World Travel Guide

City Guide  - St Petersburg  - Nightlife
Nightlife

St Petersburg has a vibrant, varied nightlife ranging from opera and ballet to sleazy nightclubs and acid house raves and, after some 75 years of Communist control, is emerging as the rock music capital of Russia. However, the scene is constantly changing, new venues open, old ones close so the best advice is to check the weekly listings in the St Petersburg Times (website: www.sptimes.ru/current/events/gigs.htm).

The Russian mafia (a collective term for various groups of gangsters, criminals and racketeers) control most of the nightlife and gambling in St Petersburg. However, most visitors will have no contact with this aspect of Russian life and if you do happen to sit next to a gangster in a smart restaurant, you are more than likely to assume the man is a successful businessman. Caution should be exercised, however, especially with casinos, and you should frequent venues that come recommended.

Most of the decent nightlife is in the city centre. Bars open from 1100 and start closing around 2400, although some remain open until 0200 or 0400. Nightclubs have varying hours, but you will find them open as early as noon and closing as late as 0900. Casual dress is the norm, although you should smarten up if you plan a visit to the theatre, ballet or to a classical concert.

Bars: Carlsberg Bar, Bolshaya Morskaya ulitsa, as the name suggests, sells Carlsberg beer, but also a selection of international drinks and some excellent food in a warm and welcoming environment. Tribunal Bar, Dekabristov ploschad, is open 1600-0300, and is a one-stop shop for food, drink and some excellent dance music. Vallhall, Nevsky prospekt 22, has a Viking theme with cabaret Wednesday to Saturday and a disco kicking in at midnight. Money Honey, Aprakskin Dyor 14, is St Petersburg's top rockabilly bar. It even has a poster of Elvis and a Confederate flag. City Club, Aprakskin Dyor 14, is upstairs from Money Honey but the music flavour is more rock and blues and it attracts an older crowd.

Casinos: Premiere, situated in the Titan cinema at Nevsky prospekt 47, is a reasonably safe venue with cards and roulette tables. Open 1200-0900. Venice, Korablestroiteley ulitsa 21, is another upmarket venue, which opens 1900-1600 and is frequented by more wealthy Russians and foreigners.

Clubs: Port Club, Pereulok Antonenko 2, opens at 1500, playing the latest European chart music, but has the alternative distractions of an art gallery and video hall. Located in a former bomb shelter, Griboyedov, Voronezhsakaya ulitsa 2a, is definitely the place to be but be warned that the place is jam-packed with glamorous types - the management positively discourage the scruffy and less than pretty.

Live music: Jazz Club, Zagorodny prospekt 27, is where to head for the Russian spin on jazz with the modern stuff being played on Friday and Saturday nights. The Jazz Philharmonic Hall, Zagorodny prospekt 27, is the venue for traditional and Dixieland jazz, performed in an auditorium, but with a more intimate venue upstairs in the Ellington Hall. Jimi Hendrix Blues Club, Liteiny ploschad 33, has live bands on at midnight every night. It is open 24 hours a day and has a reputation for great food and exceedingly lousy service. Indie bands are the house speciality at Rok Club, Rubensshtenya ulitsa 13.



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