On December 28, 2002, a new club opened in Moscow – Defilye, better known as simply DF and subtitled, "The first Muscovite club of the new generation." With such an interesting subtitle, I decided to research more and find out why exactly DF claims to be a groundbreaker.
I can already hear the naysayers shouting, "Overstreet, you’re a fool! All Moscow elite nightclubs are the same: expensive and lame. Half are even run by the same group of people!" I hear you. I thought the same thing until I dropped my stereotypes and dove in. DF is different and I’ll tell you why.
Yes, DF is stylish and it attracts the beautiful people, which may make many of you feel out of place. But don’t worry; this place is big enough that you don’t necessarily have to be seen in order to see. So if you’re an ugly duckling and not quite as elegant a man as I, you still have a chance here, as long as you have the right threads. In a word, DF is huge! It boasts three highly stylized halls with different atmospheres and a floor space of 1200 sq. meters, allowing you to duck into a small corner and watch the high-rollers and models flaunt their riches and looks.
If you’re feeling crazy when you walk in, head straight to the area dubbed "New York." It’s the biggest and can comfortably handle 200 people at a time. Its "Night Drive" dance floor is one of the largest in town: All 200 people can dance at the same time! And trust me, you’ll want to kick it with DF’s clients. Plus, the lighting and sound won’t let you sit still. The bar in "New York" specializes in whiskey, offering 26 kinds from Scotland, the United States and Canada.
For a slightly tamer experience hang a left as you walk in and head to the second largest area – "Paris," which can hold up to 160 people comfortably. Its dance floor is a lot smaller, accommodating only 40 people, so if you still work the "Roger Rabbit" and the "White Boy," it’s best to sit tight in the cafe-bar where you can chow on Russian, French, American or Italian dishes. If you’re counting your calories or not into beefy meat, try the special vegetarian and low-calorie menus.
Rounding out the worldwide theme is the "Milan" hall. Take a right after you walk into DF to get to this chill location, which is by far the tamest, probably because it’s mainly a sit-down restaurant, which offers the same cuisine as "Paris." To go with your meal, "Milan" boasts a very impressive bar, offering wine from France, Italy, Argentina, Chile and Georgia. If you’re yearning for some hard liquor try one of their 74 kinds of cocktails. You can get even cozier by reserving one of the two VIP cabinets. One seats eight people and the other only three. Wink, wink.
If you like the decor but not the clientele, you can rent out one of the halls for you and your friends. Prices range from $100 per hour for just the "Milan" hall to $550 per hour for the entire club. You can also get banquet and catering services for your party.
DF is the real deal in Moscow’s elite clubbing scene, offering you the chance to see, be seen or both. Either way, you’ll feel richer – and maybe even better looking – the second you walk in. And don’t forget you wallet.