Russian Far East
There are actually two Chinese restaurants sharing one kitchen here. Mandarin is the quieter and more sophisticated of the two in terms of decor and can…
Must-see restaurants in Russia
Yakutsk
The best place in town for sushi, Kita Gava is a buzzing place that serves up tasty sashimi platters, noodle soups and plump gyoza (dumplings). While not…
St Petersburg
Art deco fittings, a beautiful glass and marble counter and upholstered benches you could almost fall asleep on are a good start. The menu is eccentric…
Western European Russia
This popular hang-out draws the crowds for all the right reasons: a lovely summer terrace with brilliant river views, a warm and woodsy interior and a…
Vladivostok
A trendy spot with a popular street-side terrace, 'Milk & Honey' has fabulous daily brunch offerings, great coffee, dangerously good cocktails and a menu…
Altai
With its dark shadows and neon lighting, this place might look a lot like a nightclub from the outside, but with assured and artistic cooking, it's…
Mineral Water Spas
This lively spot has an outdoor terrace set back from Kurortny bul. Start with piping-hot khachapuri and Georgian-style solyanka (a spicy soup) before…
Kaliningrad
This is about as hipster as Kaliningrad gets: minimalist decor, speciality coffee prepared a multitude of ways, and a short and sweet menu of imaginative…
The Urals
Craving poached eggs? At Mishka Food there's a decent selection of modern cafe breakfast items available until 4pm. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, all the…
Yakutsk
With leather armchairs and white brick walls, Rublevka is a surprisingly elegant stolovaya (canteen) with a good selection of smoked fish, soups,…
Western European Russia
Saint Jacques adds some ooh la la to the Smolensk dining scene. The St Petersburg chef doffs his beret ever so slightly to France with upmarket…
Sakha Republic & Magadan Region
Pricey but definitely one of the smartest places in town, this large, upscale grill is easily one of Magadan's best places for a meal or a drink. As well…
Western European Russia
Just steps from the kremlin walls and fortress entrance is this sweet little cafe boasting ‘Izborskian’ bliny. There's also light meals such as pelmeni…
St Petersburg
One of the newest branches of this chain of excellent vegetarian cafes is located near Sampsonievsky Bridge. The small, handsomely designed space serves…
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
On the hillside overlooking Avacha Bay just beyond the old town, this upscale Korean barbecue allows you to cook up your own meats tableside, as well as…
Western European Russia
Lira is set in a lovely riverside park right by the Pushkin Museum, with white garden furniture scattered around in front. Light meals and snacks are on…
Sakhalin Island
This is the most centrally located of this Sakhalin bakery chain where sticky Danishes, rich eclairs, sandwiches, coffee and tea are all on offer. It's a…
Zamoskvorechie
The kind of food row you'd find at a Christmas market, but with a strong hipster flavour – hence the inevitable gourmet burgers and falafels, as well as…
Russian Caucasus
This pleasant riverside cafe is a perfect perch for draining a few beers and watching the Kuban River pass patiently by. The menu features tasty shashlyk…
Eastern Siberia
A restaurant, a pub and a rock-music venue – this all-in-one place is about the best option for an evening out in Bratsk. The menu is a carnivore's…
The Urals
This excellent Georgian restaurant makes good use of chilli in its dishes, including the excellent Tbilisi salad, a borsch with a chilli edge, and a good…
Kazan
This central, self-serve canteen offers both delicious Russian and Tatar foods at reasonable prices, and is a perfect lunch or quick-bite option. Go for…
Northern European Russia
This bright and cheery cafe is located halfway up pedestrianised Prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo. Offers great-value business lunches as well as tasty…
Russian Caucasus
As well as the usual Russian dishes and shashlyk this place specialises in Karachay cuisine, including various sausages. Specify weight (in grams) to…
Western European Russia
The Jem is a snuggly dark-wood cafe near the city centre with a summer terrace and lamp-lit interior. There's nothing unexpected on the menu (bliny, pasta…
St Petersburg
Above an interior-design shop, this darkly beautiful cafe-bar, dominated by a magnificent glass chandelier, specialises in Belgian cuisine and beers. The…
Ufa
Ufa's hippest location for dinner, drinks or a hookah is located near Hotel Azimut. The food is excellent and served in well-sized portions. Take buses or…
Novosibirsk
There's a busy, British-style pub atmosphere at the Goodman Steak House. Although plenty of people stop by after work for just a beer, it's renowned for…
Krasnoyarsk
A small eatery run by actual Indians (rather than Russian esotericists, as often happens) comes as a pleasant surprise, especially for vegetarians…
St Petersburg
Made to feel like a large family home, this charmingly decorated Italian restaurant comes complete with birds in cages, sideboards full of crockery and…
Yakutsk
A large, airy and authentic Korean restaurant on the ground floor of one of Yakutsk's fanciest office buildings (look for the fabulous ornamental gates),…
Khabarovsk
White-painted plank walls, linen curtains and fresh-cut flowers brighten up this downstairs space near pl Lenina. The piping-hot thin-crust pizzas are…
St Petersburg
This tiny place is a foodie dream. Fresh daily specials such as artichoke salad and gazpacho complement a large range of freshly made soups. There are…
Around St Petersburg
In the monastery grounds, you’ll find this simple canteen, serving delicious bliny, soups, fish rissoles, homemade pelmeni (Russian-style ravioli) and…
Zamoskvorechie
This superpopular and conveniently located self-service noodle shop draws crowds of office workers during lunch break – hence a long, but fast-moving…
Northern European Russia
Gud'OK tries to ooze urban sophistication, with its wall-length prints of nighttime Manhattan and red leather seats, but doesn't quite make it. The food,…
Presnya
The coffee is good but the pastries are even better. Whether you’re hankering for something savoury or sweet, you’re sure to find it in the big glass…
Around St Petersburg
Outside of Catherine Park, this elegant spot makes a fine setting for a traditional Russian meal. Bliny with mushrooms, cabbage soup and grilled salmon…
Novosibirsk
This upmarket stolovaya (cafeteria) is popular for a reason – hip and cool with groovy tunes and piping-hot Russian staples like bliny (pancakes) and…
St Petersburg
All kinds of dumplings are on the menu here – Georgian khinkali, Uzbek manti, Ukrainian vareniki and of course the eponymous pelemni – prepared fresh in a…
