St Petersburg
In a courtyard off Nevsky pr, this very popular anticafe is spacious and friendly and full of rooms where you can play board games, watch TV, hang out and…
Must-see nightlife in Russia
St Petersburg
One of the largest (in terms of floor space) of the craft-beer bars popping up like daisies across the city, this handy place offers an industrial chic…
Western European Russia
Work your way through the many fine cask-pumped ales (five/10 tasters for R380/760) from around Europe at this spacious bar and restaurant. With its wood…
St Petersburg
On the second floor of the Vladimirsky Passage shopping complex, this upscale place has an excellent line-up of Belgian, German and English beers on tap…
Yakutsk
A favourite of expats, the spacious wood-lined 'Wild Duck' is the go-to spot for refreshing brews, and there's decent pub grub on hand. There's live music…
St Petersburg
The young baristas are friendly and take their coffee brewing seriously at this serene hipster hang-out, with specially roasted beans from Ethiopia, Costa…
Vladivostok
A fun and lively bar that draws a mix of locals and expats, rock-loving Mumiy Troll – set up by the nationally famous local band of the same name – has…
St Petersburg
The brass bar here is one of the most popular in the city (not to mention one of the more pricey). It has beautifully made cocktails and draws a heaving…
St Petersburg
It's a happening bar, it serves a mean burger and there's a hairdresser at the back – should you fancy a new 'do' part-way through the night. Oh, and…
Western European Russia
Find this cosy modern basement bar, its walls plastered with scrapbook cuttings (and a clientele just plastered), a few blocks northwest of pl Lenina,…
St Petersburg
Coffee is brewed just the way you like it at this pleasantly designed cafe occupying a large corner space in a handy location. It's a great place for…
Moscow
This cool and cosy basement – with exposed brick walls and arcade ceiling – is the perfect setting to sip a refreshing Czech beer. There are sausages and…
St Petersburg
The W's rooftop cocktail bar and terrace offers fantastic city views to be enjoyed over top-notch libations. Bookings are advised for the outdoor space…
St Petersburg
Go on, spoil yourself with one of the vegan muffins and other baked goodies at 'Coffee in the Kitchen', which has a variety of ways to prepare your cup of…
Western European Russia
This grungy, two-level hang-out is the hub of Pskov’s underground music scene, staging local and national bands and DJs. Nibbles are available throughout…
Western European Russia
This mainstream rock bar has MTV on the screens and graffiti wall art. Join the young Pskovians here for late-night boogieing to thumping DJs, or just…
St Petersburg
This legendary bar is set in the building that’s the focus of the avant-garde art scene – it attracts an interesting crowd who give this cramped space its…
St Petersburg
This pleasant place is a fine low-key setting for a drink. Enjoy a dimly lit but artsy interior (including a piano just waiting to be played) and an…
Northern European Russia
This popular 24-hour bar has a decent wine list, and a wide range of cocktails. It also serves spicy Thai soups, Indian food, and European and Russian…
St Petersburg
A striking two-part painting of Jim Morrison hangs on the wall of this cool and spacious bar where DJs spin discs. Several beers on tap and plenty of…
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
This swanky rooftop lounge has good views of the city, excellent cocktails and sushi, and is generally considered the best place in town to go dancing,…
Vladivostok
One of Vladivostok’s fancier clubs, the dance floor here seethes at weekends and there's a lovely outdoor area that's the place to be seen in the summer…
Northern European Russia
A chatty verandah hang-out by day that serves a mix of European dishes and sushi, this cafe transforms into a pop-walloping bar once the sun goes down,…
St Petersburg
A slice of New York bohemia on one of the city’s most happening streets, Terminal is great for a relaxed drink with friends, in a small, intimate setting…
Northern European Russia
This super-sleek Russo-Japanese-style hang-out by the train station dishes up lethal cocktails every bit as delicious as the authentic sushi snacks (from…
Thelma & Louise’s Bar of Broken Hearts
St Petersburg
This unpretentious, shabby-chic-verging-on-Gothic grunge bar offers live music Thursday to Saturday, 8pm to 10pm. Look for the names Thelma & Louise…
Western European Russia
Enjoy mellow river views with delicious beers brewed on-site at this rustic, chalet-like bar. Photo opps of the kremlin out front are some of the best you…
Western European Russia
A tiny drink-in or takeaway craft-beer shop with around 15 Russian beers on tap (from R270) and a small selection of bottled beers. It's tucked away off…
St Petersburg
Retro movie posters, mix-and-match furniture and a working juke box provide the shabby-chic wrapper for this relaxed cafe-bar serving hot drinks, beer and…
Sakhalin Island
Expats in the know head to this big dark-wood bar for cold beer and pub grub (mains R300 to R1000), famous seafood chowder and themed party nights.
Northern European Russia
This 'Parisian' cafe is a favourite with locals for its decent coffee and delectable cakes (skip the wafer-thin pizza and the soggy pasta, though).
St Petersburg
The Petrograd Side branch of this quirky chain of hipster cafe-bars – like the others it's arty and a very pleasant place to cool your feet.
Yakutsk
The most popular club in the centre, Evropa is a five-storey complex with dance club, sports bar, bowling alley and, uh, strip club.
St Petersburg
One of the more upmarket of the city's bakery-cafe chains, Volkonsky offers reviving brews and tempting confections.
St Petersburg
Not far away from Vladimirsky Cathedral, this secret Mexican bar is a place with various creative cocktails along with simple Mexican food. It's hard to…
St Petersburg
Russian urbanites have always harboured a special admiration for the quaint provincialism of Eastern Europe, hence this smallish bar with old-fashioned…
St Petersburg
This is one of the city's most hidden bars – you don’t know the exact address until about two hours before the reservation. It has about 50 types of…
Western European Russia
Set on the Volga River (opposite City Garden's Ferris wheel on the other side of the river) the popular Kafe Vremya (Cafe Time) is a great spot for a…
Western European Russia
Taking a stab at re-creating a traditional Japanese teahouse, this place has floor seating, screens and low tables. An excellent range of tea is on offer …
St Petersburg
This is the joint that kicked off the whole Dumskaya dive-bar scene in 2004. We'd say it's showing its age, but truth is that it was never about keeping…
