It’s finally summer! Well, at least in theory. Saint Petersburg usually seems to be widely unimpressed by this meteorological fact, but sometimes the sun does show mercy and shines its light on our beautiful city. My first instinct in this case: go outside and grab a coffee! However, I find the matter of outside seating in Saint Petersburg quite unsettling. Apparently, it is not such a common thing for Russians. The patios on Nevsky are uncomfortable and always heavily overcrowded. That’s why I share my top 5 places for enjoying food and drinks under the clouds with you:
1. Camorra
Like so many other places in Saint Petersburg, Camorra is located in a backyard. The house faces a catholic church called Prikhod Lurdskoy Bogomateri. It has a small, but very delicious selection of hand-made pizzas and offers a variety of craft beer. It has a spacious outside area and a very cozy room upstairs. Their vegetarian pumpkin pizza is amazing!
Metro Station Ploshad Vosstaniya, Kovenskiy Pereulok 14
2. Teplo
Serves Russian food and ice cream for dessert. Its interior design resembles a living room, which makes the place incredibly comfortable. Their outside area reminds me a bit of a German beer garden. Bonus: the check comes in envelopes on which guests doodled. Some people produce real gems there: I once received one that read “Spring is here, but love is not”. Had to keep it!
Metro Station Admiralteyskaya, Bol’shaya Morskaya Ul. 45
3. Solaris Lab
Judging by the façade and the logo design, Solaris Lab from the outside looks more like a (admittedly, very shabby) club than a café. However, after you successfully climbed up the stairs, you’re rewarded with a breathtaking view of the city, great cakes and a bunch of different sorts of tea.
Metro Station Admiralteyskaya; Sennaya/Sadovaya/Spasskaya, Pirogova Pereulok 18
4. Co-Op Garage
The beer here is mediocre, but if you’re into pizza or looking for one of the few places on Gorokhovaya that are not entirely vegetarian/vegan, this is your bet. Inside they have a pool table, but I confess I have never seen it unused. Although it is quite hidden it’s usually a crowded place. Outside they have some benches and beer crates. Make sure to come early!
Metro Station Sennaya/Sadovaya/Spasskaya, Gorokhovaya Ul. 47
5. New Holland
Finally, New Holland obviously needs to be on the list. I don’t have a particular place for food here in mind, but the area generally is good for picnicking and simply hanging out in the sun and enjoying the hipster-y atmosphere. It also features well known eateries like Bekitzer and aforementioned Camorra, so go outside and get your vitamin D (but don’t forget your umbrella)!
Metro Station Admiralteyskaya
Now that you know where I love to go, what are your favorite places to sit outside and enjoy the sun? Tell me in the comments or on our facebook page!
Also, if you’re looking for more places to satisfy your cravings for coffee, check out this article.