Way to Russia Talk Lounge

WayToRussia

If you found a good hotel, restaurant, club, cafe or just a place to go out for a walk in St. Petersburg, or heard about some place but forgot the name, please, post it here and share it with other travelers too.

MeLiChKa · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 9:49 pm Post subject: GOOD PUB

Hi There Im Off To St.Petersburg In July For 2 Days Then On Too Petrozavodsk..Ive Been Told Of A Great Pub Called SHAMROCKS Its opposite the Mininsky theatre in St.Petersburg.>The Owner Is From West Brom In Midlands & Is Called Baggy..Lol But its supposed to be a great atmosphere in there..So i will be trying it! Cheers! Shocked

_________________
Melly

Anna · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 11:46 pm Post subject:

Mind: Mariinsky Theatre, not Mininsky Smile

_________________
I hope my recommendations will be useful

dc197 · Frequent Guest Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 14

Hi
Moloko club was good, I saw some very talented local acts there and hung-out with them afterward, nice chaps.

That bunker club Gribrov-whatsitcalled was a bit disappointing. Empty upon arrival at 11-ish it was starting to fill-up as I left for the last tube.
The St Pete Times paper promised trance but all they were playing was piped RnB from a CD.

I'd recommend the ballet too.

Daniel

mattintucson · Just Starting Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 2

I just got back from two weeks in St. Petersburg. I had a wonderful time visiting a woman who I met on the internet.

I stayed at the Rinaldi B&B on Maly Prospekt--it was inexpensive, clean, friendly (the ladies there sort of adopted me) and had a good breakfast. I will stay there again.

Good Restaurants and Cafes--I spent most of my time on Vas. island and I ate at many different places, all of them great. The Stolle Cafe is good for lunch, the Restaurant Hungary was very good also. There is also a strange restaurant with a medieval decor that was good too. I did eat at the Irish pub next to the Marinsky--it had good Irish food. Also, behind the MacDonalds on the island is a little restaruant ( I can not remember its name but it had a green sign advertising Gosser Austrian Beer) that is very very good and quaint. They serve wonderful egg plant dishes.

The best restaurant was in the city of Pushkin (visit the palace there)-- a little place called the Tower. We had lamb chops that were the best I ever had. It is also a very romantic place situated in an old tower with only four tables--very very wonderful place.

As for my experience with my Russian girl friend, I had the best time of my life!

scholar · Frequent Guest Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 18

Where can a good Jazz club or lounge be found?

Pablo · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:07 pm Post subject:

How much would I expect to pay for a clean well lcated B&B in St. Petes's? Does anyone have one to recommend?
Pablo
_________________
"When you travel remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make it's own people comfortable." C.Fadiman

kiwiguy_os · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject:

Pablo · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks Dave...will follow your advice.
Now..any idea how much a tkt between Tallin and St. Pete would be in late may?
Cheers!
_________________
"When you travel remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make it's own people comfortable." C.Fadiman

cyndy22 · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject:

The bus is the cheapest but the trip takes 7 hours. Iseem to recall; from my Russian travel agent that the bus costs around $40 but I could be wrong. You can take the train from SPB to Helsinki and then take the fast water transport. Flying is outrageosly expensive.
_________________
Cyndy

"Love is the only engine of survival..."

LORY · Just Starting Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 4

Italianskaya street 6 ---- the best sushi in Petersburg Very Happy

kiwiguy_os · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:53 am Post subject:

Try the peppered steak at the James Cook Bar & Cafe located just off Gribeodova Canal near the Church of the Spilt Blood. Best peppered steak I have ever tried, for just 320 roubles as well. Amazing kitchen there and great homely atmosphere and the even have some good old New Zealand lamb on the menu (for 800 roubles for those who want high end meals). New Zealand lamb by the way is the finest in the world for those of you who dont know (and I am not being biased just because I grew up in NZ either).

droog

Went to St Petersburg with some friends in March 2005 for 4 nights so I thought I'd share my experiences of the better nightlife with you.

Beerhouse Rascal - Rubinshteyna No. 8 Cool

Small, cozy subterranean Bar on Rubinshteyna No 8 off Nevsky. This place was well chilled, laid back to the point of falling off your chair backwards it was excellent for a few beers mid to late evening. The Barman is helpful and friendly and serves several excellent local brews plus the top notch Kruscovice Dark (Czech Dark Beer). Reasonable Prices and live music often. In the Traps (WCs) weird selection of Tiolet paper including mouse size and newspaper on a nail, somebody's got a sense of humour.

Mollies Irish Pub - Rubinshteyna No. 36

A bit further down the Ulitsa you find Mollies Irish Bar. This place is OK not the usual "Plastic Paddy" as we call them in Angleeya. Baltika is OK not too expensive for an Irlansky Boozer. Food is good, Irish Stew massive portion if you go for the big one. Occasional Paddy Jiggy band. Spartak Vs Torpedo on the Telly when we were in there a few p*ssed up Zenit fans knocking their beers over, good atmosphere. A Few expat Deutshe geezers, or were they mob talking German?, surrounded by top tottie of course. Bit of advice though dont go in on St Paddy's day, in fact dont go in any Irish pub on St Paddy's unless you want to die of thirst!

