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Restaurant "Palkin" is one of the oldest dining establishments in St. Petersburg and one of the few that has retained its original name and location. Its roots go back to the St. Petersburg restaurateurs, the Palkin family, the first mention of whom dates back to 1785.
The building was purchased by Konstantin Palkin in 1871, after he inherited the business of his father, Pavel Palkin. A professor of architecture, the great A.K. Keizer himself, was invited to attend to the renovation of the house, and on September 8, 1874, came the grand opening of a restaurant with 25 dining halls, a billiard room, private cabinets, and a majestic staircase that was adorned with exotic plants and a gorgeous, sparkling fountain.
Restaurant "Palkin" counted many a famous St. Petersburger among its regular clientele. A brief list might include the poet Alexander Blok, scientist Alexander Butlerov, writers Nikolai Gogol, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Nikolai Leskov and Anton Chekhov, painter Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, as well as composer Petr Tchaikovsky. The chefs of the restaurant were among the first in Russia to adopt certain elements of French cuisine into the traditional Russian cooking.
A visit to restaurant "Palkin" is an authentic, proper acquaintance with the cuisine of Russian aristocracy, much of which has, sadly, been lost elsewhere. Those with a taste for the gourmet are welcome to savour dishes that once delighted top society in the imperial city of St. Petersburg.
The restaurant's wine list presents over 120 vintages, mainly from France, Italy, Chile, among others. The rare wines kept in stock include the 1982 Chateau-Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classe and the 1988 Chateau Petrus Pomerol Grand Vin. On the bar menu, you can find over 30 brands of cognac, brandy, and calvados, more than 40 sorts of vodka, whiskey, and gin. "Palkin" also offers a choice selection of cigars. Since 2004, restaurant "Palkin" buys its house wine at the best wine auctions in France.
