September has long been established as the month when clubbing seasons culminate with their huge closing parties. But move over Ibiza, there are cooler destinations that hit the spot. Voyager reveals three surprising clubbing capitals and three different styles of clubbing that equal one hot season ahead
ALTHOUGH BETTER KNOWN for being business and
financial centres, Zurich, Moscow and Brussels have been
steadily developing their nightlife scene. Our experts in
these bmi destinations bring their insider knowledge so
that after a hard day of business meetings or intense
shopping, all you have to do is party. And this is why:
ZURICH CONJURES UP thoughts of Swiss
banking, private vaults and expensive
watches on the wrists of bespokesuited
businessmen. But the city is fast
becoming a European clubbing capital,
says Celeste Neill-Duvoisin.
- What’s the latest club? Zukunft [33 Dienerstrasse, www.zukunft.cl] means ‘future’, aptly for a forward-thinking venue defining the city’s sound. Its interior style – like its music – is minimal but with a delectable disco twist. Zukunft is the heart of Zurich’s thriving electro music scene. It features local producers like Kalabrese, whose laid-back, leftfield house sounds are making them big names on the international dance circuit. Rather than hype, the club relies on word of mouth among a hip, slightly more grown-up crowd more interested in getting down on the dance floor than on the pick-up.
- Join the cool crowd at… The old factories and dusty warehouses around Zurich West have been an ideal breeding ground for an incredibly diverse club scene. The Rohstofflager [Duttweilerstrasse, +41 (0)44 439 9090; www.rohstofflager.ch] is perhaps the most impressive. Set in a gigantic old milk factory, it produces industrial-strength minimal techno sounds that bounce off the giant steel pipes and black brick walls. Germany’s legendary techno master Sven Väth holds his Cocoon record label nights here.
- Good to name-drop… Although Zurich-born producer Headman is now a Berlin resident he’s still the biggest export in Swiss dance music this year. His acid-punk pop anthem On & On (Gomma) was a cult hit and he has remixed the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Mylo.
- And an old favourite still going strong… The theatrical glamour of Kaufleuten [Pelikanplatz, +41 (0)44 225 3322; www.kaufleuten.com] is a perennial favourite for the local glam pack, who adore the big house sounds and plush, red velvet interior. An added attraction is the chance to spot any international celebrities in town – Madonna and Prince being among the A-listers who have dropped by.
Just a street or so away is Toni Molkerei [109
Förrlibuckstrasse, +41 (0)44 273 2360; www.tonimolkerei.com],
a vast former yogurt factory whose stark white walls
are now softened by custom-made cylindrical statement
lights and a wall to wall red glass bar. Its DJ programme
champions the freshest names in European hip hop and
R’n’B. The venue and brand have become so ingrained with
pioneering Swiss youth culture that it plans to launch its
own campus of arts, education and entertainment in 2010.
But Zurich’s club scene isn’t only focused on the Zurich
West district. Among the cobbled, narrow streets of the old
town there are a number of more luxurious late night spots
catering for the jet set. The spectacular interior design of
Vertigo [10 Niederdorfstrasse, +41 (0)44 888 4408; www.vertigozurich.com]
with its gourmet dining, DJ stars and
sensual lounging has made it a hit. Bathed in white this
‘reclining restaurant’ features seductive beds layered around
the interior and a soundtrack of deep house sounds via
regular guest DJs such as Parisian Stephane Pompougnac.
HAVING THROWN ASIDE the constraints
of communism, Moscow has embraced
the free market with gusto. As disposable
incomes increase, so does the demand for
fun. Club owners have to be constantly
innovative and cutting edge. When it comes to the party
scene, Muscovite glitterati aren’t just embracing excess,
they are giving it a huge, vodka-infused bear hug. The
European capital of bling is renowned for incomparable
hedonism – it’s all about glitz, glamour, g-strings and
pushing boundaries to the limit, says Harriet Brocket.
- What’s the latest club? The hottest club in town causing a stir with the city’s elitny is Soho Rooms [Savvinskaya Naberezhnaya, +7 (0)495 988 74 7444; www.sohorooms.com], located in an old warehouse building on the Savvinskaya Embankment. The owners have gutted the inside to form large atriums of two storeys. The main bar area has a mirrored-wall, lit by a large inset fireplace, whilst the dance floor offers laser shows and go-go girls suspended on chandeliers. An excellent place to see and be seen is the VIP seating suspended on a balcony over the dance floor. Up the grand staircase, you’ll find the restaurant (all clubs have one), but the main allure is the pool terrace, where revellers gather for a dip or just to take some air and enjoy the views over the Moscow River.
