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Tours in St Petersburg |
Thanks to its imperial past, the culinary history of St Petersburg is unrivaled in all of Russia. With the influx of money, interested investors, and highly trained chefs, St Petersburg's restaurant scene is becoming more exciting than ever, having truly banished bland Soviet versions of traditional dishes - both imperial and peasant - to the dustbin of history. While the city was slow to spread its culinary wings, the 300th anniversary of the city in 2003 boosted interest in creating new dining diversions.
Restaurants range from cosy café-bistros to lavish multi-roomed halls befitting of royalty.
A sprinkling of trendy locales is sure to fuel the nightclubbing crowd. Additionally, an increasing appetite for things exotic and foreign propel the growth of international eateries, with Mexican, German, Italian, Japanese, French, and other cuisines placed firmly in step with domestic. Russia's ‘near abroad' (many of the former Soviet states) also maintain excellent representations of their culinary arts. Georgian and Armenian grill taverns, Uzbek tea rooms, Ukrainian cafes... all add to the rich experience of dining out in St Petersburg.
For all the variety, dining out isn't terribly cheap in the city. One of the best ways to sample many different restaurants, but without the sticker-shock, is to visit during the lunch hour. Many establishments offer a hearty ‘biznes lanch' (business lunch). This self-serve buffet-style affair typically includes an array of salads and hors d'oeuvres, soups, and meat dishes for a very reasonable price. Usually a 10% gratuity is added to the bill. Some restaurants, however, will let patrons add it on. Ask management if the bill is unclear.
We have selected some of the best restaurants in St Petersburg, which we have listed under five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. These restaurants are divided into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over US$80)
$$$ (US$50 to US$80)
$$ (US$30 to US$50)
$ (under US$30)
The prices quoted here are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent, including VAT and a compulsory 15% service charge, unless otherwise stated.
Restaurants range from cosy café-bistros to lavish multi-roomed halls befitting of royalty.
A sprinkling of trendy locales is sure to fuel the nightclubbing crowd. Additionally, an increasing appetite for things exotic and foreign propel the growth of international eateries, with Mexican, German, Italian, Japanese, French, and other cuisines placed firmly in step with domestic. Russia's ‘near abroad' (many of the former Soviet states) also maintain excellent representations of their culinary arts. Georgian and Armenian grill taverns, Uzbek tea rooms, Ukrainian cafes... all add to the rich experience of dining out in St Petersburg.
For all the variety, dining out isn't terribly cheap in the city. One of the best ways to sample many different restaurants, but without the sticker-shock, is to visit during the lunch hour. Many establishments offer a hearty ‘biznes lanch' (business lunch). This self-serve buffet-style affair typically includes an array of salads and hors d'oeuvres, soups, and meat dishes for a very reasonable price. Usually a 10% gratuity is added to the bill. Some restaurants, however, will let patrons add it on. Ask management if the bill is unclear.
We have selected some of the best restaurants in St Petersburg, which we have listed under five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. These restaurants are divided into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over US$80)
$$$ (US$50 to US$80)
$$ (US$30 to US$50)
$ (under US$30)
The prices quoted here are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent, including VAT and a compulsory 15% service charge, unless otherwise stated.
Gastronomic
Dvorianskoye Gnezdo (Noble Nest)
Located on the Yosupov Palace grounds in the former tea house, Noble Nest is as much about elegance in service and ambience as it is about the excellent cuisine. Two distinct menus (one Russian, one French) tantalize with delicacies such as stuffed venison steaks and baked pheasant. Regally attired servers (down to the white gloves) tend to every need, making this a most memorable and luxurious experience befitting of Russian nobility of a past era.
Ultisa Dekabristov 21
Tel: (812) 312 3205/0911.
Price: $$$$
Located on the Yosupov Palace grounds in the former tea house, Noble Nest is as much about elegance in service and ambience as it is about the excellent cuisine. Two distinct menus (one Russian, one French) tantalize with delicacies such as stuffed venison steaks and baked pheasant. Regally attired servers (down to the white gloves) tend to every need, making this a most memorable and luxurious experience befitting of Russian nobility of a past era.
Ultisa Dekabristov 21
Tel: (812) 312 3205/0911.
Price: $$$$
L'Europe Enjoy this ornate interior, replete with a stunning stained glass ceiling, within the Grand Hotel Europe with dinner or an elaborate Sunday jazz brunch. The elegant Russian menu (with French flourishes) offers well-prepared sturgeon, caviar dishes, pheasant, and other creative concoctions.
Mikhailovskaya ulitsa 1/7
Tel: (828) 329 6000.
