Kazan
‘Bachelor’s Shelter’ is a spotlessly white oasis of style with surrealist glass painting and coat hangers shaped like wild garlic flowers. International…
Must-see restaurants in Russia
Meshchansky & Basmanny
Sitting amid plush pillows and woven tapestries, you’ll feel like a sheik in this extravagantly decorated restaurant. Feast on plov (rice mixed with lamb…
Novosibirsk
This atmospheric tavern-cavern down in a basement offers the most authentic Georgian cuisine in town. The filling and delicious khachapuri po-adzharski …
Moscow
The gyros craze is gradually spreading around Moscow, with Greek eateries opening here and there, but this place is outstanding. Simple as it is – meat…
Kaliningrad Region
In keeping with the town's Prussian origins, and the distinctly German name, the house restaurant of the Becker Hotel sports a vaguely German/Prussian…
Russian Caucasus
A speciality burger joint, named after the German chess whiz who supposedly invented the beefy sandwich. This cosy place offers a dozen unusual but tasty…
Western European Russia
With its exposed light bulbs, bright industrial decor and warehouse feel, Kakhovka could fit in comfortably somewhere in Brooklyn. Chargrilled meats…
St Petersburg
Lightly battered and fried smelt (koryushka) is a St Petersburg speciality every April, but you can eat the small fish year-round at this relaxed,…
St Petersburg
This charming little cafe channels a Parisian vibe with black-and-white chequered floors and deco-like fixtures. Stop in for omelettes, croissants and…
St Petersburg
Among the many new burger joints sprouting up around SPB, stylish Bureau stands out for its quality offerings, with delicious toppings (carmelised onions,…
Suzdal
With its whitewashed wood interior and rustic-style decor, this rather quaint cafe on Torgovaya pl is one of the best places in town for an unhurried…
Sakhalin Island
This big and bustling Korean barbecue joint serves marinated meats in sets to be cooked at your table, though there's a full pictorial English menu for…
Irkutsk
The lengthy menu may apply to Guinness World Records as the longest list of meat and potato combinations, but that's what Belarusian cuisine is largely…
Vladivostok
This bustling but charming spot has one of the best locations in town, meaning that it's always busy and you may well have to wait for a table. The…
Western European Russia
Grafin bills itself as a steakhouse, and while it does a mean mignon (R1300), there's plenty more than beef on the menu. Classics such as pork, lamb and…
Arbat & Khamovniki
A select menu of Russian classics shows off fresh ingredients, old-fashioned cooking methods and contemporary flare. Pleasant, efficient service and a…
Moscow
This informal, French-themed cafe is furnished with picnic tables and park benches, evoking an idyllic outdoor setting. (There is outdoor seating too, but…
Black Sea Coast
Modus is a cool and casual pizzeria with a trendy vibe – but not too trendy. The warm, wooden interior is decked out with all manner of mismatched chairs,…
Presnya
This aptly named restaurant takes the most appetising element of Russian food to new heights, offering some 44 varieties of soup, including meat- and fish…
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg has several of these inexpensive Uzbek restaurants, all with young staff attired in Uzbek caps serving delicious Uzbek specialities. Manti …
Russian Caucasus
The interior of this German brewhouse offers an appealing blend of post-industrial chic and old-fashioned comfort. The menu ranges from hearty local…
Presnya
This tiny little spot is always packed with patrons who come to watch the action in the open kitchen, which is basically the centrepiece of the restaurant…
Around St Petersburg
The best restaurant in Catherine Park is set in an elegant, brick-walled dining room and features reliably good dishes, including beef cheeks in wine…
Sakhalin Island
With a picture menu, this popular Japanese spot serves up good but pricey sushi and sashimi platters, belly-filling tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), plus…
Volga Region
This artisanal burger bar sticks out like a sore thumb amid the communist-era, industrialised landscape of Tolyatti, yet the burgers (and fries) are…
Kaliningrad
This combo restaurant and cafe on the northern edge of the Europe shopping centre, overlooking pl Pobedy, is a lunchtime lifesaver in a busy part of town…
The Urals
Sisters Alaya and Ksenia opened this cafe in 2013 wanting to break away from their corporate jobs. The sisters enjoy Cantonese cuisine and food from the…
St Petersburg
This pleasant little place is good value and yet takes Italian cookery very seriously. Choose from a wide range of homemade pastas and top them with your…
Western European Russia
This medieval-themed basement restaurant stays on the right side of kitsch with huge wooden chairs, exposed brick, lamp lighting and wrought-iron light…
Kaliningrad
Housed in the Rossgarten Gate, this period-themed place specialises in upmarket seafood, though it does have other options on the menu. The skylighted,…
Arbat & Khamovniki
On the 7th floor of the Lotte Plaza, this trendy spot has the requisite outdoor terrace (the largest in the city) and superb city views. But it also gives…
Western European Russia
This chic wine bar and restaurant is located in a crumbling historic building. Big windows, high ceilings and an open kitchen set the mood for eyeballing…
Volga Region
A pleasing Russian take on an American diner, chock full of cheery 1950s references and a menu that's strong on soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches. The…
Moscow
On the 1st floor of the Nautilus shopping centre, this is a popular lunch spot for workers, shoppers and tourists recovering from Red Square. The interior…
Arbat & Khamovniki
Opposite the entrance to Novodevichy Convent is this sweet place where you can snuggle into big armchairs, enjoy the view out the picture windows, and…
St Petersburg
An excellent option for the late-night munchies, Kilikia is famous for its shashlyk, which is the real thing – deliciously seasoned, fresh meat served…
Arbat & Khamovniki
Sip fancy coffee drinks or munch on crispy-crust pizza and watch the world go by. Steps from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Cathedral of Christ…
Around St Petersburg
Restaurant 'History' boasts country charm on the inside, with heavy wooden tables and chairs and old photos of Tikhvin on the walls. The cooking is decent…
Sakhalin Island
This friendly and cosy bar serves up some excellent food, and is popular with business travellers for whom the steep prices are of little concern. While…
St Petersburg
When the east wing of the General Staff Building was turned into a new branch of the Hermitage, they at least made sure it had a decent place to eat …