- Join the cool crowd at…
- Good to name-drop…
- And an old favourite still going strong… Night Flight [17 Tverskaya St, +7 (0)495 629 4165; www.nightflight.ru] was the first club to open in Russia some 17 years ago. This well-known hotspot continues to be a stomping ground for international business people looking for a good night out.
Rai [9 Bolotnaya Embankment, +7 (0)495 767 1474],
meaning ‘paradise’ is the place to find the young ubertrendy,
beautiful, rich young Russians. The enormous dance
floor is framed by several layers of VIP balconies adorned
with gyrating go-go girls. Here, you can order a ‘kalyan
oligarkh’, a hookah-pipe made with Cristal champagne
costing 25,000 roubles (about £540).
The Most [6/3 Kuznetsky Most St, +7 (0)495 773 3100] wins on exclusivity. Owned by an oligarch, it’s unlikely you’ll get in unless you’ve got some mega-bucks to put down on the table. But once through the door, make your way down to the cavernous basement. A huge crystal chandelier hangs over the main dance floor where thumping house music amuses the beautiful people.
Novikov owns more than 80 hip restaurants in the capital,
including the GQ Bar [5 ul. Baltschug Dinm, +7 (0)495
956 7775]. Leather chairs and wooden shelves give an
Old World club feel, but the roof lifts off at weekends as
Moscow’s revellers come out to play.
THE MAIN REASON for opening her
salon in Brussels, according to the Parisian
celebrity hairdresser Marianne Gray
was that the Belgian capital reminded
her of Berlin. “There’s still a real raw,
avant-garde energy here. I love all these
amazing underground spaces, especially along the port
area,” she told me. The city has transformed from shy and
understated to unapologetically cool, declares Brussels
native Nina Lamparski.
- What’s the latest club? The port area is where the city’s clubbing craze is now focused. Raw, avant-garde and underground, the decadent Anarchic party series invite you to get elegantly wasted and high on electro sounds. Held inside the K-Nal [1 Avenue du Port, Havenlaan, Centre, tel +32 (0)479 605 429, www.knal.be] – a converted warehouse overlooking the Brussels canal – this stylish dance orgy has been the talk of the town since event organiser Benoît Vano launched it last year. Every third Friday of the month, local and international DJs get beat addicts’ adrenaline pumping on two separate floors. Headlining acts have included New Jersey spinmaster Morgan Geist and Ghent duo the Glimmers. The former has appeared in Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Albums of the year, while the latter receive phone calls from Madonna and Robbie Williams asking for collaborative projects. The venue alone makes Anarchy nights [www.anarchic.be] worth a visit. There’s a downstairs split-level area for the hardcore stomping and a penthouse, the Chic Room, for a more chilled-out vibe.
- Join the cool crowd at…
- Good to name-drop…
- And an old favourite still going strong… Known as the cradle of Belgian electro and house, the Fuse nightclub [208 Rue Blaesstraat, Centre, +32 (0)2 511 9789, www.fuse.be] has withstood the test of MTV and fleeting pop trends. The cult place, spread across three floors, has been going strong for nearly two decades. Anyone who is someone, from Laurent Garnier to Sven Väth, spins the decks here.
Bains::Connective [34 Rue Berthelotstraat, Vorstlforest,
+32 (0)2 534 4855, www.bains.be] is an ancient former
swimming pool that now hosts lounge evenings with
artistic performances under the name Plankton. Enjoy live
music acts and exhibitions in an awe-inspiring space.
The Flat [12 Rue de la Reinette/ Pippelingstraat, Centre,
+32 (0)47 218 9873; www.theflat.be] is another, albeit
much slicker, party hotspot. Right now this two-level
yuppie bar is one of the trendiest addresses in Brussels. The
establishment gets its name from the fact that the upper
floor looks like a stunning private apartment, featuring
a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. DJs heat up the
atmosphere in the downstairs lounge. The place organises
great themed parties on an invite-only basis – sign up to
the mailing list and join the elite next time you’re in town.
Café Belga [Place Eugène Flagey Plein, Ixelles, Elsene,
+32 (0)2 640 3508, www.cafebelga.be] near the newly
refurbished Flagey square, is where the famous go when
they want to be left alone. Apart from excellent live acts by
turntable greats like DJ Herbaliser, the bar runs regular jazz
events and has a huge terrace.
Brussels’ hottest asset now is Cosy Mozzy, who exploded
onto the national club scene in 2003, becoming one of
Belgium’s most wanted DJs, producers and record label
owners. Visit www.dirtydancing.be to find out when the
grand master and his disciples are shaking the masses next.
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