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.
While air travel becomes ever more functional, the pleasures of the train are undeniable. you can lose yourself in a book, chat with your favourite people or watch from the window as scrolling landscapes unfold. A rediscovered love for rail journeys and a move towards more sustainable travel has fuelled a European-wide rail revolution over the last few years – but Italy has been running its brilliant services for decades.
For Marc Ducobu, chocolate isn’t just an ingredient; it's an art form. And, as an award-winning Belgian chocolatier and ‘pastry maverick’, he knows a thing or two about it.
What makes a ‘five-star’ experience? Between seamless hospitality and indulgent surroundings, Forbes Travel Guide knows a thing or two about luxury service. As the only independent rating system for international luxury hotels, restaurants, and spas, we are delighted that six of our hotels are amongst the winners of its 2024 Five-Star Awards. Read on to uncover some of the highlights…
