Entertainment in Russia
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Karma Bar
The Karma Bar is home to a worldly mix of Asian food, Latin music and Russian fun. Thursday night usually features live music, while the other nights are for DJs and dancing – there are free lessons from 9pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Sunday night is dedicated to hip hop and R ‘n’ B. Add to this mix happy hours and hookah pipes, and you’ve got one of Moscow’s top expat clubs.
reviewed
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B
Kremlin Ballet Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre doesn’t have a monopoly on ballet in Moscow. Leading dancers also appear with the Kremlin Ballet and the Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre, and both companies perform here. The Bolshoi is magical, but seeing a show inside the Kremlin is something special too, and the repertoire is similarly classical. The box office is in the underground passageway, near the entrance to the metro station.
reviewed
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C
Havana Club
Enduringly popular, Havana is the only club that plays a consistent mix of salsa, merengue and Latin-infused jazz. There is usually live music on at least one of the three dance floors. So put your dancing shoes on (no trainers allowed!) and let loose your inner Ricky Ricardo. Wednesday night is free for ‘real Latinos’ so make sure you bring your passport if you hail from a Spanish-speaking country.
reviewed
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D
Apshu
It was a little fishing village on the Baltic coast that inspired this trendy place. Once discovered by worldly Muscovites, the village was transformed into a bohemian beacon – a magnet for artists and other creative types. This so-called club-café tries to do the same in Moscow, offering inexpensive food and drinks, board games, art exhibitions, concerts…basically something for everyone.
reviewed
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E
Nescafé Imax Cinema
Moscow’s first Imax theatre is just inside the MKAD ring. The theatre surrounds viewers with fantastic 3-D images of sharks, butterflies, astronauts, dinosaurs or whatever happens to be the subject of the day. The advantage here is that it doesn’t matter what language the movie is in, as the dialogue isn’t really the point. A free shuttle runs from Rechnoy Vokzal metro station.
reviewed
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F
Experimental Sound Gallery
You know that a place called ‘experimental’ is going to be out there, especially as it is part of the alternative art complex at Pushkinskaya 10. Music ranges from jazz to rock to undefinable, and there are also film screenings, readings and other expressions of creativity. The toilet contains quite an interesting gallery (of sorts) and the attached café is a very groovy hangout.
reviewed
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Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory
The country’s largest music school, named for Tchaikovsky of course, has two venues, both of which – the Great Hall (Bolshoy Zal) and the Small Hall (Maly Zal) – are in Moscow. Once every four years, hundreds of musicians gather at the conservatory to compete for the titles of top pianist, singer, cellist and violinist at the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition.
reviewed
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H
Bridge Lounge
This swank spot is part restaurant, part lounge and 100% upper-class. Set within the western bastion of the Peter & Paul Fortress, this see-and-be-seen spot boasts an atmospheric location and awesome vista. Its white tent-roof interior is gorgeous, with plush pillows and drapes adorning the otherwise sparse space. Face control ensures that the clientele looks as good as their surroundings.
reviewed
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Shamrock
It may seem odd to pop in for a pint after watching ballerinas dance across Swan Lake, but that is what many theatre-goers do. This friendly Irish-owned pub opposite the Mariinsky Theatre attracts a steady stream of foreigners and locals. Not all of them are coming from the theatre: some make a special trip to feast on shepherd’s pie, drink Guinness and enjoy the craic.
reviewed
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J
Novaya Opera
This theatre company was founded in 1991 by Mayor Luzhkov and artistic director Evgeny Kolobov. Maestro Kolobov himself stated, ‘we do not pretend to be innovators in this beautiful and complicated genre of opera’. As such, the ‘New Opera’ stages the old classics, and does it well. The gorgeous, modern opera house is set amid the lovely Hermitage Gardens.
reviewed
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K
New Ballet
If you can’t stand to see another Swan Lake, you will be pleased to know that the New Ballet performs innovative contemporary dance. This performance art, called ‘plastic ballet’, incorporates elements of classical and modern dance, as well as pantomime and drama. The theatre is tiny, providing an up-close look at original, cutting-edge choreography.
reviewed
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Kvartira 44
Somebody had the brilliant idea to convert an old Moscow apartment into a crowded, cosy bar, with tables and chairs tucked into every nook and cranny. It may be a little too close to home for many Muscovites, but it’s wildly popular with expats. There’s jazz and piano music on Friday nights at 10pm, and there is another apartment in Zamoskvorechie.
