Saint Petersburg is not only famous for its rich history, impressive architecture, and vibrant culture, but also for its delicious and hearty traditional Russian soups. Soups are a key element of Russian cuisine and have been enjoyed for centuries. Whether you’re looking to warm up on a cold day or simply indulge in some comforting flavors, Saint Petersburg offers a number of fantastic restaurants and cafes where you can experience authentic borscht, shchi, solyanka, and more.
Here’s a guide to the best places in Saint Petersburg to experience traditional Russian soups that highlight the country’s rich culinary traditions.
1. Palkin
Palkin, one of the oldest and most renowned restaurants in Saint Petersburg, is an iconic place to try traditional Russian soups with a refined twist. The restaurant serves classic Russian dishes with an elegant presentation while maintaining the essence of authentic flavors.
What to Expect:
- Traditional Russian Soups: Palkin’s menu features popular soups such as borscht, shchi, and solyanka. The soups are made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and reflect the authentic taste of Russian home cooking.
- Elegant Ambiance: The historical décor of Palkin adds to the overall dining experience. With its sophisticated, traditional Russian interiors, it’s a great spot for experiencing both the food and the city’s heritage.
- Borscht: Palkin’s borscht is made with the finest beets, seasoned to perfection with the right balance of sour cream and dill, and served with a side of rye bread for the complete experience.
Insider Tip:
If you’re craving something hearty, try the solyanka at Palkin, a thick, tangy soup with an assortment of meats, vegetables, and olives, perfect for a filling meal.
2. Pushkin Café
Located in the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, Pushkin Café is a sophisticated spot offering an elegant atmosphere and classic Russian dishes, including some of the best soups in Saint Petersburg. This restaurant is known for its exceptional attention to detail and use of fresh, local ingredients.
What to Expect:
- Russian Classics: In addition to soups like borscht and shchi, Pushkin Café is also famous for its pork solyanka and other traditional dishes that showcase the depth of Russian cuisine.
- Lavish Interiors: The café’s décor is inspired by the 19th century, with opulent furnishings and period-style elements that transport you back to the days of Russian aristocracy.
- Solyanka: Pushkin Café’s solyanka is rich and hearty, with a balanced mix of meats, smoked sausage, and tangy flavors from pickles and olives.
Insider Tip:
Pair your soup with a traditional Russian vodka or one of their house-made infusions for the perfect Russian dining experience.
3. Teplo
Teplo is a cozy and modern bistro in the center of Saint Petersburg that offers both contemporary and traditional Russian dishes. The restaurant has a warm, welcoming atmosphere and is well known for its hearty soups, which are prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
What to Expect:
- Hearty Soups: Borscht, shchi, and solyanka are served at Teplo with a focus on traditional flavors, and the restaurant’s chefs use local produce to craft each dish with authenticity.
- Comfortable Setting: The intimate atmosphere of Teplo is perfect for enjoying a delicious bowl of soup. With wooden furniture and soft lighting, it’s an ideal place to relax and indulge in comforting Russian food.
- Solyanka: Teplo’s solyanka is particularly popular for its combination of meats, smoked flavors, and spices that make it rich, tangy, and satisfying.
Insider Tip:
Don’t miss the homemade rye bread served with the soups—it’s perfect for dipping and adds to the overall comfort food experience.
4. The Brothers Karamazov Café
For a traditional, yet trendy experience, The Brothers Karamazov Café serves up comforting bowls of soup with a mix of classic and modern twists. Located in a beautiful historic building, the café is named after Dostoevsky’s famous novel, adding a literary touch to your dining experience.
What to Expect:
- Classic Russian Soups: The café offers a variety of traditional soups, including borscht, shchi, and solyanka, all made with locally sourced ingredients.
- Cozy Atmosphere: The café’s decor is inspired by classic Russian literature and Dostoevsky’s era, giving you a warm and intimate environment to enjoy your meal.
- Borscht: The borscht here is rich and flavorful, served with sour cream and fresh dill. It’s a comforting choice to warm up, especially on chilly Saint Petersburg days.
Insider Tip:
If you’re looking for a more filling meal, try pairing your soup with one of the café’s traditional Russian pastries or pirozhki.
5. Café de la Paix
For a sophisticated yet relaxed experience, Café de la Paix, located near Mariinsky Theatre, offers a fantastic selection of traditional soups in a French-inspired setting. The restaurant offers a menu that marries Russian cuisine with European flair, including some of the best Russian soups in the city.
What to Expect:
- Borscht and More: Café de la Paix serves a beautifully prepared borscht, featuring beets, potatoes, and other fresh vegetables. It’s paired with sour cream and rye bread for the full experience.
- Elegance with a Touch of French Influence: The ambiance reflects the café’s French roots, with elegant furnishings, a cozy atmosphere, and an open kitchen where guests can see the chefs in action.
- Solyanka: Enjoy solyanka as a starter—rich in flavor with a delightful mix of meats, pickles, and olives, perfectly balanced for a savory, tangy taste.
Insider Tip:
Take a moment to enjoy the live music at Café de la Paix after your meal. The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for an evening out with friends or a romantic dinner.
6. Russian Dacha
Russian Dacha is a charming, rustic-style bistro that serves authentic Russian dishes with a focus on comfort food, including a selection of traditional soups. Located just a short distance from the center of Saint Petersburg, it’s a perfect place to enjoy hearty, home-cooked meals.
What to Expect:
- Rustic and Traditional: The menu features classic Russian soups, including borscht, shchi, and solyanka, all prepared using time-honored recipes passed down through generations.
- Cozy Atmosphere: The atmosphere is reminiscent of a country house or dacha, with wooden tables, traditional décor, and a warm, inviting vibe.
- Shchi: The shchi here is made with sauerkraut for a perfect tangy flavor, paired with fresh sour cream to cut through the richness of the broth.
Insider Tip:
For a truly traditional experience, order a side of pancakes (blini) with your soup—they’re a great match for the hearty flavors of Russian soups.
7. Bureau
For a more modern, gastronomic take on Russian cuisine, Bureau combines traditional flavors with a contemporary approach. The restaurant offers a unique experience of Russian comfort food, including some of the best soups in Saint Petersburg.
What to Expect:
- Innovative Soups: Bureau serves traditional Russian soups with a modern twist. Their borscht and shchi are made with high-quality ingredients and presented with elegant touches that elevate the traditional recipes.
- Minimalist Decor: The restaurant’s design is sleek and contemporary, with a minimalist aesthetic that makes the focus on the food even more apparent.
- Borscht: The borscht at Bureau is served with tender beef, fresh herbs, and a dollop of sour cream, offering a rich, flavorful experience.
Insider Tip:
Pair your soup with one of Bureau’s unique cocktails, crafted with Russian flavors to perfectly complement the rich, hearty soups.
Conclusion
Saint Petersburg is home to a rich variety of traditional Russian soups, and the city’s bistros and cafes offer an incredible range of places to experience them. From the historic and elegant setting of Pushkin Café to the rustic charm of Russian Dacha, these restaurants provide a window into the culinary traditions of Russia, where hearty and flavorful soups are an essential part of the dining experience. Whether you’re craving borscht, shchi, or solyanka, you’ll find plenty of places in Saint Petersburg that serve these iconic dishes, all with their own unique twist.
