Restaurants
There's a battalion of places to dine in Minsk, however, eating in the city does require a modicum of philosophy. Meals eaten out are in general perfectly fine, but unless you're eating Belarusian fare you may be disappointed with authenticity (or rather the lack of it). This can't be blamed on the proprietors however. Quite simply, nobody's too keen on doing business with a backward-thinking nation ruled by an old fuddy-duddy farm manager. Thus, not many imported ingredients. Also note that unless otherwise stated, service is always slow, sometimes excruciatingly so, and you'll rarely encounter a moment when you feel a tip would be in order. A legacy of the Soviet period is that main dishes seldom include garnishing like potatoes, vegetables or salad. Order them separately.
Concerning Condiments:
In civilised countries it is standard practice to put the salt in the pot with the single hole and the pepper in the other. In Belarus, condiments are treated with a kind of ambitious nihilism, and you'll never be exactly sure what's in what pot. It is recommended to test pot content by tipping a little from a random pot onto the palm of your hand before offering it up to your food.
In many Minsk restaurants, especially those in hotels, ketchup, soy sauce, mustard and other 'wet' condiments need to be paid for individually.
RAKOVSKY BROVAR
Rakovsky Brovar restaurant was opened in 1997 in the historical part of the city - Rakovsky suburb. The restaurant is located in the building known as The House of Celebrations. Atrchitectural solutions of the constuction weren't lot changed. So the spirit of this ancient building remained.
Original layout is well combined with trimmings of precious wood and ceramics. The restaurant consist of two levels. The first level has three rooms that have their own names - Beer Room, Hunter's Room, and Sports Room. Also, this level contain a bar and a kitchen. Here you can taste four sorts of unstrained beer and see the actual production process.
The second level consist of two other rooms - Viennese and Belarusian, and a small bar where you can try three sorts of beer. Today this brewery-restaurant is very popular in Minsk and continue to attract residents and guests.
Address: Vitebskaya St., 10
Tel. 375-17-206-64-04
Working hours: 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
KRINITSA-LUXE
Krinitza-Luxe is one of the prestigious restaurants of Minsk. This cozy place is located in the center of the city. Here you will enjoy a fine cuisine and splendid interior as well as piano playing by one of the high-end musicians of the city.
Address: Lenina St., 2
Tel. 375-17-227-08-04
Working hours: 12:00 p.m. - 12 a.m.
STOCKHOLM
Stockholm is a special restaurant providing Scandinavian cuisine to its visitor. The restaurant may seem quite expensive but the services are worthy of it. In addition to excellent food, the restaurant has its own security service and free parking lot. The interior is made in compliance with the best Scandinavian traditions. The austere Scandinavian style and excellent interior lighting do produce the unforgettable atmosphere of cosiness.
It's not of necessity to go to Sweden to try the Scandinavian cuisine. You can do it right in Minsk, in the Stockholm restaurant. Here, even bread is baked by special Scandinavian technology
Address: Gikalo St., 3
Tel. 375-17-284-52-42
Working hours: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.
GOSTINY DVOR
The location of this place is very good. The restaurant is situated at the very core of Minsk, near the Red Church. At your service, European and Old Russian cuisine.
The following can be expected:
- main room for 65-75 persons
- modern bar room
- cozy room with a fire place
- wide selection of strong and soft drinks
- just fantastic assortment of cocktails
- the specialties of the house
- live juzz and violin music
- secured parking lot
Address: Sovetskaya St., 17
Tel. 375-17-206-64-17
Working hours: 12:00 p.m. - 12:0 a.m.
UZBEKISTON
Uzbekiston has a great location in the city center. This place is ideal for a romantic date as well as for a party with friends. The restaurant will welcome everyone and provide the best service available. Uzbekiston is decorated in the oriental themes. On the walls, there are pictures of eastern beauties. Its flowery style and well picked up colors make the place truely outstanding. But the real thing about this restaurant is live music and belly dancing that, for sure, you will enjoy very much.
Favorite dish: real pilau!
