Krasnoyarsk
The stylishly unassuming interior of this Italian job suggests the focus is firmly on the food, and that assumption would be right. Possibly Krasnoyarsk’s…
Must-see restaurants in Russia
Eastern Siberia
Happiness (as the name translates) is when you find this oasis of neatness in the middle of a scruffy Siberian city. Soviet-style redneck patrons who…
Lake Baikal
Located opposite the Sayan Sanatorium, this pleasant canteen serves up a large menu of Buryat comfort food, including boukhlyor (lamb broth), buuzy,…
Volga Region
Traditional no-frills, self-serve cafeteria offering very good and reasonably priced Russian and Kalmyk dishes. The location is in the centre, just off…
Listvyanka
This new airy lakeside place focuses on Baikal fish, with omul cooked in cedar-seed juice (Russians call it cedar milk), bringing together the two most…
Irkutsk
Like a nomad galloping through the steppe, the menu of this large modern restaurant carries goodies poached from all over Asia, from authentic tom yum and…
Vyborg
On the top floor of the Victoria Hotel, Vkus serves up Italian fare like risotto, lasagna and caprese salad, as well as spicy rack of lamb and other…
Sochi
This wide, welcoming terrace claims the best shashlyk on the Naberezhnaya, in addition to the namesake kharcho (lamb stew) and other Georgian specialities…
Irkutsk
On the 2nd floor of a large interior design store and decorated with a multitude of red Chinese lamps, this intimate eatery-cum-bar serves inventive…
Ulan-Ude
Clean-cut and very popular Mongolian place, good for a quick snack and a beer or for a full-blown dinner splurge costing thousands. Meat features heavily…
Astrakhan
This hipster-inspired coffee and sandwich spot is an ideal quick lunch option, and just a short walk from the main entrance to the kremlin. Choose from a…
Moscow
Fresh out of Canada, this is the kind of vegetarian restaurant that people pour into not for lifestyle reasons, but because the modern, postethnic food…
Sochi
There's not much to the menu at this tiny cafe, but you don't need much – just a choice selection of sweet and savoury waffles, fresh juices and Viennese…
Russian Caucasus
This warm and welcoming wine bar offers a sophisticated menu with a French twist. Sample one of the delectable patés or steaming soups. The big leather…
Around St Petersburg
A surprising find in Repino, Skazka has an attractive dining room with big picture windows and a terrace – both fine spots for enjoying eggplant…
Moscow
This sweet, child-friendly deli serves salads, soups, and cakes styled as Cornish pasties, as well as smoothies and lemonade. The honey latte might be a…
Around St Petersburg
Hands-down Gatchina's best eatery, Chasy is a friendly spot for grilled meats and seafood, and sushi. It's also a fine afternoon spot for a pot of tea and…
Kazan
Fusion food done very well as standard European meals are reinvented with aromatic fruits and local spices – think Italian mozzarella salad with persimmon…
Ulan-Ude
Lumbersexual butchers seduce Buryatiya with nine kinds of gourmet burgers, craft beer and their trademark ginger mors (berry drink). A nice place for a…
Yekaterinburg
This large Georgian restaurant has a relaxed feel and is currently the best of its ilk in Yekaterinburg, serving a large range of soups, salads, fish and…
Yekaterinburg
There's a great variety of pelmeni here, but what makes this restaurant stand out is the fact that you can learn to make your own. There is a second…
Krasnoyarsk
A vast and modern rustic-themed cafeteria, Vinegret lures white-collar workers with a large salad bar and a grill station. Pancakes with a variety of…
Yekaterinburg
A fascinating cafe with wooden interiors crafted by one woodwork artist – Alexander Andreevich Lysyakov – and his students. The menu spans all the Russian…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
An old institution, for decades this quaint cafe has served as a pit stop for Kitay Gorod club-goers. During the day, it's a pleasant place to get a quick…
The Urals
The trompe l’œil village fresco downstairs, upstairs pseudo-portico and outdoor terrace lend nice touches to this excellent restaurant. The Kalmyk lamb…
Presnya
Step off a busy Moscow street and into a charming Azeri courtyard, where you can dine on delectable salads, grilled meats and hearty stews.
Kola Peninsula
Right on Teriberka's Arctic coastline, this seafood restaurant serves fresh cod, salmon and crab dishes, along with beer.
Murmansk
Fresh, thankfully, lives up to its name, and delivers top-quality rolls, sushi sets and noodle dishes in hip surrounds.
Volga Region
Good Italian soups, pizzas, pastas and mains served in a cosy cellar.
St Petersburg
Just what St Petersburg needs: a well-organised, central and inviting cafeteria run by the city's most successful restaurant group. Here you'll find an…
St Petersburg
You could spend the better part of a day here. Ground floor is a waiter-service cafe where it's difficult to avoid being tempted by the cake and dessert…
St Petersburg
On the top floor of the Olympic Plaza shopping complex, Gastronomika is the go-to spot for a wide-ranging menu of pizzas, barbecue brisket, Asian noodle…
Presnya
Given Moscow's climate and intensity, emulating the super-relaxed ambience of a genuine Greek taverna is out of the question. So, thankfully, the owners…
Moscow
Pretend that the Boulevard Ring is the Grand Canal. Imagine the cars ensconced in traffic are really gondolas, and the billboard-plastered facade of the…
St Petersburg
Set on the rooftop of a business centre, this trendy spot serves up modern Italian food, from pasta and pizza to rabbit served with cabbage and osso bucco…
St Petersburg
Named after its owners, this new restaurant splits its menu between inventive dishes made with local products, such as fish from Murmansk and deer from…
Moscow
If you want a foretaste of your future Trans-Eurasian adventure, come here to sample food hailing from all cultures affiliated with Mongolia – Buryat,…
St Petersburg
On the fourth floor of the posh Galeria shopping center, Baklazhan is yet another success from the Ginza chain. The stylish setting, piping hot khachapuri…
St Petersburg
A prime location, comfortable setting and friendly staff at Vinny Shkaf (meaning ‘wine closet’) make it a great meeting place for that first drink of the…
St Petersburg
This stylish Italian-run restaurant on one side of the charming Kryukov Canal offers a full menu of traditional Italian cooking, from its large meat…
