Solyanoy pereulok
One of the most European parts of the city – calm and cozy. It’s quiet here only in wintertime, however, while during summer the street is full of creative movement and youthful scurrying. There’s an alley of multi-colored umbrellas, a yellow piano, which became a real hit on Instagram, stalls with street food, overall – it’s a place of meetings and rest for hundreds of people. And, obviously, anyone who walks on Solyanoy pereulok can’t tear himself/herself from the aristocratic façade of Saint Petersburg Art and Industry Academy, which because of its winding stairs, dark interior decoration, and large halls is called Petersburg Hogwarts.
Tauride Gardens Greenhouse
Potemkinskaya ul. 2
Tauride Gardens Greenhouse (next to a time café “Limonad” and restaurant “Leto”) – is a place, which lets you hide from the bad weather of Petersburg, both literally and figuratively. It’s always green, fresh, warm, there’s a lot of light and air, and if you know the right days and time, there may be no people. It’s a real tropical oasis amongst the concrete jungle of the city with its palm leaves and symmetrical arches of the greenhouse.
Civil Books Coffee & Wine Cafe
Nab. Reki Fontanki 20
The café opened its doors just last summer, but it’s already a landmark of the city and made its way to the wish lists of all guests of Petersburg. It is located on the 2nd floor of the Golitsyn mansion, which partially preserved its finery and luxury of the bygone era. High ceilings with fretwork, old doors with worn down paint, little color and few distracting details, and most importantly, a balcony, which opens a grand view on the Fontanka river, Saint Michael’s Castle and the Summer Garden. The place is full of people eager to chat with a glass of lemonade.
Devil’s Home (Polezhayev’s House)
Starorusskaya ul. 5/ Novgorodskaya ul. 3
Voland’s Petersburg lair – it’s this house that played the role of the Moscow house with “the evil apartment” in the movie “The Master and Margarita”. It’s unlikely that the director saw something evil in the way the building looks, but the grandiose façade can’t leave anyone indifferent. It’s no surprise that Polezhayev’s house is considered one of the most beautiful in Petersburg and is also one of the brightest examples of modern style architecture.
Red Bridge
Just Red bridge’s name already ruins the stereotype of Saint Petersburg being a grey city. Small and elegant, it beautifies the surroundings, making pedestrians stop and enjoy the view of the embankment. Here you can see the spiral-like peak of the Au Pont Rouge department store, behind him are the colored houses, their facades similar to those in the Notting Hill district of London.
7 bridges
Nab. Kanala Griboyedova
It was here that I first thought about how much water surrounds the residents of Saint Petersburg. There’s a reason as to why the city is called the Northern Venice, and its image is linked to canals and bridges. One of the brightest sites of the city in that regard is Pikalov Bridge – it opens the view of 7 bridges! Serene water surface and a view of St Nicholas Naval Cathedral add to the charm of the place.
Peter and Paul Fortress’ Beach
Peter and Paul’s Beach isn’t empty even in winter, as this bank offers the most beautiful view of the city: the Winter Palace, the Troitsky and Palace Bridges, Rostral Columns, Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange, ships and yachts, sailing on Neva… Seems like that’s how one should see Petersburg to fall in love with him and feel its heartbeat.
Solaris Lab
per. Pirogova, 18
Small art-café Solaris Lab reminds of a spaceship at first glance – it is a spherical glass dome covering the very top of the building. You should visit this place for the unusual view of Petersburg’s roofs and Saint Isaac's Cathedral. By the way, when the weather is fine you can look at both buildings through the telescope.
