Imperial table

Route developed
in collaboration with

t. Petersburg was created as the capital of the Russian Empire, and nowhere is that legacy more evident than along this route. From the ceremonial grandeur of Palace Square and the imperial residences to elegant gardens, monumental cathedrals, and the Mariinsky Theatre, each stop reveals a different chapter of the city’s royal history. Along the way, you’ll dine in historic restaurants and grand hotels that have welcomed aristocrats, diplomats, and distinguished guests for generations. This route is an invitation to experience St. Petersburg at its most majestic — where imperial architecture, culture, and fine dining come together.

Palace Square

Palace Square is the main ceremonial ensemble of St. Petersburg. It took shape in the 18th—19th centuries and became the venue for state ceremonies, military parades and historic events. The main landmark of the square is the Winter Palace, built between 1754 and 1762 to a design by architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli for Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Until 1917, the palace served as the main winter residence of the Russian emperors. Today, the building houses the main complex of the State Hermitage Museum.

Where to dine

Bellevue Brasserie

The restaurant of the Kempinski Moika 22 hotel, located opposite the Hermitage and Palace Square. Bellevue Brasserie’s main feature is the panoramic view of the imperial city’s iconic landmarks: the Winter Palace, Palace Embankment, and the Neva River. The menu is based on French brasserie cuisine with seafood, fish, meat, and classic European dishes. Ideal for lunch after the Hermitage or dinner with a view of the historic centre.

22 Moika River Embankment, St. Petersburg

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Bar “The Legendary Bear”

This is where, in 1906, St. Petersburg locals first saw a bar counter, ice-cold cocktails, and decided: we need this. The historic interiors have been restored down to the smallest detail — antique clocks, vintage silverware, barmen in white jackets. Choose from cocktails made according to those very same recipes, and pair them with rastegai pies and crab-stuffed golubtsy. «My soul feels lighter» — a guest’s review from over a century ago that still holds true today.

27 Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street, Saint Petersburg

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What to do

Admire the Alexander Column

The Alexander Column, designed by Auguste Montferrand and unveiled in 1834, commemorates Russia’s victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. Standing at the centre of Palace Square, it is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Visit the Hermitage

Explore the magnificent state rooms of the Winter Palace, including the Jordan Staircase, the Grand Throne Room, and the Military Gallery of 1812. The museum is home to one of the world’s greatest art collections.

Walk along the Palace Embankment

Enjoy panoramic views of the Neva River, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Spit of Vasilievsky Island. This is one of St. Petersburg’s most scenic waterfront walks.

The Summer Garden and the Summer Palace of Peter I

The Summer Garden is St. Petersburg’s first regular garden, created by decree of Peter I in the early 18th century. Its layout followed European models: straight avenues, sculptures, and fountains. The Summer Palace of Peter I was built between 1710 and 1714 and is considered one of the city’s earliest imperial residences.

Where to dine

Europe

The historic restaurant of the Grand Hotel Europe, which opened in 1875 on Nevsky Prospekt. In the late 19th—early 20th centuries, the hotel was one of St. Petersburg’s premier addresses for aristocrats, diplomats, musicians, and writers. The restaurant retains its famous stained-glass ceiling, balconies, and Art Nouveau interiors from the early 20th century. The menu features Russian and European classics: caviar, fish and meat dishes, desserts, and traditional afternoon tea.

1/7 Mikhailovskaya Street, Saint Petersburg

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Palkin

One of St. Petersburg’s oldest restaurant addresses. The establishment’s history dates back to 1785, and in the 19th century, the restaurant on Nevsky Prospekt became a meeting place for the city’s elite, writers, and artists. Today, Palkin continues the tradition of grand Russian cuisine: sturgeon, sterlet, caviar, game, rastegai pies, kulebyaka pies, and dishes inspired by pre-revolutionary restaurant traditions. The interiors feature stucco work, mirrors, and crystal, evoking 19th-century St. Petersburg.

47 Nevsky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg

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What to do

Walk through the Summer Garden

Stroll along the historic avenues of St. Petersburg’s oldest public garden, created by Peter the Great in the early 18th century. The garden preserves its formal layout, marble sculptures, and elegant fountains.

Visit Mikhailovsky Castle

Explore the former residence of Emperor Paul I, built as his fortified palace at the turn of the 19th century. Today, the castle houses a branch of the Russian Museum and tells the story of one of Russia’s most enigmatic emperors.

Visit the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood

Admire one of St. Petersburg’s most iconic landmarks, built on the site where Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded in 1881. The church is renowned for its richly decorated interiors and magnificent mosaics.

St. Isaac’s Square

St. Isaac’s Square is one of the principal architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg, which took shape in the 19th century. Its centrepiece is St. Isaac’s Cathedral, built between 1818 and 1858 to a design by Auguste Montferrand — one of the largest domed churches in the world. The ensemble also includes the Mariinsky Palace, the Astoria Hotel, and the monument to Nicholas I. A short walk away are Senate Square with the Bronze Horseman and the Alexander Garden by the Admiralty.

Where to dine

Percorso

The restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace is housed in the former palace of Prince Alexander Lobanov-Rostovsky, built in the early 19th century to a design by Auguste Montferrand. Nearby are St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Senate Square, and the Bronze Horseman. The menu is based on Italian classics: homemade pasta, risotto, seafood, and dishes from a wood-fired oven. In summer, the inner courtyard in the historic centre is open.

1 Voznesensky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg

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Astoria

The restaurant of the legendary Astoria Hotel, opened long ago opposite St. Isaac’s Cathedral. From the moment it opened, the hotel became one of the symbols of St. Petersburg’s high society: it hosted foreign guests, diplomats, performers, and members of the upper class. Today, the restaurant preserves the atmosphere of a historic grand hotel: European cuisine, classic service, and views of St. Isaac’s Square.

39 Bolshaya Morskaya St., St. Petersburg

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What to do

Climb St. Isaac’s Colonnade

The climb rewards you with one of the finest panoramic views of St. Petersburg’s historic centre, where golden domes, grand squares, and the Neva River unfold below. It’s the perfect place to appreciate the city’s remarkable architectural harmony from above.

Walk through Alexander Garden

Enjoy a leisurely walk through one of the city’s oldest public gardens, shaded by mature trees and framed by elegant fountains. From here, the golden spire of the Admiralty rises above the greenery, one of St. Petersburg’s most recognizable landmarks.

Continue along Konnogvardeisky Boulevard towards New Holland

Follow this quiet, tree-lined boulevard towards New Holland, passing elegant 19th-century buildings along the way. The walk offers a pleasant transition from the grandeur of St. Isaac’s Square to one of St. Petersburg’s most atmospheric historic districts.