They don't call St. Petersburg Russia's cultural capital for nothing. St. Petersburg is where Russia's first rock-club took off and has been the main launch-pad for Russia's rock musicians. It is also the city that hosted the first Russian raves. Here is a quick overview for foreign visitors wanting to sample St. Petersburg's nightclub life.
The Skatalites band in Griboedov club. Source: Kommersant
Fashionable Russian underground
1) GRIBOEDOV
Free admission, dinner costs €15-30 ($20-40) on average.
Radio Hits of the 1980s
3) XXXX
The first XXXX bar opened in St. Petersburg in 2005 and has blossomed into a chain of venues that now includes 9 different bars. It is very possible that XXXX is the most well-liked club brand in St. Petersburg, with a very wide and diverse public. The owners themselves say their main job is offering the best night out (without frills) for guests over 30. If you want to see how St. Petersburg's businessmen, office managers and their partners have fun, beat a path to XXXX. There are frequent gigs performed by famous Russian musicians. The music policy follows likewise – radio hits of the last 30 years.
Free admission, average menu price at €40 ($54)
Indie rock
4) DOM BEATA
If you fancy yourself a hipster, or if you at least know who they are and look favorably upon them, then Dom Beata (Soviet home workshop) is the place for you. One of St. Petersburg's most successful and fashionable nightlight spots in recent years, this is a venue opened by the owners of the big-name Moscow club “Solyanka.”
By day, Dom Beata operates as a cafe – and actually a pretty good one – but, after darkness falls on Fridays and Saturdays (and sometimes on other days too), it becomes a nightclub. Here guests can often see live acts, among whom are found performers like Nikolas Jaar, Joakim, Move D, or Todd Terje. The prices are above average for St. Petersburg, but still pretty acceptable – beer for $5-7, cocktails for $9.50. The design here is classic Soviet interiors – from the furniture to the tableware.
Bouncers often at the door, but free admission. Average dinner prices at €40 for two.
Techno
5) JESUS
Jesus opened around a year ago and quickly became one of the most interesting locations on the Petersburg club circuit. Jesus is aimed at fans of techno and house, of which there are plenty in St. Petersburg. There are two dance floors, two bars, and an exhibition area. At this venue, there are old hands of the club scene who remember the 1990s, right alongside the brightest young DJs. Outside there are strict bouncers and a well-managed dress code. Inside, the scene is often full of musicians, media personalities, and young attractive partygoers.
Free admission, average dinner price for two at €50 ($68).
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6) DON'T PANIC
Techno fans will want to head to one of the newest places on the block – Don't Panic, which local fans have already claimed is Berlin-style due to its minimalist interior décor, heavy music and underground atmosphere. The owners claim that the soundsystem at the club is equivalent to a fighter jet flying just 165 feet overhead.
1000 Maybe Worlds