Relevant facts.

Saint Petersburg, a city in the extreme northwest of Russia. A major historical and cultural center and an important port. St. Petersburg is a unique destination combining rich historical and architectural heritage with an atmosphere of imperial luxury and a modern city beat. 
Since its foundation in 1703, Saint Petersburg has been a multi-ethnic city that has welcomed visitors, both for travel and living, from all over the world. 
Furthermore, Saint Petersburg is an open city focused on international and interregional cooperation. More than a half of festivals, held yearly in Saint Petersburg in the field of art, culture and  gastronomy, are international.
The city deservedly bears the title of «the Cultural capital of Russia». In Saint Petersburg, there are 4,213 objects of cultural heritage, which is almost 10 % of all protected monuments on the territory of Russia, and more than 1,000 research and scientific institutions. The historical center of the city and its unique palace-and-park ensembles are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (about 4,000 sites of attraction).

What makes the Creative Field of Gastronomy special?

• Combining the traditions of national cuisines.
• The development of experimental cuisine.
• Creative freedom of chefs: there are many establishments in the city where the chef is also the owner, granting them significant freedom for creativity and self-expression.
• The presence of gastrospaces.
• Regular gastronomic festivals and forums: contests are organized for the professional community, and educational programs dedicated to innovative approaches in gastronomic tourism are being implemented.

How the designation is being managed?

The administration is carried out by the Government which is headed by the Governor and the Legislative Assembly.

Gastronomy traditions.

Saint Petersburg, with its rich history and multicultural heritage, has unique gastronomic traditions based on local cuisine, the influence of various nationalities and the richness of the region's natural resources. The gastronomic traditions of Saint Petersburg were formed under the influence of different cuisines, as many foreigners came to the city who brought their culinary traditions.

To promote the gastronomic traditions of the city were created 2 projects: 

1. St. Petersburg cuisine;
2. St. Petersburg breakfast.

Iconic local products.

1. A variety of seafood - due to its location on the Gulf of Finland, St. Petersburg offers a range of fresh seafood dishes (koryshka).
2. Chocolates (Krupskaya factory, Schastie factory, Cultura factory).
3. Bakery products (a type of doughnut - pyshki, russian pancakes - bliny).
4. Porridge (Gurievskaya, Dragomirovskaya)

Local stakeholders.

1. Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg
2. Committee for Tourism Development of Saint Petersburg
3. Saint Petersburg Convention Bureau
4. Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers

Gastronomy main events.

«St. Petersburg cuisine» is a unique gastronomic phenomenon that arose as a result of the merger of two gastronomic cultures: traditional Russian cuisine and elegant French with some additions of other national culinary recipes. The «St. Petersburg Cuisine» project, which started in 2014, is aimed at reviving the culinary traditions of Saint Petersburg and promoting our city not only as the cultural, but also the culinary capital of Russia. Leading restaurants of Russian and European cuisine are invited to participate in the Project, which present in their menu items from the list of «Dishes of St. Petersburg cuisine» recommended by experts in the historical and gastronomic field. «St. Petersburg Breakfast» is an important part of the St. Petersburg Cuisine project.

«St. Petersburg Breakfast» is one of the brightest gastronomic brands in the city, which appeared in early 2021. His idea is to serve breakfasts in city hospitality establishments, which are prepared from traditional products for morning meals, but with a «St. Petersburg accent». Many dishes in them are associated with the history of the city, biographies of its famous inhabitants and even characters in literary works. The project also includes restaurant festivals. So, in 2023, 50 restaurants took part in the festival, in 2024 there were already 130 of them. During the festival, the city's establishments offer a fashionable and modern menu «St. Petersburg Breakfast».