha Mira.  This club is ranked by the top fashion magazines as the in place to be for models and rich Russians.

[shakespear]

Does anybody know about this club in Moscow - Krysha Mira.  This club is ranked by the top fashion magazines as the in place to be for models and rich Russians. 

I've never been but I hear it's a fantastic place and definitely one of the top clubs in Moscow.  I'm pretty sure it's a rooftop club and therefore probably only open in the summer months.  I'd bet the 3 - 4 am sunrises are fantastic there. 

[shakespear]

but there are tons of overpriced hipster clubs in that area, often with stupid feis control. 

"stupid feis control" . . . . . .

But the grapes were probably sour anyway said the fox . . . . . . . . . .

[Gator]

Moscow has so much to offer its incredible and its obvious from your obsession with the hooker fantasy you have created in your mind and your boring choices for other night time entertainment that you are clearly no expert on Moscow at night. 

Perhaps Shake is an expert on Moscow at night.  Who knows?  Almost everything he writes is about hookers and Johns, a class of people I can do without.

For a man who claims he used hookers just once and a long time ago, and also claims to be married to a RW, you sure seem to know a lot about "pay for sex" business.  Why do you know so much?  Are hookers one of your hobbies?  Or a side business?
 

[Shadow]

I'll reveal what I choose to reveal  and won't be intimidated by a Chihuahua wearing oversized glasses to do otherwise   


Since every word is 100% truth, absolutely!   

That makes it clear you have interest in the business and are trying to keep myths alive.
Have fun tying to convince gullible men that those women are their own boss and do not pay anything to anyone.
If you happen to believe this yourself, I have some nice ocean property in Moscow to buy.

[Misha]

For a man who claims he used hookers just once and a long time ago, and also claims to be married to a RW, you sure seem to know a lot about "pay for sex" business.  Why do you know so much?  Are hookers one of your hobbies?  Or a side business?

Well said. Reminds me of that Bill Clinton quote: "I tried marijuana once. I did not inhale." Why would anybody spend so much time around prostitutes if the only intention is to "look"? It's beyond me.

[shakespear]

Perhaps Shake is an expert on Moscow at night.  Who knows?  Almost everything he writes is about hookers and Johns, a class of people I can do without.   

You're exaggerating. 

I think if you reviewed this thread you'd find as many or more posts where I recommended specific clubs or activities in Moscow or Peter as those when I participate in the discussion about prostitution in Russia that was initiated by Dan.

In fact, when looking at this thread, I'd bet that a higher percentage of your posts bring up the subject of prostitution than mine.   

For a man who claims he used hookers just once and a long time ago, and also claims to be married to a RW, you sure seem to know a lot about "pay for sex" business.  Why do you know so much?  Are hookers one of your hobbies?  Or a side business? 

It's a fair question, politely asked, so I'll give you a fair, polite answer. 

I'm good friends with the owners of the establishment.  In fact, one of them hosted me this last September when I visited his home city in Sweden.  I'm a familiar face to the management and staff there as well.  I'm a VIP cardholder there and play in their annual golf tournament each September.  The establishment has a fantastic kitchen - arguably the best in Moscow.  They have one of the finest wine list offerings in Moscow.  They have one of the best cigar selections in Moscow.  And each night, they attract an assembly of without doubt, the most beautiful women in the city of Moscow.  I'm a firm advocate of the philosophy that you can "be on a diet but still read the menu".     

At 55 years of age my days of enjoying bouncing around from club to club until the early hours of the morning when I'm Moscow are coming to an end.  While I'm still up for a few evenings of clubbing, most evenings I'm quite content to have a exquisite 5-star dinner prepared by internationally recognized Swedish chefs; go down to the nightclub, open a bottle of a mellow, finely aged South African red wine or enjoy a snifter of Hennessy VSOP cognac, light up a Cohiba 50-gauge cigar with a Maduro or Cameroon wrapper, socialize with friends and familiar faces and do some good old fashioned harmless girl watching.  You get to learn quite a bit about what is going on if you keep your eyes and ears open.     

Yes I ALWAYS go home alone

and

Yes I've brought my wife of over 7 years and stepdaughter to eat dinner there many times. 

