St Petersburg Restaurants

  1. Aiva

    Aiva may seem out of the way, but all the cool kids come here to sit on the covered terrace and sip sophisticated cocktails. Rag-rug pillows accent the rustic décor, giving the place an exotic Eastern ambience. The menu is a mixed bag, with dishes from Europe and Asia, as well as Russian and Georgian standards. The service at this trendy café gets decidedly mixed reviews, but everyone agrees that the setting is super fine.

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  2. Akvarium

    Tucked into a funny location behind Lenfilm, Akvarium maintains the serene aura of a Chinese garden, complete with swimming fish and flowing fountains. It's a perfect atmosphere to indulge in St Petersburg's most authentic Chinese fare, including - appropriately for a place called 'Aquarium' - an excellent range of seafood.

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  3. Aquarel

    Aquarel combines a wonderful setting with fantastic fusion cuisine. Indeed, this is the place that pioneered fusion cuisine in the city, and the kitchen continues to artfully combine Russian, Mediterranean and Asian elements into some uniquely delicious dishes. This food fest takes place on a slickly decked-out boat, moored on the Neva River, offering amazing views of the façade of the Hermitage and the lights of Birzhevoy most.

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  4. Backstage

    The Mariinsky's official restaurant is tucked away rather out of sight on one corner of Teatralnaya pl. The décor is downright stage-worthy, and the food is also excellent. Service sometimes comes with a sniff, but that somehow befits an institution so celebrated as the Mariinsky. Apparently, famous opera singers and ballet dancers are welcome to write all over the walls. Probably best to refrain unless you count yourself among the stars.

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  5. Baku

    The amazing mosquelike interior is reason enough to stop into this new addition. Tiled walls, arched doorways and throw pillows will whisk you to Azerbaijan, which is exactly what is intended. And there you can indulge in plov, the traditional dish of rice and lamb, subtly spiced with cumin and sprinkled with raisins, as well as grilled meats and vegetables. This is an experience to delight all of your senses.

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  6. Baltic Bread - Liteyny

    This outstanding bakery-café is an excellent place to stop for breakfast, lunch or a late-afternoon coffee break. Seating is limited, so take your order soboy ('to go') and head to Tauride Gardens. There is another outlet in Vladimirsky Passage and one on the Petrograd Side.

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  7. Baltic Bread - Petrogradsky

    For a great breakfast option or a late-afternoon pick-me-up, head to the Petrograd outlet of this St Petersburg favourite.

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  8. Baltic Bread - Vladimirsky Passazh Shopping Mall

    Strangely enough, despite the name this is a British bakery. This branch is located in the Vladimirsky Passage shopping centre, where you can pick up fresh bread, cakes and even ready-made sandwiches on the run. You can take away or eat in the small café area provided.

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  9. Biergarten

    Dark wood furnishings and beamed ceilings enhance the Bavarian atmosphere at this German beer hall. Select a table in the dark, inviting interior or on the porch overlooking Vasilevsky Island's main thoroughfare. Both are ideal spots to enjoy traditional German biergarten fare and a nice selection of beers.

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  10. Bistrot Garçon

    The more casual of two outlets, this gorgeous little bistro is smart and unpretentious, with low lighting, upscale but still charming décor, and professional staff. Prices are reasonable given the excellent standard of the cooking (and Parisian chef). See for a review of the other Garçon.

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  11. Black Cat, White Cat

    This super-sleek place wins plaudits for contemporary design: exposed brick walls are hung with posters, light streams in through huge bay windows, and chiffon sheets hang between the tables for privacy. The place is named after the Serbian film Black Cat, White Cat . The menu features an eclectic mix of grilled meats, fresh salads and homemade soups, perhaps with a Serbian twist, though it's hard to pinpoint.

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  12. Blin Donalt's

    This funny fast-food joint has somehow avoided legal action from a certain well-known American chain. Here you get fast-food bliny (crepes), chicken Kiev and borscht (beetroot soup) - all as far from the real thing as McDonald's apple pie, but a fascinating comment on post-Soviet Russia.

