Elite Traveler September-October 2017

elite traveler SEPT/OCT 2017 117

Spend an afternoon at New Holland Island, strolling around the park and enjoying art installations such as Firebird , by Poetic Kinetics

TOP SUITES

ART SCENE

Neighborhoodwatch After winning a government contract to turn this former shipbuilding island into a public space, Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova have opened the first stage of their ambitious project. It blends public art, performance spaces, a creative school for children, dining and nightlife with green areas to create a place to just hang. There are festivals, outdoor games, yoga classes on the lawn, a skating rink in winter and several more projects still under construction. An afternoon here is the perfect antidote to an overdose of sightseeing. newhollandsp.ru Gallery to visit Look out Moscow, the art scene in St Petersburg is on the rise. While NewHolland Island is creating a lot of buzz, there are many young Russian artists who are steadily gaining international recognition. Marina Gisich has one of the leading contemporary art galleries in Russia, where she nurtures emerging artists and introduces Russian art to the international market. Open by appointment only. Contact marina.gisich@gmail.com, gisich.com

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE Belmond Grand Hotel Europe

One of the largest and most opulent suites in the city, the Presidential Suite has a residential feel and is well suited for long stays. It boasts two bedrooms (both suites), living room, dining room for eight, lounge, bar, music room with grand piano, library, fitness room, sauna and a security room. Enjoy views of Nevsky Prospekt while you entertain in high style. From $13,000 per night Contact Maria Malinina, reservations manager, res.ghe@belmond.com, +7 812 329 6000, belmond.com Located in a beautifully restored palace, this incredibly grand suite takes you back in time to Imperial Russia. Enter through a grand marble staircase and find a luxurious and colorfully decorated space with high ceilings, including dining area for six, living room, bedroom with and a large furnished terrace overlooking the Admiralty and a park. From $10,100 per night Contact Olga Kachalova, head concierge, concierge.stpetersburg@fourseasons.com, +7 812 339 8014, fourseasons.com/stpetersburg LOBANOV PRESIDENTIAL SUITE Four Seasons Hotel Lions Palace

ROYAL SUITE Corinthia Hotel

Located directly on Nevsky Prospekt, the hotel’s enviable location is perfectly suited to sightseeing and feeling the pulse of the city. The three-bedroom suite has a living room, dining room and fully-equipped kitchen. Rich wood and silk-paneled walls mix with crystal and rich fabrics for a sensual and contemporary decor, while still retaining a sense of place. From $8,300 per night Contact Daniel Sosa, commercial director, daniel.sosa@corinthia.com, +7 812 380 2001, corinthia.com

WHERE TO DINE

ASTORIA CAFE While Russian food isn’t in vogue in the city, it’s certainly an experience that every visitor should add to their schedule. Head to Astoria Cafe, where Chef Serge Fery presents traditional Russian cuisine in a modern way, while retaining its roots and culture. Start off with a caviar tasting paired either the French way with champagne or the Russian way with vodka, then move on to Olivier salad (a salad with king crab, vegetables, avocado and mayonnaise), Siberian pelmeni (small meat-filled dumplings served with sour cream), the best beef Stroganoff in the city, and finish with a slice of decadent medovik , a muti-layered honey cake. +7 812 494 5815 KVARTIRA KOSTI KREUTZ If you want to feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s home, you might as well do it properly. More commonly called Kreutz Flat, this is a restaurant, tea room, bar and guest house all in a spectacular apartment on Nevsky Prospekt. The host designed a welcoming environment, brought his favorite dishes from around the world and put them on the menu. You’ll find an excellent steak and pastas, and since you are in Russia, order your salad with sour cream dressing. As it’s a “secret” restaurant, entrance requires an individual electronic key that you scan at

the door of the unassuming building. Once inside, you can make yourself at home in one of the city’s most expensive apartments. Sit in the tea room and work for an afternoon, dine in the restaurant, have the chef teach you a cooking class at the large open kitchen or take a selfie in the ginormous bath tub. It’s open 24/7, 365 days a year. Contact Konstantin, head waiter, kreutz@kreutzflat.com, +7 921 651 7788, kreutzflat.com MANSARDA From restaurant group Ginza Project — from whom you’re always guaranteed to have a quality meal — comes one of its most beautiful restaurants in St Petersburg, popular with both chic locals such as gallerist Marina Gisich and tourists alike. From the top floor of Quattro Corti business center, Mansarda offers a bird’s-eye view of the top of St Isaac’s Cathedral and the rooftops of St Petersburg. Here you’ll find an extensive menu from chef Dmitriy Bogachev that mixes Russian, European and Asian cuisine. Highlights include fregola with seafood, tagliolini with black caviar and a well-edited selection of traditional Russian dishes. If you have fabulous weather and want to dine alfresco, order delivery and head to a nearby park. +7 812 640 1616, en.ginza.ru

CHEF SPOTLIGHT An innovative and creative spirit has filled Russia’s youth. Far from being stifled by sanctions, they’re looking inside to find solutions (although you’re best to avoid the cheese plates as the locals bemoan the lack of quality cheese). Dmitrii Blinov and Renat Malikov are at the forefront of the exploding culinary scene. Duo Gastrobar is a must-visit restaurant, and their latest

opening, TarTar Bar is always packed for both lunch and dinner. The decor features exposed brick walls, industrial lights, funky artwork and an open kitchen where you can see the chefs preparing a wide array of fish and meat tartares, as well as delightful cooked dishes with many interesting cuts available (think pig’s head, veal kidneys and bone marrow). duobar.ru, tartarbar.ru