Traveling only a few stops beyond the brown line is enough to enter another world. Molodozhnaya is out east on Kutuzovsky Prospect and, at least in terms of nightlife, it is like a different city. It’s a popular and fairly trendy area, there are plenty of new cars in the car park and Ramstore is next door. A surprise then to find that beers start for just twenty rubles. These "out of the center" clubs have all have common features: low costs, large rooms, young crowds, a cheery atmosphere and a distinct lack of musical variety.

Fate would have it that one of the owners, Bruno, was celebrating his birthday on review night. The Fifth Element is a large cinema style venue with a small poolroom (two tables 40 rubles) and an enormous dance-floor. The Luc Besson movie decoration starts at the entrance with a mannequin suspended over the door, and continues throughout, mostly in the form of fluorescent murals.

A degree of concern for a potentially flat night in an empty club was dispensed on arrival, Large venues are great but need large numbers to keep them alive. The special party night had the Fifth Element packed almost to point of bursting, a mainly young crowd of people all having a great time, what’s more, most people seemed to say weekends are usually bustling.

What ensued was a pretty lively night among a more than friendly crowd. Nothing revolutionary but plenty of fun, the only set back being the music. A range of DJs were there to keep things moving, it was just a little difficult to differentiate between each – this is a bit of a techno zone. If your tastes are more expansive you’ll have to rely on the friendly crowd or the cheap beer to keep you going.

12 Yartsevskaya Ul.
Metro: Molodozhnaya
Tel: 149-1001
Hours: 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.(7 a.m. Fri./Sat.)
Cover: 60 to 80 rubles