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  13. Bliny Domik

    There is more than just bliny on the menu at this long-running favourite. Besides sweet and savoury pancakes of every kind, there are also soups, salads and other snacks. The place is set up like a cosy and welcoming country home. It gets very busy at noon, so come for breakfast or a late lunch.

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  14. Bushe

    Local Bushe devotees wait for the doors to open so they can enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a fresh-squeezed fruit juice or flaky pastry before heading to work. Sweet and savoury pastries run the gamut, filled with cream, fruit, meat, mushrooms and more. The bakery is Austrian, but it's Soviet in style (meaning not particularly efficient and certainly not overly friendly). But the baked goods are to-die-for, so who needs chitchat?

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  15. Bushe

    This Austrian bakery has developed a huge number of local devotees, thanks to fresh-baked pastries and delicious coffee drinks.

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  16. Byblos

    The only Lebanese place in town, this Vasilevsky Island hideaway attracts a large crowd for its excellent-value lunch, as well as a more relaxed evening clientele. Here you'll find delicious mezze, hummus, kibbeh (minced meat with bulgur wheat), tabbouleh, kofta (spicy meatballs of lamb or beef) and of course hookahs and Lebanese wine.

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  17. Cat Café

    With vines hanging from the ceiling to evoke the Caucasian countryside, this popular restaurant dishes up Georgian favourites: hearty khinkali (meat dumplings), decadent khachapuri (cheese bread), grilled eggplant and zucchini. At the time of research, Russia and Georgia were ironing out their trade differences, so hopefully you can also wash it down with a delicious Georgian red wine.

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  18. Chaynaya Lozhka

    Chaynaya Lozhka is an excellent bliny, soup and salad joint that has become a citywide phenomenon. It's serve yourself cafeteria-style, but the bliny are made to order and the soups and salads are fresh and delicious.

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  19. Che

    Few places are cooler to hang out than Che. Come by day for good lunch specials and wi-fi access or come by night for cold beer and live music. Either way, you will enjoy the loungy furniture, friendly service and laidback atmosphere. The mostly Russian menu features rotating 'specials' suggested by the chef, as well as standard soups, salads and other European fare.

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  20. Cheburechnaya

    This is not one of the many restaurants trying to be 'retro'; this stolovaya (cafeteria) just continues to do what it has been doing for decades. Bypass the sit-down restaurant and head straight into the nondescript cafeteria (on the right), where you can place your order at the cash register. Nowadays, there are a few other items on the menu, but you'll want to order the namesake cheburechka, a delicious Georgian meat-stuffed pastry.

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  21. Crocodile

    The original (and perhaps more interesting) restaurant by this name, this bar and restaurant is a top choice for lunch or dinner, as long as you are not in a rush. Enjoy a dimly lit but artsy interior and an interesting, eclectic menu.

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  22. Crocodile

    Service can be slow at this underground hideaway, but the unusual and highly edible food is worth the wait. Look for innovative combinations that produce a delicious effect: mostly European fare with some international flare. The menu offers rich homemade soups, hearty salads that double as main courses, traditional pasta dishes and some excellent, unusual vegetarian options.

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  23. Face Café

    Despite the name, this little café on the banks of the canal does not exercise face control; indeed, it is one of the city's more welcoming venues - especially notable considering its cool minimalist décor and excellent menu. The subterranean space is well lit, with arched doorways and an unusual engraved Art Deco bar. The menu offers a little bit of everything, but the food is well prepared and artistically presented.

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  24. Fasol

    A few of the modern dishes at this chic minimalist café feature the namesake beans (fasol), but that is not actually the reason to come here. (The name is actually supposed to be a play on the name of the street, which means 'Pea Street.') Whatever it's called, the updated Russian cuisine is creative and cost-effective. Try the herring salad with freshly fried potato pancakes.

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  25. Fat Frier

    The original branch of this citywide chain is a great place for late-night dining.

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