Russia nightlife in this guide means venues you can find on the map: cocktail bars, jazz rooms, a rooftop, a themed bar and a pub chain. Most entries are in Saint Petersburg, mainly in the Tsentralny district around Nevsky Prospekt and the Mayakovskaya and Dostoevskaya metro stations, with one chain pub from Irkutsk.
Each place has its own article with hours, entry details and directions. Use this page to decide what kind of evening you want, then open the article for that venue. Hours can change, so check each venue's official channels before you go.
Choose by the kind of evening
For cocktails, look at Bar 812, Daiquiri Bar, Orthodox Bar and El Copitas Bar. El Copitas is a semi-secret courtyard bar with no sign, and it works on a booking-only basis. Orthodox Bar is built around Russian spirits.
For live jazz, JFC Jazz Club has concerts in the evening, The Hat Jazz Bar is a standing bar with nightly jam sessions and no advance programme, and the Jazz Philharmonic Hall has two halls and a museum of jazz history.
For dancing and singing, Ruki Vverkh! Bar has a dance floor, karaoke and retro consoles, and Union Bar has a dance floor and a courtyard terrace. Griboedov Club is a music club, so check the schedule. Roof 18 is the rooftop option, and Harat's Pub in Irkutsk is the pub choice.
Timing, busy nights and price levels
Most bars here are busiest on Friday and Saturday and calmer on weeknights. Several stay open until the early morning on those nights, so a weekday visit suits you better if you want a seat and a conversation.
Some venues follow their own pattern. The Jazz Philharmonic Hall reportedly closes on Monday, Union Bar is reportedly closed on Tuesday, and El Copitas is open only a few evenings a week, reportedly Thursday to Saturday. Harat's Pub hours vary by branch.
Most places are at a moderate price level (₽₽). Daiquiri Bar, Roof 18 and El Copitas Bar are at the upscale level (₽₽₽). Treat these as estimates and read each article for details.
Getting there and getting home
Most Saint Petersburg venues are a short walk from a metro station. Ruki Vverkh! and Daiquiri Bar are near Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor, Bar 812 and Union Bar are near Mayakovskaya, and Orthodox Bar and El Copitas are near Dostoevskaya and Vladimirskaya. JFC Jazz Club is near Chernyshevskaya, and the Jazz Philharmonic Hall is near Zvenigorodskaya.
Roof 18 is on the Petrogradsky side, with Gorkovskaya and Petrogradskaya as the nearest stations. Because many venues close late, work out how you will get back before you go out.
Frequently asked questions
Where is most of the nightlife on this list?
Almost all of it is in Saint Petersburg, and most venues are in the Tsentralny district near Nevsky Prospekt. Roof 18 is on the Petrogradsky side, and Harat's Pub is in Irkutsk.
Which venues are best for live jazz?
JFC Jazz Club, The Hat Jazz Bar and the Jazz Philharmonic Hall all have live music. The Hat is a standing bar with jam sessions every night, while the other two are concert venues.
Do I need to book a table?
Only El Copitas Bar is described as booking-only. For the other venues, check the individual article and the venue's own channels.
Which places stay open until the early morning?
Ruki Vverkh! Bar, Bar 812 and Union Bar are all reported to stay open until the early morning at weekends. Hours change, so confirm with the venue first.
Is there a nightlife option outside Saint Petersburg?
Harat's Pub is an Irish-style pub chain that began in Irkutsk, with several branches, one of them in the 130th Quarter. Hours vary by branch, so check the one you plan to visit.
Which venues are calmer?
Weeknights and early evenings are generally calmer at the bars on this list. Weekends fill up, especially at bars with DJs or dance floors.
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