Price: $$$$
Mikhailovskaya ulitsa 1/7
Tel: (828) 329 6000.
Price: $$$$
The Old Customs House
This restaurant, which serves French cuisine with Russian touches, boasts heads of state and royalty on its guest list. Built as a customs house, the 18th century building is impressive on the exterior, but manages to keep a certain cosiness inside with vaulted ceilings and wood floors.
Tamozhenny pereulok 1
Tel: (812) 327 8980.
Price: $$$$
This restaurant, which serves French cuisine with Russian touches, boasts heads of state and royalty on its guest list. Built as a customs house, the 18th century building is impressive on the exterior, but manages to keep a certain cosiness inside with vaulted ceilings and wood floors.
Tamozhenny pereulok 1
Tel: (812) 327 8980.
Price: $$$$
Trendy
Cafe SSSR
This popular hangout for clubbers and party people is marked by a stylish interior that is supposedly retro, but in fact, far higher on the cool factor than the Soviet era ever achieved. Make this your last stop before turning in - it stays open 24 hours a day.
Nevsky prospekt 54
Tel: (812) 310 4929.
Price: $$
This popular hangout for clubbers and party people is marked by a stylish interior that is supposedly retro, but in fact, far higher on the cool factor than the Soviet era ever achieved. Make this your last stop before turning in - it stays open 24 hours a day.
Nevsky prospekt 54
Tel: (812) 310 4929.
Price: $$
Imbir
A mix of mostly Asian and some Middle Eastern fusion dishes sets this trendy club-cum-restaurant apart. DJs begin spinning early every evening, and keep at it until early in the morning (usually about 0200).
Zagorodny Prospekt 15
Tel: (812) 113 3215.
Price: $-$$$
A mix of mostly Asian and some Middle Eastern fusion dishes sets this trendy club-cum-restaurant apart. DJs begin spinning early every evening, and keep at it until early in the morning (usually about 0200).
Zagorodny Prospekt 15
Tel: (812) 113 3215.
Price: $-$$$
Magrib
A restaurant, cafe, and popular St Petersburg night club near the Moskovsky train station end of Nevsky Prospekt, Magrib is a tapestry of oriental and Middle Eastern motifs. Ornate, mosaic-clad rest rooms are as beautiful as the bar and restaurant interior. Vaulted ceilings and saffron-coloured walls envelop diners in an exotic environment. Full meals, cocktails, and snacks make this an excellent hang-out late into the evening. Cuisine ranges from Caucasus-style grilled meats and Armenian dolma to Russian staples and Asian-influenced dishes. There is a change for the adjacent dance club.
Nevsky prospekt 84
Tel: (812) 275 7620.
Price: $$-$$$
A restaurant, cafe, and popular St Petersburg night club near the Moskovsky train station end of Nevsky Prospekt, Magrib is a tapestry of oriental and Middle Eastern motifs. Ornate, mosaic-clad rest rooms are as beautiful as the bar and restaurant interior. Vaulted ceilings and saffron-coloured walls envelop diners in an exotic environment. Full meals, cocktails, and snacks make this an excellent hang-out late into the evening. Cuisine ranges from Caucasus-style grilled meats and Armenian dolma to Russian staples and Asian-influenced dishes. There is a change for the adjacent dance club.
Nevsky prospekt 84
Tel: (812) 275 7620.
Price: $$-$$$
Budget
Blini Domik
The lowly pancake is elevated to new heights in Russia and Blini Domik is a good place to try them out. This little hole in the wall makes a meal of the buttery blini with savoury or sweet fillings. Soups and salads are also offered, but the blini is king here.
Kolokolnaya ulitsa 8
Tel: (812) 327 8979.
Price: $
The lowly pancake is elevated to new heights in Russia and Blini Domik is a good place to try them out. This little hole in the wall makes a meal of the buttery blini with savoury or sweet fillings. Soups and salads are also offered, but the blini is king here.
Kolokolnaya ulitsa 8
Tel: (812) 327 8979.
Price: $
Idealnaya Chashka (Ideal Cup)
St Petersburg is conveniently peppered with this little coffee shop that serves up sweets, baked confections, and breakfasts for an ideal price. This café location on the Petrograd side of the city offers pleasant city views from a different perspective.
82 Bolshoy Prospekt Petrograd Side
Tel: (812) 232 0283.
Website: www.chashka.ru
Price: $
St Petersburg is conveniently peppered with this little coffee shop that serves up sweets, baked confections, and breakfasts for an ideal price. This café location on the Petrograd side of the city offers pleasant city views from a different perspective.
82 Bolshoy Prospekt Petrograd Side
Tel: (812) 232 0283.
