Until very recently, vegetarianism was seen as something like a perversion by most Russians, which made dining in St. Petersburg a trying experience for many vegetarians. Thankfully, in the last few years vegetarianism has become an increasingly popular lifestyle choice among locals, and the number of vegetarian eateries has rocketed.
In the past, vegetarian travelers to St. Petersburg were largely relegated to picking the few suitable options off the menu of Caucasian and Central Asian restaurants (still a worthwhile option for a couple of meals) or sticking to the most basic prepared food such as potato pies or pancakes with sour cream. Now, however, St. Petersburg can offer an increasing number of good-quality vegetarian restaurants, the best of which are worth exploring even for more carniverous visitors.
