ROCK, ETC.
A2 — Located over wine restaurant Assemblage Actuel, the new club orientates toward live music. A brainchild of Svetlana Surganova, frontwoman of rock band Surganova i Orkestr, A2 aims at some of the best-known bands and fine sound quality. 300-700 rub., free entrance on Mon.-Wed. 12 Razyezzhaya Ulitsa, Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya. Tel.: 984-3690. www.a2club.su
ArcticA — Located at the Research Institute of Arctica and Antarctica, this club is best-known for heavy rock and folk gigs that often start very early in the evening. The home of Pitergrind, the local death metal/grindcore festival. 700-capacity concert hall, a separate bar room and Internet cafe. 50-400 rubles. 38 Ulitsa Beringa. M: Primorskaya. www.arctica-club.spb.ru
Cheshire Cat — Called “Cheshirsky Kot” in Russian, this new art bar offers a program of live bands, art-house, music movies, performance art and exhibitions. In operation since Nov. 29, Cheshire Cat has been launched in a former office space by a group of enthusiasts. English speakers available. Week-days, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.; weekends and holidays, 3 p.m. until the last visitor leaves. Rock, indie pop, folk, reggae. Entrance: free-250 rub., when the band is playing. 32 Zagorodny Pr. M: Vladimirskaya/Dostoyevskaya. Tel.: 575-6151. www.catartclub.ru
 Fish Fabrique — Despite the spartan interiors and menu, this place (which is now in its second location) is still a favorite for local rock musicians and alternative artists, with the bonuses of table football and underground films. Daily, 3 p.m. until the last person leaves. Live gigs start at 10:30 p.m. Entrance 70-150 rubles. 10 Push kinskaya Ulitsa (entrance through the arch at 53 Ligovsky Prospekt). Tel.: 764-4857. www.fishfabrique.spb.ru
Friday/Pyatnitsa — The youth-oriented club Friday has reopened after a hiatus with new interiors, sound system and a slightly changed repertoire. Extreme punk bands were dropped to prevent their rowdy fans from vandalizing newly installed sofas, according to the management. Live concerts, Mon.-Sat., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. R&B and hip-hop parties, Sun., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Drum ‘n’ bass, Thurs., Fri., Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Entrance, 100-300 rub. 10-12 Moskovsky Prospekt. M: Sennaya Ploshchad. Tel.: 310-2317. www.fridayclub.spb.ru
GEZ-21 — Part of the Pushkinskaya 10 alternative arts center, GEZ-21, or the Experimental Sound Gallery, offers experimental music, jazz and occasional rock concerts, film screenings and philosophical readings. Concerts start at 9 p.m. See gigs for dates. 10 Pushkinskaya Ulitsa (entrance from 53 Ligovsky Prospekt, 3rd floor). M: Ploshchad Vosstaniya. Tel.: 764-5258, 764-5263. www.tac.spb.ru
Griboyedov — The legendary bunker club operated by the band Dva Samaliota, Griboyedov has at last built a overground floor restaurant just above the former bombshelter it occupies. The interiors are not completely finished but the place serves food and drinks. Griboyedov is generally full, with a good habit of booking cool alternative bands to mix with its standard rave and techno playlist. One of the best clubs in the city. Wednesday is disco night. Daily, 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. Entrance 200 rubles. Free from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. Concerts start at 10 p.m., DJ parties at midnight. 2A Voronezhskaya Ulitsa. M: Ligovsky Prospekt. Tel.: 764-4355, 973-7273. www.griboedovclub.ru
Maina — A live music club in the city’s northern outskirts, with relatively expensive bar and restaurant. Daily, 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Concerts now start at 9:30 p.m. 200-500 rub. (free entrance, Mon.-Wed.) 154 Pr. Engelsa. M.: Prospekt Prosveshcheniya. Tel.: 332-0044. www.maina-spb.ru
Manhattan/Kotyol — Art club with bar, billiard room and very strangely organized toilets. Originally intended for the underground art elite, it has since changed management and direction a number of times. Daily, 2 p.m. to 5 a.m. Live concerts start at 10 p.m., except Friday, Saturday (11 p.m.) Entrance 60 to 100 rubles after 9 p.m. 90 Naberezhnaya Reki Fontanki. Tel.:113-1945. www.manhattanclub.ru