Website: www.chashka.ru
Price: $
Shinok
This Ukrainian themed restaurant fills the belly with tasty vareniki (dumplings stuffed with soft farmer's cheese), blini (pancakes), meats, salads and glasses of gorilka - a homemade vodka. You will be served by staff in national costumes at rough-hewn tables and chairs. There is a sister restaurant in central Moscow.
Zagorodny prospekt 13
Tel: (812) 311 8262.
Website: www.shinok.ru/eng/
Price: $$
This Ukrainian themed restaurant fills the belly with tasty vareniki (dumplings stuffed with soft farmer's cheese), blini (pancakes), meats, salads and glasses of gorilka - a homemade vodka. You will be served by staff in national costumes at rough-hewn tables and chairs. There is a sister restaurant in central Moscow.
Zagorodny prospekt 13
Tel: (812) 311 8262.
Website: www.shinok.ru/eng/
Price: $$
Yolki-Palki
This Moscow chain restaurant opened in St Petersburg at the end of 2004. Known for its endless buffet of salads, roasted potatoes, soups, fish and more, served in a cosy Russian village-themed atmosphere has long been a hit with budget-minded Russians and visitors. The food is hearty, fresh, and quite delicious. If the cold and hot bar don't fill you up, then plenty of staples off the menu, such as grilled meats on the skewer, blini, and pelmeni (Siberian meat-filled dumplings) will certainly feed the hungry traveller.
Nevsky prospect 88
Price: $
This Moscow chain restaurant opened in St Petersburg at the end of 2004. Known for its endless buffet of salads, roasted potatoes, soups, fish and more, served in a cosy Russian village-themed atmosphere has long been a hit with budget-minded Russians and visitors. The food is hearty, fresh, and quite delicious. If the cold and hot bar don't fill you up, then plenty of staples off the menu, such as grilled meats on the skewer, blini, and pelmeni (Siberian meat-filled dumplings) will certainly feed the hungry traveller.
Nevsky prospect 88
Price: $
Personal Recommendations
The Idiot
The Dostoevsky-inspired Idiot restaurant is enjoyed as much for its quirky touches as its cuisine. The establishment's four rooms are decorated with antique furniture and oil paintings. Bookshelves hold Russian and English books, and chess and backgammon games may be commandeered by patrons. A steady stream of Russian and vegetarian delights supply the expat and bohemian crowd throughout the evening. Make sure you don't miss the stairs leading down to this underground establishment.
Moika 82
Tel: (812) 315 1675.
Price: $$-$$$
The Dostoevsky-inspired Idiot restaurant is enjoyed as much for its quirky touches as its cuisine. The establishment's four rooms are decorated with antique furniture and oil paintings. Bookshelves hold Russian and English books, and chess and backgammon games may be commandeered by patrons. A steady stream of Russian and vegetarian delights supply the expat and bohemian crowd throughout the evening. Make sure you don't miss the stairs leading down to this underground establishment.
Moika 82
Tel: (812) 315 1675.
Price: $$-$$$
Kavkaz
This cosy café serves the flavourful fare of the Caucasus - meats grilled on the spit, hot cheese breads, hearty spiced stews, garlicky dips, and much more. Clay bowls of fresh herbs, garlic and spices are offered to add to your own meals at will. Because the restaurant/café is small, reservations are advised.
Karavannaya ulitsa 18
Tel: (812) 312 1665.
Price: $-$$
This cosy café serves the flavourful fare of the Caucasus - meats grilled on the spit, hot cheese breads, hearty spiced stews, garlicky dips, and much more. Clay bowls of fresh herbs, garlic and spices are offered to add to your own meals at will. Because the restaurant/café is small, reservations are advised.
Karavannaya ulitsa 18
Tel: (812) 312 1665.
Price: $-$$
Laima Bistro
Open round the clock, this bright locale serves late night revellers and early-morning risers alike. Fast, cheap, and quite tasty - Laima Bistro's menu ranges from grilled meats to beef Stroganoff, salads, soups and other Russian staples. A menu is posted in both English and Russian, making this a relatively uncomplicated stop between shopping and sightseeing.
Kanal Griboedova 16
Tel: (812) 315 5545.
Price: $
Open round the clock, this bright locale serves late night revellers and early-morning risers alike. Fast, cheap, and quite tasty - Laima Bistro's menu ranges from grilled meats to beef Stroganoff, salads, soups and other Russian staples. A menu is posted in both English and Russian, making this a relatively uncomplicated stop between shopping and sightseeing.
Kanal Griboedova 16
Tel: (812) 315 5545.
Price: $
View Our Airport Guides for St Petersburg:
(St Petersburg) Pulkovo Airport
