Vologda Restaurants and Cafes.

There are so many places to eat in the centre that, frankly, it’s hard to find a place where you couldn’t eat. Here is the description of some of the most popular and interesting places; they are all centrally located and not far from each other. Even if you don’t like it for some reason or it’s overcrowded it won’t take more than two minutes to walk to another one.

Trapeza.
It’s a small café mostly attended and loved by students. A full dinner with the first and the second courses will cost about $4-6. They also offer a good choice of pizza starting from $5 to $10. Sometimes it might seem a bit dark and noisy inside because they have a big TV on. This café is recommended for having a short bite for low prices.
Address: Pushkinskaya St. #1. Open hours: 10:00-00:00 (till 23:00 at weekends) daily.

Mac Dak.
For those who prefer the American style fast food. Many people enjoy the light and coloured atmosphere inside although not everybody likes this kind of food. Sometimes they even bring their own drinks and food concealed. Parents often come here with their children. Mak Dak offers a traditional choice: cheeseburgers, French fries, Coca-Cola, coffee, chicken nuggets and so on. On the whole, it is absolutely the same menu and service style as that of McDonalds that everybody knows.
Address: Mira St. #6. Open hours: 10:00-21:00 daily.

Ogorod.
Ogorod. This self-service restaurant is very popular among the locals. It is situated in the very centre of Vologda and is very convenient to go to on a dinner break. Therefore it is always overcrowded at dinner time (from 12:00 till 14:00). The atmosphere inside might look too hasty, with a lot of people coming in and out. But in summer there is an open-air terrace in front of the restaurant, so it’s much more comfortable to sit outside under the tent. A full dinner usually costs around $6-10; besides, there is a nice bar with soft cocktails and alcohol drinks.
Address: Pobedy Avenue, #10. Open hours: 8:00-23:00 daily.

Hausbrandt.
The waitresses are extremely hospitable; a polite and kind treatment can be expected. It is situated in a street where there are only pedestrians and no cars so you can sit near the window and enjoy the quiet atmosphere with a cup of good Italian coffee watching people walk in the street. They have a nice choice of wines on the menu and keen wine expert who will willingly help you choose one. Hausbrandt is definitely one of the best places to eat out; credit cards are accepted.
Address: Address: Mira St., #9. Tel: (8172) 72-43-44. Open hours: 9:00-2:00 daily.

Kioto.
I found the Japanese restaurant Kioto totally amazing. The interior is so bright and relaxing, with an aquarium in the wall and pretty waitresses dressed in traditional Japanese clothes walking past silently. Soft and charming music is played in the background. There is a VIP room with a Japanese movie on TV (if you like). You won’t want to get back to the street. The menu with medium prices offers a lot of dishes so even those who don’t like something very Japanese (sushi, for example) can find something similar to dishes from Russian or European cuisine. The chief in Kioto is Oleg Huan, he comes from Korea and is a professional cook. Sushi bar is at your service as well.
Address: Lermontova St., #19. Tel: (8172) 72-06-27. Open hours: 12:00-24:00 daily.

Spasskiy.
The restaurant Spasskiy is a part of a huge hotel complex so it is especially convenient for those staying in Spasskaya Hotel. The interior is very classical for a restaurant and it seemed to me a bit too formal. Round tables with clean white cloths and very neat waiters – all this is designed to resemble the European style or service. The menu is well composed, with big pictures of the dishes. Prices are normal for a restaurant of this level and definitely not the highest in Vologda. I think $20-25 per person would be enough for a dinner. When there are entertainment programmes on Fridays and Saturdays the entrance fee is 100 rubles (~$3,8).
Address: Oktyabrskaya St., #25. Tel: (8172) 726224. Open hours: 12:00-1:00 daily.