There are clubs in Moscow, which seem to be pretty clean. While I worked at Pacha for example, I saw the “zero tolerance policy” of the clubs owner on various occasions. While he can’t avoid that some people lock themselves into a toilet and snort a line or two, he was very much against drugs and made sure that the security spots drug dealers and kicks them out, but also prevents open drug use inside the club. We are family, another (long closed) club, was much more lax with its policies. Some of the bartenders even sold drugs over the counter openly. That’s why the club was closed after 3 raids, where the police found a good amount of it.

Most of the Moscow drugs seem to be cocaine and cannabis, but also ecstasy and speed seem to be popular. In summer and autumn, some people go to the woods to pick magic mushrooms, which are also pretty popular over here. MDMA and other chemical drugs seem not to be so easy to get your hands on. Heroin must be wide spread, but its rare you see an addict somewhere on the cities centers streets. I heard you’ll find more of them in the suburbs and the Russian regions. And of course there is this new ugly drug, called crocodile, which kills most of its addicts within 2 years. Its a chemical drug and apparently it all starts with foul skin, which looks like crocodile skin and that’s where the name comes from. Meth should also be easy to get your hands on, since the cold medicine is sold freely over the counter and often still includes ingredients, which are long prohibited in other countries, but I’ve never seen it around.

The price of cocaine and cannabis is almost double of what you’d pay in Europe, but apparently the quality is pretty good and the price is so high, since as the consumer you’ll also have to pay for the complicated transport into the country and all of the bribes, which are involved to get the product into the city. Supply is not steady and while my friends in New York or Berlin, just have to call a dealer or his messenger to get their product, there are long dry periods in Moscow, where product is in high demand, but supply very limited.

That’s my 5 cents. A piece of advice for foreigners. Stay away from any drugs, while you are here (if you can). The people who sell them to you, will hand you out to the authorities in a heartbeat, if they get caught themselves. Because in that case, they won’t have to pay the bribe to stay free, but you’ll pay for them and you. Being a foreigner, you’ll probably have a much higher income and more to lose. Typically this will cost you anywhere from $1000 to 10 000 and more, depending on how bad your situation is. I heard lots of stories from people who got caught in the past years and I also heard from a kilo of cocaine being planted in a guys car, because they had no other way to get to him, since he was clean when they decided to check on him. Keep that in mind, next time you’ll dig a line of coke or a joint for relaxation. Russia is a bit different in that sense as well.

Also, and that is a different story, but I feel its appropiate to warn you here as well, be careful when you are in a club. Especially the afterhour clubs are known for shady girls and guys, who will put some drugs in your drink to be able to rob you. but it can also happen in a place like Imperia Lounge, which is one of the best clubs in town (that’s where they drugged a friend of mine). It happened to many of my friends, even to myself and unfortunately not only once. Always keep your drink close to you and be aware, especially if you talk to people you don’t know. If you feel strange, try to find a friend immediatly and ask them to take you home or at least watch you. You won’t be able to make it alone and THEY are just waiting for you somewhere to take you out and rob you. If you are unlucky it can even cost your life. A Kuweity diplomat was drugged in a restaurant last year (on a Sunday). Apparently he was with a girl and she must have given him the drugs. The guy (I used to know him and I was shocked when I read about it) was found dead next to the tracks of a Moscow trainstation. His car, a $150 000 Porsche Carrera, was missing and he had no more belongings on him. Probably (I didn’t get any info on that), his apartment was cleared as well. Rumor is that he was drugged and overdosed by accident.

If they have protection, it seems the dealers can even openly sell drugs, which this video from Novosibirsk is showing. The two guys drive to a known spot, where dealers hang out. The film everything and they are not happy that even young kids can easily go there and buy their fix. The conclusion is that the dealers even have some protection and don’t have to worry about being busted, or they are just some idiots, which don’t care, if they get caught or not. You can find idiots everywhere on this planet.

Sunday

Garage – RnB Night
Propaganda – Gay Night (if you feel like it) . Naomi Campbell was seen at that party already (she’s currently with a Russian oligarch and in Moscow sometimes).

Monday

Its a dull day in general. Heard there is something happening at Papa Johns downstairs in the club.
Otherwise check Looch (Luch) for a cocktail at the bar.
Simachevs should be OK or get a pint of Guiness at the Silvers Irish Pub

Tuesday

Once a month they have “Propaganda got Soul” with nice funky soulfoul house at Propaganda. Check the schedule. Its worth it. Nice people and nice tunes.

Otherwise check the Latin Night at Papa Johns, which is usually full and pretty funny. You feel like being in a club in South America with many of the Latin community being there and dancing, along with some nice Russian girls.

