Where To Eat In St. Petersburg Russia

Beyond its historical and cultural significance, St. Petersburg is renowned for its exquisite cuisine. St. Petersburg’s food scene effortlessly blends the city’s historic past with more modern re-interpretations of classic dishes. In this guide, The Culture Trip takes you to Russia’s cultural center to find some of the best restaurants and cafés around.

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Palkin Restaurant

The first ever restaurant of Russian cuisine in St. Petersburg was located in the building on Nevsky Prospect, where Palkin now resides. Former patrons have included Dostoevsky, Leskov, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Chekhov, Mendeleev, Tchaikovsky and other famous Russians. Modern Palkin is no less luxurious, with its palace style interior, wooden flooring, moldings, shining chandeliers and wall frescoes. Palkin’s kitchen is internationally renowned for its innovative interpretation of food. A visit to the restaurant will equal a meeting with the history of aristocratic Russian cuisine.

Art Café Kommunalka is a charming venue that is full of the cozy spirit of St. Petersburg. The menu offers meals of contemporary Russian cuisine with unique names, some of which are dedicated to popular Soviet film titles. Kommunalka often holds themed events and festivals, such as the costume party on Student Day or the First of April celebration. Art Café Kommunalka promotes cultural education, and often features live music performances, such as saxophone or piano performances.

Philibert Café

Philibert has earned the reputation of being a hospitable café, not only because of its friendly service but also because of the interior: panoramic windows, furniture made of light wood, wrought iron framed mirrors, white shelves, and chandeliers refer to classic interiors of French Provence. The menu echoes the Provençal mood of the restaurant. You will find five types of quiche, onion soup, salad Nicoise and frog legs stewed in a citrus sauce.

Ukrop Restaurant

The first restaurant in St. Petersburg to be fully dedicated to vegan and raw diets, Ukrop is a place with delicious food. Here you can indulge on vegan-friendly dishes made from minimal ingredients, but only from natural products. Ukrop has developed an approach of austerity and minimalism, visible in everything from their menu to the interior: white walls, plenty of herbs and plants, and chalkboards are main design elements of the venue.

L’Europe Restaurant

L’Europe Restaurant is the oldest serving restaurant in St. Petersburg, providing one of the best classic gourmet experiences in the city. The restaurant features an Art Nouveau interior designed by architect Karl Makkenezen and built in 1905. Famous people who had sumptuous dinners here include: Elizabeth II, Tchaikovsky, former president Bill Clinton, Michael Douglas and Elton John. Without a doubt, this is one of the centers of elite life in Russia’s cultural capital. Restaurant L’Europe has won The Superiority Awards in 2008, 2009 and 2010, from the authoritative American publication Wine Spectator for having one of the most impressive wine lists in the world. The fabulous breakfast buffet served in the restaurant every morning was recognized as one of the most succulent in the world by the magazine Wow-travel for its majestic grand hall and endless buffet settings.

Zoom Café

Zoom Café opened its doors in 2004 and its philosophy has been focused on providing a comfortable and home-like retreat for those who spend most of their day in the city center. Zoom Café became an instant success with residents and travelers alike. The meals served at Zoom are simple; while the venue is divided into three halls, which feature comfortable sofas, wooden tables and stuffed animals. There are bookshelves with magazines in Russian and foreign languages and games such as checkers, chess and bingo – all to provide you comfortable leisure and to brighten up your mood.

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