{"id":14017,"date":"2026-01-20T20:57:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/?p=14017"},"modified":"2026-01-20T21:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T19:01:19","slug":"yeltsin-forma-bars-kaliningrad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/yeltsin-forma-bars-kaliningrad\/","title":{"rendered":"Yeltsin Forma Bars Kaliningrad: Many Happy Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

History is always worth repeating if the bar is good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

20 January 2026 – Yeltsin Forma Bars Kaliningrad: Many Happy Returns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, of course it has nothing to do with birthdays, anniversaries or anything like that, neither mine, the Yeltsin\u2019s nor Forma\u2019s; it\u2019s just what anyone who appreciates good beer and excelsior drinking environments does \u2013 they return, time and time again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wrote about the Yeltsin<\/a> Bar and Forma<\/a> in two posts and have to say that since I commended them, both for their beer and atmosphere, they still remain firm favourites of mine on the Kaliningrad bar circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They, in Kaliningrad, will probably interpret this next phrase as being the opposite of complimentary, but, in the UK, we have an expression for such places: \u2018spit and sawdust\u2019. Although in these less earthy and more sophisticated days, be they ever so pseudo, such base terminology as this has likely been replaced by \u2018designer-trendy laid-back interior\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeltsin Forma Bars Kaliningrad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Call it as you see it; I\u2019m a stickler when it comes to not liking change. For example, I am not quite sure why the Yeltsin scrubbed off or painted over its best example of \u2018street art\u2019 but retained its paint-spattered bog (that\u2019s right, I said paint-spattered),<\/em> but this anomaly apart, oh, and the loss of the classic jukebox, the Yeltsin in the character of its fundamentals, and may I say essentials, to wit, its rollicking beer selection and the lesson it provides in \u2018how to feel like a student again even though you are past it\u2019, render complaints null and void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, next door, or as close to dammit as possible, Forma has done nothing wrong in my eyes, except, perhaps, to lose some of its furniture, or, if this is not so, to have removed what seems to be missing tables around the room\u2019s perimeter, thus leaving the centre floor wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know what you are thinking: \u201cWhat a pedantic old \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never got my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat for hiding my observations under a bushel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no connection whatsoever between that last remark and the one I am about to make, but in the artful world of pretext, I shall now go all transitionary on you \u2013 I blame it on those Coro jabs \u2013 by mentioning how extraordinary it seemed to be drinking beer in Forma, and very nice beer, too, whilst dining on sweet pizza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Forma<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a delicacy I can honestly claim to have never sampled before. I\u2019ve got a good memory, sometimes, always where beer is concerned, but an imperfect excuse for one when it comes to remembering food, so I am unable to tell you with any authority whether the sweet pizza we sampled tasted of pear or pineapple, but, albeit an acquired taste, nothing ventured, nothing gained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeltsin Forma Bars Kaliningrad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I ventured a couple of beers in Forma, and they were on tip-top forma (I had to say it, didn\u2019t I?), and no less can be said of the Yeltsin\u2019s beer selection. Just look at that roll call of beers chalked on Yeltsin\u2019s blackboard menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the photos; enjoy the Yeltsin; enjoy Forma; go to both and enjoy the beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below: Forma bar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Forma
Forma bar, Kaliningrad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yeltsin
Beer, menu, liqueur and sweet pizza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Olga
Strange juke box?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Below: Yeltsin Bar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Yeltsin
The Yeltsin, Kaliningrad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yeltsin
Beer board at the Yeltsin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Copyright \u00a9 2018-2026 Mick Hart. All rights reserved.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