Wednesday

Beernight @ Paparazzi. Its the weekly business network after work beer from 8 PM to midnight.
Right after you can head to Polyanka and enjoy the cities best RnB party at Garage Club, starting at midnight.

Thursday

As for the warm-up I suggest a visit at the cities best lounge, called Looch (Luch) on Bol. Piragovskaya 27. Its usually pretty filled up with the banker types and girls.

If you are one of the privileged or you know someone who is, you can join the legendary tech house parties at Ninja Vanilla. No reason to go there, if you didn’t get yourself on the guestlist before. Its impossible to get in without.

Check Sanchez House night at Propaganda. One of the oldest parties in Moscow and still one of the best, despite the recent increase of pussy hungry and hunting (as well as annoying) foreigners.

If you like it more glam, check the Thursday parties on So-Ho Rooms exklusive summer terrace. There are anywhere between 20 and 300 people, depending on the party, but it usually fun. So-Ho Rooms is one of the best clubs in Moscow with a hard facecontrol, but you can pass that with ease, if you and your partner are following their dresscode (glam, fashionable, elegant – no sneakers, no ripped jeans, jacket and shirt are usually working).

And for the ones of you, who don’t care about glam and are into rock, check Rock n Roll, which offers a 20 cocktails for 1000 Rub special and is full with drunks and drunken girls.

Friday/Saturday

These are probably the best going out nights in Moscow and it have much to offer.

Warm-Up

The warm up I suggest a cocktail at City Space (Swiss Hotel), Klava Bar, Paprazzi Bar (where we DJ).

Watering Holes / Girls & Booze

The legendary Real Mc Coy has changed owners, but is still a good night o visit during the weekends. Its usually packed with sub-urban girls and love hungry men. Try their famous 0.5l Mojito or Long Island Icetea.

Che Bar has a somewhat latin flavor and is usually filled with easy girls and Russians as Expats hunting them.

Rock n Roll Bar is on the lower middle class side, but usually full with a good mood and nice sub-urban girls.

Petrovich is for the older ones of you. Or let me put it this way, if you like Milfs and Booze, this is your bar. Its a pretty fun place, if they would only play a bit less Russian 90s classics.

Bars

Then there are the cities hottest bars on Krasnye Oktybr, rocking all night long: Strelka (more cool and hip), Rolling Stone and the new hotspot Gipsy. Luch (Looch) is usually also pretty full. Or try Dream Bar, one of the more easy to get in and not so expensive bars. Right across that you’ll find Didu, which has a nice audience and very cool drinks (but horrible and too loud music). If you feel like hanging out with Moscows rich and beautiful, than you should check their latest favorite bar: Manon.

Clubs

As for clubbing, you can visit one of the glam places, like So-Ho Rooms or Imperia Lounge. If they don’t let you in, try Pacha or Rai, which are usually not so picky. These clubs are typically filled with long legged model type girls and rich guys. Expect commercial house music (the worst!) and even Russian pop.

My favorite club is still Solyanka. You can mingle with the cities most trendy people and listen to the latest in tech-house and house, performed by foreign guest DJs.

And if electronic music isn’t your kind of thing, than check out Moscows most popular Indy Club Krizis Zhanra.

Afterhour (after 3 AM to noon)

My favorite Afterhour is still at Paparazzi, a small downstairs club with excellent DJs and a nice mixed crowd. If you like it more glam, then you should try out Krisha Mira. After 3 AM they do facecontrol and let people without the card and guestlist slot in, but let me warn you. They are very picky. Krisha is the hangout of the cities entertainment elite and the ones who want to hang out with them (politicians, oligarchs etc). Beatiful people, nice atmosphere with tech-house music. But again, hard to get in.

An alternative is Arma, which is a huhe old factory hall. Usually its full with student types and hip people and they have good DJs. Expect tech-house and minimal.

If you want to hear house music, you’re better off at Garage Club, which is small and cozy, but a lot of fun. Or you visit the cities dirties club, Glazur, which is always crazy fun, but also a bit dangerous.

!!! A piece of advice at this point. Even though its late and you may be drunk. Hang on to your drink, don’t let it stand unattended and be careful, who you’re drinking with. Some of Moscows afterhour clubs are also hangouts for thiefs, who are looking for your wallet and Iphone or even worse, chicks (or boys) who drug you and after rob you and your apartment. So be careful!!!

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That’s it. I’ll add and adjust this list frequently. If you need addresses and more information, just google the places: name+moscow. Or contact us, we can book you a table and get you in with ease. Sometimes even with a table deposit discount from 10% to 30%.

Post your opinions below. I’m happy to hear you recommendations and get feedback.