Novosibirsk: Where to eat
Delicatessen Store. New Way of Eating Out
The concept of delicatessen stores is not completely new for Russia. They existed during the Soviet Era, too, however, it was not common to eat out there and the food was rather plain, mostly represented by a few types pirozhkis (buns or patty cakes). For eating out there were canteens, the Soviet kind of fast food, offering very typical set of dishes, including mashed potatoes, chops, borsch and a salad or two. Of course, it was not common to ‘spend time’ there, and the quality of food left much to be desired. The modern delicatessen stores resemble their ancestors only in terms of plain interior, though of course it’s lots more comfortable and welcoming. Otherwise they are a fast, convenient, cheap and healthy variant of eating out suitable for all sorts of visitors. Fans of traditional food, vegetarians, vegans, followers of gluten-free diet and even raw-food enthusiasts won’t stay hungry here. Everything is always fresh, the choice is abundant, the staff is helpful and ready to explain what is what, and the service is quick, and the prices are very affordable. Exactly what you need, if you are in a rush, or if you are a traveler who want to eat healthy local food but don’t want to spend hours waiting for your dish. In the early hours you can be offered a traditional Russian or continental breakfast, and around lunchtime you will always choose one of 2 or 3 soup varieties. All food and drinks can be packed, so that you can enjoy them at home or in your hotel room.
Kolyada Cafe. Traditionally Russian and Great Food for Everyone
Kolyada is perhaps the best place to eat in Novosibirsk. Traditional Russian cuisine, traditional Russian interior, nice music, prompt service, great location close to the major attractions and business quarters. It’s affordable for everyone: families with kids, office workers, students, budget travelers, but it’s not surprising to see wealthy business owners and public figures here.
Coffee Collective. Tasty and Trendy.
Coffee Collective is a coffee shop close to the downtown. It’s hard to surprise visitors with good coffee; it is good nearly everywhere, so coffee shops try to surprise us with exclusive service, trendy interiors and specialties.
Mr.Cup — good coffee and fine bakery
Mr. Cup is another small and cozy place to have a cup of superb and original coffee with a piece of something tasty and sweet. Located Krasny Prospect 13, it invites you to have your drink and meal here overlooking the busy downtown or you can drop in, take your drink and stride off. Whatever you do, the place makes you feel welcome and happy. Friendly and fast service is really able to make your day.
Coffee Academy — a different cafe
Coffee is no longer a problem in Novosibirsk. In fact, there is too much coffee in Siberia these days, and too many places to have a cup of coffee. Besides, there are loads of small ‘stations’ with coffee-to-go. The quality of coffee is about the same everywhere, and the price is more or less similar, too. Is it possible to surprise coffee fans (and I am one of them) at all?
Traveler’s Coffee. Not only for travellers.
There are many places offering good coffee in Novosibirsk, but Traveler’s Coffee has been my personal favorite for many years. And it is definitely not because of coffee only, though it is extremely good here. It is the atmosphere I appreciate, and, however strange it may sound, it is its name. A traveller is not only the one who is on an actual travelin a strange place, but also the one who feels like a traveller staying in his or her home town dreaming of far-away destinations. And Travellers’ Coffee is the right place to feel the atmosphere of remote and exotic places where coffee and tea are grown and where delicious desserts are made.
Initially founded in Novosibirsk by Christopher Tara-Brown, an American, Traveler’s Coffee grew into a chain, which now has cafes in more than 20 Russian cities and abroad, including Ukraine, Kazachstan and even in China!
And everywhere it offers specialty coffee and fine food. A special feature of the chain is that is does not offer any alcohol, so parents should not worry about their teenage children who declare they are going to Traveler’s Coffee to meet friends.
Novosibirsk currently has the chain of 15 cafes, while the new Traveler’s Coffee, located Krasny Prospect 65, is one of the triendiest and definitely is the biggest in the city.
Let’s meet in Traveler’s Coffee for a cup of coffee and speak about travel. Settled?
Back to the USSR
It is easy and fast to get back to the USSR right in the center of Novosibirsk. Here, only 2 minutes from Lenin Square, ou can visit a place known as ‘Cafeteria No.1’ (Буфет №1).
Cafe Cardamom — an exotic place in the downtown of Novosibirsk
Exotic culture, exotic clothes, exotic cuisine are now extremely popular in Russia, including Novosibirsk. Cafe Cardamom was opened several years ago and has been gaining popularity since then. It is not just a cafe, but a combination of a cafe and a shop caled ‘Collection of Trifles’ (Коллекция пустяков).
Vegetarian Cafe OM — the first and the only of this kind in Novosibirsk
I am a vegetarian. I never liked meat, and I stopped eating it completely after I took interest in culture and way of life in India and other Eastern countries and especially after I bought a book on the Indian cuisine and learned how to cook some traditional Indian dishes. It was 6 years ago. there are absolutely no problems to be a vegetarian and even vegan in Siberia, as the choice of vegetables, fruits and cereals is great in all the shops, supermarkets and markets. The only problem is eating out. most cafes and restaurants offer a lot of everything for meat eaters and vegetarians have to choose between Salad No.1 and Salad No.2. Vegetarian Cafe OM is a little paradise for the ones like me.
Where to drink good coffee in Novosibirsk
There are now a lot of places in Novosibirsk where you can drink good coffee. I’m not a coffee expert, though I love coffee, and I like places where the choice of coffee is wide, not just cappuccino and Americano, where there is a good choice of various dishes, including delicious desserts, and where the atmosphere is nice and comfortable.
