In St Petersburg it is never too late for breakfast. Brunches and late breakfasts, for those who love to sleep until noon, are served in numerous cafes where you can relax, enjoy delicious meals and forget about your worries. The Culture Trip guides you through ten of the best brunch spots in the city.
Leica Café is located in the city center and is surrounded by a number of higher education establishments. For most students this is the only place to have as good a breakfast as you would be served at home. Many students wake up late and are ready for the first meal later on in the day. For breakfast and brunch Leica offers three kinds of cereals, sandwiches, pancakes with condensed milk, cheese pancakes with sour cream and muesli. Look out for the fresh juices or hot chocolate with marshmallows. Guests will be delighted to find that they receive a tea or coffee of their choice for free.
BGL is an ideal venue for those who wake up late and like to walk along the Fontanka bank, and then wish to indulge in a delicious and hearty breakfast. BGL Café & Market specializes in bagels with different fillings, and serves brunch on weekends, which comes accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine. It is one of the most creative breakfasts in St Petersburg. Students Lisa Simonova and Maurice Shakaya opened BGL without prior knowledge of the restaurant business, but their establishment has quickly become popular. Ingredients for the dishes are carefully selected and bought at Sennoy Market, the principal market in St Petersburg. BGL attracts youngsters with its cozy interior and romantic decor: wooden walls, long wooden benches, and vintage furniture from thrift stores.
Grey's, Sankt-Peterburg | Image courtesy of Grey's Bistro
Grey’s Bistro
Grey’s Bistro is located slightly away from the main bustle of the city, but still in the center of historical St Petersburg. Search through the varied menu at Grey’s or choose to taste their specialty – hot sweet pancakes with sour cream or jam. Furthermore, Grey’s menu includes numerous oat, rice and buckwheat porridge varieties with different fillings, and you will be delighted by the wonderful coffee that will help you to wake up.
Cafe and confectionery FermA is famous for its special combination of rustic European style and lively atmosphere. Located on one of the busiest streets in St Petersburg, FermA features an interior designed in a cozy and classic style, with wooden chairs and tables and floral wallpapers. FermA is well-known for its confectionery, and the variety of homemade fresh pastries and cakes will please any guest with a sweet tooth. Brunch at FermA will be a delightful surprise, as you will not find a typical set of cereals and porridge offered for breakfast, rather FermA’s choice of delicious sandwiches along with salmon, mushroom pies, éclairs and tender puffs that will brighten your morning.
Wood Bar, Sankt-Peterburg | Image courtesy of Wood Bar
Wood Bar
How do you feel about venturing into a bar for a lovely breakfast or brunch? Wood Bar offers a light and cozy venue, with very friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. For breakfast, Wood Bar suggests quite traditional meals in the form of omelettes and porridge, but if you browse the appetizers section, you can find pancakes with salmon and poached egg that are great choices for a hearty brunch. Wood Bar is decorated with minimalist furnishings and decor, true to a simple Scandinavian style.
Fartuk specializes in providing a delightful mix of French, Italian and Russian cuisine, and offers a great variety of vegetarian dishes for early breakfast and late brunch. For those looking for a big meal, Fartuk offers a full English breakfast which will keep your hunger at bay for the rest of the day. Lovers of sweets will be able to choose from a light curd casserole, cheesecake, croissants or even just a good quality cappuccino with cinnamon. Fans of healthy food will be impressed with Fartuk’s excellent choice of cereals and fresh juices.
Opening hours: Mon-Thu and Sun 10am-12am; Fri-Sat 10am-3am
Many locals like this place for the wonderful breakfast variety and the beautiful terrace in their inner courtyard, where you can ride on the swing, look at the sky and enjoy a worry-free morning. One feature distinguishes Cake & Breakfast from many similar venues – you can have breakfast here all day long. There are many options for breakfast, including sweet and hearty food, and you can order some delicious and beautifully decorated desserts for your brunch. While here, try the scrambled eggs with salmon on ciabatta, or the lemon tart.
The brunches in Imperial Restaurant, conveniently located in the luxurious Corinthia Hotel, are famous for their grand scale and great choices of food. Newly appointed chef Ian Minnis has presented his unique take on the traditional brunch. In addition to the pre-cooked appetizers, main dishes and desserts -all of which are offered in a format of the buffet, the chefs prepare selected dishes in the open kitchen as customers watch from their tables. On Sundays Imperial hosts some of the best afternoon brunches in St Petersburg.
Opening hours: breakfast is served Mon-Fri 7-11am; Sat 7am-12pm; Sun 7am-4pm
Brunch at the bookstore is a typical Saint Petersburg experience. Podpisnye Izdaniya is a bookstore with an unusual concept: here you can buy a new book, relax with a cup of coffee on the second floor, or simply re-read a favorite novel in silence. The bookstore serves as an inspiration for many locals, who visit it in order to mix with other intellectuals and to experience the city’s unique atmosphere. The store’s café Znakomtes, Joe, offers a choice of dishes to kick start your day, such as a warm cappuccino, oatmeal porridge and cottage cheese pancakes. The menu at the coffee shop is limited, but the variety will be enough from which to choose a hearty brunch.
Restaurant Mansarda offers a perfect combination of elegant cuisine and striking imagination, and has a panoramic view of Saint Petersburg’s historic center. The restaurant is located on the top floor of a modern space, Qattro Corti, conveniently situated a minutes walk from St Isaac’s Square. The glass walls of Mansarda offer outstanding view of the golden dome of the cathedral, and the menu features numerous classic delicacies from Europe and Asia. Mansarda was one of the first venues associated with Sunday brunch in St Petersburg. It’s worth tasting the okroshka on kvas and the white chocolate mousse with cherries if visiting.
