Moscow’s Glittering Nights: The Wild Party Scene of the 2000s
Moscow’s Legendary Nightlife: A Blast from the Past
In 2008, DJ Smash released his iconic track ‘Moscow Never Sleeps,’ and indeed, Moscow was the place to be. The grim memories of the 1990s had faded, financial crises were a thing of the past, and the future shone bright. The dollar was at a mere 37 rubles, borders were open, and Hollywood stars like Will Smith and Charlize Theron graced the Moscow International Film Festival with their presence. The city’s nightlife was pulsating with energy, filled with clubs, music, and rivers of champagne. Fast forward a quarter of a century, and the world has changed dramatically, as has Moscow’s nightlife scene.
The Shift in Lifestyle Trends
“If you’re following someone who does yoga at 6 AM, eats avocado toast, and takes magnesium salt baths, it only means one thing—they used to party hard and drink even harder,” netizens often quip. Wellness has become the new trend, replacing the wild party scenes of the past. People who once danced the night away now discuss ferritin levels and the best brands for pilates gear instead of the best spots for daiquiris.
The Evolution of Moscow’s Nightlife
Nightlife enthusiasts are sounding the alarm: the party scene has mutated beyond recognition. Traditional gatherings where the goal was to outdrink each other and belt out karaoke tunes until dawn are becoming rare. Major brands now prefer different formats—digital detox retreats, pottery workshops, or paddle tennis tournaments. Those who do venture into nightclubs rarely stay past midnight, as mornings are reserved for running clubs, meditation sessions, or coffee cuppings. This shift makes photographs from the early 2000s look more like historical archives than recent memories.
Nostalgia for the 2000s
We’ve previously delved into how Moscow’s high society partied in the early 21st century. Today, we invite you to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Who knows? You might feel inspired to relive those days—dust off your rhinestone boots, gather your friends, hop in a taxi, and hit the dance floor once again. “Just a little more and straight to heaven! What a beautiful life!”
The Iconic ‘Rai’ Club
In the 2000s, you could find a club to dance the night away on every street corner, but the epicenter of Moscow’s nightlife was the ‘Rai’ club. Located near the ‘Red October’ chocolate factory, the club exuded an air of carefree living with a hint of chocolate. Initially, the Queen club was supposed to open in the same building in 2006, but it burned down before it could welcome any partygoers. Despite this setback, ‘Rai’ opened its doors, becoming a magnet for Moscow’s elite.
The Elite Crowd
‘Rai’ quickly became the go-to spot for everyone from movie stars to Forbes-listed billionaires and high-ranking officials. Roman Abramovich was known to host corporate parties there, and the president of Kalmykia, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, once threw a party with Shaolin monks. The hype around ‘Rai’ was immense, with kilometer-long queues forming on weekends. The face control was strict, and the surest way to get in was to have a deposit—sometimes up to $10,000 for a table.
The Atmosphere
To ensure the club’s atmosphere was top-notch, ‘Rai’ had its own scouts who searched for beautiful women to add to the ambiance. These women were given free champagne and expected to flirt, dance, and engage in light conversation. The club also featured some of Moscow’s best dancers, particularly those trained in classical ballet. There was even a pool where Alexander Ovechkin once considered taking a dip. However, ‘Rai’s’ glory days were short-lived. The club closed in the summer of 2011, marking the end of an era of Moscow glamour.
The Legendary ‘Diaghilev’ Club
Moscow’s elite didn’t just frequent ‘Rai’; the ‘Diaghilev’ club was equally legendary. It quickly became as popular as the Bolshoi Theatre. While high-society guests were taken to the ballet in the evening, they danced the night away at ‘Diaghilev.’ The club’s face control was infamous, with Pasha Pichugin, aka Pasha Face Control, reportedly even denying entry to Monica Bellucci once. It was at ‘Diaghilev’ that Enrique Iglesias charmed Russian beauties with his gaze, and Shakira danced seductively.
The End of an Era
‘Diaghilev’ met a tragic end in 2008 when a fire caused by faulty wiring forced its closure. Fortunately, the fire occurred during the day when the club was nearly empty. The news of the fire shocked Moscow and seemed to foreshadow the decline of the city’s vibrant nightlife. For a few more years, partygoers continued to seek hedonistic pleasures to escape the real world’s problems, but gradually, the excess money that once flowed freely in nightclubs dried up.
Other Notable Spots
Oksana Robski wrote her books about life on Rublevka in Vogue Café. Fedor Bondarchuk partied in Soho Rooms, and stars like Gina Lollobrigida and Ronaldo dined at the ‘Vanil’ restaurant on Ostozhenka. These were the glamorous days of Moscow’s nightlife in the 2000s.
For more nostalgic photos and stories, check out our gallery.