reviewed
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B1 Maximum
When the big names come to Moscow, this is where they perform. Russia’s most popular groups, from old-timers such as Mashina Vremeni to modern-day heroes such as Leningrad, all make appearances on this stage on a regular basis. Occasional acts from the USA and Europe also appear here. If they are well-known artists, you will see posters around town advertising the show.
reviewed
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Museum Cinema
This artsy cinema house is a favourite of film buffs and intellectual types for its selection of alternative films, including old classics and lesser-known contemporary films. Frequent festivals feature both Russian and foreign films, usually in the original language with Russian subtitles. Kino Centre, in the same building, shows more mainstream fare, usually with subtitles.
reviewed
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N
Durov Animal Theatre
Dedushka Durov (Grandpa Durov) founded this zany theatre for kids as a humane alternative to the horrible treatment of animals he saw at the circus. His shows feature mostly domestic animals, including cats and dogs, farm animals and the occasional bear. His most popular show is Railway for Mice, and guided tours of the museum give kids a closer look at the railway.
reviewed
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O
Cultural Centre
On the 1st floor of the sizable Cultural Centre, the Khöömei Centre can help arrange throat-singing lessons - to find it, walk between the cloakroom and snack bar and keep going. However, to simply hear a sample try going up to the 3rd floor from here (by the back rather than the main stairs) to a room where Tuvan musicians practise most afternoons around 14:00.
reviewed
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P
Circus in Avtovo
This place is on the far southern outskirts of the city and it may take quite a journey to get here. But how far are you willing to go to see no-rules wrestling (only in Russia…) ? Avtovo also hosts children’s circus clubs and an annual international festival of circus schools. What a way to inspire your children to become tightrope walkers and lion tamers!
reviewed
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Tribunal Bar
This used to be a kind of legendary place, famous for the debauchery and decadence that would set in as soon as the crowd had enough to drink. It’s now in a new location. And while ads promise that ‘the legend continues’, the debauchery feels a little over-programmed. Nonetheless, scantily clad women dancing on the bar are practically guaranteed.
reviewed
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R
Sinners
Sinners is St Petersburg’s gay mainstay – sleazy but fun – featuring male striptease, drag shows and an intriguing on-stage shower show. The décor is leather and chains, evoking a dark dungeon. Three floors include a mirrored dance floor, a balcony overlooking it and a chill-out lounge. The club functions on a card system – you pay for everything when you leave.
reviewed
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Revolution
There’s no better place to watch the sunrise than from the top floor of Revolution. The glass-enclosed ‘winter garden’ is higher than most other buildings in the vicinity, giving a wonderful 360-degree view of the surrounding city. And if you are here at sunrise, it means you have been dancing all night – easy to do with DJs spinning tunes on two dance floors.
reviewed
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Fomenko Studio Theatre
The theatre world is talking about Pyotr Fomenko. Ever since the founding of his theatre in 1988, he has been known for his experimental productions, which used to take place in a run-down old cinema house. In 2008, Fomenko moved his troupe into fancy new digs overlooking the Moscow River – a marble and glass beauty built by architect Sergei Gnedovsky.
reviewed
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Orlandina
Opened and owned by the small indie record label, Caravan records, this underground club is perhaps a venue to promote its bands. Nonetheless, it’s a pretty slick spot, now in its second location, with a café, bar and music store downstairs, and a concert hall upstairs. The music runs the gamut, with punk, ska, reggae and everything in between.
reviewed
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V
Keks
A fashionable place that won't bust the budget, Keks was converted from a former textile factory, and now features black and white photos, comfy armchairs, decent food and a balcony ideal for watching the activity on the dance floor. The best dance floor viewing is on Friday and Saturday nights, when DJs spin cool music and young folks turn out in droves.
reviewed
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Pivnaya 0.5
With Soviet films playing on the big screen, this classic place recalls the days when the local pivnaya (beer bar) was the only choice for a brew. This particular pivnaya has gone upscale. The retro-chic atmosphere is heavy on the chic, however, with its dark wood and copper décor, sumptuous leather furniture and electronica music.
reviewed
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Fidel
If you are up for a night of bar-hopping, you can't do better than Dumskaya ul. Fidel is crammed into a crumbling, classical façade, along with three other hot spots for drinking and music. This funky place is a sort of musical and alcoholic tribute to the ruler who 'outlived six presidents of America and six leaders of the Soviet Union and Russia'.
reviewed