Of the many restaurants open in the beautiful City of St Petersburg, it would be hard to pick out the ones to be called the “best.” Some are best in terms of menu, others perhaps create the best dining experience. Below are some restaurants in St Petersburg that have managed to combine both and have gained local approval for many years.
The perfect opportunity to try real Russian cuisine with a fine dining touch, Cococo is a restaurant combining the best of home cooked meals and exquisite dining. The menu is seasonal, reflecting how meals in a local household would change during the year. Despite the sophisticated food, the atmosphere is fairly relaxed but reservations are highly recommended.
The cooking of world famous chef Jamie Oliver has found its way to Russia and manifested in a restaurant specialising in Italian cuisine right in the heart of St Petersburg. The restaurant has become a family favourite, a great place for a business lunch or for a romantic date. On top of that, the restaurant is located right in front of the beautiful Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Perfect for many occasions.
As far as Asian food goes, Tse Fung is the place to go for those who’d like to find Asian food in St Petersburg with a fine dining twist. Tse Fung is located on St Petersburg’s busiest restaurant and bar streets and is definitely one of the highlights there. For yum cha style snacks or crispy Peking duck, Tse Fung would definitely be the place to go.
Named after korushka, a small fish local to the rivers of Saint Petersburg, the restaurant has a seafood-oriented menu with other various additions. The best bit is the location — Korushka is neighbour to the historic Peter and Paul Fortress and the windows are always open to a beautiful panoramic view of the Neva River Embankment. Arguably one of the best views in the city.
The EM restaurant has a unique but simple concept behind it — everything offered on the menu is made from scratch on the AGA stove located inside. Although the menu is fixed, it changes over time and is made up of a number of dishes that can be paired with a selection of wines. The restaurant is basically an apartment that accepts a limited number of guests a day. Booking is essential and can be done via the EM website.
Probka is one of the restaurants in the Probka Family franchise. It was started by Russia’s famous chef Adam Mnatskanov, who, after hosting a Russian version of Hell’s Kitchen, became recognised around the country. And so have his restaurants. This particular one specialises in home-style Italian cuisine — a good pick anytime.
The concept of Goose Goose is to use the freshest ingredients available during a particular time of the year and to create traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist. Among some of the items to try here are oysters, truffles or burrata cheese, as well as some of the chef specialities, such as the four-cheese risotto or the tuna tartar with chili, guacamole sauce and mint.
The Duo Gastrobar keeps it simple. The establishment can sit about 25 people, the owners are always there, taking orders, clearing the tables and the menu is made up of dishes containing about three to four ingredients. Despite the simplicity of the concept, the dishes are all fairly creative and based on local ingredients, ensuring freshness.
The Buddha Bar in St Petersburg follows in the tradition of the franchise around the world with massive interiors. Cocktails and an exquisite pan-Asian menu delight, and, later in the night, a dance floor forms, led by in-house DJs. The menu changes throughout the year, presenting new creations from the chef. The atmosphere is chill, service excellent and food imaginative.
As is evident from the name, China Gramota specialises in Chinese cuisine, namely Cantonese food. The restaurant has enjoyed great success in Moscow and has now taken over a picturesque location on a rooftop right in front of the Church of the Saviour on Blood. For the perfect ambiance and traditionally cooked Cantonese dishes, this restaurant will be a scenic stop whilst exploring Saint-Petersburg.