What is anticafe? An interesting tour of the iconic institutions of Moscow and St. Petersburg

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

How we are all used to going to cafes, bars and restaurants where you can meet friends, talk and have a bite! It is a pity that you can not come there for the whole day. After all, then you will need to constantly order food or drinks, otherwise the administration will, at best, express bewilderment, and at worst, ask you to leave.

What about entertainment? Music, TV shows or Wi-Fi for those who come with their laptop. But! Due to the conversations of other visitors, it is impossible to work in silence or just retire, for example, reading books. This is not accepted here, such institutions have other goals. Newfangled anti-cafes allowed a fresh look at the organization of leisure in catering establishments.

Modern trends

What is anticafe? This is an absolutely new format for cultural recreation and civilized entertainment establishments in Russia. All of themthose who wish can enjoy an unlimited amount of time with free meals, games, work, socializing, watching movies and special events such as competitions and master classes.

Coming with a company is not necessary, there are many friends of interest here. It is also not customary to order a complex lunch: there are no waiters, no chefs, or even a full-fledged kitchen in the anti-cafe. But there is coffee, tea, soft drinks, sweets and pastries, and for free. The only taboo is alcohol, you cannot bring it with you. But you can do everything else that will satisfy a slight hunger.

History of occurrence

What is anticafe? In fact, this is an analogue of a time cafe or time clubs. The prefix "anti" speaks for itself: the usual rules do not apply here. The idea of the existence of such institutions belongs to Ivan Mitin, a Russian entrepreneur who opened the territory of the free space "Tree House" in 2010.

At first, visitors left as much money as they wanted in payment for visiting it, receiving in return tea, coffee, biscuits and the opportunity to have a good time. Later, Mitin proposed per-minute billing for services. He implemented this concept in the new Ziferblat project, a fashionable time cafe that opened in 2011. Since 2012, there has been a common term for all such establishments "anti-cafe".

Interior and entertainment

What is anticafe? Reviews of visitors characterize it as a place of increased comfort: inside everything is like at home. One large hall or sever altarget rooms with comfortable sofas and pillows, armchairs, tables. You can even take a nap in a hammock. Those who are interested in the detailed situation inside a particular anti-cafe can see photos of its interior in our article or on the pages of fashion magazines.

The cost of the visit includes the use of game consoles, board games, cinema, library, Wi-Fi with a laptop on demand. There is also an area for training or business negotiations with magnetic whiteboards for presentations. Naturally, this is not all. Anti-cafes are so diverse that any visitor will be able to choose a suitable activity. For example, you can sing karaoke or watch a wine painting workshop.

Payment system

What is anticafe? This is an institution where only the time spent in it is paid, which is calculated in minutes. The cost of one does not exceed 3 rubles in the first hour and half of this amount in all subsequent hours.

With all the variety of organizational nuances, the principle of invoicing remains unchanged. The administrator notes the time the visitor appeared in the anti-cafe and issues a watch that allows you to track the time of his stay in the “territory of freedom”. Sometimes cards are used instead, the counting can be done automatically, with the help of security cameras. In any case, a bill is paid at the exit, which indicates the amount for the number of minutes spent in the institution.

Metropolitan establishments

Of course, the mosta large number of anti-cafes - in Moscow. Rating positions have been achieved by many of them, but the five most popular establishments among the townspeople have been formally determined. These are "Butterflies" on the 5th Monetchikovsky Lane, in the former house of the architect Kiselyov. Here you can work and lounge, but you can not smoke or drink alcohol.

What is an anti-cafe, you can feel by visiting the famous "Dial" (on Pokrovka) with all sorts of fun and retro-style alarm clocks, received on hand to control time. Next, Timeterria Lipeople (2nd Shchemilovsky lane) - everything is provided and included, even author's lemonade, plus lectures on business and Speed Dating to meet lonely hearts.

Another popular anticafe is Local Time, for 1 ruble per minute. There is a lot of communication and games here (Novoryazanskaya St., next to it is the A. Zverev Center for Contemporary Art). And, finally, Work shop loft, near the monument to the electric plant (Elektrozavodskaya st.). It rents out a woodworking workshop, a ceramic kiln and a potter's wheel. Here you can also learn how to draw from life and try a session of hatha yoga.

Peter's Anticafe

Today, such free spaces are organized throughout Russia and operate in more than 200 large cities. St. Petersburg anti-cafes are very popular. What is it and where to find them, you can easily find out from any resident of St. Petersburg. By the way, they operate at almost every station of the St. Petersburg metro.

Starting from last yeara real wave of new discoveries swept through: genre, family, children's (entrance with parents) and other establishments joined the number of anti-cafes. Some of the favorites of the public are shopping mall "Now" and anti-cafe FD (with a hostel) on Nevsky Prospekt. Both establishments have views, they allow you to observe the daily life of a million-plus city in a calm atmosphere.