The Best Cocktail Bars in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Listen, it wasn’t my plan to make it a boozy weekend in Saint Petersburg. I booked my train tickets with two intentions—One, to see Firebird at the Mariinsky Theatre because this girl loves a weird-o ballet. And two, ok, it was to check out El Copitas, Number 39 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list of 2018. That really was the only bar I was going to patron. But while hanging out one evening at my favorite cocktail bar in Moscow, I mentioned that I was heading up to SPB and asked the guys behind the bar if they had any suggestions. And within minutes I had an extensive list. I take this sort of assignment very seriously, so here’s my report on the best cocktail bars in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Or at least the ones I could get through in just three nights.)

Apologies in advance for the worst photos in the world. My old phone + using Instagram’s terrible camera + bad lighting + me not really caring about getting ‘the Gram’ = embarrassing photos. I’m linking to each bar’s Instagram so you can see these cocktails in their true glory. If you work for any of these illustrious institutions and want to send me real photos, I am desperate.

El Copitas:

El Copitas was the first Saint Petersburg bar that made it on to my radar, many months ago when I discovered it had placed 38 on the 50 Best Bars List of 2018. It was, in fact, half the reason I wanted to go back and SPB another shot.

El Copitas does one of my favorite things a cocktail bar can do, which is it has a limited temporary menu. Each week they think of four new drinks, and those four are your choices. I started with a Fiero Gimlet and then had a Pear Margo, with tequila, lemon, pear puree, and Gorgonzola. I was a little hesitant because I’m not really a fan of blue cheese, but it ended up being a really nice kind of sweet and salty play. They also have superb looking and smelling Mexican food.

It’s a small space with low lighting and a big communal table with a few other tables around the wall. It has a pretty strict reservations policy and is cash only, so make sure you don’t show up late or empty handed.

Verdict: El Copitas is definitely the first place on my ‘go to with friends’ list. A bit harder to chill by yourself there (at least at 10pm on a Saturday night), but if you’re traveling solo I would still recommend making the effort for the creative drinks, the ambiance, and the friendly staff.  

Kabinet:

I may have perfected the art of drinking alone, but of all the cocktail bars in Saint Petersburg, this was the one I was most intimidated to go to. A speakeasy to the highest degree with a strict reservation policy, I was afraid my lack of Russian would get me turned away. But the girl on the phone was perfectly nice and making a reservation the night-of was not a problem (again, I went early, which might have been key to snagging a spot).

Kabinet is a place where class is insisted on and built into their concept. Sticking closely to the speakeasy theme, Kabinet is dressed up like an underground poker room. You can sit at a poker table, get a chip for your coat check, and pick your drink from a deck of cards. When a place has that strong of a concept, sometimes I worry that it’s overcompensating for average cocktails. But now that I’ve started measuring bars by their negronis, I can assure you that Kabinet delivers on that account too.

Verdict: It would be a shame to go to Saint Petersburg and miss out on Kabinet, both for the drinks and the atmosphere. You do feel like you’re thrown back in the jazz age. But pack some nice clothes, because there is a dress code. Nothing wrong with that — let’s take our cocktail drinking seriously please. Cash only.

Imbibe:

Imbibe was on my list, but the reason why I ended up going was that it was open when I was ready to start drinking. That was, as you can imagine, kind of early, so I had the benefit of having the bar all to myself for the majority of the time. The bartender offered me a menu or to make me something based off my tastes. The latter is always my preference so I listed off what I like (and don’t like). What I got didn’t have a name, but I made sure to write down what they called it in the check, because if you go you should definitely have a Tequila Cocktail C. A mix of mezcal, tequila, and citrus, it was a sour drink that wasn’t just… lemon. I was so satisfied that I almost ordered a second cocktail to see what they would do, but there were other bars were waiting and I had obligations to meet.

Verdict: I’m starting to think it only takes one drink to judge a bartender, and based off “Tequila Cocktail C,” the bartenders definitely earned my trust. It’s got a minimalistic, leather and dark wood living room feel to it that I liked. A crowd pleaser, in my opinion, no matter what your preference.

Orthodox:

If you’re the kind of person who likes to be drinking something just a little bit unusual, Orthodox should be on your SPB bars list. Buckwheat vodka? Muscat chacha? Pine nut milk? All that and more in the menu at Orthodox. Inspired by Russian writers and literature, the cocktails are a vision of a sophisticated and playful local sensibility. Clearly the bar’s passion vibes with the locals, because the place was pretty full and I just barely managed to find myself a spot at the bar.

Verdict: Don’t want the same old Negroni but don’t need lots of fancy smoke and mirrors? Make the pilgrimage to Orthodox. With an extensive menu, you could very easily enjoy an entire evening there. And the crowd of people seemed interesting and approachable, so it works for solo drinkers and groups.