Address: Kupaly St., 17
Tel. 375-17-227-73-14
Working hours: 12:00 p.m. - 12:0 a.m.
RODNY KUT
Rodny Kut restaurant is located in the Minsk Concert Hall building. This is a classical restaurant for the well-off. The restaurant consists of three main banquet rooms. Red and vinous coloration of the two rooms is really sumptuous. It's not difficult to realize entering these rooms that you are in a presentable and elite place. But the most outstanding room is the so called Marlbe room with tall white marble columns in it. This room is very spacious and bright. One might think that it is in contrast with other darker rooms. The interior of the Marble room is made in the austere classical style.
Perhaps, this place is Minsk's finest restaurant. Also, it's hard to imagine in Minsk some places being more upscale than this one.
Address: Oktyabrskaya St., 5
Tel. 375-17-227-85-61
MEDVEZHY UGOL
Medvezhy Ugol (Bear's Corner) cafe is located in the quite corner of Minsk. The menu is almost exhaustive, and boasts a galaxy of nice dishes guaranteed to please. The cafe is proud of its skilled cooks who routinely go to Moscow to work on probation. Among favorite dishes: forshmak and draniki (Belarusian potato pancakes) with caviar .
Address: Uralsky St., 15
Tel. 375-17-289-95-50
Working hours: 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
POTSDAM
One of the oldest restaurants of the capital of Belarus Potsdam is a cozy place for meeting and socializing. At your service, the restaurant provides a few rooms that are quite different. You can come just for a beer or have a date in one of the quite restaurant rooms. There is also a banquet room for special events.
The restaurant is an ideal place for business meetings. Beside business lunches you can try some national Belarusian dishes as well as the specialties of the house.
Address: Goretskogo St., 28
Tel. 375-17-206-04-84
Working hours: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m
Acropolis
A gleaming, sumptuous and rather tinkly establishment, seemingly decorated by the capable hands of Josef Stalin and Fritz Lang, frequented by Minsk`s cool jet set and featuring reassuringly abysmal, if not a little unsettling service (meals are literally thrown onto the table) and an occasional string duo who haven`t quite worked out whether they`re performing or just rehearsing. This is the sort of place you may wish to take an aged deaf Viennese grandmother for raw onions and tough pork dishes. Possibly the only restaurant in the world selling condoms behind the bar. Soggy broccoli. Enough!
Address: Svobody 17
Tel: (+375-17) 223 75 05
13:00-02:00
except:
Fri: 13:00-02:00
Juravinka
When Marks & Spencer`s met the Mafia. Full marks for attempting to pull-off a very classy coup, although it doesn`t quite cut it here. Despite the fact that all the tables are numbered you`ll still see waiting staff looking hopelessly lost, balancing a tray of rapidly cooling pasta dishes in a fit of Belarusian pique. See our Really Fast Food listing for their speedy, vegetarian-friendly buffets.
Address: Kupaly 25
Tel: (+375-17) 206 69 00
12:00-24:00
except:
Fri: 12:00-24:00
Sat: 12:00-01:00
Sun: 12:00-01:00
Panorama
To be found at the top of the Belarus hotel, squeeze your way past the lobby-load of trollops, hop into a lift and ascend as far as you can to the 21st floor. Exit, go through the glass doors and walk the final flight of stairs. Now then, prepare yourselves, for the Panorama can pat itself on the back, offering the triple delight that is excellent international food, friendly and attentive service, and one of the best views in town.
Address: Starozhevskaya 15
Tel: (+375-17) 209 76 99
Fax: (+3
07:00-04:00
except:
Fri: 07:00-04:00
Versailles
Popular with long-term residents and locals alike, the proprietor obviously failed his geography exam, confusing Versailles with New Orleans. Although slightly out of the loop, and almost impossible to find (it`s not signposted, and is cunningly hidden somewhere on the ground floor), the dishes on offer are generally worth the veritable safari required to locate the place.
