-
Testo
Take your pick from a wide range of homemade pastas and top them with your favourite sauce, whether tomato-based bolognese or a rich, creamy salmon sauce. A few options for soup, salad and pizza round out the menu, but the pasta is the main drawcard. The modern space is not too fancy, but low light and Italian accents provide just enough ambience that you could bring a date here.
-
The Idiot
'Dostoevsky loved this place!' boasts an advertisement for this atmospheric expat institution. And why wouldn't he? The food is nothing to write novels about, but vegetarians are likely to disagree, as there is not a single animal on the menu. In any case, the cosy subterranean space, the antique furnishings and crowded bookshelves, and the ever-amiable crowd make it an extremely pleasant place to come to eat or drink.
-
The Other Side
Calling itself a 'gastro bar and refuge', this newish place is attracting fans for its friendly atmosphere, its innovative, international menu and its schedule of live music (see for details). Take a seat on the patio on the pleasant pedestrian-only street or head into the cosy interior. The diverse menu hits just about every continent, with dishes ranging from rack of lamb served on a bed of couscous to grilled salmon on soba noodles.
-
Tinkoff
St Petersburg's most fashionable - and arguably most delicious - beer comes from this huge factory-like bar and microbrewery. At its centre is a German-style beer hall, serving excellent schnitzel, sauerkraut and other specialities, including a hard-to-resist metre-long sausage. The boisterous and sociable dining area has great atmosphere and - of course - great beer. Most importantly, pay no attention to the sushi bar in the middle of the restaurant.
-
Troitsky Most
The original branch of the vegetarian chain is located on Petrogradsky Island, just a few blocks north of the bridge for which it is named. See for a full review.
-
Troitsky Most
The Zagorodny pr branch is by far the nicest of this chain of vegetarian cafés, with the Indian spiritual-style Trang Café attached, and overlooking a small park. A huge selection of soups and salads, excellent pasta (including unbeatable lasagne) and other meat-free treats round out the daily-changing menu.
-
U Tyoshi na Blinakh
'Auntie's pancakes' are being served up in so many locations now that it's a wonder she's not dropped dead yet. This cafeteria-style chain is a great place to fill up quickly and cheaply. Besides the tired-looking bliny, you can also sample hot soups, fresh salads and a variety of tasty preprepared mains.
-
Vox
On a quaint corner of the pedestrian-friendly Stolyarny per and ul Pestelya, Vox has a prime spot for a sidewalk café. It's a delightful setting to sip a cool drink on a summer afternoon, especially when the Museum of Decorative & Applied Arts has a street exhibition, as it is sometimes prone to do. The interior is equally appealing and very upscale. Dim lighting, white linens and stripped-down décor provide a suitably sexy environment for antipastos, pastas, meats and seafood.
-
Yakitoriya
With its efficient service and excellent fresh fish, it's easy to see why this chain has been so successful in St Petersburg and - indeed - across the country. This location off Nevsky pr is the most central of several locations. It features an actual sushi bar, which is ideal for solo diners. The woody interior is slick and modern, with a slightly upscale atmosphere.
-
Yakitoriya
A second branch of Moscow's favourite sushi chain is on Petrogradsky Island.
-
Advertisement
-
Yolki Palki
Another chain restaurant that got its start and made it big in Moscow, Yolki Palki is now attempting to woo the St Petersburg diners - and having some success of it. Its wooden interior is decorated with stuffed animals and fake trees, reminiscent of the Russian countryside, and its menu specialises in reliable, affordable Russian country classics. The salad bar is the main drawcard here - a huge selection for one fixed price, with no waiting and no deciphering Russian menus.
-
Zoom Café
Leather-bound menus include several pages dedicated to maps and geographic descriptions before they get to the goods. And they are good: Russian and European soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as fresh-squeezed juices, exotic coffee drinks and a seemingly endless tea list. Light pink walls are adorned with B&W photos, while well-stocked bookshelves and a range of board games (not to mention wi-fi access) encourage lingering. This is the kind of place where it's easy to become a regular.
