I like to walk along Nevsky Prospect in the early morning and have a cup of coffee in the Abrikosov café. I also enjoy a cup of coffee with syrniki, home-made Russian cheesecake, in the restaurant Happiness, beside St Isaac’s Cathedral. The atmosphere of this lovely place is wonderful. Happiness is what people need most of all, and the one thing you can’t buy with money.
For lunch I prefer Astoria Cafe, with its amazing, refined and unobtrusive atmosphere. It’s also the perfect place for a business meeting. They have the most delicious bread, tender sea bass and inimitable Salad Olivier with crab. And of course I have my favourite table, with a wonderful view over beloved St Isaac’s Cathedral.
Sometimes I go to Bona Capona restaurant with my children and husband, located in the suburb of Pushkin. They offer many different types of pasta and delicious salads. There are always a lot of people in the restaurant, and it has a great room for kids.
I also love to walk in the park at TsarskoyeSelo. In spring the park fills with blooming bird cherry trees and lilac, and Pushkin becomes one of the most beautiful places in the world.
More to make you happy?
Shop at DLT department store. Take in a show at the Mariinsky Theatre. Enjoy a film at Angleterre Cinema Lounge.
Sometimes, the best ideas start in the most unexpected places. Often as a conversation between friends, perhaps over a drink. And so it was for Lydia Forte and Edgardo Osorio, Founder and Creative Director of Aquazzura whose shared vision led to the creation of Aquazzura Bar, a seasonal cocktail bar in the Secret Garden of Hotel de Russie. We sat down with them over a Margarita – what else? – to find out more…
Along the Mediterranean, food is intrinsic to daily life. Mornings begin with fishermen hauling in their catch, while market stalls brim with sun-ripened produce. Meals unfold slowly, often outdoors, with dishes meant to be shared. No rush, no excess - just ingredients at their peak, prepared simply and enjoyed in good company.
In the early 20th century, Munich was a hotbed of artistic innovation. Amid shifting social landscapes, a new school emerged from an intense exchange of ideas that would shape the trajectory of modern art: Der Blaue Reiter, or The Blue Rider. This avant-garde collective left an indelible mark on modern art with their radical departure from tradition and bold exploration of colour and spirituality.
