Where to Go: New Year Eve Celebrations in Bratislava.

      Every year, 31-st of January is the day, when our little-big city Bratislava transforms into something that we can call "Partyslava". It´s gonna be a hell of the night, so I have prepared this insiders guide, to provide you more detailed info about what´s on, where to go and have an awesome time. I will provide you some videos, links and basic info regarding party places, tickets, schedules and so on :) 

City centre - The Old Town will become one massive party place with several stages and despite of summer festivals, this is  definitely the best opportunity to get now our local culture ( or pop culture ), since only Slovak bands will perform this night. 

Official Programme of Bratislava City. 

Main stage : Hlavné námestie - Main square. 

00.15 – PARA /SVK/ - everybody knows PARA,c´mon – no need for any further introductions – GO, HEAR, SEE and ENJOY! Check video here

19.00 – GIPSY DEVILS /SVK/  - we couldn´t imagine the best kick start for party then a band of crazy, passionate gipsy musicians with unlimited talent and hot temper. Something devilish is hiden in their tunes – they won´t let you feet still and you will dance like there is no tomorrow. Check video here (youtube.com)

20.30- MEDIAL BANANA /SVK/ & 21.30 LE PAYACO – very popular reggae&ska bands, will get you high Medial Banana video check here ( youtube.com ) 

22.40 – HEX – one of the Slovak most popular band /POP-ROCK-FOLK/ - ask some locals nearby to teach you the lyrics in slovak. Hex music here

00.15 – PARA /SVK/ - everybody knows PARA,c´mon – no need for any further introductions – GO, HEAR, SEE and ENJOY! Check video here

HVIEZDOSLAVOVO SQ. – SECONDARY PARTY STAGE. From 19.00 – 1.30

Do you preffer party with DJ – if yes, this is the place to BE – Open Air party at the ice rink!

The New Year´s countdown and midnight fireworks will take place on Nam. Ludovita Stura – Ludovit Stur sq. Fireworks will be launched from the Danube between Stary Most and Most SNP bridges. Best Viewing spots are Nam.Ludovita Stura sq. and Razusovo sq. river bank.  

Bratislava clubs and bars will be absolutely crowded this night, that´s why I have prepared a short list for you, where you can check your favourite spots - its websites and alternatively make reservation or buy tickets in advance... or just get inspired :) This is not a full list of all Bratislava clubs and bars - it would be impossible to list them all, however when you will walk Bratislava streets, you will find a lot of other amazing places with parties or live music going on. 

INCHEBA – Mega Silvester Party  - Party until early morning with 7 DJs. Start at 21.00, tickets from 12 EUR. city part Petrzalka, close to SNP bridge. Mega silvester website 

BABYLON MUSIC CLUB – 10 DJ´s offering the best house and progressive electro music in town! Party will start at 18.00, ticket cost 10 EUR. Nam SNP Sq. Check line up here

KC DUNAJ – one of the most popular indie/alternative club in Bratislava. Featuring crazy Hugo Čáves Orchestra, cool DJs playing all night. Some snacks, bottle of Champagne and traditional slovak soup „Kapustnica“ included in ticket. Entry cost 25 EUR and party will start at 20.00. Nedbalova Street. I would recommend you to buy tickets in advance, because this place is very popular and they have limited capacity. You can buy tickets directly at KC Dunaj Bar. 

LA FIESTA – do you have a taste for a latin music? This might be a right place for you. Tickets are from 25-34 EUR. Snacks, welcome drink, coctail, all you can eat buffee included. Party will start at 21.00. Prievozska street 18.  more info here

NUSPIRIT CLUB – classy but alternative prog.electro club will host 6 cool DJ´s tonight. Various styles from soul/jazz/house/hip-hop/funky breakz/dnb will get you on your dancing shoes. Tickets: 6EUR before and 8 EUR after midnight. Sturova Street - visit also amazing nuspirit bar on Medena street! 

SUBCLUB – NYE celebration for alternative souls. Massive DNB party in former war bunker sounds like a sweet end of the old year and promising start of the new one. You can look forward to electronic animals like DJs : Chris.SU, CAMEL, Decipher, Huspi or Inkwall. Party will start at 22.00, tickets from 9-11/14 EUR. 

MAJESTIC CLUB – Oldies Party – if you are looking for Superstious grease lightning and all you need is love this might be the right place for you.. Start at 21.00 Karpatska Street.

