My wife and I never tire of visiting St Petersburg. Russia’s pre-revolutionary capital has all the ingredients to make history come alive, with its splendid churches and cathedrals, its stunning palaces and the many wonders of the Hermitage Museum.
As you walk in the footsteps of the tsars, and the artists, writers and musicians whose rich legacy can be found all over the city, there is so much to explore in Russia’s window to the west, including the Winter Palace, St Isaac’s Cathedral, and Nevsky Prospekt. Not to mention the city’s rich culinary heritage.
For a memorable Russian meal in historic surroundings, the restaurant Russian Ampir in Stroganoff Palace, one of the city’s oldest palaces, located just around the corner from the Winter Palace is second to none.
The Beef filet Stroganoff, prepared according to an original Stroganoff family recipe, is to die for, and the secret tour of the hidden rooms and vaults offered at the end of the meal is not to be missed – it’s a real step back into Russia’s imperial past.