Currency:
100$ = 808 000 BYR
100 evro = 1 037 000 BYR
100$ = 808 000 BYR
100 evro = 1 037 000 BYR
Belarusian cuisine
Gastinets
Five different halls with lots of vaulted brick ceilings from the 18th century and wrought ironwork set the scene for a popular restaurant serving traditional Belarusian food with a modern twist alongside a range of international dishes. The chef here has a good reputation among the locals and the freshly baked bread comes particularly recommended. Friendly and attentive service, plus a great drinks menu including some fine draught beers.
Open 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00.
Air conditioning, Live music, Credit cards accepted, Outside seating, Smoking place, Wi-Fi.
Minsk, Svobody pl.2. Underground - Nemiga
Open 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00.
Air conditioning, Live music, Credit cards accepted, Outside seating, Smoking place, Wi-Fi.
Minsk, Svobody pl.2. Underground - Nemiga
Mirsky Zamok
Meaning Mir Castle and named after the Unesco World Heritage complex some 60 km or so west of Minsk after which the interior decoration owes more than a passing nod, inside the menus held together with metal clasps in a meat-heavy choice of dishes plus one or two offerings for vegetarians.
Open 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Outside seating, Non-smoking, Take away, Wi-Fi
Minsk, Gorodskoy Val str. 9, Underground - Nemiga
Open 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Outside seating, Non-smoking, Take away, Wi-Fi
Minsk, Gorodskoy Val str. 9, Underground - Nemiga
Starye Traditsiy
At the time of going to press there was no English menu available here, but if you can overcome that small hurdle then expect to find an interesting mix of locals tucking into a choice of great value Belarusian food. Decor comes pretty much as standard, including the almost compulsory television chattering away in the background and a rather tatty old upright piano. Rare for a place in this part of the world, smoking is not allowed.
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Fireplace, Non-smoking, Live music
Minsk, Nezavisimosti av. 57, Underground - Yakuba Kolasa
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Fireplace, Non-smoking, Live music
Minsk, Nezavisimosti av. 57, Underground - Yakuba Kolasa
Straunya Kamyanitsa
Recreating the time when Belarus formed part of the Grand Duchy of the Lithuania, this fine little restaurant churns out classic dishes from days gone by with a heavy emphasis on roasted, grilled and stewed meat. The stuff dress in authentic costumes and the menu is held inside a large leather wallet. If you are not starving, do at least try one of their recommended soups or indulge in a glass or two of the local firewater. The weekends see a number of live events taking place including music on Fridays and traditional dancing on Sundays.
Open 12:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Smoking place
Minsk, Pervomayskaya str 18.
Open 12:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Smoking place
Minsk, Pervomayskaya str 18.
Zhban
Featuring horseshoes on the walls and crudely carved furniture, Zhban is named after a traditional Belarusian mug with a large capacity and featuring a hinged lid used for the consumption of low alcohol drinks such as kvas. Claiming to use only fresh ingredients, the menu holds a number of surprises, not least the cute-sounding Piglet at Rest alongside more familiar fare shuch as bliny with red caviar and herring. Food can be served on wooden plates to order, there is the usual offering of business lunch plus there is live shows and discos during the weekends.
Open 08:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Non-smoking, Wi-Fi
Petrusya Brovki str. 16, Underground - Akademiya Nauk
Open 08:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Non-smoking, Wi-Fi
Petrusya Brovki str. 16, Underground - Akademiya Nauk
Eastern cuisine
Dzhomalungma
Just the kind of Asian restaurant Minsk has been waiting for, find a well-orchestrated affair set in a cheerful room of explosive colours. The outstanding food is mainly Tibetan, with a few Nepalese, Indian and Thai choices in. Hot towels precede your meal, and tea comes in a tiny pot set on a wooden platform.
Open 12:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Smoking place
Gikalo str. 7, Underground - Yakuba Kolasa
Open 12:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Smoking place
Gikalo str. 7, Underground - Yakuba Kolasa
Bulgarian cuisine
Gabrovo
Although Gabrovo claims to be Bulgarian, the menu is really just a generic East European mishmash of mayonnaise-drenched salads and fatty cutlets. Still, the portions are generous, the prices reasonable, and the atmosphere has a tacky sort of charm about it with lots of stranchy tablecloths and plastic vines wrapped around the rafters. A few years ago this would have been considered classy.
Open 10:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 24:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Smoking place, Wi-Fi
Nezavisimosti av.81, Underground - Akademiya Nauk
Open 10:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 24:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Live music, Smoking place, Wi-Fi
Nezavisimosti av.81, Underground - Akademiya Nauk
French cuisine
La Crete d'Or
The name suggests it is the highest cock, but somehow that sounds a bit too coarse for this fine and refined restaurant. Expect softly spoken men in black roll-neck skivvies perusing a menu that is too good to be translated into English. Both kitchen and waitstaff are internationally trained, the environment is exquisite and the prices are not as stratospherically high as one might expect. A perfect choice for a quality evening.