UFO BEACH – NYE party with gipsy soul´n´funk/hip-hop gipsy band and various DJs. This party takes place under the SNP bridge, where you can have nice view on Bratislava Old Castle. Tickets costs 18EUR, some catering, snacks, welcome drinks included. Party will start at 21.00

IRISH PUB – WHATEVER/SVK/  live rock/pop band, that you can sing along with. Tickets:?, start at 20.00. Sedlarska street.

BARROCK – Rock´n ´roll club and restaurant. Tickets for table reservation costs 35EUR – 3 course meal and welcome drink included. After midnight, regular entry : 10EUR. Sedlarska Street.

MASQUERADE CLUB – New Year Carnival. Party mix/mainstream DJs.  Entry : regular: 7EUR, with reservation&welcome drink – 15 EUR. Venturska street.

TRAFO – Classy&poshy club, mainstream party mix music, live DJ. Tabble reservation with welcome drunk and snack – 30EUR, after midnight entry with welcome drink – 20EUR.  Venturska street.

RIO – Classy mainstream club&restaurant, live DJs. tickets: 50 EUR – 4 course meal , welcome drink and reservation. 30 EUR – snack, welcome drink and reservation. After midnight regular entry : 10EUR. Panska street

PRIMI – mainstream club&restaurant, live DJ. Tickets: 40EUR – reservation, 5 course dinner and welcome drink. 10 EUR cost regular entry after midnight. Michalska street

HAVANALounge bar – hot latin music, live DJ´s and band, tasty coctails, tickets : 10EUR, Michalska street

APOLON GAY CLUB - well, Bratislava is not famous for a vibrant gay scene, so we can call this place a ... "jewel" :) Entry 3EUR, party start 22:00 

Also check out these places: 

DUPLEX - cheesy classy mainstream club for youngsters 

HIGH STREET CLUB - LGBT friendly party-mix disco club 

DEZMAR MUSIC GALLERY -  jazz&rnb&soul music club

CAFE SCHERZ - cosy music bar, that can surprise you

Important things to know: 

On 31-st of January, most of the shops and supermarkets will close earlier than ussual - opened max. until 5pm. Make sure to buy all you need in advance - also for next day, because 1-st of the January is bank holiday, so restaurats, bars, shops, supermarkets will be closed. 

source: Bratislava Tourist Board

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed this little guide to Bratislava NYE celebrations and that you will find a perfect place and have tons of fun. 

I will very grateful, if you could leave us some feedback in order to improve future articles :) 

Oskar from Hostel Blues, Bratislava!          Check our amazing facebook site here :)                                 

Slovak Easter Tradition, or how to avoid a cultural shock.

   As many other countries we also celebrate Easter Holidays and according to Christian tradition, it is the most important religious feast. Big Friday is the day, when Jesus Christ has been crucified, and White Sunday is the day of the resurrection.

  

 On Easter Monday, while Norway is watching and solving detective stories, in Finland and Sweden, small children dressed as witches collecting candy door-to-door, in Netherlands and Cyprus are people watching the huge bonfire and Americans are hunting for chocolate eggs hidden by some tricky bunny, in Eastern central Europe, in Slovakia, we enjoy some „spanking“ and „watering“. However it sounds weird, it’s our very important non-religious tradition.

     Easter Monday ( Veľkonočný pondelok ) is the day of the primaeval tradition of feast, „Šibačka“ (Shee:bu:tchka) and „Oblievačka“(O:blea:vutch:cku).

   „Korbáč“ (Cour:butch) is a special handmade whip made from willow usually from half a meter to two meters long and decorated with colored ribbons at the end. According to this tradition, in the morning, all men, spank women with this whip. The spanking is not intended to be painful or cause suffering, it´s a symbol of men´s interest in women, therefore girls, who has not been visited and „beaten“ on that day could feel a bit disappointed and insulted, strange , isn’t it? During spanking, men usually have to recite „koledy“ – what is a stylized rhyme : „ Šibi ribi, mastné ryby...“ (shee:bee -  ree:bee, must:na ree:bee) – Do not ask me , what does is it actually mean ( something related to whipping an oily fishes, what is probably not the correct translation).

There is no escape! :) 

    This „spanking“ is popular mostly in Central and West Slovakia, however, in Eastern part, tradition of „Oblievačka“ is the most common way how to make women suffer more on this lovely day. No, no there is not such a thing as a suffering, it’s a pleasure, compliment from men. Oblievačka does literally mean watering...Now, you probably know where am pointing to ...Yes, men in the morning visit all women, take big jars of water and spill the water over them. Colder water, the better.  Occasionally – mostly in country-side, on favorable conditions, girls end up in small streams, brooks, laughing and swearing to the gods – usually if the men are too lazy to carry a jar with water. Oblievačka is the symbol of purification and according to tradition, it will make women healthy and beautiful for the rest of the year. So girls, get rid of those over-priced „no-good“ cosmetic inventions and come to Slovakia. Nowadays, the tradition of East, Central and West Slovakia has been unified, so you can enjoy „spanking“ along with watering.

