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Mod
A popular spot for students and other indie types who appreciate the fun and friendly atmosphere, the groovy mix of music (live and spun) and the added entertainment. Novus, anyone? (It's like billiards, but not.) If you don't find something you like, head next door to the new (and promising) Achtung Baby.
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Musical Comedy Theatre
Formerly the Palace Theatre, this neoclassical beauty on pl Iskusstv (Arts Sq) was built in 1801 as a palace. Only in the 20th century was it redesigned, and it opened as a theatre in 1912. It is famous as one of the few theatres that stayed open throughout the blockade. Recently renovated, the place still retains the opulent atmosphere of a palace, with a gorgeous gala staircase and a famous 'grotto buffet'.
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Mussorgsky-Mikhailovsky Theatre
While not quite as grand as the Mariinsky, this stage still delivers the Russian ballet or operatic experience, complete with multitiered theatre, frescoed ceiling and elaborate concerts. The inspiring pl Iskusstv (Arts Sq) is a lovely setting for this respected venue, which is home to the State Academic Opera & Ballet Company. It's generally easier and cheaper to get tickets to the performances staged here than those at the Mariinsky.
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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.
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Ounce
Hiding behind the tea shop, a chic salon overlooks a quiet courtyard. Twinkling lights and comfy couches make for a sublime setting to sip your tea. Sample from hundreds of varieties of black, green and herbal.
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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.
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Priyut Komedianta Theatre
This delightful theatre's name means 'the actor's shelter' and it does a pretty good job of fulfilling its role, providing refuge for some of the city's best up-and-coming directors and producers. It was founded by actor Yury Tomashevsky in the late 1980s, when the city turned over a defunct cinema that the group still uses.
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Probka
Romantic and sophisticated, serving wines from around the world…what more do you want from your wine bar? Tile floors and terracotta walls recall an Italian enoteca, with its shelves stocked with wine bottles and liqueurs. Several wines are available by the glass or half-bottle, and there is a menu of light snacks, salads and pastas.
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Red Club
At the end of an alley near the train tracks, this old warehouse is a great venue for all kinds of music - both local groups and lesser-known European bands. The place is pretty barren in terms of décor: the focus is clearly on the music. Concerts take place early in the evening, then the place turns into a dance club, playing R&B and house music until all hours.
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Red Fox Jazz Café
The newest addition to St Pete's jazz scene is the fun and friendly Red Fox Jazz Café, a subterranean space that showcases jazz in the old-fashioned sense: big band, bebop, ragtime and swing music. Sundays change it up with a jam session, featuring anybody who wants to participate. The menu is extensive and affordable.
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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.
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Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
This illustrious music school - opposite the Mariinsky - was the first public music school in Russia. Founded in 1862, it counts Pyotr Tchaikovsky amongst its alumni and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov among is former faculty. Dmitry Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev are graduates of this institution, as are countless contemporary artistic figures, such as Mariinsky director Valery Gergiev.
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Ryumochnaya
This is a hold-over from the days when a drinking establishment needed no special name. The ryumochnaya was the generic place where comrades stopped on their way to or from work to toss back a shot or two before continuing on their way. It's hard to say how long this particular ryumochnaya has been around, but you can be sure that if you order sto grammov (100 grams), they will know what you are talking about.
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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 .
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Shostakovich Philharmonia
Under the artistic direction of world-famous conductor Yury Temirkanov, the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra represents the finest in orchestral music. The Bolshoy Zal (Grand Hall) on pl Iskusstv is the venue for a full program of symphonic performances, while the nearby Maly Zal (Small Hall) hosts smaller ensembles. Both venues are used for numerous music festivals, including the superb Early Music Festival. The philharmonic is closed in July and August.
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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.
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Smolny Cathedral
Although the Smolny Cathedral was closed for renovation at the time of research, it is usually a venue for musical concerts. While not as attractive as some of the other concert halls in the city (and certainly not as ornate as its gorgeous exterior), it is still an atmospheric place to hear music.
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St Petersburg State Circus
The oldest and best established circus in the city, dating to 1827, occupies an ornate building on the Fontanka River. The performances, running about 2½ hours, usually tell a story based on a fairy tale or folklore. This venue also hosts circus troupes from other cities and countries.
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Stray Dog Café
Back in the day, this underground café was the gathering place for poets and playwrights ('the day' meaning 1912 and 'poets and playwrights' meaning the likes of Anna Akhmatova, Osip Mandelstam and Vladimir Mayakovsky). These days, the crowd is not quite so bohemian, but the café still hosts occasional poetry readings and acoustic music performances. Prominently placed on pl Iskusstv (Arts Sq), it's a convenient and cosy place to stop for a drink before or after the theatre.
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Sunduk
This café promises 'art' and it delivers: live music fills up this tiny space every night from to . It's mostly blues and jazz, with the occasional chanteuse singing more poppy tunes. If this is not arty enough for you, check out the bathrooms.
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The Other Side
What is not to love about this fun and funky 'refuge'? The food is incredibly diverse and uncommonly delicious. And for that matter, so is the nightly entertainment, which ranges from acoustic to jazz to afro to ska, all in the course of a week.
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The Place
The area around Baltiyskaya metro is up and coming: while it used to be considered the boonies, it now hosts the hippest and most happening venues for art and music. The Place is no exception. Music ranges from folk to funk, while readings, film screenings and art exhibitions are also in the works. The space itself is more upscale than other such bohemian clubs. With balconies overlooking the stage and an inviting veranda, the Place may appeal to the artsy-fartsy type with upscale tastes.
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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.
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Tunnel Club
Back in the 1990s, Tunnel pioneered techno music in this bastion of old-school rock-and-roll. Closed for several years, the military-themed club reopened in the bomb shelter where it was first born. The setting is spooky but somehow appropriate for the electronica that goes down here.
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Yusupov Palace Theatre
Housed inside the outrageously ornate Yusupov Palace, this elaborate yet intimate venue was the home entertainment centre for one of the city's foremost aristocratic families. While you can visit the theatre when you tour the palace, seeing a performance here is a treat, as you can imagine yourself the personal guest of crazy Prince Felix himself. The shows are a mixed bag - usually a 'Gala Evening' that features fragments of various Russian classics.