Open 12:00 - 24:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Lenina str. 3, Underground - Oktyabrskaya
Open 12:00 - 24:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Lenina str. 3, Underground - Oktyabrskaya
La Dame De Pique
Conjuring images of decadent France at every opportunity this georgeous little anomaly is the ultimate in bling. Models of lithe greyhounds chained to the walls welcome visitors to a restaurant that's a feast on both the eyes and the taste buds. Not the cheapest place in town, the menu tempts with a roll call of dishes including the mischievous-sounding Russian Proposal in Paris (it's a salad), Veal Martignon and that old favourite, creme brulee. Visitors looking to push the boat out as far as it can go take note that at the time of going to press there was a champagne on menu going for a cool 600$.
Open 12:00 - 24:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Yanki Kupaly str.17, Underground - Oktyabrskaya
Open 12:00 - 24:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Yanki Kupaly str.17, Underground - Oktyabrskaya
Indian cuisine
Taj
Opened to much blowing of trumpets, Taj is by all accounts a welcome addition to Minsk' ever growing and ever improving restaurant scene. Bright, understand and modern with plenty of Indian touches, an Indian chef oversees the preparation of a good choice of food, some cooked in a tandoor over plus a few vegetarian options as well. There is an authentic Indian dance group during the weekends too, to really spice up the evening.
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place, Outside seating, Wi-Fi
Romanovskaya Sloboda str.26, Underground - Frunzenskaya
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place, Outside seating, Wi-Fi
Romanovskaya Sloboda str.26, Underground - Frunzenskaya
Iternational cuisine
Vostochny Express
A great city centre location for a really nice-looking place complete with engraved wine glasses, the staff speak English and the menu features everything from Belarusian to Latin American. There is a super list of cocktails too to make the food go with a bang. A VIP room is also available for private parties.
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Kirova str.1, Underground - Ploschad Lenina
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Kirova str.1, Underground - Ploschad Lenina
Middle-Eastern cuisine
Kasbar
Kudos to this Syrian-themed restaurant for its bubbly atmosphere and colourful, Arabian-inspired decor. The menu is heavy on shashlyk, the staple fallback for any Minsk restaurant with an Oriental theme. That's not to say there is anything wrong with it. The main attraction is the loud belly dancing show that happens in the dining room. You might as well sit back and enjoy it, a small charge has already been added to your bill for the pleasure.
Open 12:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Live music, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Vokzalnaya str. 23, Underground - Ploschad Lenina
Open 12:00 - 02:00
Air conditioning, Live music, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Vokzalnaya str. 23, Underground - Ploschad Lenina
Ukrainian cuisine
Chumatsky Shlyakh
The rather over-the-top folksy atmosphere in no way impinges on what's one of the best places to eat pleasant food in the city. Set out on two floors, the real magic here can be found inside the kitchen. Choosing what to eat can be difficult as it's a big menu and it's all good. Recommended are either of the two offerings of borsch, the vareniki and the potato pancakes. There is several vodkas to help it all down too, and a rather marvellous photograph of happy factory workers just on the right as you enter. Highly recommended, especially for those eating in groups. In a word, magnificent.
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place, Outside seating, Wi-Fi
Myasnikova str.34, Underground - Ploschad Lenina
Open 11:00 - 23:00
Air conditioning, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place, Outside seating, Wi-Fi
Myasnikova str.34, Underground - Ploschad Lenina
Pizza
Tempo
The name says it all. This is a fast-paced pizza joint popular with students from nearby university building. Small, packed and highly recommended.
Credit cards accepted, Outside seating.
Open 08:00 - 23:00
Nezavisimosti av. 78, also - Pobediteley str. 89, Marxa str.9, Yakuba Kolasa str. 37
Credit cards accepted, Outside seating.
Open 08:00 - 23:00
Nezavisimosti av. 78, also - Pobediteley str. 89, Marxa str.9, Yakuba Kolasa str. 37
Microbreweries
Rakovsky Brovar
An absolutely enormous place, hard to find and decorated in the manner of a large hunting lodge, the main reason for dropping by is to drink yourself silly on the in-house beer. On offer are a choice of four brews, all of them superb and all of them liable to mislead as the percentage refers to something other than the alcohol content. A favourite among resident and visiting foreigners alike, the food on offer includes ostrich, brains and buckwheat and fish soup. The itinerant band may be good, but it probably won't stop you wanting to slap them.
Open 11:00 - 23:00, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Uralskaya str.13, Minsk, Underground - Nemiga
Open 11:00 - 23:00, Credit cards accepted, Smoking place
Uralskaya str.13, Minsk, Underground - Nemiga