Where to dance in Belgrade The main techno clubs, bars with DJs, drag shows and performances
As for the nightlife, in recent years Belgrade is the new Berlin: there are many concerts of alternative music, techno-parties, electronic showcases of the local community and all kinds of festivals. There are many places in the city — they are often located on the site of abandoned industrial warehouses and factories. Parties in the city are not limited only to techno-music, the nightly life here is also full of drag shows, cabarets and performances of contemporary artists.
Words: Nadya Samodurova
Photos: Konstantin Kondrukhov
Drugstore
The main underground space of the city is a techno-club in the building of a former slaughterhouse. Drugstore hosts parties of different genres — selective techno concerts as well as artists popular in their niches — from local Sveta Pseta and Gazorpazorp up to the British Crack Cloud or violinist Jessica Moss. Also this is home for numerous events held by the main communities in the city: Kišobran, Hali Gali, Mrak and Popoff Kitchen, and the best local Djs, like Stevie Whisper, Cosmic G, Rusmir, Feloneezy, perform here. In the summer Drugstore garden works with red backlight, and one can dance in the atmosphere of the wild underground rave in the open air.
Instagram • Bulevar Despota Stefana 115
20/44
Perhaps the most unusual attraction of the night Belgrade are the famous splavs — pier barges along the Sava and Danube embankments, where night clubs and bars are situated. Most of them are quite old-fashioned, both for the choice of music and for their design. But there are exceptions — for example, the „20/44“ club. An unremarkable boat is in fact almost the only splav, where DJs play alternative music. Before turning into a techno-space, „20/44“ used to be a strip club, since that time there are dancing poles remaining inside the barge. The club has an access to the deck with a very beautiful view of the city center and Kalemegdan Park, it is a great place to meet the dawn while chatting with friends and drinking a shot of rakia.
Instagram • Savski Kej BB
KC Grad
KC GRAD is a multifunctional cultural center that is located near the Brankov Bridge on the Sava river embankment on the site of the former warehouse. KC GRAD was created in 2009 by two organizations — Cultural Front Belgrade and the Felix Meritis foundation from the Netherlands. On its second floor there is a gallery where exhibitions of local and foreign young artists are regularly held and educational programs are organized. On the ground floor there is a dance floor and a stage. In the evening there are presentations of books, movie screening and cooking master classes, as well as concerts. On Fridays and Saturdays the cultural center is open until the morning: you can get to the electronic party, drag show, cabaret or karaoke. During the history of KC GRAD dozens of residents of cult world projects performed here, such as Boiler Room, the Marvin & Guy duet, the turkish DJ Ece Özel, British Donna Leake and Ece Duzgit, the Russian duet Simple Symmetry and many others.
Instagram • Braće Krsmanović 4
Guvernanta Drinks & Decadence
An extravagant pop-up bar Guvernanta is located on Balkanska street, next to the Hotel Moskva. The owner of the bar is a feminist and artist, Vladitsa Chulich (Vladica Čulić), she characterizes the place as a shelter from boredom and prejudice, as well as a platform for activist actions. The walls of the bar are decorated with multi-colored wallpaper, and wooden furniture seems to be moved here from an old Kafana. In the basement there is a space that accommodates 60 people and a stage with neon illumination. The main regular event in Guvernanta is Pop-up Kafana, an informal karaoke project, where guests are offered to sing to the accompaniment of composer Mishko Lukich (Miško Lukić). This place hosts a variety of events, among them there are presentations of zines and comics, performances, queer parties and techno raves.
Instagram • Balkanska 4
DIM
One of the most remarkable places in the art cluster on Cetinjska street is DIM. This is not just a bar with its own vibes (and a luxurious design interior), but an original cultural center and a concert space where important city events are held. The founders of the project say this is a place for adults, where one can come after work and warm up before a night party (the bar works only until 1 a.m.). The interior in DIM retained an industrial chic of the former factory workshop, and the Papir Kamen Kamaze studio brought furniture here — it turned out provocative and futuristic. And certainly look at the project Instagram — the announcements of events here are made as reckless as possible.
Instagram • Cetinjska 15
Hangar
One of the most popular techno stages in the city, which is located in the industrial zone of the Belgrade port. The club opens its doors only for large parties, mainly in the genres of electro, progressive and psy-rance. The team pays great attention to the design: the raves often take place with impressive visual installations and a mapping show. For example, for autumn a massive rave React is planned here, the French techno-maestro Antigone, the original DJ Daria Kolosova and other important figures of the techno stage will perform there.
Instagram • Žorža Klemansoa 37