Why to waste some energy by carrying pails of water when there is some nice and cold stream nearby? 

However, this sounds strange, it is not all. Since girls do really enjoy this old tradition,  after the whole ritual, they have to reward the men! This is the power of equality! Most traditional reward are „kraslice“ ( cru-slee:ca) – beautifully decorated eggs. Nowadays, also chocolate rabbits, eggs or some other sweets are common and all of the guys called also „Šibači“ (Shee:bu:tche) are invited to join them with the rest of the family along feast table. 

Beautifuly decorated handmade eggs called "Kraslice"

Therefore, don’t be surprised, if you will see on Monday, around 1 – 2 pm, groups of noisy „tipsy“ and clumsy men carrying long rods with ribbons and jars of water, that are hardly able to crawl back to their homes. 

5 alternative places you should definitely visit in Bratislava...

       Bratislava is maybe not the craziest party town in Europe, but sometimes even local patriots as me, who believe in ultimate and unchallengeable knowledge of everything that surrounds us, got surprised of variety of choices one can made during a little bar-hopping and fun-seeking night. I believe, that the most important ingredience which will ensure a pleasant night is people you are hanging out, but...even when you´re with your best mates, crappy music, bad service, expensive drinks and unfriendly atmosphere can wash away your good mood for good. Well, that’s why I came to decision to share my ideas and spread a good word about few places I know, that one cannot complain about. 

This article is a part of our little guide of Bratislava and today, we talk about alternative (non-mainstream) places,  ...:)  

1. Batelier

     Located on Tovarenska street, in post-industrial area, not so far from city center. This place is run by few enthusiastic people, who love art and "wants to share their interests in exploring new horizons of contemporary music, arts and culture..." This club is one of those places which are always crowded by young artists and musicians, cheap drinks, great music, nice staff and a multifunctional area, which offers bar, music stage, dance stage and art room for exhibitions. They often organize cultural events to support cultural minorities, alternative and underground scene. 

2. NuspiritClub

     When you mix electronic music, superior design and tasty drinks together, an elixir called Nuspirit will be crafted. This club during its existence hosted many important DJs, local or abroad, those chosen ones under ninja tunes label, or the others less popular, but skilled. Do not expect 90´s pop-trance or Britney’s overwhelming emotions packed to sweet - ear tearing pop ... but alternative electronic scene - from dubstep to chillstep, house to techhouse, minimal to funky breakz, from chicago to detroit. Occasionally, only some brilliant jazz musicians will change this electronic ambience, what is a nice break after electro madness.

3. Cvernovka

     

    Cvernovka is kinda hit or miss place for fun-seekers, but, those who are willing to meet some local artists, those who likes post-industrial environment, which is slowly transforming into inspirational art areas ... for all of those ultimate urban explorers, who can´t visit a place without exploring at least thousand street-art spots. And if you are lucky enough, sometimes, there are crazy events like ping pong night or moustache parties or interesting music or art festivals. 

4. Subclub

     Well, it is hard to say, that there is possibly anybody, who is heading to Bratislava, and don´t know about the Subclub, which situated under the Old Castle hill in former bunker. It is a sanctuary of all underground creatures, hipsters, intellectuals, revolting youngsters, electronic addicts, dark-gothic-neo-punk paladins, friendly anarchists,  reggae rastamans, for those, who are going to sleep with dubstep and waking up with DnB in their ears, for those, who does not really care about fancyness, glamour and high-class style. Cheap drinks, unique ambience, but sometimes a bit messy. Still worth to try. 

5. KcDunaj 

    

    After opening KC Dunaj, it took only few weeks to achieve a title : one of the best clubs in alternative scene. Bar section, club and dancing room, cozy chill out room, terrace on the top of the building with beautiful view, very reasonable prices, friendly staff, various cultural events including: concerts, DJs, Literature sessions, dance workshops, art festivals, board games night, movies nights, dramatic events, festivals presenting minorities and alternative culture... Honestly, must go, even on Monday :) 

     Well that´s it. I hope that you have enjoyed the reading and please make us happy by reading our next article, which is coming soon. 

/this article is a part of official blog of Hostel Blues Bratislava/