Russians love Italian food and to create an ideal environment, the owners of this restaurant in the trendy Savvinskaya waterfront neighborhood fashioned a Tuscan country house. It is complete with fireplaces, chandeliers, tiles and fountains as well as fabulous pasta and meats flown in from Italy.

The sole Russian outpost of this international lounge chain, Buddha Bar is the favored late night venue for well-heeled St. Petersburg residents and visitors.

One of the most beautiful restaurants in Moscow, Café Pushkin has long been a must stop for visitors. Its historic interiors, which include stained glass windows and wood paneling, evoke a grand and old-fashioned era and are the perfect backdrop for enjoying a traditional Russian meal of borscht and stroganoff. Set in a massive and extravagant 19^th century townhouse on Pushkin Square, the restaurant is worth a visit for the atmosphere alone. The main floor dining area is known as the “Drugstore” for its early 20^th century pharmacy interiors, including antique flasks and scales.  In the library on the second floor, diners sit surrounded by globes, telescopes and shelves of leather bound books.

The Central Writer’s House delivers a fabulous only-in-Moscow experience. It is owned and run by the city’s legendary association of writers, whose members have included many of the country’s most famous poets and novelists and it still draws the country’s intellectuals. They come to dine in its beautiful if musty rooms on such typically Russian fare as mushroom soup and venison.

On the 34^th floor of the Swissotel, this bar has been a happening hot spot since it opened with its fabulous city views.

The rooftop restaurant of the Park Hyatt has a chic cocktail crowd and atmosphere and lovely tables on the terrace in good weather.

Georgian food is one of St. Petersburg locals’ favorite cuisines, and this cozy eatery is guaranteed to deliver delicious and home-style fare. Set in the south of the city, Hochu Harcho is a good option for those wandering around the Sennaya Ploschchad area or for a meal before or after seeing a performance at one of the Mariinsky Theaters. Another favorite for Georgian food is the more centrally located Mamaliga from the same owners.

The grand-dame restaurant of the Grand Hotel Europe, L’Europe boasts a spectacular Art Nouveau setting—complete with a stage and stained glass roof—as sophisticated as the white gloved servers and elegant diners themselves. Russian classics including rare caviar and the obligatory borscht are sprinkled throughout the French-inspired menu, which includes mouth-watering desserts, prepared at your table.

Live music accompanies most meals, and the celebrated Tchaikovsky night (on Friday) and Sunday Jazz brunch are particularly popular.

Similar in feeling to the over-the-top Maison Baccarat that designer Philippe Starck created in Paris, the Bacccarat palace serves extravagant French food with some Russian favorites in a glamorous space.

This restaurant on the roof of an office building boasts a knock-out terrace outfitted with hammocks, gazebos and chaise lounges. There is even a sand box where kids can play while their parents linger over a summer lunch and rosé. The Italian food conjures Capri or Sardinia. There are excellent pizza and pasta dishes as well as delicious grilled fish and cheeses flown in from Italy. Don’t miss the homemade lemonade.

A member of the successful Ginza Project family, this charming eatery specializes in Georgian cuisine. Dishes include that which the restaurant is named for, Mamaliga (a polenta-like meal made of maize), as well as cold and warm salads and goulash-style stews. Other Georgian favorites include vegetable and walnut patés and khachapuri, a flat bread topped with melted butter and a fried egg.