Alternative Art Clubs in Moscow

Moscow is very good for ethnic music concerts and visual art. Live performances do not happen too often and you're better off checking out some contemporary art galleries in our Arts section. Check out the clubs below for a list of the best "alternative" clubs in Moscow — they can be good places to meet the people who are "in the scene" and to start exploring the other side of Moscow.

FAQ Cafe
A quirky and arty cafe in a prime location just off Tverskaya. This maze-like underground cafe has four different halls, three of which can only be accessed through a child-sized opening in the wall. The first hall is decorated in standard cafe style, the second like a pre-school playroom, the third is more classy (even with beds) while the fourth is like a library. Food prices are very reasonable, the choice is extensive but the meals are not exceptionally tasty and quite small. The chicken for 135 rubles ($5) is a good bet, also blue cheese wraps (195R - $7) are popular. The budget beer is Sibirskaya Korona for 65 rubles ($2.30). Wi-Fi internet is available only in the first room.
The only drawback is that it's quite smoky in the cafe, especially in the first room.
FAQ Cafe regularly plays host to concerts, especially jazz, as well as other performance events and movie screenings. The crowd is friendly and a relaxed atmosphere pervades the place.

In the mould of Moscow’s other arty cafes, but much more eccentric and interesting, this is a great place to check out when you’re looking for something a bit different.
Address: Moscow, Gazetny Pereulok, #9, Bldg. 2, metro Okhotny Ryad. View Map Tel: (495) 629-0827, Website: www.faq-cafe.ru. Open 12:00-6:00.

 
Dom Club
One of the most interesting art centers and clubs in Moscow. Hosts alternative and avant-garde events as well as concerts by authentic musicians. There's a small inexpensive bar and an art gallery on the second floor. Highly recommended if you want to experience contemporary Russian culture, especially music.
Address: B.Ovchinnikovskiy pereulok #24, tel. (495) 953-7236.
Listings (in English!): www.dom.com.ru
Area: Zamoskvorechie, metro Novokuznetskaya (green). View Map
Open: wen-sun 19.00-0.00 Entrance: around 60R (2$)  
  
 
 

Club na Brestkoy.
Located in a basement, rough and stylish design, good

restaurant and nice music. Again, as many places in Moscow, this club is inhabited by an eclectic mix of office types, artists, students, club-goers, and whoever else happened to pass by, but you can always be sure that they all wanted to be there, so at the end it's a nice, diverse, and friendly crowd.
Often features concerts by alternative Russian groups and art events.
Address: 2nd Brestkaya street, #6 (entrance from 1st Brestkaya), metro Mayakovskaya. View Map Telephone: (495) 200-0936. Open: from 12.00 until the last visitor. Entrance: free 

Proekt OGI.
Started 10 years ago as an underground publishing house/art gallery/club housed at an apartment, Proekt OGI has grown into a very casual and relaxed hangout and a literature cafe, the intellectuals' paradise. Crowded, friendly, smoky, and as alternative as it can get.
Almost every day they have interesting performances: poems and texts readings, video shows, music, exhibitions etc. There's also a small gallery and a book shop. The problem is that it's becoming a bit "artsy", so the stuck-up door guard might not let you in if the club is too full.
You can eat at OGI for 150R ($5), but the waiters take a bit long in the evening when there's a lot of people.
Address: Potapovskiy pereulok #8/12, View Map tel. (495) 927-5609, 927-5776. Area: Kitai Gorod, metro Chistye Prudy (red). Open: daily 24 hours.

 
Bilingua
Once part of the OGI chain, Bilingua is essentially modeled in the same style as its better-known siblings. Popular with the usual art club crowd of students, ‘intellectuals,’ struggling artists and people after cheap beer and food. A big plus is that their budget beer is Klinskoye (50r, $1.80) instead of the usual, undrinkable Sibirskaya Korona. The food is also quite tasty although the portions are small. The sizeable stage facing on to the large hall with ample seating makes the regular concerts here an enjoyable experience. And the clientele aren’t quite as irritating as at other art clubs in Moscow. On the downside service can be unbelievably slow and they often run out of Klinskoye… and sometimes out of all beer.
Address: Moscow Krivokolenny Pereulok, #10, Bldg. 5, metro Chistiye Prudy/Lubyanka. Tel: 623-9660. Open 24 hours.

Pr Ogi Restaurant / Literature cafe / Bar
Not really a club, more like a cafe, this place has a very nice bookshop and is the local favourite for the intellectual crowd.

The food is very cheap and the selection of music is quite good, although there's no DJs. This can be a good place for a night out: there's something very cozy and at the same time metropolitan about it.
Address: Bolshaya Dmitrovka st., #23, next to Mariott Avrora. View on Map Tverskaya, metro: Okhotny Riad (red), Teatralnaya (green). Open: 24 hours, Cards: Visa, MC