From relaxation in an all-weather resort to watching spectacular performance: what you can do in two days in St. Petersburg
To go to St. Petersburg for the weekend or holidays has already become commonplace for Muscovites. Four hours on the Sapsan train – and now you are already in the capital of Peter’s luxury and balls of the Catherine’s era. However, today St. Petersburg is not only trips to countless museums, boat trips along the Neva and excursions to chic imperial palaces. Peter is developing rapidly, becoming more modern: now they go to the Northern capital for the sake of modern spa resorts, unique hotels, new gastronomic sensations. Passion.ru tells you where to stay, eat, relax and spend a couple of days in the city on the Neva and its environs.
Where to stay
The latest trend among tourists is the choice for chamber and comfortable hotels. If you also want something new and unusual, then boutique hotels are the best option. Usually they are located in buildings of old mansions with a rich history. Each issue is a unique design project. One of these hotels that we found in St. Petersburg is the DOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL on Gangutskaya Street, a few minutes from the Summer Palace of Peter I. It is located in the building of the former 19th Century Apartment Building. The first guests of the DOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL took in 2016, and, despite the repair being carried out in the building, every corner of it seems to be saturated with history.
The design of the hotel, as well as the rooms, where each piece of furniture was created according to a special sketch, was developed by London professionals. In the hotel lobby, guests walk on a real marble floor, and in the rooms on parquet made from natural wood. Each room has its own highlight: a bright yellow cabinet, or red chairs, or elegant black tiles in the bathroom. Some might think that the decor of the hotel and rooms is quite provocative and too bright, but, of course, it is impressive.
One of the most popular questions that arises during each trip (and it does not matter where you go to St. Petersburg, Kaluga or Rome) is where to eat in the city. In St. Petersburg, for the answer, feel free to go to the Blok restaurant. The institution is located on the top floor of the Leningrad Center, in the Tauride Garden. Sunlight breaks through the restaurant’s panoramic windows all day, in the evening it is replaced by a huge chandelier, the lamps of which are reflected in the mirror surfaces of the walls. But the main “trump card” of the Block is not design, but the meat menu, which presents more than 60 dishes: from calf cheeks to numerous steaks. The meat is cooked, fried, steamed, served with juniper, onion confit or oranges … This is such a modern classic. Almost all recipes are rooted in the original Russian cuisine, but the restaurant chefs have not forgotten about the modern zest. The restaurant team “Block” every season begins with new dishes and improves those that are loved by customers. The owner of the Blok is Alexander Rappoport, one of the country’s most famous restaurateurs. Its establishments are always distinguished by excellent quality: from the layout of the premises to the most important thing – the menu.
Where to go
If this is not your first time in St. Petersburg and you have already visited the entire Hermitage, saw filigree works at the Faberge Museum and enjoyed contemporary art in Erart, then it’s time to go to the very Leningrad Center, which has hosted the Blok restaurant in its mansions. In general, this is a modern show-space, in the halls of which there are theater performances, performances, film screenings, and exhibits are displayed in the halls. By the way, the Leningrad Center is located in the building of an old mansion, where a few centuries ago the social life of St. Petersburg was seething.
Show performances in the “Leningrad Center” are striking in their entertainment. The action takes place around the viewer, a few millimeters from him. This is a real challenge for those who want to look at the theater from an unusual angle and become a full participant in the performance. For example, recently here he presented his mono musical entitled “I looked back to see” the artist of the famous bit quartet “Secret” Maxim Leonidov. Another new show of the “Leningrad Center” is the theatrical review “Portfolio” with the participation of actress Daria Moroz.
Where to relax
If you are tired of the frantic rhythm of the metropolis and still want to escape from the bustle of the city for a few days, forget about all the worries, then you definitely should go to the resort “Igora”, which is only an hour away from St. Petersburg. It works all year round and provides the best recovery services – the problem of a complete “reboot” of the body is solved here with a click.
One of the main advantages of Igora is its multifunctional spa complex, which provides about 250 treatments: from hydrotherapy and bubble bath to massage. The resort even has special anti-stress tours that are aimed at improving the functioning of the nervous system after serious physical and psychological stress.
