Where to eat

La Maison restaurant

Perfect for a touch of old world French elegance and style, and rightly regarded by its sophisticated clientele as one of the finest restaurants between Moscow and the Pacific. 

The cuisine — old style Russian and French — is conjured by Francois Fournier, formerly a chef in five star Swiss establishments before venturing to Siberia. 

La Maison also offers an excellent wine list with the accent on French. Wine boutique, with 20% Sunday discount, nice pastry shop, too, for a quick cup of coffee or a takeaway treat. 

Beerman & Grill

Offering not only the best sausages in Siberia, but also a bar and restaurant for all tastes. 

Whether you want a meal with friends, to enjoy a live rock, Irish or country band, watch live sports at any time of the day or night, or hold that key business lunch, Beerman & Grill offers all these possibilities, and more besides. 

The food is made from specially selected ingredients, and the choice of beers is international but also includes Beerman's own famous Siberian brews. 

Beerman&Pelmeni

A perfect place for Western visitors to mix with locals in this informal, fun, modern restaurant. 

Do try the signature Russian Pelmeni, a kind of Siberian Ravioli - a must for any traveller. The chef swears that such collection of all kinds of pelmeni from all over the world you will not find in any other restaurant. Check it out!

In the same complex as the Doubletree by Hilton hotel. The bar offers an excellent selection of beers from around the world. 

NOVOSIBIRSK

Whether you're here for work, or a quick respite from crossing Siberia by train, Novosibirsk has a wide selection of places to eat, drink and relax. 

At the top end, in Akademgorodok, some half an hour drive south from the city centre is one of Siberia's finest restaurants, TBK Lounge. We also like the feeling of La Maison restaurant, conveniently situated in the very centre of Novosibirsk, at Sovetskaya street, with a nice romantic story behind the 1908 building, which the English-speaking staff would be glad to share with you. 

Almost all city's restaurants, cafes and pubs would now offer set business lunches; the times may vary, but you should be ok sometime between 12 noon and 3 pm. The average bill for one is about 600 roubles, ($20, €15).

Some restaurants will still put the service charge on their bills, which can be anything from 7 to 10 per cent (should be indicated in the bill); there is a tradition of leaving a tip, which usually is a maximum of 10 per cent. 

The opening hours are best double checked against the restaurants websites, but normally the cafes and restaurants are open at least until midnight, with no gap in the middle of the day; the free wifi is becoming more and more the part of the service — as it should be. 

Please note that the majority of Russian restaurants still allow for indoor smoking. 

TBK lounge

At Akademgorodok, and a real favourite of this guide. Don't be fooled by the exterior, from the candlelit lobby this brilliant restaurant gives you the warmest welcome no matter how cold it is. In summer, there is also patio eating outside. 

A truly fine wine list and a mixture of sumptuous European, Asian and modern Russian food, plus a young and dedicated staff who ensure that your lunch or dinner will be memorable. 

One of Denis Ivanov's excellent restaurants in Novosibirsk and not always the one that attracts most media plaudits but for us this is a gem, showing the new Russia at its finest.