That answer your questions? 

[IAmZon]

Good comments 2012.

And, I do not see Shake's comments as promoting a particular moral position.  He is just sharing HIS experience and HIS observations.  I do not get the slightest impression that he is glossing over the complexities of the issues, or otherwise actively perpetuating possible hardships?  I have always thought these type of boards are best when used to post information and let the readers judge. Just my opinion.

===================

To continue on the original topic, I would rather steer clear of working girls ( that will help stream line this thread.  But, guys, don't worry about me.  It would be hard for me to be surprised or unprepared by what I may encounter.)

Seeing Russia's formal side - opera and museums; as well as her hip/ cool side, the REAL clubs, not the tourist crap, or the clubs that get only rich dull men and beautiful women looking for rich men  ... that combination appeals to me. I almost always like the second largest city more than the capital city, too.  I would bet St. Petersburg would be more to my liking than Moscow ( I remain open minded ).   I understand it takes a couple more days to see St. Petersburg than Moscow.  I am with the opinion that St. Petersburg may be a little more relaxed.  Sounds like an interesting place to get lost for a couple of weeks.

The local night life is a good place for me to meet people. Over the last two years, I have RE-LEARNED to go out late - Electronica suites me fine ( I have actually learned to love it - no small accomplishment). I do not mind going out by myself, and I tend to stay away from other Americans or foreigners too.  This makes it easier to fall into a comfortable group.  The hip and popular places to choice from thins down greatly when you begin your night at 12 - 1 AM.  I find that these natural venues to be excellent to meet normal people. It is a place where one's person can overcome / answer many of the negative issues associated with marriage agencies.  There are always people that speak a little English.  And, I have gotten good at communicating like the "elephant man", especially in loud and crowded places.

(this may not be so however?  My frame of reference is Latin America.  There, every woman LOVES to dance and have fun on the weekends.  It is not a sign of low morals and vices.  If fact, the "better" people can be found in these situations - they are the ones that can afford it.  This may not be the case in Russia, or Ukraine?  Please let me know...)

I do not require a great deal of confirmation of security.  I really don't mind the threat of low level crimes: robbery and such. They are a side effect of travelling alone.  I just try to stay away of violent crimes where bad things can happen. RIP (For those of you who have not followed my story.  I lived in Cali Colombia for much of the last year ... not the safest place in the world for a gringo).   But I would like to get people's impressions on security under the circumstances I describe above, the night club scene. Obviously, there are risks when you don't know the language and are not with a guide.  However, I have been lucky.  What do you guys think the secruity index is in Russian and Ukraine currently?

[Shadow]

At 55 years of age my days of enjoying bouncing around from club to club until the early hours of the morning when I'm Moscow are coming to an end.  While I'm still up for a few evenings of clubbing, most evenings I'm quite content to have a exquisite 5-star dinner prepared by internationally recognized Swedish chefs; go down to the nightclub, open a bottle of a mellow, finely aged South African red wine or enjoy a snifter of Hennessy VSOP cognac, light up a Cohiba 50-gauge cigar with a Maduro or Cameroon wrapper, socialize with friends and familiar faces and do some good old fashioned harmless girl watching.  You get to learn quite a bit about what is going on if you keep your eyes and ears open.     

Yes I ALWAYS go home alone

and

Yes I've brought my wife of over 7 years and stepdaughter to eat dinner there many times. 

That answer your questions? 

South African wine and VSOP cognac ? Are you trying to keep things cheap there, or is that what they offer you ? I would think that as VIP member in a 5-star environment you could get something better.

And you go home alone, however the activities before going home might not be mentioned. 

[Sculpto]

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http://moscowmaximum.blogspot.com/2007/05/review-krysha-mira.html

[Sculpto]

"stupid feis control" . . . . . .

But the grapes were probably sour anyway said the fox . . . . . . . . . .

No Shake.. I got in wherever I wanted.. but I don't like those kinds of places and didn't waste my time.. shallow people with high levels of materialism are not very interesting to me, nor are faux whore mongers.

[Sculpto]

Ricardo...

You will be fine.  Same common sense judgments about when and where and with whom..

