The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad is one of the coolest up-and-coming places for partying in Eastern Europe. Expect to find a range of Soviet-influenced bars, pumping nightclubs, rock joints and British pubs in this eclectic mix of popular drinking venues.
Named after Russia’s first post-Communist leader Boris Yeltsin, this trendy bar is a place for hipsters, students and foreign visitors. Inside you can expect a superb range of craft beer, a lively atmosphere and lots of sociable people willing to chat the night away. This is one of the coolest up-and-coming bars in the city. It stays open late at the weekends. Staff can speak English, Russian and Polish. Bar Yeltsin is on a main road on the way to the city centre, and also has a large beer garden.
The city’s most famous British-themed pub, Pub London is a warm and cosy venue packed with lots of memorabilia that makes you feel like you are in England. The menu also satisfies British taste buds and flavours with British ales such as London Pride making up the beer menu and English breakfasts, classic burgers and roast dinners on the food menu. The pub also shows live sports, including English Premier League football and boxing. The main bar is a central wooden bar, typical of the pubs in London, and the seating is open plan with a few booths. This venue acts as a restaurant, bar and club all in one. Live music and events make it a great sociable hangout on the weekends.
One of the finest bars, clubs and restaurants all in one, this is Kaliningrad’s trademark place to have a good time. The Wild Duke Tavern is famous for its excellent food and late-night atmosphere. It opens at noon and stays open until 6am and is spread across a number of rooms in a large complex. The dance floors attract top DJs and a real party vibe. The pub area is great for families, birthday parties and staff events. The large booths are comfortable places to eat and drink, while waiters and waitresses serve direct to your table. Check the website for updates on upcoming events and parties in the nightclub part.
A little taste of Ireland in the heart of Kaliningrad city is the well-designed Lybeerty Irish Pub. Inside, there are comfortable leather booths, a traditional Irish ambience and wooden décor. The menu mixes Irish with Russian in some style. A good Russian beer is served next to a top-quality Irish stout (Guinness is on tap here), there are numerous Irish whiskeys to rival the traditional Russian tipple of vodka, and live sports are shown from all over the world. The food menu has bar snacks and hearty main dishes with plenty of fish and meat options, and Irish pies. There are no windows as it is a basement bar, situated in the city centre, on Lenin Street.
One of the coolest nightclubs in Kaliningrad city, the Nisha Concept Lounge and Bar is a true party spot. The finest local girls dance the night away to the music of the city’s most well-known DJs. Nisha has been in operation since 2013. There are three halls inside the Nisha Concept Bar and Lounge, each with their own stylish upbeat bar ready to serve the finest vodkas, beers and cocktails through the night. There are also snacks served if you get peckish. Please note it is a nightclub for partying, and is a noisy venue that is only open four nights per week. At the weekend, it is open until the early hours of the morning (7am on Saturday, 6am on Sunday).
Occupying a prime spot just a minute walk from the famous Pobedy Square is U Gasheka. This is a great bar for beer lovers. It has a Czech-influenced menu and décor. Beers are served in Czech-style tankards with a good range of Czech pilsners, lagers and dark beers. Food wise, there are delicious Czech dumplings filled with meat, fish or vegetables. Czech desserts also feature on the menu, including apple strudel. On top of the Czech choices, there are Russian soups, salads and main course. It can get busy on Friday and Saturday evenings, so reserving a table in advance is recommended. Overall U Gasheka is a warm, friendly and lively bar in which to spend a pleasant evening with friends.
Bykov Bar is one of the best located bars in the city in terms of centrality. It is only a few minutes’ walk from Pobedy Square and the main sights in Kaliningrad, including the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Bykov Bar has a stylish and modern interior with wooden tables, open-plan seating, stools and dimmed lighting. It is most popular for being a late-night venue where customers have great food and then chat and drink the night away until the early hours of the morning. There is a particularly good selection of beers both on draught and in bottles and very welcoming bar and kitchen staff.