Address: Surganova 6
Tel: (+375-17) 268 51 42
Steakhaus
Dip into a cosy booth, gaze in wonderment at the genuinely professional staff, and choose from a wide and excellent compass of steaks.
Address: Masherova 13
Tel: (+375-17) 223 28 10
12:00-23:30
except:
Fri: 12:00-23:30
Kitaisky Zhemchug
An excellent choice if you`ve never had Chinese food before, or if you really like grease and bad service. The overdose of sugar in the sweet and sour chicken had our spines reeling and our tongues wondering whether the meat once clucked or went woof. Take pity on the gulping fish inside the tank, they have to stay. Thankfully this pearl is so well hidden that countless lives must have been saved by potential diners failing to locate the place.
Address: Starovilenskaya 10
Tel: (+375-17) 234 94 41
11:00-23:00
except:
Fri: 11:00-23:00
Patio Pizza
The most popular pizza restaurant and meeting place in town has it all - central location, reasonable prices for the Western wallet, brick walls, gingham tablecloths, competent waiters, a bar with a good list of cocktails and good pizzas. Skip the coffee though. Sweet teeth can bite into the banana-kiwi-orange-pineapple-ice cream-sugar pizza. Unique in Belarus: the eat-all-you-can salad bar (7,080br).
Address: Skoriny 22
Tel: (+375-17) 227 17 91
Pechki Lavochki
An excellent choice of set lunches (kompleks) for 5,710br served in a genuinely friendly and helpful manner. Later in the evening you can sample fine international cuisine and a glass of French or Georgian wine whilst wishing the itinerant band, as brilliant as they are, would go and serenade another table. Vegetarians will be pleased to hear their troubles will be over once they step inside, as the well-stocked salad bar has plenty of meat-free options, and the delicious ajabsandal, a deep earthenware pot of what might best be described as hot and spicy ratatouille, is quite likely the best vegetarian meal in Minsk. The garlic bread is also a particular hit.
Address: Skoriny 22
Tel: (+375-17) 227 78 79
Admiral
Waitresses in traditional Breton costumes serve up a variety of fine French seafood dishes, including shrimps, mussels, herring, trout and shark, all in a cobblestone basement made to look like a little sunny courtyard. The food is good, and can be eaten with an equally good selection of French wines before finishing off in a puff of fine Panatela. Note, upstairs you`ll find a 24-hour casino too.
Address: Pushkina 39
Tel: (+375-17) 257 22 04
Zio Pepe
wait in a queue, but it was worth the wait for us, and if one is feeling ambitious why not check out the good value three-course kompleks menu (5,003br, from 12:00 - 14:00). The basement setting boasts a glorious Soviet ceiling and is a good place to watch the beautiful locals get geared up for the Alcatraz club next door (see Minsk by night).
Address: Skoriny 25
12:00-04:00
except:
Fri: 12:00-04:00
Cafes
Eleana
A reasonably cute cellar cafe focusing itself very much on wood, winking waitresses and cheap potato pancakes, this is a great place to unwind, or to bring a friend for a hearty chat over a refreshing lemon tea.
Address: Yakuba Kolasa 19
Tel: (+375-17) 232 01 73
11:00-23:00
except:
Fri: 11:00-23:00
Evelin
Friendly, albeit sluggish service in a tastefully themed French style, this is indeed where one should visit to relax and learn the secrets of some rather amusing salads.
Address: Dolgobrodskaya 4
Tel: (+375-17) 235 38 02
11:00-23:00
except:
Fri: 11:00-23:00
Palyaunichy
A tidy spot to meet before or after a performance at the nearby Philharmonic. The food is palatable, although ridiculously overpriced.
Address: Skoriny 46
Tel: (+375-17) 233 28 41
12:00-23:00
except:
Fri: 12:00-23:00
Svityazyanka
Refreshingly neat and cheerful, stuffed with students, and featuring reasonably priced food and drinks.
Address: Surganova 20
Tel: (+375-17) 232 15 13
11:00-21:00
except:
Fri: 11:00-21:00
