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Liberty Art Gallery
'Liberty' may be an odd name for a gallery specialising in art of the Soviet period, but nonetheless, here it is. Exhibitions highlight art from the 1930s to the 1980s.
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Lomonosova China Factory
This famous factory has an outlet shop on site, where you get anything from the company catalogue at prices lower than those in the department stores. You'll also find a branch of the Hermitage here. From the metro, turn left (east), walk under the bridge to the embankment then turn left again - you'll see the factory ahead of you.
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Maltevsky Market
Bargaining is encouraged at this bright spacious market, packed with vendors selling exotic fruits and vegetables, mounds of multicoloured spices, and fresh meats, fish and fowl. In some cases, the meat is so fresh it is still being hacked off its carcass. Don't miss free samples of honey straight from the hive.
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Mariinsky Art Shop
Opera- and ballet-lovers will delight at the theatre-themed souvenirs for sale in the Mariinsky gift shop. None of it is cheap, but where else can you get a 'Property of Kirov Ballet' T-shirt? Also on sale: a comprehensive collection of CDs, DVDs, books and posters that you won't find elsewhere.
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Mekhlandia
The Russian word mekh means 'fur', so the name of this place translates as Fur-land, evoking a sort of animal-run amusement park. Alas, this place is no fun for animals, as it contains a huge selection of fur and leather clothing, especially coats, hats and handbags. (We know it's not nice to kill animals, but it gets you through the brutal Russian winter.)
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Military Shop
In a city with men in uniform on every street corner, this is where you can get yours (the uniform that is!). Buy stripy sailor tops, embroidered badges, big boots, camouflage jackets and snappy caps at decent prices. Look for the circular green and gold sign with 'Military Shop' written in English; the entrance is in the courtyard.
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Mir Espresso
Come here for the aroma and stay for the amazing range of coffee from all over the world. As well as espresso machines, there's every conceivable type of coffee maker and caffeine-related accessory.
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Model Shop
Inside the Artillery Museum (you don't need to pay for entry to get access to the shop), this is a must for model plane, train and automobile fans. There's a huge range of mainly Russian models in stock and the staff is extremely helpful.
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Natalie Kvasova
When it comes to winter hats, Russian fashion really comes into its own. Nowhere in the world are women so expressive with their headgear as on the snowy streets of St Petersburg and Moscow. The designs of Natalie Kvasova are up there with the best of them, sporting feathers and fur, bows and brims. This boutique also carries a small selection of fur coats and wraps warm enough to get you through any winter.
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Open World
Melodies waft from the speakers out onto the sidewalks, enticing music-lovers into this little shop. It sells a huge range of classical, jazz and world music, all licensed but still very reasonably priced. The staff is delightfully friendly and helpful, and you are free to browse the enormous selection at your leisure.
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Parfionova
Tatyana Parfionova was the first St Petersburg couturier to have her own fashion house back in the 1990s, when the New Russians turned up their noses at anything that was not straight from Paris or Milan. Now this local celebrity showcases her stuff at her Nevsky pr boutique, where you'll find her striking monochromatic prêt-à-porter designs as well as her famous crimson scarves.
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Parnas
A chain of supermarkets that operates throughout the city. Conveniently located just off Nevsky pr, this outlet is not a bad place to stock up on basic foodstuffs. Or, you can do like the locals and buy a few beers to drink while you sit on pedestrian-friendly Malaya Sadovaya and soak up the atmosphere.
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Passage
This old-fashioned arcade, lined with boutiques and souvenir shops, runs between Nevsky pr and Italiyanskaya ul. The shopping here is not particularly unique, but it is a pleasant, atmospheric place to stroll, similar to Moscow's world-famous GUM.
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Pchelovodstvo
Pchelovodstvo is the place to find many types of fresh honey from Russia's Rostov region. There are dozens of products, remedies and creams made from bee pollen, as well as unique teas, which make easy-to-pack gifts.
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Plyos Embassy
Plyos is a town on the Volga River, celebrated as the inspiration for Isaak Levitan, Russia's greatest landscape artist. This little gallery acts as the town's unofficial representative in St Petersburg, exhibiting landscape paintings by local and national artists. While the work is not particularly innovative, it is indeed beautiful, capturing the most magnificent moments in the Russian countryside.
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Pushkinskaya 10
Officially known as the Free Culture Society, this contemporary art mecca is guaranteed to turn up something weird and wonderful. There are lots of separate studios and galleries spread throughout the complex. On the ground level there is also a small bookshop, KultProsvet. Note that despite the name, the entrance is actually through the arch from Ligovsky pr.
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Rive Gauche - City Centre
Yves Saint-Laurent does not seem to mind that this Russian company has stolen the name of its well-known perfume and used it to set up an extensive network of shops selling brand-name cosmetics. With more than 30 shops around the city, you're never far from a new bottle of Chanel No 5. There are additional outlets near pl Vosstaniya and on the Petrograd Side .
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Rive Gauche - Petrogradsky
One of many in a chain of cosmetics stores scattered around the city.
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Sekunda
Sekunda - as in 'second-hand' - is a small bric-a-brac place where you might find an unusual souvenir, whether an old postcard or a stuffed moose head. Enter through the courtyard.
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Sennaya
An unnervingly American-style mall a short walk from Sennaya pl, this huge centre is mainly for fashion, but includes a food hall, a bowling alley and the Patterson department store.
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Sennoy Market
Cheaper and less atmospheric than Kuznechny Market, Sennoy Market is also centrally located. You'll find fruit and veggies, as well as fresh-caught fish and fresh-cut meat.
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Sol-Art
In the sumptuous surroundings of the Museum of Decorative & Applied Art, this is a great place to buy contemporary local art. Styles include classical realism, avant-garde and everything in between.
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Soldat Udachi ul Nekrasova
This weaponry store has everything a modern-day Rambo could wish for, including GPS devices, Swiss army knives and camping gizmos. Stop by and have a look if you wish to stock up on rugged necessities.
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Soldier of Fortune - Liteyny
The extensive selection of guns and knives at this little shop is impressive, if a little frightening. Check out the knives with intricately carved handles; penknives straight out of James Bond; and machetes with names such as 'Predator Axe'. The place also carries more mundane equipment like binoculars and water bottles, as well as all manner of camouflage clothing and military souvenirs.
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Soldier of Fortune - Petrogradsky
Strangely, this weaponry store seems unrelated to the store of the same name in Vosstaniya, and frankly, you have to wonder about a town that has enough demand to support two such stores. Nonetheless, here is another place that has everything a modern-day Rambo could wish for, including GPS devices, Swiss army knives and camping gizmos.