Money Honey — The city’s first and premier rockabilly bar, complete with a confederate flag and posters of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Usually packed with a rowdy crowd of technical students and leather-clad teddyboys. Bar open from 11 a.m. Shows daily at 8 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Entrance 100 rubles (Mon.-Thurs.), 150 (Fri.-Sun.). 28-30 Sadovaya Ulitsa, 14 Apraksin Dvor. M: Gostiny Dvor. Tel.: 310-0549. www.money-honey.ru
Orlandina — The second location of the underground rock club whose former premises were shut down by the local authorities. Owned by small indie label Caravan Records, the club hosts punk, heavy metal and reggae concerts. Daily, 10 p.m.-11 a.m., except Sat., 10 p.m.-6 a.m. 5/2 Karpovka Nab. M.: Petrogradskaya. Tel.: +7 (921) 903-6902. www.orlandina.ru
PORT — Despite rumors that PORT will soon close to make room for a new hotel, the club’s management says the venue will stay in its current location, just opposite the Mariinsky Palace (home of the city’s Legislative Assembly) for the time being. Originally intended to be a trendy techno club, PORT has changed its direction a few times and is now used for concerts (RZA and Einsturzende Neubauten played here) and school disco nights. See gigs. Entrance 40 to 400 rubles. 2 Per. Antonenko. M: Sennaya Ploshchad. Tel.: 314-2609. www.polygonclub.spb.ru
Revolution — The popular dance club, on scene since 2001, has launched its live concert program recently. Rock, alternative rock, electronic music. A restaurant, four bars. Live shows start at 7 p.m., mostly on Friday and Saturday; dance parties, daily, 11 p.m. Concerts, 150-500 rub.; dance parties, 150-250 rub. 28 Sadovaya Ulitsa (Apraksin Dvor), M.: Gostiny Dvor. Tel.: 571-2391, 571-5915. www.revolutionclub.ru, www.myspace.com/revmusicclub
Zoccolo (Tsokol) — The second incarnation of the now-defunct respected underground club Moloko. The new club is determined to keep Moloko’s trademark “warm atmosphere” and “positive mood.” Nevskoye beer on tap 50 rub., Tuborg 70 rub. 150-400 rub. Thurs.-Sun., 6 p.m.-midnight. 2/3 3-ya Sovetskaya Ul. M.: Ploshchad Vosstaniya. Thurs.-Sun. Tel.: 274-9467. www.zoccolo.ru
BARS WITH MUSIC
Achtung Baby — A new bar between the student-oriented bar Mod and the dance joint Arena and with the now-closed summer bar Dunes just around the corner. Achtung Baby is a convenient addition to the local network of indie bars. DJs and live concerts. Electro rock, indie dance, Britpop, new wave and, hopefully, no U2. Daily, 5 p.m.-6 a.m. 2 Konyshennaya Pl. M.: Nevsky Pr. www.achtungbaby.ru
Belgrad — Yet another brainchild of Fidel's owners, Dva Samaliota musicians Anton Belyankin and Andrei Gradovich (Belgrad, the Russian for Belgrade, is a contraction of their last names), the bar - located next to Datscha and Fidel - has a stage and is supposed to give more attention to live concerts, mostly by punk and alt-rock bands. Opens nightly, 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Concerts start between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. DJs start at 10 p.m. or (if a band is playing on that night) at midnight. Entrance fee for concerts, 100-300 rub. Dumskaya Ulitsa. M: Nevsky Prospekt. No telephone, no website.
City Bar — A legendary expat favorite, this friendly, highly-personable American-owned bar on its new, third location, offers genuine hamburgers and French fries, as well as more sophisticated food. Two room bar with happy-hour deals. English-language books and videos to borrow. Russian beer costs 80 rubles a glass. Daily, noon until the last visitor leaves. Intimate concerts, standup comedy, DJs, Fri.-Sat. 20 Furshtatskaya Ul. M: Chernyshevskaya/Mayakovskaya. www.citybar.ru
Datscha — A success with expats and art crowd since it has opened in 2004, Datscha tries to recreate the atmosphere of a bar in Hamburg, where its owner comes from. Datscha eschews techno, house and drum ‘n’ bass music in favor of rock, soul and ska. DJs perform from 10 p.m. onward. Opens nightly, 6 p.m.-6 a.m. 9 Dumskaya Ulitsa. M: Nevsky Prospekt. No telephone.
