Things to do in Chita
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Military Museum
The dry, Russian-language-only Military Museum is only for those with a passion for Eastern Siberia’s military history, though it does contain some semi-interesting exhibits on Beketov’s Cossacks, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and communist repressions. Each of the six floors bristles with weapons, and the museum’s collection of tanks and artillery can be seen by walking up the passage between the museum and the impressive Officers’ Club building next door.
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Khmelnaya Korchma
Plastic sunflowers, dangling onion strings, folksy embroidered tea towels and a menu of borscht, salo (pig fat), vareniki (sweet ravioli-type dumplings) and holubtsi (cabbage rolls stuffed with rice) teleport you to rural Ukraine. Live music, liberal helpings and a low-priced lunch menu (R150) makes this arguably Chita’s best option.
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Wooden Houses
Chita also has a fair sprinkling of delightful old wooden houses, notably at ul Lenina 104, ul Chkalova 125, ul Babushkina 82 and ul Anokhina 53. Although the former historic centre is now mostly trampled by concrete towers, some timber cottages also remain on ul Dekabristov, southeast of the city centre.
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Kuznetzov Regional Museum
The excellent Kuznetzov Regional Museum is housed in an early-20th-century mansion. Beyond the gratuitous stuffed elk, you’ll find some pretty interesting local exhibits, including a very thorough examination of the heritage and architectural renaissance of the city and region.
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Zelenaya Rosha
A canopy of plastic foliage covering the ceiling and a tackily dribbling water feature make this a low-lit retreat from the scorching sun outside. Down a few cheap beers or tuck into some basic Siberian comfort food. Chita’s most accessible semipublic WC is in the entrance.
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Fast Fud
.The future is orange at Fast Fud, a garishly decorated McDonalds rip-off, situated on the 1st floor of what will one day be the Alexandrovsky Sad Hotel. Choose mediocre burgers, chips and salads from the picture menu – portions are stingy.
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Kafe Minimo
Genuine, if somewhat underspiced, Georgian food is easy to select from helpful picture menus. Dine in the beamed upstairs restaurant-hall or in the small, pleasant bar area. Khachapuri takes 25 minutes to cook.
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Tsiplyata Tabaka
Floral murals and fake stone carvings contrast intriguingly with Austin Powers–style lighting. Roast chicken priced by weight is the only main course (R36 per 100g). Add salads, vegetables and reasonably priced wine.
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Kafe Traktyr
Russian home-style cooking is served at heavy wooden tables in this rebuilt wooden-lace cottage, with a quietly upmarket Siberian-retro atmosphere. The summer beer-and-shashlyk tent is a popular drinking spot.
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Voskreseniya Church
The recent- looking Voskreseniya Church is actually the city’s oldest, but was almost burnt to the ground in 1996. Some of the original 19th-century icons are displayed inside.
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Kafe Kollazh
A laughing Buddha welcomes you to this mood-lit and cosy place adorned with spinning wheels, old samovars and dried flowers. The international-themed food is tasty but overpriced.
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Mosque
The eye-catching 1909 brick mosque has led certain Chita residents to declare rather absurdly that the area is some sort of ‘Siberian Jerusalem’.
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Poznaya Altargana
If pozi are your thing, Poznaya Altargana is your place, but the tasty plov and meatballs are an equally filling alternative.
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Evrika
From behind a historic façade, this plain but well-kept stolovaya doles out very cheap chebureki (meat turnovers) and pozi.
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Lenin statue
That central square is also fairly imposing, dominated by a constipated-looking pink granite Lenin statue, surrounded in midwinter by ice sculptures.
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Kafe Morozhenoe
In primary blue and yellow this striking ice-cream parlour serves cheap meals, wine by the glass and trendy terracotta pots of Chinese green tea.
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Art Museum
The Art Museum shows frequently changing exhibitions by school children and local artists, not always especially talented.
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Former Synagogue
Close to the Archangel Michael church, in an area the locals refer to as 'Siberian Jerusalem', is an impressive 1907 former synagogue.
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Archangel Michael Log Church
Hemmed in behind apartment blocks, the lovely 1771 Archangel Michael log church is an unexpected sight.
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Dvorets Iskusstv
Cultural centre with mixed offerings of theatre and music including local rock bands. Events often start around 5pm.
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Pivnoy Tryum
Guarded by a hook-handed pirate, this nautically themed pub-restaurant is entered down a stairway from ul Zhuraleva.
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Decembrist Museum
The small but interesting Decembrist Museum,has a posse of old-age pensioners as potential guides.
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Kofeynya Kofe Moll
Occupying half of a hotel lobby, it’s the only place in town offering true solace to disciples of the bean.
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Zolotoy Olymp
This discordant glass and yellow-concrete monstrosity is Chita’s top disco and bowling alley.
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Gril Master
Chita's fast-food joint is better for stuffed chicken roulade than for its microwaved burgers.
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