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58 GDAŃSK NIGHTLIFE
Vinifera C-2, ul. Wodopój 7, tel. (+48) 58 320 16 79.
Depicted as the little doll’s house in Gunter Grass’ Call of
the Toad, Vinifera is one of the great disappointments of
night time Gdańsk. From the outside, graffiti squiggles
aside, this riverside lodge could play a part in Wind in
the Willows. Inside, and in spite of regular closures and
renovations, it transpires to be nothing more than a dusty,
depressing bar clogged up with plastic flowers and mirrors
whose reflections have been distorted over time. QOpen
14:00 - 24:00. GB
Clubs
Buffet Club B-1, ul. Doki 1/146b, tel. (+48) 516
84 61 38. One of the hardest to find but most rewarding
venues in the city, this is the home to Gdańsk’s hipster
crowd. Found inside the derelict remains of the former
Lenin Shipyards, you’ll need to head through Gate #1 of
the yard, next to where Lech Wałęsa climbed to speak to
the masses gathered at the birth of the Solidarity movement.
Head straight down past the red brick buildings on
your right and follow the path around to the left where
you’ll find Buffet (pronounce “boo-fett” by the locals, not
“buff-fay” like the smorgasbord) located in the Wyspa
Institute of Art building. Once inside reward yourself with
a drink from their bar, where you’ll find English speaking
super-friendly staff and a calendar of events featuring a
whole host of exhibitions, concerts, workshops and the
like. The major pull here though are the truly memorable
nights which feature Polish and foreign DJs playing anything
from indie to drum n’ bass. Do expect a décor that
reflects the post-communist fate of the shipyards and
nights that finish in daylight. Do not expect Beyonce or
bathrooms with toilet paper. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Fri,
Sat 12:00 - 03:00. PABXW
NEW
Fahrenheit C-5, ul. Długi Targ 39/40. City centre
cellar location with flashing lights outside and face police
on the door. You’d imagine that this was the hippest place
in town. Well you’d be wrong. A small dancefloor, a bright
modern space, a decent sized bar, and most notably, a
crowd that’s definitely not out celebrating exam results
come as a surprise as does the music list which included
such ‘classics’ as ‘Cotton-Eye Joe and ‘Hey Macarena’. But
don’t get the wrong impression. The maturer crowd definitely
know how to have a great night and it fairly bounces
late into the night.QOpen 09:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 -
04:00. From June open 09:00 - 04:00. PAEBXW
Gazeta Rock Café B-4, ul. Tkacka 7/8, tel. (+48) 58
320 24 23, www.muzeumpolskiegorocka.pl. Everyone
is welcome here and the lively atmosphere is a direct reflection.
Classic Polish rock hits burst from the speakers, with
the patrons enthusiastically shouting drunken choruses in
the background. The threadbare sofas get taken fast, and
the interiors are a direct homage to the stars of the Polish
music scene; find numerous pieces of framed memorabilia
and assorted junk nailed to the walls. Q Open 20:00 - 04:00.
From June open 11:00 - 04:00. PJABX
Klub Dobry Dźwięk B-4, ul. Teatralna 1, tel. (+48) 510
48 14 16, www.klubdobrydzwiek.pl. A multi-level dance
extravaganza, and already a claimant for Gdańsk’s sweatiest
dance floor. This place packs with hip thrusting talent, and you’ll
need top pull your best jiggles to stand a chance with the dynamite
blondes who prowl like tigers. Tight t-shirts are favoured by
the lads, and fake coloured claws for the ladies; this is clubbing
Gdańsk style, with lots of flashing lasers and modern finishes
jarring against the sort of sounds you’ll hear on mainstream radio.
QOpen 21:00 - 04:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun. PAX
Gdańsk In Your Pocket gdansk.inyourpocket.com
NEW
Klub Insomnia Gdańsk B-4, ul. Podgarbary 10, www.
clubinsomnia.pl. A few clubs have come and gone through
this ancient brick premises metres from the Golden Gate but
none have made much of a mark. Insomnia doesn’t suggest it
will be any different and while you’ll find good DJs from around
Poland performing, friendly bar staff and an unthreatening
crowd it seems Insomnia suffers from the fact that any
serious clubbers head directly to Sopot and don’t stop at
Gdansk. In fact if this club was in Sopot it would probably be
pretty popular. But unfortunately it isn’t.
Miasto Aniołów D-5, ul. Chmielna 26, tel. (+48) 58 768
58 31, www.miastoaniolow.com.pl. While the music tends
to be mainstream this is a cool space with plenty of seats, and
a minimal capital city vibe. A second bar and a spot for smokers
have been added after recent renovations. Most clubs in
Gdańsk attract a crowd of ‘just left school’ types, so to find a
post-teen crowd doing their moves on the dancefloor is a welcome
surprise, as is the boat moored quayside - a highlight in
the summer if ever there was. Q Open Fri, Sat 21:00 - 05:00
only. Restaurant open 12:00 - 22:00. PYAUEBXW
Parlament B-4, ul. Św. Ducha 2, tel. (+48) 58 320 13
65, www.parlament.com.pl. A multi-level grief-hole with
steel fittings, flashing lights and an overwhelming odour of
booze and aftershave. Here’s where the stag lads go to get
pissed and cheer at tits, and it’s a great place to observe
staggering beer monsters pull Jackson dance steps. No
points for the payment system: punters are obliged to
exchange cash in return for a swipey card which then pays
the drinks - a daft system which simply means you queue
twice. Q Open Thu, Fri, Sat 20:00 - 04:00, and during the
week for occasional events. AUEXW
gdansk.inyourpocket.com
GDAŃSK NIGHTLIFE
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Adult entertainment
Kabaret Ewan B-4, ul. Tkacka 27/28, tel. (+48) 58
301 14 41, www.kabaretewan.pl. If they’re in Gdańsk,
male and celebrating you’ll find them in Ewan. Whether its big
shots spraying champagne, or a touring rugby club on a break
from home, this is the lads favourite, a red-lit cellar space
filled with half-dressed nymphs. The other half comes off in
exchange for a hundred zlot note, the donation of which sees
guests lured into a VIP room for one of the raciest dances of
their lives. There’s a real air of Moulin Rouge decadence here,
and it’s not beyond reason to call this one of the finer strip
clubs in Poland. QOpen 14:00 - 04:00, Sun 20:00 - 04:00.
PAEGW
New Orleans Gentlemen’s Club F-2, ul. Kaprów 19d
(entrance from ul. Obrońców Westerplatte), tel. (+48)
664 96 05 60, www.neworleans.pl. Having established
themselves in the capital by combining a decent menu with
beautiful women, New Orleans try to replicate their success in
the rather quiet surroundings of the Gdańsk district of Oliwa.
Expect a cab ride from the centre of Gdańsk, the usual hipgrinding
action when you get there and pay attention to what
you are ordering. QOpen 20:00 - 04:00. PAUXW
May - July 2012
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