St. Petersburg

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

The Italina, Thai, and Russian menu includes chicken-liver risotto, tom yum soup, and marinated herring. — Travel + Leisure

It seems as if you could touch the cupola of the Kazan cathedral from the open-air terrace of this stylish and glamorous "place to be seen. — Fodor's

Extremely long menu, which includes Italian-style seafood, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, Russian beef stroganoff, Asian noodles, sushi, dishes made with the very rare Kamchatka crab. — Frommer's

The fusion menu at Terrassa somehow manages to combine the fresh flavors of California with the hearty fare of imperial Russia. — Concierge

This excellent restaurant achieves elegance in cuisine and decor through simplicity, a rare thing in this city of elaborate imperial tastes. — Frommer's

tylish and airily bright, Restoran is somehow formal and relaxed at the same time. — Lonely Planet

Spacious, with soft lighting and earth tones, the surroundings are at once stylish and traditional, and as straightforward as the name, which means "restaurant" in Russian. — Fodor's

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

Wicker furniture, handwoven napkins, and a birdcage with canaries and finches add to the flavor of an early-20th-century Russian country house. — Fodor's

In an era of bombastic interiors and overpriced sushi, locals are grateful for this hidden spot, which faithfully re-creates a 19th-century Russian estate. — Travel + Leisure

The atmosphere is cozy and homey at this former mansion, which has been made to look like the rustic 19th-century estate of a Russian noble. — Frommer's

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 legendary restaurant of the same name was established on this spot in 1785.The formal and elegant interior evokes those bygone days. — Fodor's

Originally opened in 1785, Palkin was where the richest Russian aristocrats and the most famous intellectuals preferred to dine in prerevolutionary St. Petersburg. — Frommer's

Following a beautiful refit this historic restaurant, first opened in 1871, is back to thrill a new generation of diners. — Lonely Planet

Cooking is elaborate and highly traditional here. — Fodor's

Covers all the classics from borsch to beef stroganoff, as well as less frequently seen dishes such as goose breast in forest berry sauce and veal cutlets in mushroom ragu. — Lonely Planet

A haven for local Armenians, and named after an ancient region in modern-day Turkey, this restaurant serves sizzling beef stew and a tempting variety of expertly cooked kebabs. — Fodor's

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

Excellent-value tasty Caucasian dishes at this cosy Armenian place. Has live music most evenings. — Lonely Planet

For a nourishing and leisurely dinner or hearty lunch, come to Kilikia. Even if you know nothing of Armenian cuisine, you're bound to find something familiar and satisfying. — Frommer's

A string quartet, a harpist, or a jazz combo often plays during dinner, and some nights you can even catch a ballet. — Frommer's

The breathtaking surroundings—there's an art-nouveau stained-glass roof, shining parquet floors, and private balconies—are fit for a tsar, as are the prices. — Fodor's

This large, bustling, and brightly lit dining room where oil paintings commemorate various Romanovs seems to be lifted right off the pages of War and Peace, and the dining experience is truly royal. — Fodor's

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

The stylish restaurant, located inside a W hotel, predictably attracts a young and hip international crowd. — Frommer's

Like the menu, the dining room manages to be ultra-fashionable while staying relaxed and comfortable at the same time. — Fodor'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

Discreet and genteel, this spacious one-room venue could come straight out of one of Chekhov's stories and is the perfect place to try various vodkas and home-brewed liqueurs. — Fodor's

The larger plates are simple and filling: borscht, beef Stroganoff, and chicken Kiev, the restaurant's specialty. — Frommer's

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

This much-feted, eclectic and original restaurant has got it all just right. — Lonely Planet

The three-course-plus-a-drink business lunch is an excellent value, and accordingly popular. — Fodor's

We have to admit Clean Plates Society the best name for this place. No food will remain on your plate. Delectable food and big portions. — On the Grid

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

Burgers, curry, borsch and burritos all get a look in on this stylish and relaxed restaurant's menu. — Lonely Planet

Visit this nostalgic restaurant, which bears the name of one of the nation's most prosperous years, for a taste of pre-Revolutionary, European Russia. — Frommer's

The name evokes the last days of Imperial Russia, and the era is celebrated in low-key, comfortably elegant surroundings. — Fodor's

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

Recently, many meat and seafood options have been added by popular demand: there are now lots of grilled-fish options, as well as classics like beef Stroganoff and meat dumplings. — Frommer's

Something of an expat favourite, the Idiot is a charming place and has been providing brunch for travellers for years now. — Lonely Planet

Beef lovers can indulge their habit at this 12,000-sq-metre restaurant, the city’s biggest. Thanks to clever design, though, it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly large or impersonal, with the... — 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

This top-notch restaurant is as ornate as its neighbor Restoran is austere. — 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

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

You'll pay a slight premium for classic dishes such as borsch and pelmeni but it's all done so well you probably won't care. — Lonely Planet

It's all about glass at the rooftop restaurant of the Gazprom building. — Lonely Planet

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

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

This cozy restaurant, named after the great Russian satirist, features homestyle Russian food served in a Gogolian atmosphere of comfort and humor, with live piano accompaniment — Frommer's

This wine emporium may function as a shop, but its excellent gastronomic restaurant is no afterthought; it's a beautifully decorated space with moody red lighting, timber floors and big... — Lonely Planet

Wine lovers can choose from a huge list of French and Italian vintages, then select a bottle from the adjacent shop. Or, they can settle into the sleek and fashionably eclectic... — Fodor's