Coffee-shop culture has seen major growth in Eastern Europe in recent years, and Russia is no exception. St Petersburg is full of bustling cafes and coffee shops on every corner and street, and while they all have their merits, it can be difficult to find top-quality coffee made lovingly with golden hands (золотыми руками). If you’re anything like me, you will want to avoid the big chains and support smaller independent coffee shops where there is only delicious coffee and the prices are reasonable (демократичные). At the following places you can be sure to find the best coffee in town.
1. Kofe na Kukhne / Кофе на кухне
Kofe na Kukhne, meaning “Coffee in the Kitchen” is a cosy little coffee shop conveniently located 2 minutes from Nevsky Prospect on the Fontanka river. This café is a home-grown business that grew out of humble beginnings as the brand Больше кофе and is now enjoying booming success at 4 sites across the city. It can get very busy at peak times, but there are 4 locations to choose from and you are guaranteed a formidable cup of coffee.
Fontanka river embankment, 17, Metro station Nevsky Prospect
3. Surf Coffee
Surf Coffee is an ideal watering hole for those looking for comfort. This café is a small Russian chain with sites in a several cities and is the perfect hang-out spot after a long day walking around the city. Enjoy the ambiance of a surf-shack by lounging on the café’s plush sofas and swinging chairs.
Liteyniy avenue, 59, Metro station Vladimirskayа
2. Espresso Bike
For the more adventurous, you can have a go at trying to find this hidden gem. Nestled in the basement of a business centre not far from Kazanskiy Sobor, Espresso Bikeis a lot calmer than its competitors. What’s more, don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the décor. The café sells a vast range of coffees made by different methods, as well as breakfast products for home-brewing.
Kazanskaya Ulitsa, 7a, Metro station Nevsky Prospect
Espresso Bike interior
4. Character coffee
This café is 20 mins from Nevsky Prospect and is a snug little independent coffee shop with a range of quality coffee and breakfasts served all day. This is the perfect study spot if you are looking to escape the city-centre crowds. The staff here are also some of the friendliest I have come across in the city – it really is a café with “character”!
Fontanka river embankment, 109, Metro Station Sennaya Ploshad
5. Rudy’s Coffee Shop
Finally, no list of coffee shops in a Russian city would be complete without mentioning at least one “hole-in-the-wall” style place. You only need to spend a day in St Petersburg to see that coffee-to-go (с собой) is extremely popular here. The quality in these small coffee huts can vary considerably, but Rudy’s certainly leads the way with excellent coffee – there hot chocolate is also pretty good too!
Liteyniy avenue, 47, Metro Station Vladimirskaya
(For a few other recommendations, check out this video made by our previous intern Ryan.)