Red Lion - Right Next door to the Bronze Horseman Up Near The Admiralty Razz

This place markets itself as an English Style Pub and is actually very good. The proprietor's name is Douglas from NYC, a bloody good bloke. We had a bit of a chat with him and he gave us useful info on the city, nightlife etc. Beer is good Baltika again (local) although if you need some bitter they have Abbott Ale in the (bootilkee though). Food was nice and the waitressess very pleasant in manner and on the eye. Sky Sports News so you can watch the footie results come in on a Saturday PM. If your team loses to Torquay Utd forget it your in one of the worlds best cities, so 'ave another beer. Good place later on although we were always off on the prowl by 9pm. But definately worth the trip.

Chayka - Griboedova Not Far Past Nevsky Prospekt Metro Station and continue down next to the Canal a few paces on the Right.

Yep its the Seagull Bar a la Checkov. Another laid back one often have a pianist playing, reasonable price beer and very friendly bar staff customers, door check etc. Wack a few bevvies back and look at the stuffed seagulls poor b*stards. You just feel like this place is not going to rip you off. Chilled like the vodka and well central. Play your cards right and you could have your photo taken with Vladimir Ilyich himself, he's also not adverse to a bit of free market negotiation so knock him down a few roubles.

James Cook - Further Down Griboedova towards the Church of the Spilled Blood Actually Shvedsky Per. 2

If you've got this far and found the entrance your doing well. The ubiquitous coat check awaits but then into the bar. A bit lively but its not Leicester Square on a Saturday Night. Still good selection of Deutshe and other beers at a price. Also you get the old vinegary malted bread sticks gratis. Hit this place about 1 am starting to flag so owned a few of the old triple distilled to get back in shape. I think a bit trendy but OK.

Tribunal Bar - Just up towards the Neva very close to the Red Lion near the Bronze Horseman. Wink

Sort of pub that turns into a lively disco with the house girls dancing on the bar. Alright to take the mrs though because they dont remove the full kit. Good little Dance Floor and Beer price is OK. You haven't died and gone to heaven if your being eyed up by some cracking tottie at the bar because there are a few ladies of the night in here so watch yourself but they're not too in your face. And the local ordinary girls are pretty friendly. Warning don't get into a taxi drunk and on your own outside, chances are you'll be well over charged. Stick together and you'll be alright. Geezer on the stage later asking for volunteers, trouble was he spoke like a 78 and I can only understand Russian at 33rpm. Gavereetye Myedlenna Pajalsta!

Tinkoff - On Kazanskaya Past The Cathedral and Keep Walking on the right You'll get to it eventually.

Sells itself as a Beer Restaurant. You can tell its Mobbed Up because of the Metal Detectors and Security on the Door. But don't let this put you off. Wacky industrial interior awaits inside, a sort of Orwell's 1984 meets Stalins 30s meets Max Headroom. The Dark Beer was the best I tasted in Petrograd without a shadow. Food was tops and even though it was lunchtime the Babe ratio was definately ++. A little Pricey by Eastern Europe standards but when your used to Cockerney Prices its a breeze. As we were there for Obed (lunch) we didnt see the entertainment but its supposed to be good. One thing to watch for is that they time the food so you buy another pint. But what the hell if the waitress thought we were one pint men she needs to get a new pair of Zenits or Karl Ziesses fitted. Gobby Mobbie surrounded by Lookers behind us giving the waitress some mouth. Just ignore these types and you wont end up propping up the new bridge over the Neva.

Stoganoff Yard - On Nevsky

This is a good restaurant, its just into a courtyard and in a sort of glass building. Service is good and food is nice. Telephones on each table so you can phone the kraseevaya jensheena that takes your fancy. Best learn some Russky Yazeek though or your amorous advances might be drowned out by the laughter!!!

Gottika - Nevsky 88 and Into the Courtyard Shocked

Don't take the little lady here if you know what I mean. Reasonabely priced but you're on thee stairway to heaven and the closer you get the more it costs so hide 500 roubles in your sock so you can afford the taxi back to your hotel. Standard and value is much better than you get damoy (at home) but it ain't real you're on holiday so relax and enjoy.

MikeFlorida

I liked LAIMA. Russian food located near the Griboadova Canal(YES,,I always spell it wrong!Ive seen it spelleded a number of ways;-) on Nevsky. Sorta like a cafeteria, but with table service. The Blineys were A+. Everything was inexpensive and good.

I also like SADKOS in the Europa Hotel. In fact MOST of the food at the Europas restaraunts isnt expensive for lunch. OK maybe a little expensive but not compared to the room rates;-)

As for hostels. I havent stayed in any, but I am a travel writer and there are good listings on Hostelz.com.

I have to say droogs list is impressive. Ill try a few of them for sure!

Edward · Just Starting Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

I know good Hotel.
It is Ermitage Hotel, http://ermitage.spb.ru.
Best regards.