Here is an ultra-short history of St. Petersburg: In 1703 it was founded by Peter the Great, in the XX century the city became the birthplace of the Leningrad rock club, and modern Petersburgers do nothing but go to coffee shops. In this article, we will take a walk through the authentic establishments of the city, where the townspeople like to visit. The tour will be conducted by Nikita Nazarov, a resident of St. Petersburg, a coffee lover and the author of Oh! The blog.
Contents
- “Dom Flow”
- Coffee 3
- Filter coffee shop “TCHK”
- “Institute”
- Verlé
- 8:am
- “Commune”
“House of Flow”
- Address: Sadovaya Street, 21A.
- Metro: “Sennaya Ploshchad”.
- Filter coffee: 210 rubles.
Let’s start with the most unusual, in my opinion, institution — the “House of Flow”. The coffee shop occupies 5 floors in an old mansion that towers over the trolleybus wires of Sadovaya Street.
On the ground floor, guests are greeted by an espresso bar, and then you can climb the historical stairs until you satisfy children’s curiosity from staying above the very center of St. Petersburg. It is definitely worth sitting at a table by the window with a view of the city.
I advise you to choose a drink to your liking from the coffee card and take a cherry pie (350 rubles) with it — it is sweet and spicy, like Christmas and the movie “Home Alone”.
It is definitely worth sitting at a table by the window with a view of the city. Photo: Julia Novikova/Yandex.Maps
Guide to Moscow coffee shops
If you are going to the capital and can’t imagine your leisure time without hurry coffee shops, then we recommend reading the article “Where to drink coffee in Moscow: 11 atmospheric establishments of the capital”.
Coffee 3
- Address: Karpovka River embankment, 5A.
- Metro: “Petrogradskaya”.
- Filter coffee: 250 rubles.
The coffee shop is located on the Petrogradskaya side, on the same floor with the “JUST” coworking. There is a full kitchen here, I recommend tom-yam (550 rubles).
If you want to combine visiting Coffee 3 with work, there will be no problems with this, there are large tables with sockets for remote workers.
Coffee 3 is a multi—tiered institution where they sell their own roasted coffee and prepare drinks on it. Photo: Coffee 3
Filter coffee shop “TCHK”
- Address: Moika River Embankment, 6.
- Metro: Gostiny Dvor.
- Filter coffee: 170 rubles.
Not far from the Palace Square, on the bend of the Moika River, lurks one of my favorite coffee shops — “TCHK”. The main feature of this place is that there is no espresso machine, and coffee is brewed only in filter thermoses or by manual methods. If you prefer filter coffee, then you will definitely like it. 5 filter thermoses are brewed here every day, and always one of them is robusta and another is decaf.
This is the project of the microfane “TCHK” on the Petrograd side, you could meet it in many guidebooks around St. Petersburg.
The main feature of this place is that there is no espresso machine, and coffee is brewed only in filter thermoses or by manual methods. Photo: Olga Evteeva & Alexander E./Yandex.Maps
“Institute”
- Address: Kadetskaya liniya, 5, building 2D.
- Metro: “Sportivnaya”.
- Filter coffee: 190 rubles.
Back to the 1970s! The atmosphere of Soviet times can be felt in one of the most authentic coffee shops on Vasilievsky Island. The Institute is located in the historical part of the district, a 20-minute walk from the spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
Guests are greeted by an entrance group of glass in wooden frames, and inside there are gray tiles familiar from Soviet houses of culture. To blend in with the pomp of the local interior, you can order black coffee or classics with milk.
There are various dishes on the menu, for example, cheesecakes (380 rubles) and a student breakfast with fried eggs, sausages, bacon and other snacks (590 rubles). If you need to work, there are large tables with sockets.
The atmosphere of Soviet times can be felt in one of the most authentic coffee shops on Vasilievsky Island. Photo: Anna Potemkina & Anastasia Sevostyanova/Yandex.Maps
St. Petersburg Gastronomic guide
Note: a guide to iconic dishes, without which it is difficult to imagine the Northern capital.
Verlé
- Address: Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, 25/2.
- Metro: “Petrogradskaya”.
- Filter coffee: 200 rubles.
One of the most minimalistic coffee shops in St. Petersburg. Verlé overlooks Nizami Square, so in the warmer months, tables with chairs are set up at the institution and a summer terrace is obtained right in the urban green area.
If you go inside, you can take a seat by the window in the first hall or sit at a large communal table in the second. Verlé sells its own roasted grain and local products, there are even pens and shoppers. On the showcase, you can choose several types of desserts, for example, lime tart (270 rubles). I recommend taking the cold brew currant mint, which Verlé made in collaboration with the St. Petersburg clothing brand SHU (300 rubles).
One of the most minimalistic coffee shops in St. Petersburg. Photo: Evgeny Belyaev & Victoria N./Yandex.Maps
8:am
- Address: Bolshoy Sampsonievsky Prospekt, 69, building 3.
- Metro: “Lesnaya”.
- Filter coffee: 160 rubles.
If you settle in the Lesnaya metro area, then it definitely makes sense to walk through the local coffee shops, despite the temptation to go to the Petrograd side. One of the best in this location is 8:am.
Here you can not only drink coffee or a drink based on it, but also have a full breakfast or lunch. For example, shakshuka (450 rubles) or chicken soup (260 rubles). In summer, the institution has sun loungers, so you can admire the Soviet architecture of Bolshoy Sampsonievsky Prospekt.
Here you can not only drink coffee or a drink based on it, but also have a full breakfast or lunch. Photo: 8 am & 8 am/Yandex.Maps
“Commune”
- Address: Komendantsky Prospekt, 67.
- Metro: “Komendantsky Prospekt”.
- Filter coffee: 120 rubles.
The first coffee shop of the chain appeared in a residential area of the city — on Komendantsky Prospekt. A second one opened behind it, but already in one of the most prestigious parts of St. Petersburg, on the Petrograd side.
In the “Commune” you can drink classic and alternative coffee drinks, for example, cappuccino (150 rubles) or aeropress (220 rubles). There is also a kitchen with a large selection of dishes, and breakfast is served all day.
There is also a kitchen with a large selection of dishes, and breakfast is served all day. Photo: Denis Sh. & Denis Sh./Yandex.Maps
There is a developed coffee culture in St. Petersburg, and an institution can be found for every taste. You can go to coffee shops for breakfast, lunch or even dinner — St. Petersburg seems to be created just for this.
Cover photo: Kseniia Zagrebaeva/Shutterstock.com
