Restaurants in Eastern Trans Siberian
-
A
Mauro Gianvanni
This slick little brick-oven pizzeria – run by an Italian – pumps VH1 videos in the modern interior, though most sit out on the deck when weather behaves. The dozen-plus pizzas are crispy and tasty (R240 to R310), probably the best pie east of the Urals. There’s also a selection of pastas and ‘Italian burgers’.
reviewed
-
Five O’Clock
Vladivostok, take note of this novel idea – coffee, brownies, cakes and quiche (R50), all made daily and sold for less than an espresso at most ‘cafes’. Lots of midday snackers come in, perhaps to see the Queen plate behind the register.
reviewed
-
Syndicate
Taking over Vladivostok in an Al Capone frenzy, this ultra-1930s themed restaurant – ‘Chicago, New York, whatever’, per one waitress – has seats next to faux storefronts and a stage that lights up with live music at the weekend. Big spenders stick with the steaks – an Aussie rib-eye runs to R1750, but there are R300 burgers and R360 pastas. It’s a couple of kilometres north of the centre, near ul Komsomolskaya, and is reachable via any ‘Vtornaya Rechna’ bus.
reviewed
-
Republic
Inside the glass pyramid across from the train station, this perfectly respectable stolovaya (cafeteria) draws more than a couple of cheap dates with its tasty Russian dishes and own beer (R90). A loungelike, newer branch at ul Svetlanskaya 83, near the funicular, has the same prices and opening hours but is dressed up with prints of old Russian newspapers.
reviewed
-
B
Gutov
This beer hall with chunky wood tables serves large Russian meals – mostly meats and fish fillets cooked up with a host of vegetable toppings. On one occasion a local got too excited over the home-brewed beer and got arrested as a selfless researcher looked on. ‘Business lunch’ means gentler pricing of the same dishes.
reviewed
-
C
Izbushka
A popular little Russian eatery with two themed rooms: a ‘taiga’ room and a ‘dacha’. Traditionally dressed staff clank their high heels on the wood floors under a soundtrack of lightly played hip-hop. The food is hearty and good (a bread-covered bowl of shchi – cabbage, potato and beef – is R115).
reviewed
-
Pyongyang
Staffed by newcomers from North Korea, this two-room Korean restaurant seems to like sitting Koreans in one room, Russians and foreigners in the other. You can pick from a photo menu of excellent food (BBQ starts at R480). It’s about four stops south of the train station via bus 60 (just before the railroad bridge).
reviewed
-
D
Ali Baba Fast Food
Cheap Middle Eastern-style pita-bread sandwiches, soup and a Coke. Ice cream and salads too. Caravan-style décor and hangings block the fast-food line from view. Occasionally bear loops are on the TVs, Pink Floyd on the stereo. Nearby you can get a shawarma (shish kebab) at a stand by Sportivnaya Harbour.
reviewed
-
E
Kafe Krishna
At press time this excellent cheap-lunch turf - with Indian, blissful all-veggie lunches and lots of local Hare Krishnas supping - was getting muscled out of its prime location. Hopefully it's still here, or at a new location, as its freshly baked items draw streams of nose-following passers-by in.
reviewed
-
F
Pizza M
Classier than its name might suggest, the M (inside Hotel Primorye) is one of Vlad’s coolest hangouts, with two unique rooms setting their style-sights higher than the humble slice. The pizzas (R200 to R500) are quite good (note: a small is not enough for one).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
G
Russky Restaurant
Nearly all Russian restaurants get a bit kitschy, but this one goes all out – but in a way that never betrays its authenticity. There are paintings of tsars, side-rooms in dacha style, and traditional music kicking off dinners that frequently require reservations.
reviewed
-
H
Edem
Vladivostok’s first and best sushi bar is in an attractive cellarlike space with nooks to sit in. Sushi and sashimi combos start at R1600; an eight-piece California roll is R300. ‘Sushi time’ is 11am to 5pm, and 6pm to 11pm only.
reviewed
-
I
Nostalgiya
This compact, long-running restaurant offers hearty and tasty Russian meals with a little for-the-tsars pomp. Most visitors come for the souvenir shop (big collection of paintings and handicrafts) or a snack at the café.
reviewed
-
Khing An
The red-brick exterior of Khing An is nice, but the inside is a bit plain – most locals sit on the covered front patio. There’s a photo menu, plus live music at 8pm Saturday and Sunday.
reviewed
-
J
Dva Gruzina
Wagon-wheel benches and murals of Zapata-moustached men greet mostly local diners. The food's very good - the lone daily soup is especially flavourful - but there's little but pork and beef (and no English menu).
reviewed
-
K
Metro
Below a university building on pl Lenina, the Metro occupies (it's whispered) the spot where medical students once poked at cadavers. Now it's a flashy subterranean drink 'n' eat spot - best for the cheap lunch.
reviewed
-
L
Tsentralny Gastronom
In a 19th-century building, this cute, modernised-yet-retro self-service café has a good selection of meals – and much more sense of history than the fast-food burger and pizza lounge in the basement.
reviewed
-
M
Overtime
If you're here in hockey season, Overtime's primary red, white and blue décor overlooks the rink; photos of local hockey greats adorn walls all year. The 'goalkeeper' is a spiced Sicilian fish.
reviewed
-
N
Studio Coffee
Vladivostok’s cool crowd comes to this indoor-outdoor café to enjoy a drink or well-prepared light meals (chicken sandwiches for R150) and breakfasts (eggs, bacon and toast for R129).
reviewed
-
O
Kopeyka
Fast-food, pick-and-point cafeteria with Soviet-era posters and McDonald's-style seating in the modern pyramid across from the train station. The mezzanine café has good espressos.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Bombay1
Vlad’s only curry saver. There are R200 thali lunches noon to 3pm and a host of North Indian-style curries served as Bollywood films play on the telly.
reviewed
-
P
Krestovy Pereval
Great two-storey restaurant designed like a rock-garden treehouse. Plenty of fish dishes to add to faves like bowl-of-rabbit-and-potatoes or mutton stew.
reviewed
-
Teplan-Yaki
This popular loungey spot on the main strip offers a host of sushi options with a chilled electronica soundtrack in a classy bamboo setting.
reviewed
-
Q
Dalny Vostok Cafe
Plump blue booths overlook the street action at this two-line cheapie fast-food pick-and-point stop (go past the doors in the front bar).
reviewed
-
R
Cafe Montmartre
Down a small alley, the Montmarte offers good desserts, set lunches, and an 'English breakfast' (cream-of-wheat, not eggs and ham).
reviewed