Do you have a vkontakte profile?  If not I highly suggest you create one.  I am always getting invitations to different things.  Most recently.. an artsy party group in Piter.. I got the invite less than a week ago and joined.. ten other members.. now there are almost 200 and a disproportionate number are very attractive ladies.

My opinion is young modern RWs with computer spend as much time on VK as Americans do on MS or FB.  There are thousands of groups covering every topic.  Making good use of this media would mean someone such as yourself would be able to arrive in a place like Piter and be met at the airport and have places to go, things to do, and people to see without a huge amount of effort.

[IAmZon]

Two points ...

1, To repeat (this may not be so however?  My frame of reference is Latin America.  There, every woman LOVES to dance and have fun on the weekends.  It is not a sign of low morals and vices.  If fact, the "better" people can be found in these situations - they are the ones that can afford it.  This may not be the case in Russia, or Ukraine?  Please let me know...)

2, Frequency of English.  Over the last 16 months I have climbed to Spanish 3 or 4.  I would not say it was easy.  I imagine Russian would be harder still.  As I lived in Colombia, I had just a fraction of the fun I COULD HAVE HAD if I spoke better Spanish.  But, what are you gonna do?  So, when we consider places like St. Pete.  Moscow, Odessa, Dniper.  Is there a difference in frequency of English speakers?

[Sculpto]

Two points ...

1, To repeat (this may not be so however?  My frame of reference is Latin America.  There, every woman LOVES to dance and have fun on the weekends.  It is not a sign of low morals and vices.  If fact, the "better" people can be found in these situations - they are the ones that can afford it.  This may not be the case in Russia, or Ukraine?  Please let me know...)

2, Frequency of English.  Over the last 16 months I have climbed to Spanish 3 or 4.  I would not say it was easy.  I imagine Russian would be harder still.  As I lived in Colombia, I had just a fraction of the fun I COULD HAVE HAD if I spoke better Spanish.  But, what are you gonna do?  So, when we consider places like St. Pete.  Moscow, Odessa, Dniper.  Is there a difference in frequency of English speakers?

My perception is it will be about the same as what you saw in Colombia.  Russian girls LOVE to dance and party and may make the Colombians look tame.  I am not sure if you can classify as "better" or not the type of people you will find in the clubs, but, if you go to the right places you will find interesting people.  I highly advise you not to get stuck on going to the status places.  Way out in the suburbs where I stayed there was a club right by the metro station with a "Anime" theme.. that place was hoppin on the weekends full of gorgeous and non pretentious ladies from the neighborhood.  Though, some of the guys had a gangster vibe.. if I had not been with my GF there were more than enough girls to go around.. gender imbalance in that place was very favorable to men.

I had literally no problems with English in Moscow.  I played the "lost foreigner" for two days stopping pretty girls on the street to ask directions.  9 times out of ten they spoke English and immediately asked questions, "where are you from, what are you doing on Moscow"  I got lots of phone numbers that way and a smooth mover could easily parlay that scenario into more dates than one could handle.  Even four years ago in Donetsk which is pretty much of a backwater it was not difficult to find English speakers.

Ricardo, just do it already!  You have been hedging forever!  You WILL have an amazing experience.  Though, summer would be a lot more fun than winter I think.

[shakespear]

Frequency of English.  Over the last 16 months I have climbed to Spanish 3 or 4.  I would not say it was easy.  I imagine Russian would be harder still.  As I lived in Colombia, I had just a fraction of the fun I COULD HAVE HAD if I spoke better Spanish.  But, what are you gonna do?  So, when we consider places like St. Pete.  Moscow, Odessa, Dniper.  Is there a difference in frequency of English speakers?

Most Russians have had at least basic conversational English (or German) while they were in school.  It's a required subject.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the number of people who you will be able to at least basically communicate with while in Russia.  However, fluent English speakers are quite rare everywhere in Russia.  It will be the same in the elite clubs at night.  Sometimes the best way for a girl who doesn't want to be bothered is to say "No I don't" (in perfect English mind you) when you ask if she speaks English.  Don't think you have to be fluent enough to read Tolstoy in Russian before you get on an airplane.  Go for it.  You'll have a blast!     