Fidel — Acozy indie-disco bar launched by Anton Belyankin, the bassist with the local ska band Dva Samaliota and co-founder of Datscha right next to the place he once co-ran. Opens nightly, 8 p.m.-6 a.m. DJs start at 10 p.m. 9 Dumskaya Ulitsa. M: Nevsky Prospekt. No telephone. www.barfidel.ru
Mod — The downtown bar known for its daily indie-rock concerts mixed with DJ sets, has improved its PA system since it was launched in September, and also boasts the city’s only genuine American jukebox that works, it claims. Owner Denis Cherevichny used to run the now-defunct students’ bar Novus, from which Mod inherited its novus set, a Latvian table game similar to billiards. Mon.-Thurs., Sun., free entrance; Fri.-Sat., 150-200 rub. Daily, 6 p.m.-6 a.m. DJs perform from 8 p.m., concerts start at 10 p.m. 2G Konyushennaya Ploshchad. M.: Nevsky Prospekt. Tel.: +7 (921) 881-8371.
The Other Side — Launched by The Red Lion’s former manager Douglas Pullar in December, the bar has recently introduced acoustic concerts of Cuban, Brazilian and Irish folk music during weekends. Daily, noon until the last visitor leaves. Concerts (see gigs) start at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. 1 Bolshaya Konyushennaya Ul. M.: Nevsky Prospect. Tel.: 312-9554.
POP/DANCE
Havana — Smart Cuba-themed club with live bands and three dance floors playing Latino, house and pop. Restaurant, chill-out room, pool and free popcorn for all. Daily, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Entrance 90 to 120 rubles; Friday, Saturday, 150 to 250 rubles; free on Wednesdays for “real Latinos” with passports. 21 Moskovsky Prospect, M: Tekhnologichesky Institut. Tel.: 575-0488. www.havana-club.ru
Marstall — Usually packed with goggle-eyed foreigners (whose passports get them in for free), Marstall runs a dazzling array of strip shows, with the most athletic dancers and the most creative costumes in town. Bar and restaurant. Daily, noon to 6 a.m. Strip shows start at 11 p.m. 5 Kanal Griboyedova. M:NevskyProspect. Tel.:315-7607.
Tribunal — Often packed, playing the better Russian pop, a bit of rock and a fair amount of classic mainstream, with an all-pervading tequila theme. Good beer-and-munchies place with a nice interior, but on the pricey side. Daily, noon to 6 a.m. Free entrance. 26 Karavannaya Ul. M.: Gostiny Dvor. Tel.: 314-2423.
JAZZ & BLUES
Jazz Philharmonic Hall — Staid, state-sponsored jazz venue, intended by its founder, local jazz patriarch David Goloshchokin, to be Russia’s answer to New York’s seminal Blue Note club. Mostly mainstream and Dixieland repertoire, with the occasional drop of blues. Home of the annual White Nights Swing jazz festival. Concerts most days, 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Entrance 160 to 300 rubles. Tickets in advance at box-office, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 27 Zagorodny Prospekt. M: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya. Tel.: 764-8565. www.jazz-hall.spb.ru
JFC Jazz Club — Probably the most innovative and progressive jazz venue in town. Less formal atmosphere, featuring all styles up to avant-garde and improv. Occasional classical and folk concerts. The latest addition is EthnoWorld, a monthly concert of world music. Mostly jazz crowd and expats. Bar and snacks. Daily, from 7 p.m. Entrance 100 to 300 rub. 33 Shpalernaya Ulitsa. M: Chernyshevskaya. Tel.: 272-9850. www.jfc.sp.ru
Street Life — A self-described jazz restaurant located on the premises of the city’s Architectural Academy in the rooms formerly occupied by the notorious gay club, Club 69. Street Life appears to be oriented toward a blend of mainstream jazz, fusion, Latin and contemporary dance music. Noon-2 a.m. Concerts start at 9 p.m. 200 and more rub. 6 2-ya Krasnoarmeiskaya Ul. M.: Tekhnologichesky Institut. Tel.: 575-0545. www.street-life.spb.ru
GAY & LESBIAN
Central Station — The newly-opened gay club now opens at 6 p.m., which makes it the only evening gay bar around. An extention of the famous Moscow gay club of the same name, Central Station is located close to an older local gay venue, Greshniki. Central Station sounds much more impressive, with its four floors, eight bars, two stages, a restaurant and plenty of dark corners. Opens daily, 6 p.m.-6 a.m. (6 p.m.-7 a.m., Fri.-Sat.). Free-300 rub. 1/28 Ul. Lomonosova. M: Nevsky Prospekt/Gostiny Dvor. Tel.: 312-3600. www.centralstation.ru
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