Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Drinking & Nightlife
'Drinking is the joy of the Rus. We cannot live without it.' With
these words Vladimir of Kiev, father of the Russian state, is said to
have rejected abstinent Islam on his people's behalf in the 10th cen-
tury. And the grateful Russian people have confirmed old Vlad's as-
sessment, as drinking remains an integral part of Russian culture
and society.
Little Water
The word 'vodka' is the diminutive of
voda,
the Russian word for water, so it means
something like 'a wee drop'. Russians sometimes drink vodka in moderation, but more
often it's tipped down in swift shots, often followed by a pickle (snacking apparently
stops you from getting drunk). Russky Standard and Stolichnaya are two good brands
of vodka that are commonly available. It's very rare to get bad vodka in a restaurant, so
do not fear if you don't recognise the brand name (there are many). However, if the
vodka isn't served cold, send it back immediately.
Many visitors to St Petersburg are surprised to learn that
pivo
(beer) is actually Rus-
sia's most popular alcoholic drink. The market leader is Baltika, a Scandinavian joint-
venture with Russian management, based in St Petersburg. Another very popular local
brand is Vasileostrovskaya, named after Vasilyevsky Island, where it is brewed.
Where to Drink
Back in the day, the equivalent of the local pub was a
ryumochnaya,
which comes from
the word
ryumka
(shot). These were pretty grim places, serving up
sto gramm
(100
grams), but not much else. Most people preferred to drink at home, surrounded by
friends and family.
In recent years, St Petersburg's drinking possibilities have expanded exponentially.
Now, drinkers can take their pick from wine bars, cocktail bars, pubs, sports bars, mi-
