Feeling homesick? Do you long for those nights you spent with your college buddies at the local dive bar just relaxing in a laidback atmosphere sipping on a beer? Do you miss the days when you could buy your friends a round without having to mortgage the house or sell your plasma? Yeah, me too.
That was exactly how I felt when I trudged out of Kropotkinskaya metro and made a short walk down toward Park Kultury. Looking around at all the upscale new buildings, I prepared myself for some stiff face control and an unthinkable dress code. So, surprised I was when I turned the corner on a small side street and was confronted by 33 Teeth, that ever-present corner bar that is required by any neighborhood.
I entered this unpretentious bar and was immediately transported back to my college days. I grabbed my friend and exclaimed, "My God, man! The place even has darts!" Yes, I kid you not, there was a real electronic dartboard, just like the one you used to stumble over to after a few rounds with your buddies.
And what’s more, your buddies are practically there! Thanks to the proximity of 33 Teeth to the Moscow State Linguistics University, this place is chock full of friendly students who all speak English. In fact, when we were there on a Thursday evening, we made plans to play basketball next week with a few fellows.
To make this place even more of a gem, drinks here won’t blow the bank either. Beer ranges anywhere from 50 to 150 rubles, depending on size and type. Long drinks with vodka are about 100 rubles. The club specializes in staple bar food, so if you’re really drunk and can’t read the menu straight, you’ll still order something tasty to go with your beer. The one drawback is that this place closes at 11 p.m. so to really enjoy this place, you should get there around 7 p.m. •