Northern European Russia
Small but inexpensive salads, soups and light mains served in an upbeat, youthful atmosphere where the déjà vu in question is the Eiffel Tower, a giant…
Must-see restaurants in Russia
St Petersburg
This smart cafe serves a good-value menu of thoughtfully prepared fish, meat and pasta dishes, along with a good selection of vegetarian fare. The…
St Petersburg
This stylish, bright and spacious cafe has wooden floors, deeply distressed walls and understated old-world furnishings. Its mouth-watering pictorial menu…
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
The town’s best pizzas are at this bright cafe, which also has some healthy soups, salads and fondue, plus a fine coffee selection and a range of…
Sakhalin Island
This slick basement restaurant-bar has an extensive pub menu (including pizzas, pastas, seafood, steaks). Upstairs, stop in the cafe (open 8.30am to 5pm…
Moscow
If you are in need of vitamins, this is a funky vegetarian cafe, restaurant and shop. Its Indian-themed decor is more New Agey than ethnic. Service is…
Black Sea Coast
A vast restaurant with various dining rooms surrounding an inner courtyard. Here, tables surround a gurgling fountain and live music plays on most nights…
Western European Russia
Tolstoy tripping can be hungry work: stop in at this simple cafe across from the estate entrance, where house specialities are prepared according to…
St Petersburg
A blast from the past, Snezhinka channels Soviet-era nostalgia with its Russian-only menu of cutlets, bliny and beef Stroganoff served in a cosy, brick…
Western European Russia
This place looks like a cross between St Basil’s Cathedral and McDonald’s inside. It's fast food, but the quality is surprisingly high, which may explain…
St Petersburg
Whitewashed brick walls set the tone for this relaxed basement cafe-bar which does excellent pizza and decent salads. Wash the food down with locally made…
St Petersburg
One of various Ukrop restaurants around town, this place draws in the veg-minded crowds who come for creative salads, pastas, panini and soups, all served…
Western European Russia
Attached to the Onix Hotel is this modern restaurant with tiled floors and an outdoor terrace serving traditional Russian cuisine.
St Petersburg
Popular branch of this small chain of contemporary cafes with a theme of 'happiness'. It offers a mainly Italian menu, along with delicious pastries and…
Vladivostok
This little Italian-run brick-oven pizzeria has a modern interior and snappy service. The dozen-plus pizzas are crispy and arguably some of the best east…
St Petersburg
This is the most central branch of the excellent veggie-cafe chain. It serves up the same excellent fare, including great vegetarian lasagne, in a cosy…
St Petersburg
An affordable Parisian-style eatery that whips up bistro fare including breakfast (served all day on weekends), as well as a huge selection of French…
St Petersburg
Branch of this excellent French bistro-cafe, which provides a relaxed Parisienne atmosphere to enjoy decent coffee, fresh bakes and lights meals.
Russian Far East
Pleasant cafe with decent cappuccinos and a wide range of dishes including eggs and bliny for breakfast, and risotto and pizzas for later on.
Northern European Russia
Come to this spacious European-style cafe for the good coffee, tea, and tasty pastries. Order the dill-topped pizza at your peril, though.
Sakhalin Island
A branch of the Sakhalin bakery chain where sticky Danishes, rich eclairs, sandwiches, coffee and tea are all on offer.
St Petersburg
An excellent bakery in Chkalovskaya that serves up tasty croissants, berry tarts and eclairs.
Sakhalin Island
Good supermarket, with tempting bakery items and hot prepared dishes.
St Petersburg
Join the babushkas and families lining up for the greasy, sugar-dusted donuts and milky coffee sold at practically Soviet-era prices at this institution,…
St Petersburg
This is one of the oldest Japanese restaurant chains in St Petersburg, offering a huge selection of rolls, sushi and sashimi but also some European…
St Petersburg
This place features reinterpreted Italian classics and is well known for its pasta (which is always perfectly al dente), outstanding wine menu and fresh…
Western Siberia
Funky, glass-fish-bowl-shaped restaurant and bar with leafy plants and bicycles mounted on the walls. There's a menu of Russian, international and some…
Northern European Russia
The rustic Ukrainian theme is worked to the max here – expect a cheery stove, woven tablecloths, sunflowers, clay jugs and nostalgic sepia prints of…
Western Siberia
This place, an extra-large Siberian izba (wood house) that simply feels warm and welcoming, is a revolution as far as Tobolsk is concerned. Specialities…
Western Siberia
An easy stop near the kremlin for relatively quick and cheap Russian eats – think lunch standards such as bishteks (Russian-style hamburger), solyanka …
St Petersburg
This was the first Spanish restaurant in St Petersburg and is still probably the best. Set up like a Valencian cantina, complete with beautiful tiling,…
Western European Russia
This waterfront restaurant – complete with portholes – specialises in creative fish dishes, as well as some meat and vegetarian options, and views of…
St Petersburg
The lacklustre decor may not instantly endear this Indian-run place to you, but its popularity with locals and visiting Indians says a great deal. The…
Northern European Russia
This centrally-located cafe's name translates as Golden Fish, the name of a Russian fairy tale. The menu is bound to delight kids, with pancakes with jam,…
Western Siberia
Conveniently located near the River Station, Kolchok combines an Irish Pub and a restaurant under one roof. There's a decent beer selection including…
St Petersburg
Its name may be a bizarre one, as Port Arthur was the scene of one of Russia's most humiliating naval defeats, but everything else about this plush…
St Petersburg
This attractive little bistro is smart and unpretentious, with low lighting, upscale but still charming decor, and professional staff. While this is the…
Northern European Russia
As befitting the name, buzzy 'Brothers Grill' specialises in grilled meats, though there are salads and cakes for non-carnivorous customers. The young…
St Petersburg
This spacious, great value place serves up your typical Caucasian and Crimean fare; it specialises in the Crimean Tatar dish chebureki (a fried meat…
