The Best Cafés on Vasilievsky Island, St Petersburg

Birds-eye view of Vasilievsky Island
Bird's-eye view of Vasilievsky Island | © Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy / Flickr
Anastasiia Ilina

Vasilievsky Island is one of the oldest areas in St Petersburg. The buildings here are perfect for setting up cafés and coffee shops tucked away in a less crowded part of the city. When exploring the island, look out for these places when in search of a pit stop or a quick meal.

1. Ukrop

Cafe, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free

A healthy breakfast at Ukrop Cafe
© Ukrop Cafe
A safe haven for all vegans and vegetarians out there, Ukrop takes pride in a very healthy menu that presents old-time favourites with new ingredients. A special treat is the variety of desserts made using raw ingredients, some dairy-free. It’s almost like they’re not a guilty pleasure at all.

2. Kvartirka

Cafe, Restaurant, Russian

A Soviet-style café, designed to look like the typical Russian apartment of the previous century. Everything to the last detail has been thought through to bring a feeling of nostalgia. The menu is thoroughly Russian, and even if you’re not coming for a full meal, there are traditional desserts to be had with tea or coffee.

3. FaCULTet

Cafe, European

During the day, Vasilievsky Island is inhabited for the most part by students due to the proximity of St Petersburg State University. This café is an ode to the students, aptly named ‘facultet’, meaning faculty. Expect the crowd to be studying by day and drinking by night, but better yet – join in. There is a European menu with very reasonable prices. Nothing fancy, but a good deal.

5. Kofe i Vafli

Cafe, Pastries

5. Kofe i Vafli
© Pixabay | © cocoparisienne / Pixabay

Coffee and Belgian waffles – a perfect combination, especially when board games are added to the mix. A small café in which to spend a lazy afternoon enjoying either sweet or savoury waffles. Flavours range from Nutella to Bolognese and are limited only by the customers’ imaginations – a delicious snack at a reasonable price.

6. BabJib-V

Cafe, Korean

A few years back, Korean food was not very popular in St Petersburg. Now the city is finally finding a place in its heart for kimchi, and businesses have been quick to reply to the demand. BabJib serves easy Korean meals in a modern, simple interior. But what the café lacks in décor, it makes up for in authentic food. A real find when craving a bowl of bibimbap.

7. Erarta Café

Cafe, European

This is not your typical overpriced museum coffee shop. Erarta Café is, in fact, a popular place to meet up and hang out in a stylish coffee shop. Of course, visiting the museum is also a recommended part of the itinerary. Erarta has a large modern art collection, definitely worth the time if you are already there.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article