Odessa is one of the most notorious for their nightlife cities in Ukraine, visited massively by tourists from all over the world, who want to experience the notorious hedonistic scene of the city.
Nightlife in Odessa is quite different in winter and summer, in both seasons though very active and vibrant. Between the end of May an the end of September the main scene in downtown closes and gives its place to the beach clubs mostly located at the Arcadia district, where visitors and fun seekers can find huge open air venues in all possible designs and styles, attracting thousands of tourists and locals daily. Arcadia is relatively close to downtown and if you don’t have your own means of transport you can hire a taxi to take you there, for about 5-6$. Entering fees are approximately 8$ during weekend and 5$ in regular week days, while the average price in all of them is about 2.5$ for a beer and 4$ for scotch.
Some clubs are open from early afternoon since visitors can go for lunch and dinner as well, however if you want to go for the night life experience you should be there by 11.30; most clubs stay open until 5-6 in the morning. Assol is the club you should definitely visit if coming to Odessa, as it is renowned not only for its great fun and entertaining venue but also for its decoration. The club is built as a replica of a traditional sailing boat and looks literally like a ship on a dry land. It has a smaller dancing venue and is less hectic than some of the other clubs of the area, but it is preferred for its live cabaret show and go-go dancers. The staff is friendly and discreet and the drinks are affordable. This place can be great if you want to relax with your date and partner, especially in week days.
Itaka is one of the must-see places in Arcadia. It is built in two levels and is overlooking the black sea. At the top floor there is a small bar and some seating points available to those who just want to relax and gaze at the sea, while on the ground floor there is the large venue built in Ancient Greek Architectural style, with a loft type stage and seating for almost 300 people. In Itaka there are many happenings and events going on very often, but when there are no live concerts there is a DJ all day, playing some mainstream music. Itaka’s visitors vary, ranging from youngsters to more mature people who appreciate the great location and environment. If you decide to go you can get the wrist stamp after paying the entrance fee and you can use the same when visiting Ibiza club, which is something like a brother club and pay less fee there. Pago is also a very famous club located almost opposite from Itaka and is the oldest big club open in Arcadia ever.
Of course Itaka and Assol took over these last few years, however Pago is still very attractive place to be, especially for those who want less mainstream and pretentious happenings and music. The club is set amidst lush greenery and the landscape is absolutely gorgeous and perfect for relaxation and fun. There are four bars and two dancing venues and there are live shows during weekends in one of the dancing areas while the other plays disco and music from the 80s. Both the admission fees and drinks are much cheaper than in the other clubs of the area.