Out On the Town – Bars of Moscow

By Alexander Wildeve

Moscow is the ideal place for a decadent bar crawl due to its over abundance of watering holes, sprawling Metro, available army of Gypsy cabs, and deep drinking culture. There are plenty of throbbing establishments open 24 hours where you can wet your whistle and get well on your way to alcoholic nirvana. Some of the best bars are situated on top of 5-star hotels and provide awe-inspiring views, while you’ll find that most successful bars also serve good food at reasonable prices.

The main Russian beers are Baltika (7 is best), Bockka and Stary Melnik, although a host of international beers are commonly served including Turkey’s Efes, Czech Staropramen and Dutch Heineken. If you’re looking for a nice vodka to try then you won’t go wrong sampling Russian Standard (Gold or Platinum is best), Putinka, Russian Diamond or Beluga.

In most top-class joints you’ll take a seat with your date and wait for someone to come over and serve you. Then at the end of your sozzled session you’ll ask for the bill (“shot, pajalsta”), and leave making sure you don’t fall over! Be careful to make sure you try and eat something each time you take a shot of vodka, otherwise it’s likely you might even be outpaced by your date!

From infinite types of vodka, classic and creative cocktails, to tasty draught beer and a plethora of tea and coffee, Moscow has an extensive range of bars and many great ways to relax and soak your mind.
With such a wild party scene, New Year’s Eve in Moscow will surely go as smooth as a triple filtered vodka…

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BARS OF MOSCOW

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• O2 Lounge Bar

  Address: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Tverskaya Street 3, Moscow (Metro: Kitai-Gorod)
  Tel: (495) 225 8888
  With a breathtaking view of the Kremlin and St Basil’s, the O2 Lounge Bar and Club on top of the Ritz Carlton Hotel has one of the best outlooks onto Red Square. Once through the Romanov luxury of the hotel’s lobby, an elevator takes you up to the spectacular rooftop panorama and cream leather design of the spacious and trendy bar. Patrons can pick from around 400 vodkas and grab a bite from the delicious sushi, steaks, and shashlik. Lively in the evenings, there’s a DJ and dance floor at the weekends, giving you the chance to boogie right in front of the Kremlin.
  
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• Buddies Sports Bar

  Address: 12 Tverskaya Street, Building 8, Moscow (Metro: Chekovskaya or Pushkinskaya)
  Tel: (495) 694-0229
  For sports viewing without the spit and sawdust, Buddies Sports Bar brings some sophistication and comfort to coverage of baseball, football, tennis, basketball and any other sport you can imagine. Set up by sports-starved expats, the bar delivers up Pan Asian cuisine to make sure the food is as spicy as the exciting games on the large and plentiful TV screens. To celebrate a trophy or commiserate over your team’s loss, the bar serves up Kilkenny, Guinness, Heineken and Edelweiss on draught. So if you share a passion for sport with your Russian sweetheart, this is an ideal place to explore that interest.
  
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• Swissotel City Space Bar & Lounge

  Address: Swissotel Krasnye Holmy, 52 Kosmodamianskaya nab, Building 6,
  34th Floor, Moscow (Metro: Paveletskaya)
  Tel: (495) 221 5357
  With an awe-inspiring 360° view of Moscow, the City Space Bar & Lounge will certainly help get your bearings so long as you don’t overdo it on the fabulous cocktails. Located on the highest floor of the Swissotel, this is another bar with a spectacular cityscape roost, sure to impress any date with the bright city lights below and stylish decoration within. Spend a few tingling hours there with a Moscow Mule or Honey Smash, prepared by an expert mixologist, and you’ll want to sit on top of Moscow forever.
  
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• John Bull Pub

  Address: 9 Karmanitsky Pereulok, Moscow (Metro: Smolenskaya)
  Tel: (495) 241-0644
  To get a taste for the cozy comfort of a British ale-house, John Bull Pub right next to Smolenskaya metro is the place to visit. Privacy can be found in the alcoves and low lighting of the dark wood and brass interior.
  
  Pull up a stool at the bar or opt for one of the plentiful tables spread across the two storey bar, to choose from the extensive European menu. But the highlight of this bar is the variety of traditional real ales that include Well’s Bombardier USP and John Bull, and top quality lagers such as Red Stripe and Fosters. Watch out for the good humored cloakroom attendant dressed in a Union Jack shirt.
  
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• La Cantina Bar & Restaurant

  Address: 5 Tverskaya Street, Moscow
  Tel: (495) 292-5388
  Treat your lady to the fun and colorful experience of Mexico at the La Cantina Bar & Restaurant on Tverskaya Street, Moscow’s main drag. The first Tex-Mex restaurant to open in Moscow, La Cantina is best enjoyed for its energetic atmosphere as a bar, brought alive by Latin music with special performances and dancing.
  
  To make sure you feel like you’re in the Mexican hills, the walls are adorned with cowboy hats, saddles and gold mining equipment.
  
  Get started with a bottle of Corona or Dos Equis, before moving onto the tasty delights of a Daiqiruri, Margarita, Mojito or abundance of tequila on offer. Try to catch the attention of one of the tequila girls who might surprise you with her ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ tequila pistols. And if you ever finish with the drinks menu, you can fill up on some splendid Mexican specialties such as quesadillas, spare ribs, chicken wings and fajitas.
  
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