[shakespear]

I highly advise you not to get stuck on going to the status places.  Way out in the suburbs where I stayed there was a club right by the metro station with a "Anime" theme.. that place was hoppin on the weekends full of gorgeous and non pretentious ladies from the neighborhood.  Though, some of the guys had a gangster vibe.. if I had not been with my GF there were more than enough girls to go around.. gender imbalance in that place was very favorable to men. 

Personally I think this is bad advice.  Like telling someone who is in Moscow not to bother visiting the Kremlin but instead get the "real" flavor of Moscow by visiting a statue of Lennin in some un-named pereulok close by the Ulitsa Podbelskog metro stop.

The center of the city IS the real Moscow!  By the center I mean inside the central ring road.  If you rent an aparment (highly recommended) I'd advise you make sure you apartment is located there.  Otherwise you could be commuting 30-40 minutes each way to get to where you really want to go.  Here is a good contact for apartments there:     http://www.moscow-star.com

Again, usual disclaimer about no financial interest in the company being recommended apply   

[shakespear]

OK - here's a topic 'mericans will be interested in.  Where can you get the best pizza and hot wings in Moscow?  Easy question because they're both located in the same place!

Beavers Restaurant & Sports Grill is the answer!  Yes, it's a definite copyright infringement on the Hooter's Restaurant chain but I gotta tell ya, this is, without any question the BEST pizza in Moscow. The first really "American-style" pizza I've ever seen in all my travels in Russia. Great crust, sauce, cheese and toppings.

They also had some fantastic chicken wings; normal American size instead of the "mini-wings" you normally get in Russian restaurants.  Several different choices when it comes to heat of the sauce.  Knowing that "super hot" to your normal Russian means the same as "medium" to most Americans, trust me when I say they do offer the equivalent of Hooter's "3-Mile Island" sauce. 

Here is a link to their web page:  http://www.beavers.ru

The prices were reasonable and the waitresses were cute, but certainly not up to the top-tier US Hooter's girls you see in the calendars and at some the southern location restaurants. They had Hooter's type tops and when the weather is warm, they wear the same orange shorts. During fall and winter they wear jeans.  When we were there there were 1/2 dozen really attractive girls there. I'm told in the evening the place is packed with local clientele.  They do have a nice front patio where you can choose to eat during warm weather. 

Look closely at the Beaver restaurant logo and you'll clearly see a "bearded clam" in the anatomically correct position in relation to the white legs. Start at the "v" in Beavers and work your way up. Also ass-cheeks are the Beaver's jowls. Pretty clever.

It's a long way out of the city center but Robert, the American owner will certainly make you feel that the trip was worth it.  Take the #10 Line (light Green) out to the end at Mariyno Station. Exit the metrocar and turn left up the stairs. Turn left again after you exit the Metro doors and walk down the tunnel and then up the right stairs on to the street. That will be Lubainskaya Street. Look right and you'll see a McDonald's on the left side of the road. Further down you'll see what looks like brown-colored parking garage with a "Beavers" banner. That's the building you want. It's about a 7-10 minute walk to the place.  The restaurant will be on the southeast corner of the building.

Give it a shot your next time in Moscow. You won't regret it.

As usual, normal disclaimers concerning no financial interest in the company being recommended apply.

[IAmZon]

C'mon I have NOT been HEDGING.  I HAVE BEEN Living

While Russian women have always struck me as superior, I thought I would give South America a try.  There is much to love in Latin women!  One thing lead to another and another and another.  I do not regret one instant.  BUT.  I have come to the conclusion that - for many reasons - most relationships I have with Latinas ( and Latinos, for that matter ) are less honest than I would prefer.  It is a complicated issue that is complex and grounded in inferiority and honor psychological complex. 

For that reason, I have begun to Latina possibilities less seriously.  The whole playboy adventurer thing is starting to get a little boring; so, Plan B is in the offing

[Gator]

Beavers Restaurant & Sports Grill is the answer!  Yes, it's a definite copyright infringement on the Hooter's Restaurant chain...

Beavers .....Russian women.....a great example of a dichotomy.