Just like in every city, St Petersburg nightlife is consists of completely different types of bars and clubs. Whether you just want to get a drink or dance all night long, it’s all here. This city never sleeps and never has boring nights, there is always a place open full of people. Most places expect you to pay to get in, although some places use what is here called as face control, the meaning is just like it sounds, if you look beautiful you get in for free, if not, sometimes you don’t get in at all. Although just like in all other aspects, bribes do work. Of course you can always reserve a table, there are two different types of tables, one where you pay a certain amount for the table and then you are able to order food and drinks for the money you paid, so called Deposit table, and other where you just pay for the table and everything else is extra.

Glamorous nightlife:  These clubs are usually consist of the same people that go from one club to another throughout the night and the casual few that were able to get in. There is usually a big crowd at the door wanting to gain entrance, with strict front door policy. Once inside you will find the most beautiful girls and people that are trying very hard to show off. Tourists get the same treatment as everyone else. Unlike most other places, here if you pass the front door the entrance is free.

ХХХХ Lenconcert ( Kamenoostrovsky 11A)

So far the last and most popular hotspot in the city. This XXXX bar does not look like any of the ones you may have visited. This place has very strict front door policy so be prepared to be on some kind of guest list or have friends to get in. Table reservations are not very expensive here and are recommended.

Once a high class restaurant Leningrad, the place has not changed much except for a few bars being added. The place itself is huge, bigger than any other clubs and bars. Asides from the strict front door policy, inside the place is very laidback and fun. There are concerts by local bands, go-go dancing on the bar and barmen shows. All visitors are also able to get on the bar and dance. The music is very mixed, featuring pop, house, Russian pop and whatever else people can dance to. Food is also served all night.

Delight 5\7 (Liteyniy 57)

One of the more recent hot spots. Closes for the summer. This club has very strict front door policy so be prepared to be rejected, bribing can work but all depends on the crowd. Once inside the place is huge and very nicely air conditioned playing popular House music. Most likely you will be greeted by a long line for coat check, but on the upside the lines to the bathrooms aren’t long if there are any. There are two areas, one that has a big dance floor and a bar in the middle and second with just tables that everyone can use. Unfortunately the place gets overcrowded by the middle of the night.

Denis Popov Bar (Kamenoostrovsky  10)

A small bar across from XXXX, named after it creator. One large area with all white design. The isn’t a dance floor, just a bar with house music and food. Strict front door policy is sometimes enforced.

Ne bar (Liteyniy 57)

Located close to Delight 5/7 is a bar that everyone can get in to after an entrance fee (after 12) or reserve a table. The is two floors with a bar and tables on the first floor and a dance floor in the basement. The place is friendly to tourists and anyone else who pays a cover fee. Music is pop and house, food is also served. During the day it’s open as a café.

Decadance (Sherbakov Pereulok 17)

Although part of the Glamorous clubs, this backyard basement club does not fit the usual profile. The club has its own crowd with strict door policy that usually you just know someone at the entrance or pay to get in. You can always reserve a table. The place itself is relatively small, it has a dance floor which is always packed and always lacking air conditioning. Music is a little off beat from others, featuring Hard Trance and such. Be prepared to stand in long lines to the bathroom.

Summer Terraces: These clubs are usually opened around the beginning of June and stay open all summer. During this time many central hot spots close for the summer and most of the local clubbing crowd migrates to these open areas. The places tend to change names but their policy or design doesn’t. Most places are trying to get the most out of the three months they have so be prepared to spend a lot of money on drinks.

Blesk (St Peter and Paul Cathedral) - Face control or 1000 Rubles entrance or reserve a table

This club features the best view in the city, especially at night. Once inside the gates you are able to walk along the embankment of the island and watch the spectacular view of bridges and places of St Petersburg. There is a direct view of Dvortzoviy, Troizkiy and Birjevoy bridges along with having the Hermitage right across from you.

