Things to do in Novosibirsk
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Zhili Bili
Prices are relatively reasonable in the very central, Disney-esque 'Siberian village' Zhili Bili, with English menus, a salad bar and great stuffed bliny. It's above fast-food eatery GrillMaster; go upstairs through a central wooden door.
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People’s Bar & Grill
The preferred hang-out of Novosibirsk’s would-be rap stars and models. Descend the stairway opposite St Nicholas chapel.
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Philharmonia
Concerts here range from classical symphonies to Dixieland jazz. Ticket prices are between R100 and R450.
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Sibalp
Focusing on Altai exploration trips for small-groups and independent foreign travellers, this is a helpful, personal travel service that can also arrange English-speaking homestays and city tours in Novosibirsk. Multilingual staff will meet clients at their hotel.
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Tbilisi
Despite growing competition, this atmospheric tavern-cavern still offers the most authentic Georgian cuisine in town. Try the filling, oozingly cheese-filled khachapuri po-imeretinsk(Georgian bread stuffed with salty cheese).
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State Art Museum
The State Art Museum has an extensive collection including icons, Siberian art, Braque-esque works by Nikolai Gritsyuk and numerous distinctive mountainscapes by celebrated spiritual Russian painter Nikolai Rerikh.
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Lanch Kafe
Within the same building as fast-food eatery GrillMaster, but entered from the rear (park side) is the super-popular Lanch Kafe , above which is a great Italian restaurant and a chilled-out, cushion-floored DJ-bar serving sushi.
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Chapel of St Nicholas
The pretty little Chapel of St Nicholas was said to mark the geographical centre of Russia when it ws built in 1915. Demolished in the 1930s, it was rebuilt in 1993 for Novosibirsk’s centenary.
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Irish Pubs & Wild West Bars
Plentiful Irish pubs and Wild West bars are easy to find. Just stroll down ul Lenina, Krasny pr or Vokzalnaya magistral for a block or two from pl Lenina. Almost all serve decent if pricey food as well as drinks.
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Spartak Stadium
This 12,500-capacity venue is the current home base of local football team, Sibir. Games are usually played on Saturday, and tickets cost from R100 to R500. Matches are advertised on posters around the city.
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Mexico Kafe
Dangling chillies, Aztec icons and a big charcoal grill add atmosphere while Los Gringos serenade. Great Mexican food and twice winner of the ‘Best Russian Bar-B-Q’ award (2006 and 2007).
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Cathedral of the Ascension
The gold-domed 1914 Cathedral of the Ascension has a wonderful, colourful interior with a soaring central space that’s unexpected from its fairly squat exterior appearance.
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pl Lenina
Despite its daunting scale, the 'capital of Siberia' has a manageably simple centre focused on pl Lenina. The city's main axis, Krasny pr, runs through this square linking most points of interest.
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Zhily-Bily
Prices are relatively reasonable in the very central, theme-park–style ‘Siberian village’ Zhily-Bily, with English menus, a salad bar and great stuffed bliny.
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Aladdin
Arab-style place with Las Vegas-style entryway and a slightly embarrassed doorman costumed as a harem eunuch. The menu mixes Middle Eastern, Uzbek and Thai. There are smoke water pipes.
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Leroglif
This hypnotic temple of a restaurant has Chinese, Japanese and Korean offerings and a range of beers, both Russian and imported (R80 to R150). Gets busy in the evenings, so book ahead.
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Sibirskaya Korona
A noisy bar popular with local office workers on Fridays. Serves only Sibirskaya Korona beer (light, dark and nonfiltered), plus a selection of Russian and European snacks and meals.
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Altair
Helpful travel agency. Offers a wide range of tours and English spoken. Virtually all of Novosibirsk's many travel agencies offer packaged or tailor-made trips to Altai.
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Lenin statue
In front of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, wearing a flapping coat, the dashing Lenin statue is flanked by waving partisans vainly trying to direct the chaotic traffic.
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Opera & Ballet Theatre
For classical culture don’t miss an evening at this gigantic theatre. Ticket prices depend on seats and performances. Morning shows are a lot cheaper.
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Local Studies Museum
In an elegant mansion, the Local Studies Museum has Altai shaman coats, cutaway pioneer houses and some splendid religious artefacts.
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Kaskad
Handy for the train station, Kaskad is a grocery store with a takeaway, pay-by-weight salad bar and a basic sit-down pelmeni.
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Sibir Altai
Packages Altai trips for local tourists, sold through numerous regional travel agencies. Minimal English. Runs direct weekend buses to Turbaza Katun.
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Retro-Kafe Dezhavu
This very pink piano-café has love niches for romantic couples and menus are presented as old newspapers. Serves breakfasts till 11:00.
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Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The 1898 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a red-brick Byzantine-style building with gilded domes and colourful new murals.
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