Must-see restaurants in Russian Far East

  • Kvartira 30

    Vladivostok

    This fantastic treasure is hidden away in an extremely unlikely location amid a hilltop housing estate. Run by the charming Olga Gurskaya, who also uses…

  • Zuma

    Vladivostok

    A stylish welcoming place, this two-floor restaurant-lounge is decked out in an elaborate but classy Angkor Wat theme, replete with a massive black…

  • The Soho

    Sakhalin Island

    Inside a small but fancy mall, this upscale minimalist place is unashamedly aimed at an international crowd, with English-speaking waitresses and an iPad…

  • Studio

    Vladivostok

    In a courtyard in the heart of Vladivostok is this smart and appealing two-floor restaurant and lounge bar that attracts a young, well-heeled and in-the…

  • Pyongyang

    Vladivostok

    Staffed by waitresses from nearby North Korea who periodically break out into karaoke, this unique establishment is just strange enough to be considered a…

  • Kvartira na Prospekte

    Yakutsk

    This fun place makes a noble effort to resemble a babushka's living room, which is no mean feat since it moved to bigger premises and is now housed inside…

  • Chochur Muran

    Yakutsk

    In a Cossack-style lodge filled with antiques, Chochur Muran is an atmospheric and fun lunch stop if you are heading out to the nearby Permafrost Kingdom…

  • Makhtal

    Yakutsk

    In the old town, Makhtal is one of Yakutsk's most atmospheric options, with thick log walls adorned with traditional tapestries and handsomely attired…

  • Food Like Food

    Vladivostok

    While it might sound like a fast-food joint, this charming little white-painted basement restaurant is anything but. The menu takes in classical Russian…

  • San Marino

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

    When you're just back from a hard trek, San Marino is Petropavlovsk’s best splash for an excellent, exotic meal of Kamchatka crab, scallops, halibut and…

  • Khachapuri

    Yakutsk

    Georgia's culinary colonisation of even the farthest-flung parts of Russia continues apace, and this gorgeous place is easily one of Yakutsk's best dining…

  • Da Vinci

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

    Considered to have the best food in town by many locals, Da Vinci offers a full menu of Italian delicacies, including sumptuous risottos, crab ravioli,…

  • Nihon Mitai

    Sakhalin Island

    Yuzhno’s favourite sushi spot is a bit out of the centre, but the very cool bamboo loft dining room is a great choice for soba noodles and ramen and…

  • Shinok Pervach

    Russian Far East

    A local institution, Shinok Pervach is considered by locals to be the best restaurant in town. It serves up tasty grilled fish, roast meats and zingy…

  • Tygyn Darkhan

    Yakutsk

    Though the atmosphere is lacking, Tygyn Darkhan is the place to score Sakha specialities in the centre. Try indigirka (frozen raw chyr and onions – a bit…

  • Brothers Bar & Grill

    Vladivostok

    This rather stylish steak and grill house is worth seeking out for its excellent food, English menu and convivial staff. There's a lovely summer terrace…

  • Five O’Clock

    Vladivostok

    Russians so firmly believe that the British drink afternoon tea at 5pm each day that there's even a cafe named after this spurious assertion. The good…

  • Marusya

    Sakhalin Island

    A chic and friendly new addition to the city's eating options, Marusya is part contemporary riff on traditional Russian folk aesthetics and part acid trip…

  • Pak Degam

    Sakhalin Island

    This big and bustling Korean barbecue joint serves marinated meats in sets to be cooked at your table, though there's a full pictorial English menu for…

  • Supra

    Vladivostok

    This bustling but charming spot has one of the best locations in town, meaning that it's always busy and you may well have to wait for a table. The…

  • Fursato

    Sakhalin Island

    With a picture menu, this popular Japanese spot serves up good but pricey sushi and sashimi platters, belly-filling tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), plus…

  • Bar 133

    Sakhalin Island

    This friendly and cosy bar serves up some excellent food, and is popular with business travellers for whom the steep prices are of little concern. While…

  • Excellence

    Kamchatka

    Despite its rather uptight and precious appearance, Excellence boasts the most interesting menu in Yelizovo, serving everything from soups, potato…

  • Ne Riday

    Vladivostok

    This delightful cafeteria (whose name bizarrely means 'don't sob') is about as far from your Russian stereotyped stolovaya (canteen) as it's possible to…

  • Cafe Simkha

    Russian Far East

    With its Star of David light fittings and multiple types of hummus on the menu, Cafe Simkha is in it to win it as Birobidzhan's premier Jewish restaurant,…

  • SharLot Cafe

    Russian Far East

    Low lit and even a little bit stylish, SharLot Cafe has numerous menus, though sadly none of them are currently in English. However, many of them come…

  • Kita Gava

    Yakutsk

    The best place in town for sushi, Kita Gava is a buzzing place that serves up tasty sashimi platters, noodle soups and plump gyoza (dumplings). While not…

  • Mandarin

    Russian Far East

    There are actually two Chinese restaurants sharing one kitchen here. Mandarin is the quieter and more sophisticated of the two in terms of decor and can…

  • Moloko & Myod

    Vladivostok

    A trendy spot with a popular street-side terrace, 'Milk & Honey' has fabulous daily brunch offerings, great coffee, dangerously good cocktails and a menu…

  • Stolovka Rublevka

    Yakutsk

    With leather armchairs and white brick walls, Rublevka is a surprisingly elegant stolovaya (canteen) with a good selection of smoked fish, soups,…

  • Korea House

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

    On the hillside overlooking Avacha Bay just beyond the old town, this upscale Korean barbecue allows you to cook up your own meats tableside, as well as…

  • Melnitsa

    Sakhalin Island

    This is the most centrally located of this Sakhalin bakery chain where sticky Danishes, rich eclairs, sandwiches, coffee and tea are all on offer. It's a…

  • Han Guk Kwan

    Yakutsk

    A large, airy and authentic Korean restaurant on the ground floor of one of Yakutsk's fanciest office buildings (look for the fabulous ornamental gates),…

  • Pizza M

    Vladivostok

    Classier than its name might suggest, the M is one of Vlad’s coolest hang-outs, with two unique rooms setting their style sights higher than the humble…

  • Yamato

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

    Inside the Planeta Shopping Centre, Yamato serves delicious sushi in a low-lit setting with a dash of style (and a long fish-filled aquarium). It's rather…

  • Kyoto

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

    Serving up good sushi, sashimi, ramen and other Japanese delights, this multiroom restaurant is friendly, fast and welcoming, with a picture menu and a…

  • Kare

    Yakutsk

    This originally designed place has an unexpectedly cool vibe and a very eclectic and tasty menu by Yakutsk standards. Street food, delights from the…

  • Taj Mahal

    Sakhalin Island

    Heavy inlaid wooden furniture and red tapestries set the stage for tasty chicken tikka masala, rich curries and fluffy naan bread at this expat favourite…

  • Kafema

    Russian Far East

    This place does the best coffee in town, and the passionate, well-trained baristas will even sell you some of their delicious fresh beans to take with you…

  • Traveler's Coffee

    Yakutsk

    The biggest outlet of this highly recommended Yakutsk coffee chain. As well as excellent flat whites, there's a comprehensive food menu that includes a…