58 Best Nightlife in Russia

The superbly positioned summer terrace overlooking the Moscow River and the Cathedral of Christ Our Savior is the main attraction of this upscale bar, which is part of the innovative Institute of Architecture and Design. The open-air theatre out the back hosts film screenings and lectures.

Top music acts from Russia and the world perform in this open-air concert hall, located right on the boardwalk near the Seaport. Opened in 1979, the Festival Hall is your best bet to catch major music festivals, ballet performances, philharmonic and jazz orchestras, bands and singers from Russia and abroad. From your seat you not only see the stage, but the sea as well. Be sure to check the website for the upcoming performance schedule.

What's considered by many to be Moscow's best night out presents an eclectic mix of all the best bits of the city's unique nightlife: bar-top dancing, creative cocktails, a huge roof terrace, and, of course, rigid face control. Some 3,000 clubbers are said to pass through this joint on an average weekend, so expect to have to wait to get in.

Ryumochnaya. For a true Russian vodka-drinking experience, head to this 125-year-old tavern whose name literally translates as "shot bar." Drinks are amazingly affordable and there's a large variety of zakuski, tasty bites that help the booze go down, like salmon sandwiches, boiled prawns, and fried potatoes. 22/2 ul. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, bldg. 1, Bolshaya Nikitskaya, Moscow, Moscow, 125009. 495/691–5474. Metro: Okhotny Ryad.

A long-standing favorite of local expats, this jolly inn with great pub food, cozy wooden furnishings, and a reasonable selection of beer stands across the street from the Mariinsky Theatre. The company's younger talent can be often spotted having a quick bite or beers here at any time of day. Live Irish music is played every night, except Tuesday and Friday, and a bargain-priced set lunch is available weekdays.

Several rooms in this high-ceilinged converted mansion double up as a great café and restaurant during the day and a dance club after hours. Thursday through Saturday are laid-back techno and funk club nights, a top choice among Moscow's hipster youth, with free entry on Thursdays.

Built in the late 1930s, the Winter Theater is all about Stalinist grandeur, with 38 grand columns and sculptures by the great Soviet sculptress Vera Mukhina gracing its facade. A striking crystal chandelier with more than 300 branches hangs inside. Sochi doesn't have its own theater troupe, but the venue is always busy with shows from visiting performers, often from prestigious theaters from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

This gay club for both men and women is tricky to find, but has a welcoming atmosphere. It has DJs, film screenings, karaoke, and cheap drink deals.

With its homely atmosphere, film nights, and tasty food, this club has become the top refuge of Moscow's gay and lesbian community and offers dancing and a good range of cultural events. Visitors should exercise caution when entering and leaving, though, as the bar has been subject to homophobic attacks in recent years.

A vast warehouse to the east of the center makes a refreshing change from the city's glitzy clubbing scene. The club regularly hosts big international techno DJs and its raucous parties have been known to carry on long into the afternoon.

One of the best places in Moscow for live rock performances, this enormous five-story club includes a restaurant, a pool hall, a dance club, and several bars.

This place is not cheap, and the face control gets strict from time to time, but if you're looking for an elite bar scene, it's hard to beat. This is where Moscow's upper crust—everyone from upwardly mobile execs to almost-oligarchs—comes to grab its after-work drink, or a bite in one of the three lavishly appointed dining halls.

This is the poshest bar in Sochi, attracting a glam crowd of local businessmen and foreigners. The venue is outfitted with plush leather seats, marble tabletops, mirror ceilings, bookcases filled with Faulkner novels, and artful black and white photographs commemorating visits from the likes of Amy Winehouse and Adam Levine. Located on the second floor of what used to be the Hotel London, which was famous with the Russian boho crowd of the early 20th century, London is Sochi's hotspot for live music, and locally loved karaoke. The bar has the biggest booze selection in town, featuring a long list of wines, Cognacs, brandys, whiskeys, vodkas, and beers, plus a highly praised kitchen. Bar London gets crowded on weekends, so call ahead to reserve a table. Then again, it's open around the clock, so you can drop in whenever you feel like a drink.

The man himself came for the opening, and visiting Western stars have continued to make appearances here, often for post-concert jams. Call ahead to book a table for concerts as the small hall fills up fast.

With the biggest club stage in Moscow and a dance floor capacity of 3,500 people, this live music venue is a prime spot to see big and up-and-coming Russian groups, as well as foreign acts and DJs.

Guests in the mood to gamble in a lively environment should visit the Ceasear's Palace Casino at the Zhemchuzhina Hotel. The casino offers familiar games like blackjack, poker, and American roulette (though not Russian roulette). Players can take advantage of a free bar with an extensive menu of drinks and snacks. A lottery is played daily and every month players have a chance to win a car. This casino is the most popular in Sochi and is known to get a little crowded.

Head to this intimate and quiet little art café decorated in a British colonial style for live jazz, blues and rock. The menu is varied and good but inexpensive. Beware, though: the toilet, with its many large but defunct locks, is designed to confuse the guests.

This popular spot with students is one of the most well established gay clubs in town, with a regular rotation of good DJs. Mostly men come here, but women are welcome.

A youthful, fashionable, mixed crowd packs onto three floors, each with its own character, interlinked by a number of dark staircases. There are theme nights, drag shows, multiple lounge areas, karaoke, and a counter that serves food.

Live music and tasty, affordable food draw a bohemian crowd to this cellar, whose name translates as "Chinese Pilot."

Perched 140 meters above the city and with stunning panoramic views, this upscale cocktail bar is the perfect spot to watch the sun set over Moscow.

A Latin American–theme involves occasional live Latino music, though music is usually provided by DJs playing Eurodance. Drink service can be slow at night, when the staff often dances with the crowd. Show up early or you'll never get in.

Sting and Elton John have played at this huge complex on the Moscow ring road with a 6,200-seat auditorium. Check ahead and you might catch your favorite group from home.

A cavernous venue with free entry and cheap drinks, which caters to lovers of reggae, funk, and soul.

Cocktail bars are few and far between in St. Petersburg but for expertly mixed drinks, rely on the talented bartenders here. The music is geared to a young, hip crowd and can become a bit loud later in the evening, so go early if you want to have a conversation without shouting.

A tremendously popular haunt of expats, bohemians, students, and night owls takes after the merry joints of the Reeperbahn in Hamburg (the owner is German). The galvanizing spirit of this eclectic art bar is hugely addictive—despite its claustrophobic size, low ceilings, shabby setting, horrific toilets, and lack of food beyond peanuts. The music, mainly rock and ska, is loud enough to make conversation barely possible. Reckless dance parties sometimes get out of hand and spill into the street, where neighboring bar Fidel soaks up the overflow.

Denis Simachev Bar. A club opened by the renowned Russian designer of the same name combines kitsch, elegance, and a hot crowd for a unique experience that can be a treat for those keen on people-watching. Here's where Moscow's "Zolotaya Molodyozh," or "Gilded Youth," go for their pre-party drinks. 12 per. Stoleshnikov, bldg. 2, Ulitsa Tverskaya, Moscow, Moscow, 103031. 495/629–8085. denissimachev.blogspot.com. Metro: Teatralnaya.

This outlet of a chain that originated in Riga, Latvia serves up a lot of Merrie Olde England kitsch. The food is pricey but good.

This is a favorite haunt of locals and expats who enjoy drinking and listening to local alternative musicians, or who just want to play table football.

Music at this stylishly decorated and very popular venue in the city's trendy Krasnaya Oktyabr complex varies from pop to techno. Some 400 disco balls hang over the club's large and lively dance floor. The club is well worth a visit for its roof terrace with stunning views over the Moskva River.