The Russia Journal

Call me strange, but having three clubs within spitting distance of each other seems, at first, like a bad business move. Apparently, though, Cabana, Vermel and Four Rooms don’t mind the cozy atmosphere on Raushskaya Naberezhnaya, and customers clearly appreciate the variety of choices. Although it’s a bit of a walk from the Tretyakovskaya metro station, one chilly night my American friends and I decided to choose Four Rooms from the trio. We weren’t disappointed.

One Quentin Tarantino and Tim Roth fan among us – Mark – was thrilled to find that, yes, the club was based on the film by the same name. In fact, the club does have four rooms and the television sets there are always playing the movie. Mark was a little bit irritated that it was inaudible, as he would have been content drinking half-liters of beer, which cost between 40 and 90 rubles, and just watching the film. Thankfully for the rest of us, there was more to do than stare at the TV sets.

The club has a restaurant area that was almost full the whole time we were there. The food is decently priced and actually tasty. Although finding a table and getting a server proved to be slightly difficult, the service ended up being timely and friendly. Mark also appreciated the two scantily dressed "Bailey’s girls" who got us to buy a shot of their liquor (100 rubles) for a free photograph. Unfortunately, by the time the rest of our friends decided they wanted to do the same thing, the girls and their digital camera were gone.

There are also two bars in Four Rooms that don’t serve food. Mark, quick to comment on just about everything, was annoyed that people took up room in the restaurant when all they wanted to do was drink. So, if you’re not hungry, the bars are the spots to hang out. The drink prices are adequate, with 50 ml vodka shots ranging from 45 rubles to 65 rubles. My Bloody Mary (80 rubles), however, was nothing to rave about. Occasionally, the club also offers a 50 percent discount on the bar menu before 11 p.m., which I urge you to take full advantage of.

Surprisingly, the dance floor was the least-crowded area in the place. Aside from the live concerts around midnight – which did collect a good-sized audience – by 2 a.m. the place was pretty sparse and I felt bad for the DJ. This was the first place I had been to where the crowd actually started dissipating just as the night was getting under way. One of my Russian friends later explained to me that it was the hip-hop. Russians, apparently, aren’t huge fans of American hip-hop or pop music.

Up to the challenge, I quickly shot her down with an observation: The DJ in fact did play good Russian music – hip-hop and pop – and the mix was great. Although I appreciate the sounds of electronic music, sometimes people just need to give the techno a rest.

Granted, if you don’t like American radio stars like Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado or Crazy Town, then you should probably take yourself across the alleyway to Vermel. I, on the other hand, will be making my way back to the dance floor at Four Rooms. And Mark, who doesn’t seem to enjoy dancing at all, probably will too.

After all, it is Quentin Tarantino.

FOUR ROOMS
4/5 Raushskaya Nab.
Metro: Tretyakovskaya.
Tel: 959-3320.
Hours: 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Cover: Fri-Sat: 100 rubles; Sun-Thurs: Free.