Life is in full swing on the grounds of the former Arma gasworks. In January of 2009 the club Arma 17 burned down, but quickly moved into a new structure, which is now called Arma 09. This sizeable industrial building is fully suitable for full-blown raves, which happen here periodically.

Tourists in Moscow could be shown this small but very fashionable bar belonging to Russian fashion designer Denis Simachev. The tour would say, «Look on the wall at the gold Kalashnikov, and there is Filipp Kirkorov trying on some clothes.» The bar is unsuitable for dancing, although good, often imported DJs play here. But there is physically no room to get down: it would be a shame if someone stepped on Kirkorov’s foot. But at the same time, the place is worth a look. If the dancing doesn’t work out, there are people to watch.

Here is one more club on the grounds of the Arma gasworks – a high-quality, spacious dance club with a format that is so far rather indeterminate: sometimes it’s techno-rave, and sometimes there are «live» concerts of incomprehensible experimental electronic music. One wants to believe it will work out; the makings of a great club are already in place.
Cover 300-600 rub.

You won’t find Genre Crisis on your own. Better ask someone. The joint is packed and space is limited, and you may not get in, especially if you come in a large group. If you are admitted, then it’s just like you got a visa for the UK: an authentic English pub, English people. On Fridays and Saturdays there are concerts by some sort of unknown indie-pop band and plenty of cheery Brit-pop dance music and other guitar music with the obligatory morning catharsis by Oasis’s  Wonderwall. In contrast to a real English pub, you can smoke here. But there is no good without bad: watchful security guards. Don’t try putting your feet on the chair or coming in with your coat on. The answer will be, «Excuse me, we don’t do that here.»

Masterskaya or Studio, which recently opened where the now defunct Giusto Bath House-Shower used to be, is not a dance club in the usual sense. If other places are discotheques, then what you have here are dances. If other places have dances, then what you have here is a hoe-down. There’s high steppin’ here on the weekend to a live orchestra and DJs playing all manner of hits from the last century. The result is a blast, soulful and definitely unexpected and unpredictable. By 3 AM everyone is happy and drunk. If you don’t like the music, you can go downstairs to the «hipper» DJ bar. If you’re tired, head upstairs to the conveniently located «art-hostel».
Сover 400 rub.

During the week Mio is a mild-mannered restaurant serving tasty Asian cuisine. But on the weekend it transforms into something to be reckoned with. It is an amazing place. The small club had for a long time been the headquarters for the electronic music boom in Moscow: Tiga, Adam Sky, Andrew Weatherall, David Carretta, Justice and Zombie Nation played here, among other groups. Twice a month on Saturdays there are parties called «I Love Rien I‘m Parisien» with French DJs and electronic music specialists. Stopping in is heartily recommended.
Сover 500 rub.

Probka, now twelve years old, is one of the main dance clubs in Moscow. The music is mostly house in various manifestations with parties happening daily. It’s perhaps better to come here on weekdays. On the weekend the line is painfully long and there is no more space inside than at «Genre Crisis» (the two clubs have the same owners). Sunday is a boys’ night.

Solyanka opened its doors in 2007 and was the best club in Moscow for a whole year, becoming the home of a charming, varied set of people, including the so-called «hipsters». Then the face-control got less strict: there got to be more and more dudes at the bar in sport jackets. Nonetheless, it’s worth stopping in from time to time, especially on the first Saturday of the month, when there are parties by the promo-group Idle Conversation.
Сover on Fri and Sat 500 rub.