BELARUS MINSK EATING
The restaurant scene in Minsk is slowly changing. Old, formal restaurants are being usurped by a new breed of dynamic Western European-style eateries. The local cuisine, rich in baked meat, mushrooms, soups and heavy sauces, is making a comeback though. Local favourites worth trying include Hribnoy sup (mushroom and barley soup), Kolduni (stuffed meat dumplings) and Golubsty (cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice). Many of the best restaurants are located near the Grand Opera. Many restaurants in Minsk also offer performances to accompany your meal. Expect anything from a keyboardist tapping out Beatles hits to bikini-clad girls dancing around your table!
Pan Khmeliu Pan Khmeliu is one of the most popular restaurants in town. Expect gargantuan portions of food complemented by live bands and other entertainment. Open until 4am. Address: Internatsionalnaya 11, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 226 78 74
Traktir Na Parkovoi Excellent for traditional hearty Belarusian food. The restaurant is really a country kitchen serving favourites like pelmeni and shashlyk. Local gypsy bands perform in the evenings. Address: Masherova 11, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 203 6991
Uzbekistan Delicious exotic food in the heart of “White Russia”, Uzbekistan is a delicious place for a snack. While you eat you can watch belly dancers strut their stuff. Address: Yanki Kupaly 17, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 227 73 14
Phone: +375 29 637 03 80
Khutorok South east of the city centre, Khutorok is one of the best restaurants in Minsk. The restaurant has several themed rooms as well as a terrace that is fantastic in summer. Address: Pr Partizansky 174
Phone: + 375 17 299 6194
Taj Taj serves delicious spicy North Indian cuisine. Popular with politicians and vegetarians - the dhal and pakoras are gorgeous, Taj is decked out with Buddhist statues and Russian dolls and is a real marriage of East and West. Address: Brilevskaya 2, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 229 35 92
Lido This chain serves hearty Latvian food and is always busy. This Latvian take on a Smorgasbord is decked out like a village and serves everything from pizzas to pork chops. Address: Francyska Skoriny 49, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 224 2729
Internet: www.lido.by
Westfalia Wesfalia offers fresh, healthy food in simple, elegant surroundings.
The cuisine is German and central European. Pike-Perch. There is live jazz
here every Friday. Address: Gazeta Pravdy 11, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 270 57 27
Planeta Sushi Part of a Russian chain, Planeta Sushi offers good value, tasty
Japanese food. Address: Francyska Skaryny 18, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 210 5645