History is always worth repeating if the bar is good 20 January 2026 – Yeltsin Forma Bars Kaliningrad: Many Happy Returns No, of course it has nothing to do with birthdays, anniversaries or anything like that, neither mine, the Yeltsin\u2019s nor Forma\u2019s; it\u2019s just what anyone who appreciates good beer and excelsior drinking environments does […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,40],"tags":[2064,2707,2706,2060,2705],"class_list":["post-14017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kaliningrad-bars-restaurants-cafes","category-visitors-guide-to-kaliningrad","tag-bar-forma-kaliningrad","tag-mick-hart-at-forma","tag-mick-hart-at-yeltsin","tag-yeltsin-bar-kaliningrad","tag-yeltsin-forma-bars-kaliningrad"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rz-Mick-Hart-Forma-Bar-Pizza-Kaliningrad.jpg?fit=900%2C1196&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10036,"url":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/craft-beers-on-form-at-forma-bar-kaliningrad\/","url_meta":{"origin":14017,"position":0},"title":"Craft Beers on Form at Forma Bar Kaliningrad","author":"Captain Codpiece","date":"13 \u043c\u0430\u0440\u0442\u0430, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Good beer in a vintage-inspired bar 13 March 2024 ~ Craft Beers on Form at Forma Bar Kaliningrad Those of us in the UK who are firm believers in the importance of preserving traditions and the history of our country, and who do their bit in this regard by paying\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Kaliningrad bars, restaurants, cafes"","block_context":{"text":"Kaliningrad bars, restaurants, cafes","link":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/category\/visitors-guide-to-kaliningrad\/kaliningrad-bars-restaurants-cafes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Forma Bar Kaliningrad","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Props-in-Forma-bar-Kaliningrad-min-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Props-in-Forma-bar-Kaliningrad-min-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Props-in-Forma-bar-Kaliningrad-min-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Props-in-Forma-bar-Kaliningrad-min-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8161,"url":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/4-great-kaliningrad-bars-mick-harts-pub-crawl\/","url_meta":{"origin":14017,"position":1},"title":"4 Great Kaliningrad Bars Mick Hart\u2019s Pub Crawl","author":"Captain Codpiece","date":"30 \u0434\u0435\u043a\u0430\u0431\u0440\u044f, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A Boxing Day pub crawl around Kaliningrad Published: 30 December 2022 ~ 4 Great Kaliningrad Bars Mick Hart\u2019s Pub Crawl Tradition has it in the UK that after spending a long Christmas Day incarcerated at home, on the day after, the theatre of overindulgence is shifted to the pub. Boxing\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Kaliningrad bars, restaurants, cafes"","block_context":{"text":"Kaliningrad bars, restaurants, cafes","link":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/category\/visitors-guide-to-kaliningrad\/kaliningrad-bars-restaurants-cafes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Mick-Hart-Inara-Eagle-Morrison-Bar-min.jpg?fit=675%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Mick-Hart-Inara-Eagle-Morrison-Bar-min.jpg?fit=675%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Mick-Hart-Inara-Eagle-Morrison-Bar-min.jpg?fit=675%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9785,"url":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/yeltsin-bar-kaliningrad\/","url_meta":{"origin":14017,"position":2},"title":"Yeltsin Bar: The Best Craft Beers in Kaliningrad","author":"Captain Codpiece","date":"28 \u0434\u0435\u043a\u0430\u0431\u0440\u044f, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Basically one of the best beer bars in Kaliningrad 28 December 2023 ~ Yeltsin Bar: The Best Craft Beers in Kaliningrad There\u2019s an awful lot written about Kaliningrad\u2019s number one specialist craft ale bar, Yeltsin, named after Russia\u2019s first post-Cold War president. Most of it is good; and much of\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Kaliningrad bars, restaurants, cafes"","block_context":{"text":"Kaliningrad bars, restaurants, cafes","link":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/category\/visitors-guide-to-kaliningrad\/kaliningrad-bars-restaurants-cafes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Beer Blackboard at the Yeltsin Bar, Kaliningrad","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Beer-Board-at-Yeltsin-rz-min.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Beer-Board-at-Yeltsin-rz-min.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Beer-Board-at-Yeltsin-rz-min.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Beer-Board-at-Yeltsin-rz-min.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1665,"url":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/variety-of-beer-in-kaliningrad\/","url_meta":{"origin":14017,"position":3},"title":"Variety of Beer in Kaliningrad","author":"Captain Codpiece","date":"30 \u0438\u044e\u043d\u044f, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Mick Hart\u2019s totally biased review of bottled beers in Kaliningrad (or how to live without British real ale!) Introduction Published: 30 June 2020 ~ Variety of Beer in Kaliningrad Everybody knows that vodka is Russia\u2019s national tipple, but it may come as surprise to learn that the second favourite is\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "VISITOR'S GUIDE to KALININGRAD"","block_context":{"text":"VISITOR'S GUIDE to KALININGRAD","link":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/category\/visitors-guide-to-kaliningrad\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mick Hart & Olga Hart Residence of the Kings' Terrace Summer 2019","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/At-the-Three-Kings-Late-Summer-2019-RZ.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/At-the-Three-Kings-Late-Summer-2019-RZ.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/At-the-Three-Kings-Late-Summer-2019-RZ.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/At-the-Three-Kings-Late-Summer-2019-RZ.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/expatkaliningrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/At-the-Three-Kings-Late-Summer-2019-RZ.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10189,"url":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/craft-garage-kaliningrad-a-pit-stop-for-good-beer\/","url_meta":{"origin":14017,"position":4},"title":"Craft Garage Kaliningrad a Pit Stop for Good Beer","author":"Mick","date":"17 \u0430\u043f\u0440\u0435\u043b\u044f, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Arty Crafty it is and all the better for it! 17 April 2024~ Craft Garage Kaliningrad a Pit Stop for Good Beer On the same evening that we happened upon the Beer Bar on Prospect Mira and Bar Sovetov, we stumbled upon and into Craft Garage. 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