The club itself consists of an open terrace and covered dance floor with wooden floors. There is nothing special about the interior asides from the fact that it surprisingly lacks ventilation of any kind, so it does get very hot inside. The music played is Euro House. Most days the usual visitors to the club are tourists and some locals, although there is a big inflow of locals during major events. Food is also served here when you reserve a table.

Royal Beach (Krestovskiy Ostrov, Ujnaya Doroga 14) - Face control or 1000 Rubles entrance or reserve a table

To get to the place take a taxi and don’t forget about the bridges. There is always a chance of someone not getting in, so be prepared to pay money or walk around the island looking for other places. The club consists of a big dance floor, private tables area and outside area with access to a sandy beach area. The view doesn’t have much to it, just some newly built apartment complexes on the other side. The music played is Euro House. There is not much tourists in this club and there is a strong entrance policy of know someone, pay(sometimes) or hope you are picked. If ordering a table food is also served here.

Chernoye More (Black Sea)  (Krestovskiy Ostrov, Ujnaya Doroga 14) - Face control

Not far from Royal Beach on the same island is this club. The main difference is it’s big pool where you can find people swimming even at night. The music like everywhere else is House, there is a covered dance floor and open area. This place is much smaller than Royal Beach and does not accompany many tourists, usually just locals that know each other. The place has a high chance of being empty so try Royal Beach first if you are already on the island.

Lazurniy Bereg (ех Pacha, Jet Set Beach) (Komarovo, Lenigradskaya Oblast) - Face control or pay

A very small place outside of the city. About one hour ride from the city. Located on the beach of Finnskiy Zaliv it features a very small inside area and an outside pool with a few bars. Most visitors are nearby residents with a few people driving from the city. The place features house music and does get packed if the weather is good.

Konnushenaya Ploshad Bars: Right in the center of the city, this area is heavily populated with tourists and locals having a good time. The bars here have no front door policy, although a cover charge is expected in many. Most of these places you will find English speaking staff and locals with overall friendliness to foreigners.

Achtung Baby (Konnushenaya Ploshad 2a)

Excellent place to get drunk and forget everything. Very smoky unventilated place. If the place is packed security can refuse entrance for obvious reasons. Many foreigners enjoy coming here along with local girls eager to meet them. Cover charge expected.

Bubble Bar (Konnushenaya Ploshad 2)

The most decent of three places in the area. The people here are already with many foreigners that are welcome here. Two completely different in style floors, first floor is heavily populated with loud music while the upstairs area is more lounge. It doesn’t matter whether you come to this place alone or with friends, you will always find people to talk to here.

Mod (Konnushenaya Ploshad 2)

Very cheap punk bar, here you will find all the people that could not get into other places. Many young people with local bands and small dance floor.

The other side (Bolshaya Konnushenaya 1)

Located next to the other bars, this place is a little different. Having mostly older crowd this place is fully packed with expats. The place consists of 2 rooms and summer terrace when weather appropriate. During the day it works as a café and food is served all day and night here. No cover charge.

Other tourist friendly places:

Rossi Club ( Ul Zotchego Rossi 1/3)

Located very close to Nevskiy Prospect, this place has always been a heaven for tourists. With free champagne for girls on Thursdays and other such events, this place gets full with locals and tourists. The best time to visit is Thursday as weekends are sometimes too busy and lack of ventilation cause the place to be very hot and full of smoke. The place features local bands, pop music, and striptease dances about once every hour.

XXXX Bar (Zvenigorodskaya 9/11)

A very nice and friendly place to get drunk. Free entrance before 11 and 1000 rubles after (for guys). The bad parts are only lack of air conditioning and the fact that it sometimes gets very full. The good part is dancing on the bar, dancing on the tables, many foreign and local tourists. Music here is mostly pop.

Other places that can be of interest are Metro, big three floors club on Ligovskiy Prospect 174 with various visitors and music and Griboedov (Voronejskaya 2a) and underground club with random people and foreigners, different music played and open almost every day.