Just in from my on the ground accommodations concierge in Moscow - from the USA - loves Moscow more than LA where he has family:
You have to remember that expensive doesn't mean it's a good club. Soho for instance is past its prime and full of fat rich guys looking for easy women. You're better off going to Nightflight.
You also have to understand that it's very hard to get into the many top clubs, almost impossible without being well connected.
A couple I can recommend; Simachev. A decent little club with nice women and popular with foreigners. A local hang for many artists, models, and Moscow's hip.
A new club getting a lot of hype, but I haven't been is a place called Chips on Petrovka. Only know it the trendy place to see and be seen now.
The Krasni Oktrabre area has some hip, upscale places like Strelka, Belka and Fantomas. Again, not easy to get in. Good luck.
See: http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/Clubs.html
There are four really good places to go out in Moscow: Solyanka (hipster heaven), Rodnya (more edgy, great music, young crowd), Simachev Bar (tasteful decadence) and Strelka Bar (a bit older, serious, intellectual crowd). They are hip, they have a great atmosphere, quality music, and beautiful interior. So if you don't want to waste your time, don't go anywhere else.
The problems start when you want to actually waste your time and find some hidden gems. Because there's none, really. The "good" clubs are too occupied maintaining their cult status to allow for anything that would be risky and weird. Besides, exorbitant prices make sure that those who would not give a fuck simply stay away (meaning you get the same boring stuff all over). The "bad" clubs are busy copying what their patrons have seen on an occasional trip abroad, so you won't even get a taste of the authentic Russian kitsch, which could be quite exciting (head to the smaller towns for that).
Finally, you should also be aware of the Moscow speciality that we call face-control – implemented by the clubs that don't have enough confidence. Speaking English while passing through the security always solves this problem though, because the imbeciles at the entrance don't really know how to deal with foreigners.
The entrance to most of the clubs is between $10 and $15. The drinks are super expensive, beer is about $5, vodka shot can be around $10 at some places, cocktails range from $5 to $20 per drink. Usually the fun starts around the midnight and it's not rare for the parties to go on till 5-6 am. Most places are opened 24 hours in Moscow, so you can easily go and have a great meal right after clubbing.
You have to remember that expensive doesn't mean it's a good club. Soho for instance is past its prime and full of fat rich guys looking for easy women. You're better off going to Nightflight.
You also have to understand that it's very hard to get into the many top clubs, almost impossible without being well connected.
A couple I can recommend; Simachev. A decent little club with nice women and popular with foreigners. A local hang for many artists, models, and Moscow's hip.
A new club getting a lot of hype, but I haven't been is a place called Chips on Petrovka. Only know it the trendy place to see and be seen now.
The Krasni Oktrabre area has some hip, upscale places like Strelka, Belka and Fantomas. Again, not easy to get in. Good luck.
See: http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/Clubs.html
There are four really good places to go out in Moscow: Solyanka (hipster heaven), Rodnya (more edgy, great music, young crowd), Simachev Bar (tasteful decadence) and Strelka Bar (a bit older, serious, intellectual crowd). They are hip, they have a great atmosphere, quality music, and beautiful interior. So if you don't want to waste your time, don't go anywhere else.
The problems start when you want to actually waste your time and find some hidden gems. Because there's none, really. The "good" clubs are too occupied maintaining their cult status to allow for anything that would be risky and weird. Besides, exorbitant prices make sure that those who would not give a fuck simply stay away (meaning you get the same boring stuff all over). The "bad" clubs are busy copying what their patrons have seen on an occasional trip abroad, so you won't even get a taste of the authentic Russian kitsch, which could be quite exciting (head to the smaller towns for that).
Finally, you should also be aware of the Moscow speciality that we call face-control – implemented by the clubs that don't have enough confidence. Speaking English while passing through the security always solves this problem though, because the imbeciles at the entrance don't really know how to deal with foreigners.
The entrance to most of the clubs is between $10 and $15. The drinks are super expensive, beer is about $5, vodka shot can be around $10 at some places, cocktails range from $5 to $20 per drink. Usually the fun starts around the midnight and it's not rare for the parties to go on till 5-6 am. Most places are opened 24 hours in Moscow, so you can easily go and have a great meal right after clubbing.