Полторы Комнаты [1½ Rooms]:

I always double-checked the list from my Moscow bartenders with my Saint Petersburg bartenders, adding and prioritizing when necessary. Nearly everyone I spoke with nodded in approval at полторы комнаты, more than one saying it was one of the best places to drink in Saint Petersburg. When I arrived, it was easy to see why. The space itself is simple and well-lit, with none of the pretension that sometimes comes with cocktail bars. It is, in fact, one and a half rooms, with the bar stretching down a skinny hall and a room with more seating to the side. It felt like a local hangout, reinforced by the way that the bartenders and guests/friends interacted.

That being said, the bartenders did not relax when it came to the cocktails. There’s no menu at полторы комнаты. Instead, you tell them what you like and they will give you, as a bartender at another place phrased it, “the perfect Saint Petersburg pour.” By that point it was midnight or so, and I was relying on old favorites instead of being inventive, so I said I liked strong and bitter, mentioning that Negronis have (somehow) become my go-to drink. My bartender served me up a twist on a Negroni with lemongrass and strong herbal flavors, a satisfying way for me to end my Saint Petersburg cocktail bar pilgrimage. Even without a menu, you can tell that the range at полторы комнаты is extensive. On one side of me, a guy was drinking a ‘peanut old fashioned,’ while to the left a girl was drinking something that looked like a clean and refreshing gin and tonic. The bartenders were churning out massive carafes of smoked Bloody Marys, which I have rarely seen ordered after 3pm.

Verdict: Equally great for when you’re looking for something a bit outrageous and for when you’re in the mood for a low-key drink with friends, a crowd pleaser for all. With its ‘local hangout feel,’ probably better for when you are with company.

Архитектор [Architect]:

There is a lot going on in cocktail bars in Saint Petersburg these days, fancy techniques, strange ingredients, and over the top garnishes. But Архитектор has a streamlined approach to both their bar and their cocktails. This black box room inside what I think was a theatre building only has twenty seats, mostly ringing the extensive bar. It was a little loud to hear the bartender clearly, but from what I could gather from both our conversation and my cocktails, Архитектор has a very back-to-the-basics approach, in the best way. And the cocktails were clean — sophisticated and not weighed down by unnecessary frivolity. 

Verdict: Архитектор has a very specific vibe, very energetic even with its black box atmosphere. It may not be a place I’d go frequently to hang out all evening long, but with a lot of cocktail bars going low-key speakeasy with fancy cocktails, the high-energy, loud music, clean cocktail concept of Архитектор makes it stand out. It fits a specific mood, and I would definitely go back, especially with friends.  

Gin Tonic Bar:

I think gin is great – there, I said it. I know a lot of people disparage gin, and I think they’re dumb. The owner of Gin Tonic Bar thinks even more highly of gin, having stocked his bar with one of the best collections of the liquor in the country. I do think that gin is a nice and light spirit, so I decided to start one of my evenings at Gin Tonic Bar.

First of all, it’s not easy to find (it’s a theme with Saint Petersburg cocktail bars), leading to my very awkward arrival with two very drunk old men hammering on the door to ‘help’ me find the place. The staff looked a little alarmed at my oddly heralded entrance, but once the door closed behind me the bar returned to its former peace, considering there were only two other patrons. After I listed off some of my preferences (including gin, obviously), the bartender asked me if I liked basil. He didn’t tell me much about the drink when he set it down, but let’s just assume it was a Basil Smash or variation thereof, refreshing and not too strong on the basil.

An underground venue with a long bar and tongue-in-cheek decoration, Gin Tonic does have a feeling of being for those ‘in the know.’ As it gets later, they have a DJ and it turns into more of a dance venue.

Verdict: Do you like gin? Worth checking out. Do you like dancing? Also worth checking out. Are you by yourself and looking for a more singular experience? There are other venues you might want to prioritize. But if I was with a group of friends, Gin Tonic would make it on my list.

The cocktail bars in Saint Petersburg definitely bring strong game, and I would be happy to spend a night or two out there again. I would, at this point, rank it next to Kyiv as one of my favorite places to drink in Eastern Europe. And it wasn’t too pricey either. All my cocktails were around 500-600 rubles, around $10, which was great value considering the quality and experience.

I was recommended a few places that I just couldn’t make it to this time around, but are worth mentioning here because they’re still on my list for next time: Bar 812, Цветочки [Flowers], Pirs 28.

Reservations are always a good idea and are needed at El Copitas and Kabinet. Some places are cash only so always double check or just make sure you are well prepared. Happy drinking!