St. Petersburg

Sleek and buzzing, Terrassa is centred on its namesake terrace, which boasts unbelievable views. — Lonely Planet

Despite a totally nondescript appearance from the street, this restaurant’s charming interior perfectly recalls that of a 19th-century dacha and makes for a wonderful setting for a delicious meal. — Lonely Planet

Since the restaurant that was founded in 1785 and counted Tchaikovsky and Dostoyevsky among its regulars reopened in 2002, it's been the hottest haute table in town. — Concierge

A feast at this unpretentious Armenian spot may be the best deal in town. — Travel + Leisure

The food, as you might expect, is highly traditional: beef Stroganoff, which comes highly recommended; ukha (fish soup), served with homemade bread; olivye salad. — Frommer's

Like its sibling restaurant Chekov, Gogol whisks diners back to the genteel days of pre-revolutionary Russian home dining — Lonely Planet

Dimly lit café, whose appealing food attracts hipsters and others; the gourmet burgers, including a vegetarian falafel version, are a highlight. — Frommer's

This charming, welcoming place is the restaurant of the Russian Vodka Museum, but it’s good enough to be a destination in its own right. — Lonely Planet

Teplo is the Russian word for “warmth”. Warmth is what the residents of St. Petersburg often crave, and perhaps that’s why they love this place so much. — On the Grid

Welcoming locals, expats, and visitors with the same lack of fuss, this homey place is as near as you'll get to dining chez your own babushka. — Concierge

A favorite among St. Petersburg expatriates, this restaurant serves hearty vegetarian Russian food, good seafood, and nice Italian coffee. — Fodor's

This is the original Mari Vanna, a branch of the nostalgic and homey café chain with locations in New York and London. — Frommer's

Located on the top floor of the Quattro Corti Business Center, Mansarda comes with city views that are worthy of its name, which roughly means "balcony. — Frommer's

The restaurant’s hip, jazz-age style evokes a kind of vaudevillian luxury, as does the tasty Russian and Thai menu. — Lonely Planet

This award-winning restaurant is one of the only steak houses in Russia to dry age and hand butcher their steaks, which are uniformly excellent and all imported from Australia, Argentina, or New Zealand. — Frommer's

Meals are exquisitely prepared, with such choices as duck breast, accompanied by pan-fried foie gras with white beans and black truffle, and black-cod fillet on a cushion of saffron and fennel. — Fodor's

On offer is just about any food or drink you might want, including coffee and breakfast dishes, a huge array of pastries and cakes, salads, sandwiches, and dinner food. — Frommer's

The menu is simple but eclectic, and includes burgers, grilled salmon, pork schnitzel, falafel and a range of salads and desserts, while the two-floor space is comfortable and sociable. — Lonely Planet

The vaguely health-conscious menu has an uncommon amount of salads, which are not necessarily smothered in mayo, plus soups, steak, salmon, fish cakes, and apple baked with honey and nuts for dessert. — Concierge

No trip to Russia is complete without a taste of pelmeny, dumplings born of Siberian winters whose fillings have varied over time and as they've crossed Russia's expanse. — Frommer's